[@Dark cloud] [@Zerofighter] [@Zool] [@Thinslayer] [@Conscripts]

As the bulky knight removed the shroud from his head, Yakeru had not expected to see the face of a young man. It did not fit the image he had in his mind when he had seen the knight tearing through all those goblins. He wondered even if they had picked up someone else who donned a similar knightly armour. No, it was the same person though. Or not? He had a different vibe over him then earlier. It was too confusing to keep thinking about it for now. Perhaps they could ask the knight his story when they arrived at the house of Robert. 

He turned towards the burning city, the smoke rising high it almost blotted out the sun. Even from this distance he could clearly see the holes the explosions had created, penetrating the city walls. It seemed that even when the city was considered lost, people were still willing to fight for it. Did that mean there were still people alive? But who was willingly spilling blood and risking their lives for perhaps the few they could save from the forces of the Witch? Why? 

He suddenly reached for his head as pain shot through it. It felt as if he was getting stabbed in his skull. He left the side of David and took a few steps before sinking on one knee. His head was spinning and he closed his eyes, his mind projecting the voices of everyone time and time again.

[I]...who opposes the witch...[/i]

[I]...small pockets of resistance...[/i]

[i]...that bitch needs to be knocked down a few pegs...[/i]

[I]...at your service...[/i]

[I]...fight for whats right...[/i]

All of them, this team as David had put it, had walked out of the city unharmed. Did they not have...some kind of duty to the people who could still be alive in there? They had been summoned here according to Robert Savant, they were expected to do great deeds. So why were they walking away? They had to turn back. 

Still those two women were there. They would not stand a chance. Not to either one of them.

He could feel another stab in his head.

[color=red][i]YOU would not. Because you are weak...[/i][/color] A voice whispered in his head. Teasing.

[i]No, I...[/i]

[color=red][i]Yes, you are a weakling. You almost peed your pants back there.[/i][/color] The voice started to chuckle.[color=Red][I]You are not hurt, yet you let your new companion carry you to safety, support you, comfort you. Perhaps next time, you can ask him to dry your tears and help you blow your nose! You are no hero.[/i][/color]

It was true. Yakeru had wanted to be like the hero from his novels, fearless in the face of great evil. Yet he had frozen and had relied on someone else to get him away from there. 

[I]Who are you even?[/i]

[color=red][I]Oh but you know me, as well as I know you. I see right through you and see you for what you really are: A cowardly weakling who deserves no place in this party. All of them are going to turn their backs on you. One. By. One.[/i][/color]

[i]Shut up! Who are you?![/i]

[color=red][i]I am you. Miyazaki Hakaru.[/i][/color]

[i]Wrong. I am Yakeru and I am not weak. Not any more![/i]

[color=red][i]Prove it, you coward.[/i][/color] The voice hissed.

[i]I will![/i]

[color=red][i]Weak....ling...[/i][/color]

“I am not weak...” Without realizing he had spoken these words out loud. He wiped the dirt from his pants and narrowed his eyes as he turned his head to look back at the city once more. In his mind he could hear screams coming, flowing on the wind. Gritting his teeth as he clenched his fists. The sound of the voices from his companions did not seem to penetrate his ears, sounding more as if they came from behind a thick veil. Without saying a word, he started to walk, past Jared and Dex. His right hand moved to the hilt of his sword and his feet started to run. He did not pay attention to what was happening behind him, he just kept on running.

The city gate came closer with every step and Yakeru could see two goblins dragging dead bodies from a cart. One of them pointed at the quickly approaching figure. Light reflected on the blade of the drawn sword. Yakeru roared. The goblins shrieked. With one fluent wave of his sword, and without lowering his speed, he cleaved them both, from the waist, in two. He did not stop there. A goblin patrol had tried to stop him. There were only five of them. [I]The fools[/i] His heart was filled with anger, to both the goblins and himself, not letting other feelings enter. His mind was set on just one thing: Death. 
Four of them he left in a gory mess of blood and guts, picking up a spear and threw it straight through the neck of the last one who was trying to escape. It gurgled as it drowned in its blood, clutching the point of the spear sticking out of its throat. 

Yakeru breathed heavily and his heart was pounding fast but still he felt unsatisfied. 

He followed the sounds of dreadful screams and horrifying laughter. A group of goblins, led by a big one, had captured a small group of people, mostly women and old men. Armed with spears and short swords they were trying to drive them into a cage or some sorts. One of the women cried out as one of the goblins tore on her clothes. Whatever he had been thinking, Yakeru made sure it was the last thing in this world he had. Blood sprayed on the young woman as the head of the goblin was cut clean off. It landed at the feet of the big one, who kicked it in curious wonder before turning his gaze toward this new threat. The Witch had ordered them not to attack the reincarnations, but now there was one killing his brethren. He could not let this go unpunished.

The little ones did not prove much of a challenge for the wrath of Yakeru. “Go!” He yelled at the captured humans. “Get out of here! Move!” A blow of a club missed him by a hair and he took a few steps back, defending the people and keeping his eyes on the big brute who was surprisingly fast considering his height. The club came down again which Yakeru managed to dodge and he twirled around the goblin, slashing its legs and its back. It roared and spoke in some sort of guttural language which Yakeru did not understand. It probable meant nothing good anyway. A massive hand smacked against his ribs and he flew against a half destroyed wall. He coughed as he fell to the ground and got grabbed before he got time to get on his feet. He got lifted into the air, the face of the goblin coming closer, ready to take a bite out of him. He tried to raise his arm but it was held firmly so he could not move his sword. 

If you would ask him later, Yakeru would probably not remember how it happened but in that moment, he had closed his eyes and with a flash of green he suddenly found himself behind the goblin who was still looking at his now empty hand. The sword of Yakeru went deep, ignoring any resistance of flesh, tendon and bone, pushing it with both his hands and holding it in place as he moved it up. Warm blood washed over his arms. He did not care and thought only about the people he had saved just now. “I am not weak.”

His legs were shaking but as he heard more noises of running feet coming closer to his position, he gladly turned to meet his foes.

[@Zool]