Chapter 23: Meeting a noble

Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Meeting a noble

This world is a massive place. It has powerful

Empires. Kingdoms. Countries.

But none of them could compare to the Lawless Lands.

The Lawless Lands.

Where every Calamity lives. Every evil doer. Every monstrosity.

There are no laws and certainly no order.

The only law: The strong take. The weak suffer and strive to become strong as well.

But For a Calamity, it’s the safest place there is and of course and the cruelest. Especially if you’re weak.

Now considering Morgan has zero points and he knows nothing about Luke, it’s more like he’s a fertilizer for the strong.

"You want to go to the most dangerous place in the entire world?" Morgan said. "Where every wicked and vile being resides—"

"Where else do you expect us to go, Morgan?" Luke asked.

"Run back to the capital? You think House Martell will save you?"

"I know they won’t. But even so... going there—"

"We have no choice," Luke cut in. "If we stay here and the Wendigo spots us... we’re dead."

Morgan didn’t argue. He’s more like a captivate now than a partner. When he stood up,

Dizziness hit him like a hammer. He stumbled.

Luke caught him.

"Easy. We can rest if you’re still—"

"I’m fine," Morgan said. "If we’re going to the Lawless Lands, then let’s go now."

And so they did.

Two complete days of walking. Nonstop.

They just walked and walked until Morgan suddenly collapsed.

The only thing Morgans saw in his dream is other than his mom being brutally killed, how he failed to save everyone. And what’s worse, he saw

Angel, with a devil’s face on his face slaughtering his mom like an animal

"MOM!!"

Morgan woke with a jolt. Sweat covered him. The dizziness was still there.

Across the fire, Luke was skinning a bunny. Calm. Precise. And with his Blindfold still on.

"You’re finally awake," Luke said without looking up.

"How long was I out?"

"Almost a week—"

"A WEEK?!" Morgan shot up, then started coughing.

Blood dripped from his mouth.

"You have a fever," Luke said. "Thank the System you didn’t die."

"I thought Calamities don’t get sick. Our genetics—"

"They don’t," Luke said. "But you jumped from Zero Waves to Instant Fifth Wave. Your body couldn’t handle it.

We’re far from the capital now. Rest."

Luke put the rabbit on the fire. Pulled spices from his bag.

Morgan watched him. How can he be

Blindfolded and yet this skilled?

"You’re pretty good at this."

"Been doing it a while," Luke shrugged.

"...How?"

"I’ve been at this for a while." Luke clearly wasn’t a talker type.

"Luke... you said you’re a born Calamity. How? That goes against everything they taught us."

Luke scoffed.

"You sons of famous Good Deeders and your ’righteous’ lessons.

None of it’s true.

Sometimes the System recognizes good deeds. Most of the time?

Calamities are just normal people branded one day.

I was born one. My mom died giving birth to me. And I was given the title of Calamity."

"That must’ve been..."

"Harsh? It’s normal when you’re used to it."

The rabbit was done. Luke split it and handed Morgan half.

"Eat."

They ate in silence. Animal howls. Crickets. Things are creepier.

Morgan felt uneasy.

Luke just chewed.

"You’ll get used to it," Luke muttered.

Morgan smiled. And ate.

---

As the Days passed.

Morgan grew stronger. But his mana was still zero. He was still weak.

They usually hid on their travels to avoid being seen.

Then they reached the mountain.

No path up. Only a narrow cliffside.

The mountain was massive. Looking at it made Morgan frown.

"We’re supposed to climb this?"

"There’s a cliff path," Luke said. "Easier than the woods. Trust me."

"But—"

"This is Wolf Territory. You don’t want to meet the Wolf King.

So we crossed the cliff. It’s not that narrow."

Morgan turned and glanced at the cliff side, then turned and threw a harsh stare at Luke again, clearly disagreeing. But he pretended he didn’t see it, and instead

He went first. Blindfolded, yet steady.

Morgan followed, his legs shaking from fear.

The higher they climbed, the worse the dizziness got.

His eyes locked on the drop. Then he missed a step.

"AARRR!!!"

He was sure he was dead.

But when he opened his eyes, Luke’s hand was gripping his wrist.

Without a word, Luke dragged him up.

"Thank—"

Luke was already walking again.

An hour later, they reached the peak.

And that’s when they felt it.

An immense aura.

It seems like two calamities are fighting each other

"Stay back," Luke whispered. He crouched and moved to the peak of the mountain. But when he did,

Before he could see anything—

BOOM!!

A body crashed into him.

Both of them tumbled off the mountain.

"What’s taking him—" Morgan looked up.

"LUKE!!"

He lunged and grabbed Luke’s hand.

But he lost his balance and failed too.

Then a figure descended from above.

Red, long, lush hair.

With a red cape.

On the back: the sigil of a red, fiery dragon.

Luke frowned through his blindfold.

What’s a noble house doing here?

The man smiled. Wicked.

"Unfortunately, there can be no witnesses today.

So you’ll have to die."

"But— we didn’t see anything!" Morgan yelled.

"You didn’t. But you’re weak.

I can kill you whenever I want. And nothing will happen."

His Geno Weapon appeared. A red sword materialised in his hand, without a second of thought he slashed the sword towards them.

The air split.

The slash was massive heading directly towards them.

"MORGAN! LET ME GO AND RUN!!" Luke shouted.

Morgan didn’t. Instead

He pulled Luke closer and let them fall straight down.

Into Wolf King territory.

And the stones from the slash broke free, raining down after them.

The red-haired man watched.

"Even if the fall doesn’t kill them... the rocks will.

And if they survive that... the wolves will finish them."

Then he flew away.