A Story of Evil

Chapter 158: Hendrickson and Nathaniel

Stealth. This is the most important thing to have for the operation which Sol had in mind. They needed to move without making much sound. They needed to be discreet. They needed to minimize their movements. They needed to avoid getting seen.

Hendrickson failed to apply any of this. But he wasn't doing so deliberately. He was simply too focused on his goal to notice anything else. Moving as quickly as he could while telling his teammate what to do.

"Nathan pick up the pace I don't want us losing to anyone!"

"Okay, first of all, this is not a competition Rick."

"Oh it is. That Cain fellow was chosen by my king!"

Hendrickson wasn't aware that Sol and Cain were childhood friends. In fact, he didn't think much of this person at all. Although they did get along at first, it was only because Hendrickson thought of Cain to be the weak nad docile type. That this person was only ever brought to the mission to be the servant of the team.

These notions rapidly changed and, all his expectations were broken. Not only this but, in his head, their positions have even drastically changed. Making him feel humiliated.

"He was even more useful during the fight against the serpents! I need to get better at my job man!"

"So you're acknowledging that he's better than you?"

"Of course not! But I need to prove my worth Nathan. I need to show results backing up my claim." Hendrickson announced, facing his partner who simply sighed at him as the steel user continued speaking.

"That's why we need to beat everyone in this game!"

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"Look big guy, I love all the passion you're putting into this. But I also have a lot of bad experience with overly passionate individuals."

Nathan was referring to the late prince Blaze. The same person who almost got the whole fire team killed during the Culling. Of course Hendrickson was better than this person. In fact, one can't even begin to compare the two when it comes to manners and overall decency. But the competitive spirit was nevertheless similar. In fact, at that moment, Nathan even thought that Hendrickson had a more competitive spirit than the late fire prince.

"Nonsense! Only the strong are allowed to serve the king! This is a test to prove my worth to him and I won't let it slip by."

"Why do you even keep on referring to Sol as your king?"

"Because he will be the next Void King! I'm sure of it. There's no better person for the job than him."

"Don't you think you're being overly zealous? He's not even royalty so that won't ever happen."

"But he even ascended to the rank of paladin!"

"Look big guy. I like our leader as much as you. In fact, I think all of us thinks the same. That there's no better leader than Sol. But there's no such thing as a 'one size fits all' situation. He's still an orphan. Even if the king himself permitted Sol to hold his last name, they still aren't blood related."

Nathan was talking about the fact that King Jubilee had a son. One who was of age to take the throne. Not only that. There is a whole court of people, royals, who are backing up the said prince. Even if this person does die, there are alternatives to chose from. But Sol is the most unlikely out of all of these.

"But don't you also think that it's unfair that someone of inferior class to him will get the role?"

"Of course I think it's unfair but like I said, there's nothing we can do about it. What we can do is to focus on this task and, to do it properly."

Nathan's words were finally able to get through to Hendrickson. Making the steel user unsheathe his claymore.

"Yeah I guess you're right..." Hendrickson finally admitted. But even before Nathan could complement him, the chainsaw was activated. Revving the engine of the claymore as a passionate and vibrant smile grew on the steel user's face.

"WE NEED TO GET RESULTS!" He screamed, running forward as Nathan had no other choice but to follow his lead.

"I swear, this guy would get someone killed eventually."

The two began running at full speed again. With their pacing, one would even think that they actually had somewhere to go. But there was none. Hendrickson simply had one thought in mind. That, if they continue moving and making loud noses, the monsters would eventually prey upon them. Nathan was also betting on this chance because with how one tracked Hendrickson was, he was sure that this was their only hope.

Sure enough luck was in their favor. Because not even five minutes passed them by when rocks were thrown at Hendrickson.

The steel user was only able to notice these after they hit him and, it was too late at this point because, the same objects exploded one by one.

"Rick!"

Hendrickson was caught in a field of smoke caused by the explosion. Meanwhile Nathan focused on defending himself and taking a better look of the surroundings. Trying to find whatever monster it was that dealt the blow.

He then heard some rustling on the trees. He turned to look but saw only the shadow of teh creature as he was also bombarded with bombs.

"Oh no you don't." He said, bringing out a whip and lashing it at the objects, with the tip of his weapon creating a split second fire that made the bombs explode in mid air. Creating even more smoke which blocked his view of the same area where the enemy was supposed to be.

"What are we dealing with?" Hendrickson asked, coming out of the smoke without much damage. 

"I'm surprised you're still in one piece."

"Of course I am! I wouldn't have led the vanguard unit if not for my sturdy body." He said as he went into battle stance.

"That's good then. We'll need that body that you're so proud of so we can take our enemies down."

"Oh you don't need to tell me twice." The big man said, moving to where Nathan's eye's were pointing. Cutting down trees one by one as if they were nothing but thin pieces of bamboo.

In panic, the creatures on the trees moved more violently. Moving even faster than before. But the chaos Hendrickson was causing was far quicker than they were. In fact it was too fast as, one of these said creatures was finally caught by Nathan's whip. Lashing at it with flames as the monster fell from the trees. The others shrieked but didn't dare take back their comrade. Instead they fired even more explosives, ensuring that they would not be pursued further.

The two waited for all the smoke to die down before finally coming up to their target. One which had already died from the burn.

"Is that a monkey?"

"Definitely a monkey."

The monster was the size of a regular street cat. It is dark brown in color but, has a strange mark on its left arm. A spiral which forms a tongue of flame at the end. On its waist were pouches which got opened due to the fall. Revealing nothing but small pebbles.

"That doesn't look like explosives to me."

"That's probably one of its skills. I mean, it'd explain how pebbles explode at least."

The two were just about to pick up the monster to get more information. But just before they could get close, it's eyes suddenly opened up to a glow. It wasn't the only part that did however. The whole body of the creature got covered in the same warm light that resembled the color of the sun.

they didn't know what was about to happen but, they weren't stupid enough to wait and find out. The two ran for their lives. Leaving the monkey where it was. And after three more seconds, it finally exploded. Creating a weak tremor which died as quickly as it surfaced.

"We're dealing with kamikaze driven monkeys?!?" Hendrickson exclaimed in disbelief.

"I know it's also my first time dealing with this kind of creature."

The enemy was evidently dangerous. Not because they were powerful but because of the amount of damage they could do and, the risk they were willing to take in order to ensure that their attacks could go in. Nathan was having second thought on pursuing these because if they get pitted into too many of these, then things may end badly for them.

"Rick, why don't we consult this to Sol first?"

"Are you nuts? There's no way I'm gonna be put to shame this many times in a row!" He said, placing his claymore back on its scabbard as he announced:

"We're gonna charge those creatures head on!"

Hendrickson didn't even wait for Nathaniel's reply. He ran towards the same direction as the monkeys and, once again, the flame user had no other choice but to follow the lead of his partner.

"This is exactly the kind of situation I wanted to avoid." Was all that he could say as he finally began running.