Chapter: 469

A strange feeling went over Matheson as he ran, each time he passed a house, he saw some hopeful eyes gazing at him.

The people he considered peasants were looking at him as if they loved him, he had never felt such a strange feeling.

It was different from every other smile he had seen: the shit-eating grin of a political enemy, the proud smile of other nobles, the fake smile of people trying to please him, the disdainful smile of a manipulative friend, the mocking smiles of the guards, the demanding stares from his own father.

He then noticed himself slowing down, caught up in his thoughts – this definitely wasn’t optimal while he was running for his life.

“Argh! Foolish fleeting feelings! Strength is all that matters!” he reminded himself, gritting his teeth in anger as he picked up the pace and sprinted faster.

This seemed to do the trick – the combination of anger, pain and focus made the uncomfortable feelings go away.

Thankfully, the south path was coming into sight, and there were guards there too.

“HEY!” he yelled, but due to his rapid breathing, all that came out was a ‘HA!’.

The guards were all quietly preparing for battle. The storm spell would be over soon and they would have to fight.

Some checked their weapons, others chatted, while some simply lay down.

Still, it was enough for them to turn their heads to the weird yelling sound.

Each of their eyes bulged as they saw Matheson – a young adventurer with five treants bearing down on him.

“Shit, get up!” one yelled, he went to wake up another who was lying down.

“Huh?” The one lying down opened one eye before raising his head up slightly, seeing the fear on the guard’s face.

“Why is he alarmed?” he wondered.

The group of guards were much higher levels than the treant’s, spore nests, and other things that charged out of the woods.

Meanwhile the spell-storm was still active, so it didn’t really make sense to be so alarmed – he even looked panicked, which was odd.

He looked to where he was pointing, only one eye still open.

That’s when he saw a young adventurer – quite a muscular one too. Oddly, he didn’t have a look of fear on his face, but one of solemn seriousness; his expression was like a mighty boulder, unphased by the world around him.

Next, he saw the charging elementals behind him, and the panic of the other guard made sense.

*FWOOSH!*

The guard lying down suddenly disappeared, leaving behind only a faint dark blue glow of mana which quickly dispersed.

*FWOOSH! – SHRING!*

He reappeared in the air behind a treant, slicing off its head in one hit.

*FWOOSH! ~ FWOOSH!*