"
Dust rose to the air. Killian covered his face with a hand, stepping further away from the vast plain that he knew would become a graveyard.
"
Killian's eyes widened when he heard that skill, and he stumbled back as the earth under him shifted. He looked up at George.
He hasn't even taken a step yet.
The orcs staggered to stay on their feet. Some recovered and started taking deliberate steps towards George.
"
The ground shifted, bending downwards and dipping. Killian tapped his feet on a muddy ground and he felt the mana emitting from it.
The space around them became George's.
"
Killian took his leg back. The orc's legs dropped into the ground like it had turned to sand. Their movement stopped instantly as they struggled to pull themselves out.
"
The ground erupted from the sinking sand. Sharp spikes shot upward and pierced through the orc cleanly, lifting it slightly before it went still.
Killian watched silently. A series.
Those collections of skills were used in unison and took minimal mana to initiate. With small quick skills in concession, they could easily inflict damage to a crowd of opponents.
I guess he was really trying to guide me.
Killian didn't hear the last skill he said.
The ground rose again, this time forming pillars under the fallen bodies, lifting them up as George walked forward without stopping.
His steps were calm like none of it took effort.
Killian's eyes stayed on him. His mana output was incredible and it was his first time seeing someone with such wells of innate mana.
"He's really strong."
The elevated grounds suddenly sank back into the soft ground, swallowing the corpses. The ground was now clear like nothing had happened. Buried.
"He's also scary. Isn't this an overkill for five orcs?"
But Killian's lips curved up slightly.
He really didn't notice.
The tendril he sent out returned. It was a strand, thinner than a blade of grass. It merged with the grass and went under his legs.
Killian kept walking behind him, his hands still in his pockets with a calm expression as if nothing had changed.
Amidst his high output of mana, he wouldn't have noticed a shadow cling to his leg a little too closely.
Even if he did, he wouldn't know how I use the skill.
If he tried anything, I wouldn't be completely helpless.
"Let's go. The ones ahead are a little tougher." George said, when he matched the distance as the one Killian had been keeping.
Killian nodded and walked behind him.
Each time an orc attacked, Killian stayed behind. George glanced at him, and seeing his hands still in his pockets, would handle it.
They reached the last batch. He faced George with a small vein popping in his head, and a forced smile. "Will you really not do anything?"
Killian looked from the skies to him, and shrugged.
The vein on George's face grew thicker.
"You get benefits after your first mission. Double in your case, right? So why not? Or do you conserve your mana for something more interesting?"
Killian raised a brow. "Is something interesting supposed to happen later? I'm just being lazy. This is the real me."
There was silence between them, while the orcs approached with battle cries. George ran his hand through his hair, regaining his composure.
"I shouldn't have expected too much from you. We will switch team members later. Maybe you'd feel more motivated afterwards."
Yes, because I wouldn't have to watch you.
"If I have you here, there's no drive to do anything when you handle it without your iconic first step."
George smiled, but it faded quickly when he faced the orcs. He used only the last skill, the ground descending and swallowing the orcs.
Killian realized he didn't hear him say it again. It was either he whispered, or initiated it with a thought.
They kept walking the distance till they reached their first rendezvous point.
"The last wave. Let's switch members."
The other two were already there, for some reason. Killian noticed Evelyn's mechanical gear overheated so she evidently used it. She also looked satisfied.
But Juda really had no dirt on his white clothes, nor heat marks on his arm sleeves.
Evelyn didn't look pissed at him either so he must've done something. "How was it?" Killian asked.
"They were strong, but they liked coordination." Evelyn said with deliberate breathing. "And you?"
"I have an A-Rank with me. I did nothing." Killian didn't even hide it.
Evelyn laughed, raising her hand. "Can I stay with you, George? Please!"
"Killian and Juda then." George said absentmindedly, looking at his holographic screen.
That's fair. She could learn from his series skill too.
Killian turned to Juda, whose eyes had darkened for some reason. He bent a bit to make eye contact but Juda's eyes remained on the ground.
"I didn't see him do anything but he said the orcs were cleared. I assumed he was right." Evelyn said as he noticed Killian trying to get his attention. "He's really not in the mood today."
Killian stepped away. He had only known Juda for less than a week, so he wouldn't know if he had temper tantrums or closed off others when he felt like it.
"Juda?"
All three snapped their heads to George. Killian noticed Juda had jolted when he reacted, but his expression settled to a blank one again.
George stared at Juda in particular. "I said to kill the warriors, did I not? Eveyln, weren't you with him?"
Hearing George sounding like a nagging parent, Killian guessed that they didn't handle all the orcs given. And fairly, the orcs were getting wiser.
"Two batches came at us and I told him to handle one." Evelyn explained. "He led them towards a village but said he handled it."
Juda still had the blank expression, holding George's gaze.
"So what happened, Juda?"
"I killed them." His reply came calmly.
George narrowed his eyes on him. "How many?"
Killian raised a brow, waiting for Juda's answer.
"All of them."
Silence reigned within the plain, as if confirming Juda's words.
George's expression darkened, before he returned to the screen.
Killian watched Juda for any trace of guilt or anger that might've fueled him, but there was nothing.
He knew Juda wouldn't mind killing an anomaly, like the human-rabbit incident, but killing a village of orcs, including women and children when not specified?
It wasn't Juda. That was a massacre and he shouldn't even be able to pull it off as a D-Rank Warden.
Is he still sick? Those headaches?
He reached out to touch him, but Juda shifted his eyes to him and slapped his hand away.
A frown settled on Killian's face. Even after Juda hit his hand, he still felt how hot his hand had been. Juda was boiling even if they were in a cold plain.
Beads of sweat stuck to his face and neck.
What is wrong with him?
"I can't say. But don't touch him again."