"…It was almost as if… he was going to kill me the instant he saw me."
Scott shivered. But, oddly enough, so did Michael.
"…On his neck, I saw something," Michael said, "A symbol… a Mark. He also had an Arcane Mark, just like you."
Scott's eyes widened at once. Did this mean that, if he didn't listen to his own self-warning, he would've been killed or possibly even obliterated by that man, who wielded an Arcane Mark?
"That's insane!" Felix cried out, "But then, does that mean, he was looking for you?"
"Maybe," Scott replied, "But, I'm not sure if it's exactly in my best interests to meet him. Someone who refers to me as a "gift" may not even have my interests in mind."
"I guess that makes one person I certainly have to avoid. Ha…"
The three of them continued onwards, deep into the cavernous depths, filled with cobwebs, lingering bats and sticky slime belonging to whatever creatures lurked even deeper within. However, due to the torches that lit up the way for them, they weren't completely in the dark.
As they walked, Scott looked around and found recent traces of battle, as well as more of that odd, greyish, slimy substance, which he touched and inspected.
Weird…
He looked at Michael and Felix and noticed that they were quite a way ahead of him. It was obvious that Michael was scared out of his wits in such an unfamiliar place, while Felix was just a natural speedster, even when walking.
But, before Scott managed to catch up, he heard a visceral growling noise from behind him. One that belonged to a very abnormal monster that had already noticed him.
"Hey… guys?! I think we might have a situation!" Scott yelled, facing the monster.
This creature seemed to have been long since infected by Abnormal Essence, and resembled that of an octopus, except that now, tendrils also extended from every part of its body, and all of its tentacles and tendrils were lined with rows upon rows of teeth. It was also slightly bigger than him.
Michael and Felix had also noticed the slimy beast by this time, yet could do nothing as the creature had a clear advantage through the extreme length of its several arms.
"…Damn it…!" Scott exclaimed, bracing for the monster's first attack, seeing as it was too late to launch the first attack from his side.
But, before it charged at him with its tentacles, an unidentified object flew from the other end of the cavern, from the dark abyss of the depths, and almost hit Scott's head, but narrowly missed, tearing through the creature in an instant.
An axe. And one that belonged to the man approaching.
"Ah, finally, you're here!" Felix breathed out.
"Big'Un!"
A bulky, tall, olive-skinned man with short, spiky black hair approached, shirtless and wielding a battleaxe twice the size of the other one, which was just a normal throwing axe.
"…Uh… who is he…?" Michael asked Felix, to which he replied:
"He's Big'Un! One of the Marauder Generals of the Eastern Bandit Union! But, don't worry, he's pretty nice too!"
"…You mean, nice as in friendly or "nice" as in, at least he won't kill me…?"
Big'Un narrowed his sharp, intensely raven-black eyes at him, and grunted.
"So, why have you come here today, sneaky brat?" He asked in a gruff voice, "With these ones strung along with you?"
"Well, we're looking for all the information on one of the Bandit Kings around here. More specifically, the one who has my stuff, Iron-fisted King Cromse!"
"I know most Bandit Kings aren't in the Bandit Union, but…"
Big'Un nodded and gestured for them to follow behind.
Meanwhile, Scott walked up to Michael and whispered, "Did I just hear Felix call that big fellow a Marauder General? Are we sure he isn't just leading us to our deaths?"
Michael shrugged. "I've heard from other disciples that the bandits in the Bandit Union are nicer than you'd expect. I heard they only steal from and attack other money hoarders, like the pirates, for example."
"Ah… alright then, let's follow! What's the worst that could happen anyway?"
***
After minutes of walking, Big'Un led them to a small cavern hidden within the dark tunnels, where several other bandits, both big and small, rested or played time-wasting games with each other.
"This is the current base for my group, which I call, the Black Mountain Bandits," Big'Un uttered, before turning around and sitting down on a rock, "So… you say you want information about the Iron-fisted King, huh?"
Felix nodded.
"Then, I'll tell you. But, prepare to pay a hefty price afterwards."
"Of course!"
Big'Un nodded. "The Iron-fisted King has recently been found to be "conversing" with the army of Orcs belonging to Sanaharma, the desert region not too far from here."
"The most logical reasoning is likely due to the Artifact that he pilfered from you after you snuck in and stole some of the rewards belonging to those who participated in the "Hunt of the Winged Demon."
"Ha… that bandit thief is nothing but a fraud!" Felix said, shaking his fist, "What else has he been doing?"
"Nothing much. However, rumours are running about, saying that he's planning on delving into the Shrine of Aria deep underneath the surface of Hanus Sols Castle."
"Huh? This Bandit King… he's even daring enough to want to disrespect Aria? We need to stop his antics!"
Big'Un let out a haughty chuckle, as he stood up.
"Sure. But first, you three now have to pay the price for that information."
"Pay the price…?" Scott murmured before he finally noticed a huge opening within the cavern, that seemed to lead into the true abyss.
"You three. You know, that dark tunnel right there, leads to a gigantic monster nest that was only recently discovered? Investigate that cavern for me, and I'll let you go. Who knows, I may even let you get some extra information on top of it."
"But, remember this… no matter what you do down there, report it all to me," Big'Un commanded, "No matter what."
***
A man, standing upon a sword in the air, scanned the old village below, while deep in thought.
"…Those simpletons were lying to me. How unexpected. They should have been trembling after merely glimpsing my Arcane Mark. Unless they're just young fools."
"But, never mind that. My incomplete gift is still waiting for me. Even now, I can still see the manifestation of his Arcane Mark on his chest, glowering at me. It was white, compared to my Arcane Mark's rose hue*."
This must mean only one thing."
"He is someone who needs true or purified "memories" to attain an understanding of his God's divine element, different to me since I must become acquainted with "romance" in every aspect of my life, specifically with a lady by my side."
"We are both beginners on our journeys, but I will be the one to reach the end of my journey, and he will merely be the stepping-stone for me."
"I can't battle you now, as this situation now lacks the romance I need for advancement. So, wait for me, "Memorychaser"! Wait for my sword to strike you down, in the name of Ariadne, my love!"
"I, Passion, a traveller from Crysilea, vow today to take your head!"