Vengeance of the Returner

Squinting his eyes open he found a peculiar young lad looking down on him with a warm yet, cold smile. He couldn't rightly point out what the young lad had on his mind but, he could sense that man before he did not bear any ill intentions towards him.

"Hah, Seems like you are not dead huh Waltner?"

Nix asked with a sigh and sat on the stool opposite him.

They were actually in the tent but, the war surely ended. The remaining forces were captured as well. It was a victory. Though they lacked in many ways he had indeed won by the end.

"Huh?"

Waltner was still in his own thoughts he just had a big recap in his mind that he thought he died. Some say your whole life flashes just the moment before you die. Waltner could have possibly experienced such a thing.

"Your men are some very loyal guys," Nix said.

The war was over. Nix didn't kill him. He just made him faint though the blow he made was deadly it surely caused him to go through some immense traumatic experiences.

Nix sure felt death on his doorstep fighting against Waltner. 

"You pitied this old man that came for your head? You sure have grown"

Waltner asked with a smile.

"You sure seemed desperate to die but, I sensed sorrow and fear from your blade."

Waltner's heart skipped a beat when Nix mentioned that he sensed fear.

"I see..."

"I don't want to sound rude... But, At first, it was trivial and I thought it was me that was in fear but, it seemed like it came from yours though the emotion seemed very faint I can clearly say that was fear."

As Nix finished Waltner's face stiffened. Nix mentioned such things since there were only two of them inside the tent. He knew it'd seem shameful for a man such as Waltner.

"Is that so? Are you perhaps taking the Path of the sword?" Waltner seemingly changed the topic and Nix understood he shouldn't mention it any further.

"No No... I am no man of sword or hold any interest over enlightenment. I just by mere chance had the opportunity to feel."

"You surely have a great talent in wielding swords."

Waltner said with a smirk.

"Do you think the war will be over?"

"Ferandel has been captured. They will continue to devour and extend territories... So it isn't over yet. Mayhap you'll face another army tomorrow. None knows"

Waltner shrugged.

"Tomorrow's deal is for tomorrow Can't fret now Can I?"

Nix asked with a smirk.

"Haha, Anyway, I did not expect you to be still alive above all else. How did you get taller?"

"Well, Somethings happened."

He shrugged and a man walked in lifting the screen of the tent.

"Good to hear that. It seems you have a big back story... But above all is that your uncle or old man?"

He asked pointing at the buff bald guy behind Nix. 

"Sir! I am just twenty years old."

Gunther uttered.

"Haha, No, a comrade."

Nix said laughingly.

"Haha, I am sorry young man. It seems I've grown old."

Waltner said.

"It's okay sir. No need to apologize. Actually, I am a big fan of you, sir."

Gunther said standing upright.

"I am glad to hear that. May I know your good name?

"It's Gunther sir!"

Soon Waltner rose from his bed and walked along with Nix out of his tent.

The war field was cleaned up. The dead soldiers were dropped into a large pit Nix's army had dug. There are both Outlaws and soldiers akin inside the pit. 

"Good job"

Waltner uttered and walked straight out of the tent and noticed the Outlaws being tied up.

"You've captured them all huh? I didn't expect you to become a Regular."

Waltner said in a low voice seemingly worried.

"No, I am not a regular nor an Outlaw. I don't belong to any faction."

Nix said indifferently as they both stared at the army from the back.

"Then how did you reach such levels? Don't tell me... You've trained hard enough to increase only your stats?"

Waltner said with his eyebrows shot up and the sense of shock was evident in his eyes.

"Not really, I leveled up."

"I see... I think asking for your level would be unsightly of me but, honestly, I am intrigued."

Waltner said.

"Level three," Nix replied.

"I can't really believe it but, you surely have trained enough"

Waltner said rubbing his beard.

"Ohh he has woken up."

Camila uttered walking towards them from a distance.

"Greetings, Mr.Waltner."

"Who might this beautiful maiden be?"

"Nix's girlfriend."

"Haha, Young man you surely have grown."

Waltner said patting Nix's back.

"War Commander... You have a call from Bageran," Said Hyun Dae Seok holding a black communication crystal.

"Sure give it to me."

Nix nodded and caught the crystal.

"Nix here."

{It's Bageran here... We've won and the king is safe. We request you to stay in Barani until called and the required number of forces will be sent to Barani.}

"Alright, I understand."

Nix replied and the connection cut off. He immediately turned to Waltner and said.

"Old man, I'd be staying here for a while." 

"Feel free, newbie." Waltner shrugged.

"Will you join me?"

Nix asked. He cut it short he didn't want to go in a roundabout way. He held high respect to the man. He was not vicious neither a bad man. His circumstances took his path by terrible turns and led him to this.

"Are you implying that I am free to choose or I don't have any other choice since I might be imprisoned?"

"Nah, If you don't want to you can reject but, I don't have plans on imprisoning you."

Nix said casually.

"Haha, I accept though."

"Glad to hear that. Though will the Outlaws be okay?"

"They'll be fine if I just order them."

"It's good then. I don't have plans on killing tons. There are already about fifteen thousand soldiers dead. It's a huge loss and I feel like their deaths went in vain." Nix explained.

He was considerate. He cannot just go killing further than this. Sure, he didn't know the weights or clearly felt it. But, he had killed thousands and didn't want to go on the massacre. 

One should hold responsibility for his actions and Nix was a responsible one. 

Soon the wounded were taken to medical camps. Upon the very morning, the remnants of the army marched to the City of crimes. 

Soldiers were worn out and wore complex expressions. Some lost their friends some lost their limbs, Some were happy that they've survived. They were all sorts of people.

Among them was a man unsatisfied with his victory and his comrades. That was none other than Nix himself. He felt terrible. The power he exercised was not his, at least that was how he felt.

He didn't attain it with his own that is he didn't have any memory over it and he constantly borrowed the powers of his past but, he surely went through some inexplicable pain to attain the things he owns now.

"Heyy, Cheer up! Didn't you just win over the troublesome trail?"

Cinzia said hitting Nix's shoulder with her elbow.

"Haha, I believe this newbie is worried about the reality or realized his position."

Waltner laughed.

"What are you talking about Mr.Waltner?"

Cinzia asked with her eyebrows shot up.

"You don't know huh? It's expected though considering it's our side that had won."

Waltner said rubbing his chin beard. 

"The sages have been killed. The hope of Regulars has been shattered." Those words that lept of Waltner's mouth made the people around him stand in a stupor.

Two entities that were a solid pillar was killed. In fact, they were existences rivaling beings like demi-gods as such it was a very shocking event to know.

Waltner was well informed and got often updated. The networking of Outlaws was phenomenal. Perhaps Bageran didn't want Nix to get anxious about the occurrence.

In any case, didn't care about the loss in the slightest. There is a concept called Underworld and Ether world which could let the revive and set their foot's back. All of this only happens if their souls weren't destroyed to their core.

***

Meanwhile,

Heredia looked down on the dots that was upon a huge terrain, probably the soldiers to be precise her pawns in the game, lying atop of her bed. 

Opposite her were two unrecognizable faces who possessed a faint grin looking at Heredia.

"I didn't expect that lowly human to win the territory."

One of the two unrecognizable shadows said.

"Lowly human? I believe we cannot use such terms on this particular one. He is a peculiar existence won't we agree?"

"Haha, Indeed...A Peculiar one."

The trio seemed very satiated over his victory. Above all, it seemed like Heredia's expectations had been completely shattered and went beyond.

"He has passed the Trail."

Heredia utter sipping her red wine with a smile.