Conquerors Will 

The journey spanned an arduous half a day, even with their incredible speeds. Traveling to an entirely new district was no small feat; it was a considerable distance that tested their endurance and resolve. Each mile felt like an eternity, underscoring just how far they had to go to reach their destination. The carriage screeched to a jarring halt, causing Jahad to fumble and drop a square bar of compressed sustenance he had been nibbling on. Lepic, engrossed in his stopwatch, deftly tucked it into the depths of his jacket, signaling for them to disembark. The Whispering Pines was a mesmerizing place, characterized by its towering trees that stretch high into the sky, their branches intertwining to create a natural canopy. The trees are lush and green, with needles that gently sway in the breeze, giving off a soft rustling sound that adds to the enchanting atmosphere. Interspersed among the trees are numerous buildings, crafted from a mix of brick and wood. These structures blend seamlessly with their surroundings, as if they have grown organically from the earth itself. The brick exteriors have a warm, earthy tone, while the wooden elements add a rustic charm, making each building feel like a part of the forest. As they walked through the Whispering Pines, a subtle sound could always be heard—like soft whispers carried by the wind. The gentle murmur created an almost magical ambiance, inviting visitors to pause and listen closely, as if the forest itself has secrets to share. The combination of nature and architecture caused Jahad to pause at its captivating atmosphere. He had never seen anything like it.

Soon they approached the target facility. "Once we breach the factory, it's kill on sight. They're weak; I'll be right with you, so see if you can harness your ability. Remember Asper-Shah," Lepic murmured, stretching as he stifled a yawn. His hand delved deep into his jacket, ready for action.As they approached the imposing gates of the factory, two guards stood idly by, boredom etched on their faces. Clad in tattered uniforms and armed with sheathed swords, they seemed oblivious to the impending danger. Lepic advanced with purpose, and before they could utter a word, his hand shot out like a viper. In an instant, they crumpled to the ground, their throats expertly cut. Lepic stepped into the crimson pool of blood, scrutinizing the arcane runes etched into the gate, the gurgling and bubbling sounds emanating from the lifeless bodies below him.

Lepic pulled out a small black case, within he took out a brush, the ends splodged with an ink like residue, he drew runic symbols onto the gate then murmured "Apertus" the runic symbols on the gate bounced off, using the brush he started to reorganise the scriptures. "Someones on the roof take care of him, stay up there, keep it secure" Lepic said sternly breaking his trance of thought.Jahad scaled the weathered brick façade of the factory with a blend of agility and determination. His fingers gripped the rough edges of the bricks, finding purchase as he pulled himself upward. Each movement was calculated; he navigated around crumbling mortar and jagged protrusions, his boots scraping against the gritty surface. As he ascended, the chill of the air bit at his skin, but he pressed on, fueled by the urgency of their mission. He spotted a ledge jutting out, a perfect foothold that allowed him to gain a few precious feet. With a swift motion, he hoisted himself up, swinging himself to the roof of the factory. 

The air had a chilling bite to it as Jahad locked eyes on his target. The man appeared ordinary, clad in a tattered uniform and wielding a pike. As Jahad approached, the man turned at the sound but was too slow to react. In a flash, Jahad closed the distance, stomping down on the pike to prevent it from being raised. He used the momentum to deliver a powerful punch to the man's temple, snapping his head to the side.Without giving him a moment to recover, Jahad followed up with a crushing blow to the gut, doubling the man over. A devastating knee strike sent blood gushing from his nose, and the impact left him crumpled on the ground. Jahad's hand tightened around the man's neck, the pressure causing a whistling sound from his windpipe. As his emotions surged, he flicked on the black wisps in his mind, invoking "Asper-Shah." Horror etched across the man's face as he struggled to scream, his throat constricted. The dark wisps snaked into his arm, racing towards his heart, causing his eyes to glow a menacing scarlet purple. The trance took hold, engraving a lifeless expression onto his features. With a slight loosening of his grip, Jahad watched as the man stood motionless, a mere figurine in his grasp.

Jahad peered down the roof giving a thumbs up to Lepic who glanced up briefly. Jahad surveyed the rest of the roof; the man in his trance-like state followed him but did nothing, strung around like a puppet. Jahad thought to himself on how vulnerable they've left this important cargo, but he realised that they focused on hiding it rather than keeping it secure. The factory blended in with its surroundings, the guards would not be easily noticed, few in number and strength however it was almost certain that they'd send more once its been breached. 10 minutes had passed, Jahad looked down, Lepic still engrossed in cracking the runic security. He looked back at the man. Bored Jahad poked his head, it bobbed back into place, the man was taller than him so it was a hassle to try and poke his head Jahad thought to himself. Suddenly the man crouched down. A puzzled look struck Jahads face. He started to think to himself inquisitively. "Stand up" Jahad exclaimed with a hint of authority. The man stood up. "Put your hand out". The man put his hand out. A grin escaped Jahads face. He was slowly figuring out his ability.

Another 15 minutes had elapsed, and Jahad had been diligently experimenting with his newfound ability during this time, uncovering several intriguing aspects. Although the man exhibited a zombie-like demeanor, he still possessed the capacity to fight. He obeyed any command that resonated in Jahad's mind or that he articulated aloud. When Jahad grabbed onto the man's arm and asked about his abilities there was a surge of memories, Jahad would understand his combat capabilities and magical abilities. However, there were limitations; the man could not perform tasks beyond his inherent capabilities. He was an unranked individual with minimal magical prowess, and could only manage to heat the tip of his spear. Consequently, if he commanded the man to conjure a fireball, he would simply remain frozen, devoid of thought, standing idle as if caught in a trance. This realization both thrilled and frustrated Jahad, as he pondered how to maximize this unique power while navigating the challenges that lay ahead. Jahad even got it to spar him, the black wisps seem to enhance the things' reactions and combat capabilities. Jahad wiped a sleek line of sweat from his face. "What should I call you?" Jahad questioned the man. His face was blank, he just stared at Jahad. Not great for conversations Jahad thought to himself.

A shout erupted from below, it was Lepic calling for Jahad, he darted to the edge. "It's done, get down here we're going in". Jahads saw that the symbols on the gate's colour faded, so he called over his new found friend, whom he named Pikey. Pikey followed to the edge. "Go down" Jahad said but realised he should have given clearer instructions. Pikey landed with a dull thud. He was sprawled across the floor but no serious lasting injuries seemed to be present. Lepic smirked "I thought your ability might come in handy, not for a human cushion though". Jahad dove from the roof, his landing pillowed by pikey, he stood both of them up, the black wisps gnawing at pikeys wounds seeming to heal them. Lepic looked confused. "He will help us," Jahad explained. "More the merrier" Lepic replied, his head pressed against the gate. "There's about 10 in there, deal with the front I'm going to rush to the backline". Jahad nodded before Lepic booted the gate, the entire gate went flying into two people knocking them over, before any could react Lepic blitzed forward to the furthest men. Jahad also got to work.

Jahad spotted the nearest man, who had raised his sword high above his head. Before the blow could land, Jahad launched a swift punch into the man's solar plexus. The impact left the man gasping for breath, his grip tightening around Jahad's shoulder in a desperate attempt to regain control. Seizing the moment, Jahad leveraged this hold to throw the man over his shoulder, twisting his arm painfully upward as he sent him crashing to the ground, his sword skittering away. In that instant, Pikey, Jahad's ally whom he had conquered and now commanded, sprang into action. With precision and ferocity, Pikey drove his pike into the man's head, ensuring that the threat was swiftly neutralized. The clash of battle echoed around them, but Jahad's confidence surged as he realized the effectiveness of their teamwork in this chaotic skirmish. Three more men swarmed towards Jahad and Pikey, a slow overhead sword strike came from the man from the side, Jahad side stepped and used the mans momentum to send him towards Pikey who expertly thrusted his spear into the flying target, retracting his spear he parried another sword strike towards Jahad, The sword dug harmlessly into the ground, using the opportunity, Jahad launched a devastating kick into his kidneys disrupting his organs, he showered the floor with spit. He crashed down to the floor in agony, clutching his abdomen before Pikey finished him off. Two men remained trapped under the metallic gate scrambling to get out. Jahad sent Pikey over to finish them off with his heated spear tip. 

Lepic felt no concern for Jahad; he knew he could handle the situation. He darted toward the backline, where the men were fumbling with their weapons, caught off guard by the sudden breach. There were six men in total, all armed and unprepared. Lepic swiftly flitted to the furthest one, in a crouched stance Lepic was beside him. The look of horror that painted the man's face was the last thing he saw in the reflection of Lepics' blue, calm pupils before he slashed his throat with lethal precision. The chaos of the moment intensified, and Lepic revelled in the thrill of the hunt, knowing he was a force to be reckoned with amidst the turmoil.

The men all turned around, he sent two daggers bisecting two of them, drenching the remaining three with the blood and gore of their comrades. The middle one came charging at Lepic, wielding a heavy axe that seemed to slice through the air with agonizing slowness. To Lepic, it felt as if time had slowed down to a crawl; he could have been clipping his nails while the swing was coming down. With a deft sidestep, he evaded the clumsy attack, his movements fluid and precise. The man's momentum carried him forward, leaving him vulnerable as Lepic prepared to counter with a swift and lethal strike, ready to exploit the opening created by the failed swing. The axe slashed into the ground embers and sparks flying from it. A fire knight he thought to himself but no matter, a low rank at that. The man heaved the heavy axe up, his friend dashed in during his down time, thrusting his sword trying to stab Lepic, each thrust he parried expertly, the last thrust he parried it downwards exposing the man's throat, he sliced his head clean off. The axeman, enraged, his eyes seeming to be ablaze, went charging towards Lepic. In a relaxed manner he sent another dagger flying from the confines of his jacket, it went straight through his head splitting his body in half before digging into the last man's skull. Both their corpses fell at the same time.

Bodies littered the factory floor. Lepic and Jahad walked towards a tarp, chained up with ancient symbols."That's the merchandise, I'll signal the carriers, expect contact, it'll mostly be dumbasses trying to make a name for themselves". Jahad heeded his warning, he called over Pikey who lulled around the corpses, he bought a sword for Jahad that resembled a wakizashi. It seemed to be crafted well , the sword featured a curved, single-edged blade that measured around 15 inches in length. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather providing a firm grip, while the guard was simple yet elegant, offering protection during combat. Its overall design meant for close quarters. He spun the sword a few times in his hand, grasping a feel for its weight. Lepic stood outside, the wind entering the factory from the missing gate seemed to howl at his presence, he pulled out what resembles a firecracker wrapped in scrolls with scriptures. He pointed it towards the sky before pulling the dangling, flimsy rope. A whistle pierced the air before a thunderous boom echoed the distance, as the flare shot into the sky, it burst forth in a brilliant display of crimson light, illuminating the woods like a fiery comet. The red hue spread across the heavens, painting the sky in shades of scarlet and orange. It hung momentarily, a beacon of intensity, before cascading down like a shower of sparks, casting flickering shadows on the ground below. Red light illuminated the tall trees, casting away their shadows for a moment.

Lepic pulled out his gilded stopwatch, counting the seconds, his other hand tucked into his jacket, grasping his dagger. A few minutes passed, "Jahad the rooftops, clear them". He strode forward with purpose towards an alleyway. Jahad did as he was told, however he used the stairs this time to get on top, he had memorised the factory layout. Upon reaching the top floor he got Pikey to boot open the door. As Pikey moved forward, a spear dug straight into his stomach, they had waited beside the door to ambush Jahad. It was a fatal blow, Jahad swore to himself, using Pikey as cover he dashed forward parrying a strike with his newfound weapon. The man tried retracting his spear but Pikey dropped his pike, grabbed onto the handle to hold it in place. Jahad had ordered him to do so. Unarmed, the man was a sitting duck, Jahad caught a glimpse of his face, he was in a leather uniform, gray stubble and jet black hair. Just an ordinary man. Jahads sword cleaved into his shoulder, he twisted it lethally, slashing upwards severing his throat. Pikey pulled the back of Jahads shirt, an axe narrowly missed him and dug into the floor, Jahad used the distance to land a question mark kick that ate into his jaw, dislocating it with a sickening crunch. Pikey threw his spear into an incoming enemy, it pierced straight through his chest pinning him to the ground, he gurgled his last breaths. Another man grabbed hold of Jahad but he retaliated with his sword. It clashed into the man's sword throwing it upwards, before he could react Jahad grabbed him by the tufts of his shirt, stared at him before murmuring Asper-Shah. The same torrent of dread cascaded his face, the black wisps spiralling up his arm into his soul.

Jahad quickly surveyed the area, and saw a trion on top of a separate rooftop closing rapidly. Jahad looked towards pikey, the black wisps could not heal his fatal wounds. He still had his trance-like state as blood poured from the orifice. Jahad looked at him and grabbed his arm. The wisps spiralled out of his body back into Jahad, the scarlet, purple hue faded the man's eyes, leaving a colourless pupil. His lips trembled trying to utter out a sentence, but not even a word escaped his mouth as he succumbed to the mortal wound. Jahad quickly spun to his new ally, the one he had taken over. The one he conquered. The man looked at him solemnly, his face blank. Jahads voice tinged with urgency, "you got any abilities?". The man just looked at him and blinked, causing Jahad to swear out of frustration. He had nothing and they were closing in fast. Jahad racked his brain, sensing that one of them was strong. To confirm his suspicion, the cloaked man of the three upheld a wooden staff, magical symbols glowing with power as the stars swirled around him. It was wind magic. He used it to glide the three toward the opposing factory where Jahad stood, the air crackling with energy as they approached. They locked eyes for a brief second before the conquered man sent a punch that planted squarely onto Jahads cheek, he could feel blood forming in his mouth as he returned a side kick whilst falling back. The man he took over stumbled backwards and laid flat on the floor. Jahad looked to the side. The trio were on his rooftop, dashing towards him.