Chapter 87: The Implock – Chapter 81 – “In The Darkness”

∼ In The Darkness ∼

Chapter - 081

Aria looked as if she wanted to protest the man further, but any frustration or anger that fueled her courage had run dry. She retreated back into herself, her head hung as her mind fought with new worries.

"Enough talk of that. There's another reason why I've summoned you both. Aria, you'll soon be meeting a larger quota for your healing services. And you, Nyx. It is time you held up your end of the bargain."

Whereas Aria's eyes filled with distress, Nyx's filled with excitement. "I finally gets to fight?" He asked excitedly. But to both their surprise and Nyx's sudden disappointment, Zechariah shook his head. "No, at least not if everything goes to plan. I need you as backup for a mission. To be the insurance that no matter what, the outcome is one of success."

"But I want to fight!"

"Your magic and stature are far too recognizable. We can't have an unknown warlock very easily identifiable as the mercenary Nyxel Brasshand suddenly appears on the side of the Orphans. It'd shatter the illusion of your fake identities that all our hard work has been trying so hard to separate from your real ones. The thin veil of misinformation and manipulation will inevitably fail when the Stained Tooth begins to dig for answers. And Nyx, you already have eyes on you. A mercenary dying on the same mission that another walks away alive tends to draw eyes of suspicion. So no, we can only use you when absolutely necessary."

"If it is that important, then why not use Shank? You have far more powerful men under you. Why Nyx?"

Shank's eyebrows rose as he finally looked away from the papers he was reading, the glass of liqueur held to his lips.

"It doesn't work like that," Zechariah said. "You forget that the Stained Tooth has even greater manpower than we do. Our strength does not lie in power, but in our network and operations. Cultivated from the roots we have in this city. The consequences of sending our strongest will not only incur Crowley to do the same but also draw the ire of those beyond the underground. Those who just barely tolerate our existence for the sole reason that we do not cause too much trouble."

Aria faltered at that, finding some logic in what Zechariah was saying. Yet, Nyx was still adamant. "I don't want to just observe, human!"

But the twin simply shook his head. "No. Your magic, it's too-"

"-I can fights without my magic," Nyx cut off challengingly to which Shank snorted. But Zechariah's eyes just narrowed, peering at the small figure with a hint of something unreadable in his gaze.

"Bwah! That little wand-pecker wants to brawl? Haha!" Shank laughed. "You should stick to your spells, little man."

"-Fine then, show us," Zechariah said calmly over the laughter, making Shank suddenly pause in surprise. "Huh?"

Nyx shot from where he had stood with a speed uncanny for his class and figure. Shank had barely any time to comprehend his brother's words before his hand had flickered to intercept the fist flying right for his face. Shank's brows rose even higher, as the second fist was only moments behind. Though the much-powerful man parried it with the back of his other hand.

"Hey-hey, he's not half bad!" The man was smiling from ear to ear. Not angry, but pleasantly surprised. Shank was holding up the imp by the iron-grip he had on the demon's fist, dangling the flailing beasts as he amusedly dodged the flailing kicks and swipes.

"I'll show you half-bad, you stinkin' human!" Suddenly, Nyx leveraged Shank's hold on his fist, pulling himself forward and twisting his forearm and wrist. Passing through his defenses, Nyx's kick filled with momentum was only inches from the human's face. But unsurprisingly, Shank managed to dodge that too, head tilted to the side as the small foot hit him right on the shoulder.

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