Chapter 9: Hired Goons

Chapter 9: Hired Goons Luke was shocked to hear that he was being followed, not once had he felt someone watching him. He couldn’t believe how weak he was. The words of his father resonated inside his mind again. He felt as if what his father had said was true, he really was useless without the circle. A crisp sound of a slap resonated in the alley. All the goons stopped laughing, leaving both them and Noah stupefied. ’Why the hell would I think my father is right!? I’m here to prove him wrong.’ Luke gave a resounding slap to himself trying to wake himself up and boost his confidence. "Come! Let’s fight!" Luke took position, his eyes sharp and determined. Seeing him, a smile spread on Noah’s face. ’He really is the nephew of Roger Blackstone!’ Noah pulled a locket out from his chest that he was wearing, it was a long silver chain with a black locket of a shield and a hammer. He bit his thumb as a drop of blood trickled out. "Emerge!" he said the words out and smeared his thumb on the locket which then started glowing red and mana started flowing out like waves and a huge black shield with five sides and a pointy end, and at the front, a huge dragon head roaring at the enemies, about five feet in height and two feet wide along with a huge two feet wide cuboidal hammer, with a long four feet shaft appeared in his hands. "Blood Armaments!?" one goon yelled in surprise. "Let’s see how long you last!" Noah smiled. Luke was surprised to see that Noah possessed Blood armaments. They were very special weapons that were connected to the user through their bloodline and grow together with the user. He was now sure that Noah was no commoner, he was of a noble lineage too. "So, you are a noble!" Luke said. "These are parting gifts too! I was a servant at the noble’s house!" Noah said with a teasing smile. "Attack them!" one of the goons, who looked like the leader yelled as he pulled out a dagger. The other two pulled out swords and the last two rushed barehanded at Luke. Noah moved his shield forward and blocked one sword and with the shaft of the hammer he blocked the other. He pushed one of them away with the shield and then swung his hammer in an arc above, hitting the other goon squarely on his face. The force pulled the goon midair and fell hard on the ground, two of his teeth flew away and blood started flowing out. Noah then immediately pulled his shield in front as a flying dagger struck the shield aiming his face. The dagger was laced with mana as it froze the part it hit on the shield. "You morons! Can’t you kill a single magicless bastard!" the leader yelled at his two members engaged with Luke. Luke was evading their punches and running around. He ducked a punch straight to his face and swung his fist hitting hard on one of the goon’s belly. Getting hit, he fell on his knees, whimpering in pain. Just then, Luke felt heat coming from his back. He turned around hurriedly, but it was too late to react, a fist covered in fire hit right on his chest. The hit burned his clothes and he was blasted away, falling on the pile of trash on the side. Before the goon could rejoice, a glowing red hammer fell right on his face. He was blasted away and broke the wall he hit upon impact. He lied flat on his back, unable to move and lost consciousness. "Hammer boomerang!" Noah channeled mana into his hammer as it started glowing red and threw the hammer towards the two goons with swords. The hammer hit one right on his face, breaking the sword he pulled up to defend and blasted him away. It then turned and hit the other one, breaking his ribs. He was thrown away sliding along the ground and hit the wall. He vomited blood out of his mouth and fell unconscious. The hammer returned swiftly in Noah’s hand and he gave a menacing look towards the leader, ready to strike at any moment. ’He’s definitely a three star’ The leader was now scared, he realized he couldn’t do anything to these two. He picked up his dagger and ran away from the scene leaving the other four there. The one Luke had hit, stood up gingerly and when he saw the situation, he too fled without wasting a second. Noah channeled mana into his weapons again and they started getting smaller and finally changed back into the lockets in the chain. He put the locket back inside the armor and rushed to Luke. "You ok!?" Noah pulled his hand forward to Luke. "Argghhh!! I’m fine!" Luke held his hand and got up, whimpering in pain. "You’re not okay! Let’s get you to a healer!" "No!....It’s alright! just take me to my uncle’s house. I’ll be fine after some time." "But..." "It’s alright! I’ll be fine. Believe me!" Luke said with a smile. "Alright!" Noah supported him and both started moving out of the alley. "Do you have any guesses about who could have sent them after you? Because they were clearly trying to kill you, not me!" "I don’t know! I can’t think of anyone, who would want my life." Luke said. "I can’t cast magic anyway, so who would want anything from a useless magicless bastard!" "That goon said this too. Can you really not cast magic?" "I was born with a shattered circle. So, neither can I cultivate and hold mana in my circles, nor can I cast magic." "How did you endure that punch then!? That was quite a strong hit!" "I have been training my body from two years of age. I have quite the sturdy body." He said with a smile. "You’re damn strong! Are you in the third circle?" "No! I’m a second circle fighter mage. The armaments are what make me able to fight higher than my level." Noah smiled, embarrassed at being praised. "Are you sure no one is after you? Because they already knew you were unable to wield mana!" "I don’t know! But I can think of only one person if that’s the case!" Luke said as he went into thought. "Let’s go to your uncle’s first. You can discuss this with him. He may be able to help regarding this matter." "Yes! Let’s do that!" Luke nodded and being supported by Noah limped through the street towards his uncle’s house.