Living in the slums didn't provide him with any expertise in handling bladed weapons, aside from the occasional knife that thugs relied on. However, Kai believed that through trial and error, he could learn the art of swordsmanship and perhaps even develop his own unique style. Furthermore, he speculated that there might be opportunities to acquire various skills and abilities in this new fantasy world that emerged after the apocalypse.
Although the world had been ravaged by destruction, it had also brought about significant changes. The new reality was undeniably a fantasy one, opening up possibilities and adventures that Kai couldn't have fathomed before.
After concealing the ominous black sword behind his back, he departed from the area, signaling the beginning of his exploration of new territories.
Just thirty minutes later, Kai, who had recently left the vicinity, was abruptly halted by an unexpected voice.
"Halt, you wretched creature!"
Five individuals, a mix of men and women, positioned themselves in a loose formation. Draped in dark attire, each of them carried bags and sacks, weighed down by their possessions. Moreover, they all brandished weapons.
Three of them wielded bows and arrows, while the other two gripped glaives. These weapons were securely fastened to their backs, yet poised for immediate use.
Standing alone amidst their loosely assembled group, one individual sported fighting gauntlets.
The individual who had uttered those words in an eerie tone was a towering, muscular man, bearing a battle ax. He stood closest to Kai. Scars adorned his fierce countenance, his face a testament to his brutal nature. His eyes gleamed with cruelty, and a wicked grin spread across his lips as he advanced towards Kai.
In a single glance, Kai absorbed the entire scene.
By the way they stood together haphazardly, he deduced that this group of individuals did not typically cooperate, but rather had joined forces temporarily for their own convenience.
Kai had no difficulty identifying the true nature of these people. They were all... scavengers.
The slums were infested with scavengers, a multitude of heartless individuals with no moral boundaries. They thrived in a world where the weak were preyed upon by the strong.
Dizzy with adrenaline, Kai swiftly turned on his heel, ready to make a hasty escape.
But as he faced the burly man, a sinister glint sparked in his eyes, his grin contorting into a bloodthirsty sneer.
"Running, huh? I take immense pleasure in slaughtering worthless scum like you. And I bet that sack of yours is filled with valuable loot. This brat belongs to me, Boss!"
The ferocious intensity emanating from the burly man's eyes amplified the menacing aura surrounding his colossal battle-ax. With determined strides, he raised the weapon in his right hand, lunging towards Kai.
The ax sliced through the air, closing in with a haunting whistle.
The burly man possessed both strength and agility, yet Kai's swiftness surpassed his own. Just as the ax seemed poised to strike, Kai gracefully leaped aside.
The ax zoomed past, barely missing his face. The rush of wind brushed back his tousled hair, revealing his icy, wolf-like gaze.
Without hesitation, Kai dropped into a nimble roll, swiftly changing direction. Instead of fleeing, he surged towards the burly man. It was then that his ebony sword materialized in his grip.
Seizing the element of surprise, Kai's blue eyes gleamed with savage determination as he thrust the sword into the man's abdomen.
Puchi!
The obsidian blade effortlessly pierced through the scarred man's stomach, emerging from his back with chilling precision.
The man's eyes widened in disbelief as his life swiftly faded away. Just like that, he met his demise.
It all happened too quickly. A moment ago, the seemingly frail Kai had made it seem like he wanted to run away, which made it easy to conceal his attack.
Kai's wolf-like facial expression was clear, and it was with both vigilance and ferocity that he glared out at the remaining scavengers.
The other four were left in a state of utter shock, unable to find words to express their astonishment. Seizing this opportunity, Kai swiftly retreated, vanishing in an instant. He understood that it would be a reckless move to confront all four of them now, considering their heightened awareness after being caught off guard once. While he had managed to outsmart one of them, he knew that relying on luck a second time would be foolish. With his life being more valuable than taking unnecessary risks, he chose to escape instead.
The scavenger leader watched as Kai made his escape, a smile playing on his lips.
"Fascinating," he muttered to himself. He was confident that he would cross paths with this young man again in the future. As for losing one of his men, he couldn't care less. They were all disposable in his eyes. This new world was sure fun even if it was just the second day after the apocalypse, he had survived not transforming into monster, all because he had always set himself a bottom line and was smart to never cross the line.
°°°°
~8th arrondissement of Paris.
In a once revered location that embodied the essence of a superpower, comparable in fame to the White House, the Champ Elysées now lies in ruins, a desolate wasteland. And yet, amidst this devastation, an enigmatic mythical creature has taken residence, claiming the space as its own.
Calm ruby eyes sit narrowly within the creature's hard, hard skull, which gives the creature a terrifying looking appearance.
Several large tendrils sit atop its head, just above its short, angular ears. A row of small horns runs down the sides of each of its jaw lines.
Its nose is pointy and has two long, curved nostrils and there's a horn on its chin. Several rows of sharp teeth poke out from the side of its mouth and reveal only a fraction of the terror hiding inside.
A muscular neck runs down from its head and into a muscular body. The top is covered in reptilian skin and rows of small crystal growths runs down its spine.
Its bottom is covered in radiant skin and is colored slightly lighter than the rest of its body. Two thick limbs carry its body and allow the creature to stand elevated and tall. Each limb has 5 digits, each of which end in strong talons seemingly made of stone.
Enormous wings grow starting from its shoulders and end at its hips. The wings are scythe-shaped, the inner sides of the wing are full of minor holes and armor-like scales grow on top of the wing's primary bones.
Its thick tail ends in a curved talon and is covered in the same reptilian skin as its body.