The killer is running at full speed through the forest. He occasionally looks back as he can sense Braverte behind him. While running the killer has a devilish smirk on his face. Braverte however is dead serious as he doesn’t run through the forest but jumps from tree branch to tree branch while holding a young Pulmo.

Following a crazy killer like this one is dangerous, especially if you simply follow his tracks. The amount of traps and or hidden ambushes that could follow increases the longer the distance is between the two. To avoid this to a certain degree, Braverte uses the trees to get a higher vantage point. He is a little slower than usual because he is carrying extra weight, but he is still able to sense that he is getting close every moment.

The violent jumps from branch to branch and the speed with which they are moving have silenced young Pulmo. Her body and mind aren’t used to this kind of force being exerted on her. Braverte knows he is putting a lot of strain on her body, but there is no other option right now.

“You’re a brave girl. Soon we will catch him.”

Pulmo nods as she holds onto Braverte tightly. The killer arrives at a big open field with a big rock in the middle of it. He stops and turns around, and when he is completely turned Braverte jumps down from a high tree and lands at the edge of the field with Pulmo still in his arms. The killer looks excited as he sees Braverte.

“You made it. And you brought the girl.”

Braverte knows that things are about to get very violent so he puts Pulmo down.

“Stay here. Don’t move, ok?”

“Ok.”

Braverte stands back up and looks at the killer.

“Why did you kill her family?”

The killer starts chuckling.

“I had to make sure you would keep following me. I wanted to kill the girl too. I was worried you would stop and take care of her. I’m glad you didn’t though.”

As the killer finishes, a lot of crazy-looking people come out of the bushes and woods and step into the open field. They all have their eyes set on Braverte. The killer is now smiling from ear to ear.

“I promised all these guys they would get to meet you. And I hate breaking a promise.”

More and more people come out of the forest until there are hundreds of killers and thugs on the field. The killer has his arms out with his palms up as he smiles at Braverte.

“Surrender, and I promise you a sweet death. And we will kill the girl once we’re done. Or an ugly death and the girl will be sold to the highest bidder.”

Braverte looks to the left and then to the right to survey his surroundings and do a quick headcount of those present. He then starts nodding, like someone who just accepted a bad situation. Braverte turns back to Pulmo and looks her in the eyes.

“Don’t be scared, I got you.”

There isn’t a hint of fear or hesitation in Braverte’s eyes and his tone of voice is very soothing and with a calm voice of her own Pulmo replies.

“Ok.”

Braverte turns back to the group, raises his right leg, and stomps on the ground. A wave of Higher Reasoning spreads across the field. Using this method Braverte is able to find the last person standing at the edge of the group and then after another 5-meter expansion, he releases the wave. Where the wave stopped the ground started to crack. The group of killers think it’s an earthquake caused by Braverte so they just smile as they expected something like this.

“Your little tricks won’t work here.”

From the cracks suddenly a huge wall appears and from the wall, lava starts flowing down. Making the wall untouchable and unscalable. Braverte now looks the killer he was chasing right in the eyes.

“Thank you. You brought all of these open bounties in one place. I’m finally going to be able to pay off my house. That mortgage was killing me.”

The killers realize they have been trapped inside the walls created by Braverte. Braverte can sense that some of them are a bit startled.

“I only need your heads as proof.”

One of the men in the group decides that he has had enough of listening to Braverte and charges at him. Braverte doesn’t hesitate and disappears from sight. Pulmo is a bit startled at his sudden disappearance but she then sees him appear again behind the man who was charging at them. Braverte is holding his head in his hand. Braverte is now standing right in front of the group of men who wish to kill him. He looks at the killer who he chased here.

“You’re last.”

The killer surprised at the bravado of Braverte decides it best to end this right now as he orders everyone.

“KILL HIM!”

The group descends on Braverte like a wave of insane bloodlust and killers. Braverte dodges attacks and with each of his own attack, he takes off a head. He uses several methods to decapitate his opponent, sometimes he just punches their head straight off. Other times he grabs a hold of the head and just rips it off. He also uses a roundhouse kick to decapitate a few others. He at times also uses his hand like a blade and slashes their head off.

Braverte has taken off 25 heads when he jumps up and backward to land in front of Pulmo. He puts the heads down in front of her while still facing the group. He stands back up and smiles. The group realized that they might have bitten off more than they could chew. Braverte jumped back to both protect Pulmo from sudden attacks on her as she could be taken hostage and to show those who couldn’t see what was happening that he took off a lot of heads. He knows that fighting is often more psychological than physical.

The killer who Braverte chased down, might be the most shaken of them all. But he hides behind his men and orders them to continue their barrage.

“What are you waiting for? GET HIM!”

Braverte stomps on the ground again, but this time two flyssa swords come out of the ground and pop up, Braverte catches them midair. Without delay, he jumps back into the group and starts taking off heads again.

Pulmo is watching the whole thing mesmerized by the elegance and sheer dominance that Braverte is fighting this big group. The main killer has snuck off to circle around Braverte and has finally found an open spot where he has a straight line and open access to young Pulmo.

If he can take her hostage, they will be able to stop Braverte and kill him. And now is his chance, so he dashes towards Pulmo.

Chapter 57 fin