Blac knew this was the time that everything would go horribly wrong. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The wooden door banged closed with a snap and the warrior came out. The villagers and the tax collectors felt as if the world had turned upside down because what is going on right now?

Blac isn’t surprised because he knew about it.

"What is this?" Kosh demanded, anger in his voice. Because in the hand of the warrior that was supposed to bring the harvested fruit tax there was only a small tray and on it was an apple-like fruit. "Is this the tax to the First Leader?!"

Blac held his breath for what’s going to happen next as he watched the fury build on Kosh’s face. But Azaroth on the other hand appeared calm as the warrior walked towards him and offered him the fruit.

"Yes. This is the tax." Azaroth said and then bit into the fruit and began to eat it much to the surprise and horror on everyone’s face. "The fruits are planted on my land and tended to by my people and resources. Why should your First Leader take tax from me?"

Kosh sputtered in anger then he calmed himself. Yes, this is it. The reason why he can now attack and kill the little shit and make all his enchanted tools his own. Kosh smiled. "You are dead now little man."

Blac gestured and the darkness surrounded him, lifting him up and towards the roof of the building where he could have an undivided view of what’s about to happen.

Azaroth smiled like a fanged wolf. "You are too weak to make me dead, Kosh. Maybe your boss will give me a little bit of difficulty but definitely not you."

Kosh shook his head then he leaped, easily clearing the distance and appeared in front of Azaroth. His hand came down on the warrior’s head and even though they are both in the Novice rank he tore his head away from her neck and smiled as blood covered him. "I now have a reason to kill you."

Azaroth knew then that Kosh must be one of the powerful people whose power got reduced because even as a novice he’s still powerful.

Kosh stretched his hand forward to snatch Azaroth but a chain with a ball at the end snapped, cracking in the air with a wheeze! He jumped back in time, avoiding the attack from Catena who looked at him in surprise.

Catena said, pulling back his chain. "I was actually trying to hit him!"

Kosh snorted. "Do you think I’m the leader of this squad of tax collectors just for the fun of it? I am a very powerful novice! One of the strongest novices and you certainly stand no chance!"

Azaroth frowned. He couldn’t remember how strong he was in his novice days but he knew he was powerful. "Do you think you are stronger than me?"

Kosh smiled. "Fight me without your enchanted tool. If you win then I’ll return without bothering you but if I win you’ll give me all your enchanted tools and follow me to our place."

Azaroth pretended to think about it then suddenly his cold eyes flashed. "No. You can just die. Warriors, kill them."

The tax collectors were not expecting the village warriors to attack. Each warrior team quickly sent their essence into the warrior in the center and that one gathered it into a small ball of rolling explosive force that he sent out.

The tax collectors closer got the full dose of the attack. It was simply too fast for them to avoid it. Four heads exploded and four bodies hit the ground with a shocked thud.

The villagers shouted out in fear and shock and ran to their houses. The rest of the tax collectors ran together and formed a shield with the metal shields they brought out of their spatial pouches.

Azaroth noticed the way they moved smoothly together, they are well trained with lots of practice. But they shouldn’t have bothered because the warriors had already used up their essence and now they could only fight with their bodies. And as much as Azaroth might like to see that he also knew that he’ll still need them later so he said to Catena. "Deal with them with your enchanted tool. Don’t touch Kosh."

Kosh and the tax collectors were still a bit surprised from the attack earlier but now they are ready for what’s coming next and did they just hear that only one guy is after them?

Catena stretched and cracked his neck, his chains already around his waist. He made sure they saw his fake enchanted tool as he put it in his left hand then with his chain held in his right hand he threw himself at his opponents.

Kosh darted out of his way, intending to attack while Catena’s back is turned but a cage of darkness rose up and covered him, Blac is keeping him away from the fight!

Bang! The sound of metal on metal as Catena hit them with the iron ball, the tax collectors flinched from the raw strength from him that sent them staggering back and their wall of metal shields broke.

"Watch your head!" Catena shouted.

They didn’t understand and some of them never did as Catena spun among them, his heavy metal ball hitting with the force that easily broke heads like rotten watermelons.

Azaroth narrowed his eyes as he watched Catena fight. It’s like a cat in the den of rats. He made himself just a little bit faster, and stronger than them.

"You cowards! Fight! Why are you running away? You are a disgrace to the First Leader’s name!" Kosh shouted from his cage of darkness as he watched his men break and run from the lanky boy wielding a chain of horror.

Catena laughed as he broke the last head. He was covered in blood and bits of pink brain matter, the ground was also soaked with it mixing with the soil to form red mud. "I told them to watch out for their heads."