Chapter 2: Virgil’s Pasture

Mendor as well as Garnet and many of the men still standing were in complete and utter shock from Zax’s performance.

“W-Who are you, sir?” Garnet asked in a faltering voice.

Although the surrounding view was a mass of sickening gore, there was not one person in the battlefield that carried himself so nonchalantly as Zax, while looking like a ghastly red devil that spawned right out of hell.

Zax rubbed his fingers and then waved his right hand, trying to get rid of some of the sticky blood and mushy meat. Usually such state did not disturb him that much that he could not wait to find suitable means to clean himself, but the insides of the Black Chrome Alligator smelled truly awful.

‘Mm? Is that old man speaking to me?’ From his inability to understand Garnet’s language, Zax was not aware that he was speaking to him until he noticed his look and that there was no one beside him. ‘I don’t understand a word that he is saying. Should I gesture with my hands that I can’t understand? But that might raise question about where I’m from and I’m not sure how to answer them, yet. Maybe I should just leave... ?’

Seeing that he was not getting answered, Garnet misinterpreted Zax’s pensive stare to a murdering look, still consumed with the bloodthirstiness of killing the Black Chrome Alligator.

Fearing that he spoke too casually and offended the great expert before him, which came out of nowhere and with one blow killed a mighty Deformed Being, even if it was injured, Garnet quickly bowed to express his gratitude so to avoid an incident.

“Arg ... Sir, please forgive my insolence, you just surprised myself and my companions. Please allow me to thank you from the bottom of my...” Garnet said every word so eloquently; one might misunderstand and think that he was chanting from Holy Scriptures.

When the men around saw Garnet’s behavior, whether they have been the village warriors under him or the Mendor mercenary band, none dared to despise him. No matter how venerable a cultivator was, at the face of a stronger cultivator he or she should act with restraint and the proper etiquette.

Believing that Zax’s killing intent is on the verge of erupting a second time, it was Garnet’s responsibility to conduct himself as he did and appease him. In fact, Mendor had an equal responsibility as they both were the leaders of their united groups, but he seemed to pick up something else from Zax. In addition, his assessment of Zax’s strength differed than Garnet. Not there he doubted Zax’s capabilities, but taking in consideration the state the Black Chrome Alligator was in, coupled with his years of experience as a mercenary, he gathered that Zax was probably not weaker than him and had used a peculiar attack that met the conditions to defeat the alligator in one blow.

Mendor contemplated, unsure, but for a second there he thought that what he picked up from Zax ... could it be helplessness?

“Stop”. Zax raised the palm of his hand along with speaking outloud

Garnet’s sincerity and fear that could not be hidden made him a bit awkward. He realized that it does not really matter if the people in front of him knew that he cannot speak their language. If it will raise suspicious eyebrows, he can just leave, find someplace to rid himself from the gore and continue onward to his original destination, Glorious Ground.

Garnet saw Zax raised his hand toward him, the same hand that blew up the extremely strong and tough Black Chrome Alligator, and a premature sense of imminent crisis caused his heart to beat so loudly, he could barely hear to what Zax said.

“Sir, please don’t-”

“Shut it, Garnet!” Mendor interrupted him and turned to Zax. “You ... Lad, don’t you speak Netherling?”

“Eh!” Zax looked dumbfounded at Mendor.

He could not understand the words he said to Garnet, but the next sentence that was directed at him was actually in his native tongue. That was beyond his expectation. After gesturing he thought the other will use the same manner of communication, not that among them someone will not only understand him, but his situation as well.

‘Netherling, is that the native language of this place or the entire planet?’ Zax thought before replying to Mendor. “No”.

“A foreigner...” Mendor murmured and looked heavily around, at his men and the village warriors. “Tend the wounded, then gather the casualties and bury them. If they have families, collect their things and arrange them accordingly. And bring the Black Chrome Alligator’s carcass to the village”.

The atmosphere turned despondent when Mendor’s men heard him. Suddenly the adrenalin and rush from the bottle were replaced by weights of exhaustion. Nonetheless, they hurried to comply, with the only other Core Master in the group supervising. The village warriors were slow to react, by they also helped.

By that time, from Zax’s placid conversation with Mendor, which he could understand, it became clear to Garnet that he misjudged Zax’s temperament, and that he also was not an old man like the two of them.

Secretly laughing at himself, he said, finally in a little less apprehensive voice. “The battle was wearying us to out limits ... Thank you, young man, for assisting us finish it without suffering additional losses”. He said in New Earth’s language.

“You don’t have to mention it”.

It was not that Zax did not care for those who died in the battle, but he knew none of them and the ties they had. As such, there was a tint of apathy to his demeanor. That being said, such behavior was common for experts, and so neither Mendor nor Garnet held it against him.

Mendor shook his head. “No. Many men died today, and many more would have died if you stayed your hand. Please accept both of our gratitude”. He gave a slight bow with his head and after pausing for a moment he continued to ask. “How can we call you?”

“My name is Zax”. Zax said, not seeing the point of adding his surname.

“Mm”, Mendor nodded. “The man beside me called ‘Garnet’. He is the chief warrior of the village up ahead”.

Garnet smiled respectfully at Zax. He seemed to be fine with Mendor taking upon himself to make the introduction.

“You can call me Mendor. Most of the men out here...” As he spoke and turned to look around, when his eyes landed row of dead bodies, Mendor gaze became sullen. “Are members of my Mendor mercenary band. The rest are Garnet’s people. I think that you can discern who is who”.