Dreamer in the Apocalypse

003 – The One with the Prologue (Part 3/5)

The sun was starting to lower as Raylin rode in the back of the automobile.

In the Dynasty such vehicles were rarely used, they had far better technology, but all the same he was still surprised to see how far things had come, when he last lived here his father was one of the first people to ever own a steam engine for personal use.

Now he had over a dozen models that he designed himself.

“Sir, would you like to head straight to the lord’s manor, or would you like to take the scenic route?” the driver asked as he looked back at Raylin with a respectful expression.

Raylin considered for a moment, he was eager to meet his brother and sister again after so long, but he still had much on his mind, “The scenic route,” he answered.

“An excellent choice sir, the stronghold looks remarkable in the day, but it is equally brilliant when you look at it being lit up in the night,” the driver replied with vigour and started the engine.

The automobile engine hummed softly as the vehicle moved through the streets, the route the driver had taken was out of the way with few other vehicles on the road.

From the high vantage point Raylin could see the interior streets that were busy with people walking around in the safety of the stronghold, and hundreds of automobiles traversing the roads.

He could still so vividly remember when only the utmost elites of society could afford to own such a contraption.

[Danger Sense]

As he looked out the window a panel suddenly appeared before his vision, as his skill [Danger Sense] activated.

Raylin’s face immediately turned serious, the world slowed in his eyes, as he glanced through the windows in all directions, a sudden flash of light glinted in his eyes, and before a second could pass he was already in motion.

He kicked of the back seat and shot forward to the wind shield like a bullet, as he flew forward he reached out and grabbed the driver ripping his seat from the vehicles body.

Shatter.

He went straight through the glass and mere moments later.

BOOOOOOM.

An arc of pulsing lightning crashed into the automobile, but it didn’t end there as the lightning was relentless and spared nothing in its path.

It incinerated the vehicle leaving only smouldering pieces in its wake as it continued through the road erasing a quarter kilometre stretch and erased most of the surrounding trees.

Raylin flipped through the air and landed on the scorched sections of the road.

“That could have killed me,” he muttered with a puzzled expression as he looked at the trail of destruction.

He quickly put the seat down and looked at the driver, “Stay close to me, whatever you do, do not leave my side,” he said to the startled driver.

The driver probably had many things to say, but under the circumstance’s he nodded and stood completely quite after unbuckling himself from the seat.

[Lifestyle Subclass: The Honourable Path (Active)]

[Condition to activate ability Honours Heart has been met]

[Honours 1st activation]

[Protect the lives of the Innocent]

[All stat +5%]

Raylin took a deep breath as the increased power started to surge within him and calmly started to observe his surroundings.

“It will be a while before you can release an attack like that again,” his deep voice boomed in the surroundings.

“Reveal yourself and I will be willing to show mercy,” he announced as he strode forward into the forested area without fear.

He walked a dozen pace’s when he perked up his ears.

[Danger Sense]

Raylin jumped and extended a palm to push the driver back.

Swoosh.

A blade cut through the air exactly where the driver stood a moment ago.

“Equip Battle Dancer subclass,” Raylin said in a languid tone, immediately he felt a shift in his stats with his dexterity scaling.

The blade hummed and sliced at Raylin, but he easily evaded and spun in the air and swept his leg around delivering a mighty roundhouse kick to his attacker.

Bang.

The swordsman brought his blade around and crossed his arms, absorbing the impact of the strike with the flat of his blade.

Swoosh.

As he got his first look on his attacker he could make out a plain mask that adorned his face.

Another blade came cutting through the air, Raylin glanced up and saw another swordsmen with a mask descending from one of the tree’s his blade aimed for his neck.

He kicked the first swordsman’s sword and launched himself into the air.

Swoosh.

The blade glided just a hairs breath from his skin, as his attacker sailed past him, Raylin grabbed him by the back of the foot and done another spin in the air.

This time he flung the second swordsmen in to the first, they smashed into each-other, but they quickly recovered and faced him with firm stances.

“You’re strong,” Raylin said, “Too strong, to be from Elhaine,” he added “Who are you?” he asked with his expression becoming even more serious.

The swordsmen both grinned the first one stepped forward  his bald head reflecting the last rays of the setting sun, he chuckled lightly, “You flatter us, King Slayer,” the swordsman said with a bow, it was sincere and filled with respect.

“You’re definitely not from Elhaine,” Raylin said, this time with certainty, no one from this world knew of his titles, not even his father as one of the highest-ranking nobles of Elhaine was privy to such intel from the outside.

‘Equip Successor of Xerosh’ he thought.

[Lifestyle Subclass (Prestige Restraint): (Mythic Supreme Class) The Honourable Path (Active)]

[Profession Subclass (Prestige Restraint): (Mythic Supreme Class) Successor of Xerosh (Equipped)]

[Profession Subclass (Prestige Restraint): (Rare Master Class) Battle Dancer (Equipped)]

[All three subclass slots are filled (Cannot equip any other subclasses)]

[Prestige Restraint detected; all subclasses are restricted to Prestige rank]

“Of course, we are here to kill you King Slayer,” the bald swordsman answered honestly and held his blade ready, this time a green shroud of energy wrapped around the swordsman’s body.

“Reinforced Qi,” Raylin muttered softly as the second swordsman followed suit.

He looked down at the exoskeletal suit and sighed softly, had he not been wearing it this fight would have been a one-sided massacre, but rules were rules.

He stepped forward and took a martial stance ‘Activate Subclass ability: [Infernal Protection]’

A layer of red aura rolled over his body and shrouded him in a protective cloak.

“Are you waiting for an invitation?” he asked taking a step forward, his soft steps left deep marks on the forest floor.

The swordsmen didn’t waste another second and advanced as they swung their blade’s, Raylin met them with his palm his only defence being the [Infernal Protection].

With every strike he could feel their reinforced qi piercing his defences and leaving blood marks on his arms, but the ones who were receiving the most damage were the swordsmen.

With every strike they were leaving damage on their opponent, but for every strike that landed, they found themselves receiving at least three strike’s more than they released.

All the while Raylin kept steering the elderly driver out of harm’s way, his eye moved quickly over his opponents studying their every move.

Raylin pushed his focus to the max as he combatted against the two, as the battle progressed he was gradually starting to become more concerned, he knew that he was winning this battle, but these two were not alone.

There was at least one other, the one who fired of that destructive arc of lightning, he was quite certain that the first attack belonged to a Ranger, there was no way that either of the two Fighters were able to release such a powerful long range attack.

And as the battle progressed his body gradually became more bloodied, he still had his trump cards to play, but he had to be careful not to go revealing them to soon he didn’t know how many others there were, and due to the restrictions on him most if his true abilities were currently restricted.

‘I’ve got to drop these two quickly,’ he thought, as the two tried to attack him from two different sides, he grabbed the driver and tossed him behind a tree, “Stay there and duck down,” he told him.

The two swordsmen only realised their plight when it was too late as Raylin pressed his hands together and rapidly pulled them apart.

“Sssss,” he hissed sharply as the energy left his body and formed a white sphere of compressed energy between his hands.

“Dammit!” the bald swordsman swore, “Brace yourself!” he shouted to the other swordsman as he forced himself to a halt and tried to run for cover, but he was too late.

CLAP.

Raylin smashed his hands together and a powerful wave of force energy erupted.

BOOOOOM.

CRASH.

The entire forest shuddered and the trees in Raylin’s immediate vicinity were blown to bits, splinters of bark rained down on the forest floor.