{23:03 – Friday, January 23rd, 2087}
Sitting at the top of a tree near the Heaver district, where Edward Roberts' mansion was located, Evan was sharpening his odachi with a small rock.
{Bladed Weapon – Reinforced Odachi} – Rarity (C)
A reinforced odachi made with modified carbon steel. It has long reach and strong attack power.
'It's been a while since I've felt something like this... could it be fear?'
In his previous life, Evan went through extreme hardships, having to survive on his own from an early age. But ever since he woke up in Etherea, unlike what happened in the Fehil Zone, where he had complete confidence, this time Evan didn't have that same feeling.
"It's time..."
Putting on his Wolf mask, Evan placed his odachi into its sheath, strapped to his belt. The place where Evan stood was the highest point in the Heaver district, where there were hills and higher elevations, making it easier for him to observe the movement around the mansion.
According to the paper Scarabeo gave Evan, the mansion should have around 10 guards, ranging from F- to F+. Even though they were above Evan's level, the boy still had some confidence that he could handle it... though he was relying on his greatest trump card.
Affinities: Primordial Fire (Elemental)
Ever since signing the contract with the elemental, Evan had been curious to discover the true potential of his affinity.
When one of the guards stepped outside the residence, Evan knew that was the moment.
The mansion had three floors. Edward's room was at the end of the central hallway on the 3rd floor. Evan knew the only way was to enter through the front door and eliminate any threat that appeared.
Taking a deep breath, Evan quickly climbed down from the tree and dashed at full speed toward the mansion's entrance.
Before the guard could react, Evan drew his odachi and, with a simple whistle, decapitated the man.
Without saying a word, Evan simply stared at the lifeless body.
With a full-force kick, Evan smashed the door open, only to be met by two guards rushing toward him.
The guards attacked using longswords, which made it difficult for Evan to break through their defenses.
"KILL THAT BASTARD!!"
But to the guards' surprise, Evan's odachi was suddenly covered in a layer of crimson fire.
Spark (F)
The ability to generate small fire sparks for a few seconds.
'Just die already...'
Before heading to the mansion, Evan coated his odachi with a kind of flammable oil, the same way he had poured it all over his body back in the Fehil Zone. His goal was to merge his flames with his own swordsmanship.
...
Evan quickly twisted his hips and unleashed a powerful spinning slash with his odachi. The moment the blade touched one of the guards, the man's body was completely burned by the crimson flames.
"SURROUND HIM!!"
Suddenly, about three guards were closing in around Evan.
Before he could react, one of them fired a kind of vacuum bullet that struck Evan directly in the right shoulder.
'Aarg!!'
Taking advantage of the opening, the other two guards launched their assault, and Evan received several cuts.
But the moment one of the guards was about to strike Evan, their eyes widened. The flames on Evan's odachi were growing without stopping.
Seizing the opportunity, Evan delivered a diagonal slash, striking the chest of the closest guard. In the same instant, the man's body was engulfed in flames.
"AAAH, HELP MEEE!!"
But before his companion could offer any aid, Evan pierced the remaining guard's chest with his flaming odachi.
'T-there should still be... 4 or 5 guards left.'
Moving up to the second floor, Evan advanced with his body covered in blood, after the injuries to his shoulder and the cuts across his abdomen.
Evan could see the terrified looks of the mansion's servants, but with the Wolf mask covering his face, all they could see was a true monster standing there.
Reaching the second floor, Evan was met with a sudden gunshot.
'Shit!'
Luckily for Evan, the bullet grazed his left arm. Trying to identify the source of the shot, Evan spotted two men in front of him, standing in the massive hallway of the mansion's second floor.
The two guards rushed at Evan with their swords. Without wasting time, Evan blocked one of the strikes with his odachi, while the attack coming from the other guard was stopped by Evan, catching the blade between his fingers.
"That bastard!!"
All the guards could hear was a faint laugh coming from that masked man.
"You... are dead."
All that remained were the two guards' charred bodies.
The moment Evan entered the range of their blades, crimson fire burst from his hands, covering both their weapons and bodies completely.
...
Watching the battle from afar was the guard who had been firing long-range shots.
"W-what the hell is this guy?!"
But that was the moment the man felt true terror. A tremendous aura began to flood the area.
"B-but... he shouldn't even be above rank G."
While he was still trying to process what he was sensing, all he felt was a massive silver blade piercing his flesh.
Moments later, his head rolled across the mansion's corridors.
'One left...'
Reaching the top floor, at the end of the hallway stood a massive wooden door, the room where Edward should be.
But standing in front of it was a man equipped with silver armor and a spear of the same color.
'That aura... this guy is far above the other guards.'
Walking toward him, Evan spoke coldly:
"You'd better get out of here, or you'll end up like the others."
But the man remained silent, readying his spear.
Suddenly, he lunged forward at a speed Evan wasn't even used to.
'H-how?!'
The man thrust his spear, aiming for Evan's heart. Evan barely dodged at the last moment and kicked the weapon's tip, trying to throw him off balance... or so Evan thought.
In that same instant, the man recovered his stance and delivered a kick to Evan's injured shoulder, sending the boy crashing into the wall.
Even with his body covered in injuries, Evan quickly stood up and swung a horizontal slash at the man, who counterattacked with his spear.
Unlike Evan, that guard was uninjured and refreshed, while Evan was full of wounds that only grew worse the longer he fought.
But before Evan could claim victory, the man's eyes widened as he witnessed Evan's desperate move.
Holding a small container, Evan poured oil across the entire area, and with an almost demonic smile on his face, he snapped his fingers, igniting everything.
"YOU'RE INSANE!!"
And in the moment the man got distracted by the flames, Evan rushed in with his odachi, tearing the guard's head off.
With the mansion being consumed by crimson flames, Evan entered the room where his target should be.
When he stepped inside, sitting on a chair while smoking a cigar, there was Edward, wearing a solemn expression on his face.
"Looks like those bastards found me..."
Edward said, squeezing his cigar. Evan, with the mask on his face, remained silent while gripping his odachi tightly.
"It's your end... Edward."