The serene quiet of the church had been utterly shattered. The heavy wooden doors, now splintered and askew, offered a harsh glimpse of the bright, unforgiving sun outside. For original chapters go to novel※fire.net
Arthur's focus, however, was entirely on the grim-faced Turk standing before him.
Rude, the bald, unyielding enforcer, was a brick wall of muscle and stoicism.
"This is your last warning. Do not interfere with Shinra business."
Rude's voice was a low growl.
"Consider me an unwelcome interruption."
He wasn't about to back down. Not when Aerith's life was on the line, and certainly not against a couple of low-level thugs, no matter how intimidating they tried to be.
He was at Level 3, barely above your average Shield agent back home.
He was a Level 6 Adolescent Reality Blending Cosmic True Dragon for crying out loud. This wasn't even a fair fight.
Rude, apparently taking his smirk as a challenge, lunged forward. He was surprisingly fast for his size, a dark blur heading straight for Arthur. His fist, a powerful weapon, aimed for Arthur's head.
Arthur didn't even bother to dodge. He simply lifted a hand, and with casual ease, caught Rude's punch mid-air. The impact was barely a tremor against his palm.
Rude, however, looked utterly stunned. His eyes, though hidden behind dark glasses, widened imperceptibly. He tried to pull his arm back, but Arthur's grip was like iron.
"Is that all you've got?"
Arthur asked, a bored tone in his voice. He could practically feel the force of Rude's desperate attempts to free himself.
"Shinra really needs to re-evaluate its recruitment policy."
With a flick of his wrist, Arthur twisted Rude's arm, sending him spinning off balance.
Rude, caught completely off guard, stumbled backward, crashing into a pew with a loud crack of wood. He landed hard, groaning, his earlier stoicism completely gone, replaced by shock and pain.
He tried to push himself up, but his arm was clearly throbbing, and he couldn't get his footing.
Arthur didn't waste another second on him. He could hear Dino's increasingly frustrated shouts from the back of the church, fading as he chased Aerith through the garden. He needed to get to them.
Dino, meanwhile, was already moving, but his pursuit of Aerith seemed almost half-hearted, as if he knew it was futile.
"She always does this," He muttered, shaking his head. "Always through the flowers."
Arthur strode past the downed Rude, ignoring his pained grunts. He reached the side door Aerith had used, pushing it open to reveal the church's rear garden.
It was a beautiful space, even more vibrant and overflowing with flowers than the one inside. But there was no time to admire the scenery.
He saw them then: Aerith, a flash of pink amidst the green, ducking behind a thick rose bush, and Dino, looking dishevelled and annoyed, trying to follow her.
Dino called out again, his voice laced with exasperation.
"Come on, this is getting ridiculous!"
Aerith giggled, her laugh light and carefree, as if this was all just a game.
"You know I hate being confined, Dino!"
She called back, her voice muffled by the foliage.
Arthur jogged towards them, weaving through the overgrown paths.
Dino, hearing his footsteps, spun around, his sharp, bird-like face snapping towards Arthur.
His eyes, filled with surprise, quickly narrowed into wary suspicion. He immediately adopted a defensive stance, his hands rising, ready to fight.
He was faster than Rude, more agile, but still nowhere near Arthur's level.
Arthur was here meaning that Rude must have been dealt with. And very fast at that.
"What did you do to Rude?"
Dino demanded, his voice tight.
"What organization are you with?"
He seemed genuinely confused, trying to place Arthur. Shinra had extensive files on almost everyone of note, especially those with combat potential.
Arthur, clearly, wasn't in their database. Someone this strong must not be left from Shinra's watchful eye.
Arthur stopped a few feet from Dino, a playful glint in his eyes. This was his chance to have a little fun.
Aerith was safe for the moment, hiding in the bushes, probably enjoying the show. He put on his best serious face, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
Arthur began, crossing his arms.
"Well, let's just say I'm a bit of a… freelancer these days. But back in the day, I used to be a First Class Soldier."
Dino's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine shock crossing his face.
"A First Class Soldier?!"
He visibly reeled back, his defensive stance wavering slightly. The reputation of Shinra's elite SOLDIER program, especially its First Class members, was legendary.
They were practically super-soldiers, capable of incredible feats.
To hear that Arthur was one of them, and not on Shinra's side, was clearly unsettling.
Arthur confirmed, leaning in slightly, as if sharing a secret.
"Had to leave, of course. Too many… ethical disagreements with the higher-ups, if you catch my drift."
"Couldn't stand all the bureaucracy, you know?"
Dino stared at him, torn between disbelief and a growing sense of dread. He glanced nervously at the rose bush where Aerith was hidden, then back at Arthur.
A First Class Soldier gone rogue?
This was a nightmare scenario. He was just a Turk, good at tracking and apprehension, but fighting a First Class Soldier was a whole different league.
His previous, half-hearted attempts to catch Aerith suddenly seemed like child's play compared to the problem now standing before him.
He opened his mouth, as if to speak, then closed it, clearly struggling to process this new information.
From behind the rose bush, Arthur heard a muffled snort, followed by a quiet giggle.
Aerith, it seemed, was thoroughly enjoying his little prank.
Good. He needed her to feel safe, even in this absurd situation. And if a little bit of playful deception helped establish his credibility and gave her a laugh, then it was well worth it.
Arthur continued, pressing his advantage, a mock-serious expression on his face,
"Are we going to do this the hard way, or are you going to let Aerith go and tell Shinra you had a… slight technical difficulty?"
He raised an eyebrow, a clear challenge in his gaze, daring Dino to make the first move.
A low, guttural chuckle rumbled in his chest, a sound that seemed to vibrate with dark amusement.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, he willed magic to coalesce around him, not for attack, but for pure intimidation.
Shadows deepened around his form, twisting and writhing as if alive, while faint tendrils of an icy blue light snaked through the air, outlining his menacing silhouette.
His eyes, usually a calm hazel, now glowed with an eerie, predatory gleam, reflecting the burgeoning magical energy. The air crackled with a palpable tension, a silent promise of the power he held.
He was a creature of the night, a formidable presence, and he revelled in the fear he inspired, his lips curling into a slow, chilling smile.
Every fiber of his being radiated a palpable menace, transforming the very atmosphere into a suffocating shroud of dread.
Dino looked utterly terrified.
Retreat, or face a rogue First Class Soldier?
The choice seemed pretty obvious to Arthur.
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