5 men were gathered around the low light of a lamp in the underground cellar.

You think hell pull through?

Kid didnt look too bright to me. Whatever, he fails, we kill im. The end.

At any rate, tonights the big night. Its almost time. Whered Zack go?

In is room. Stomach pains, he says.

The hell? Bastards been acting strange lately. You dont think, hes leaking intel to those Royalists

Oi, its time.

Signalled one of them as the door to the cellar opened.

In the dark, decrepit room, a single figure approached the five.

The figures identity was slowly revealed as he approached the light.

Youre alone. Wheres the girl?

Tsk. Didnt pull through after all.

The men were badly disappointed.

The black haired boy standing before these intimidating prisoners looked the definition of ordinary.

His dark eyes were looking down, staring at the shadows extending across the floor.

Hey, you better not say you got cold feet.

One of the men pulled out a knife.

Hey! Talk! Wheres the princess!?

He threatened, holding the knife at the boys throat.

The boy began trembling like the weakling he was or so the men had imagined.

The boy didnt do that. He didnt shake, he didnt even move. He simply kept staring at the shadows below.

The princess, Clara

He muttered softly.

His voice wasnt loud but everyone could hear it clearly.

Isnt coming

His eyes were yet glued to the floor.

However, his lips held a tiny grin now.

The fuck are you talkin about, huh!? Ya got cold feet and came here alone, that it!?

The boy was silent.

What now? We kill im?

Gotta at least show him not to mess with us.

Yeah. We beat him up and try again.

The men all stood up and surrounded the boy.

Messin with us, eh dipshit?

The man who had the knife at the boys neck grabbed a fistful of his hair with his other hand and pulled his face up.

What the man saw there was the boys eyes, pitch dark eyes lacking in emotion.

I dont like that look.

Looking annoyed, the man grazed his knife along the boys neck.

A line of blood escaped the shallow cut.

I said, I dont like that look.

But the boy didnt comply. He just kept staring blankly.

No, not quite. The small smile on the boys lips had grown into a visible grin.

Whatre you laughin at!!

The man smacked the boys face with the butt of his knife.

But the boys smile didnt falter, not in the least.

You dont seem to realize youre in deep shit, brat.

Another smack.

Stronger this time. Enough to break the cheekbone, maybe even knock loose a tooth.

Still no reaction from the boy.

The boy simply kept on looking at the man with a grin across his face.

!

Oi, you goin easy on im or what?

From the side, one of the mans comrades came up and punched the boy in the face.

Thats how ya punch a face. Leave em half dead and theyll never Huh!?

That punch was meant to knock the boy out cold.

But the boy just stood there as if he felt nothing. The spot where hed been battered had remained spotless.

Those emotionless eyes still peered at the 5 men.

It was freaking them out.

Is that it? Finally said the boy.

!! Youll regret that!!

Furious, the man began pummeling the boy with ferocious fists.

He punched like no tomorrow, until his breathing became rough.

See, this is what happens when you HUH?

Are you done? Said the boy, ever smiling.

His face revealed not one bruise.

This kids fucking strange.

Tsk. Gimme the knife.

The man from the side took the knife and stabbed the boy in the ribs.

But,

What, how!?

The knife, penetrating only the boys clothes, stopped there. Even putting more strength into his arm, the man couldnt cut the boys skin.

O-oi, whatre ya playin around for?

Stab him, do it!

Sh-shaddap! Knife aint going in!!

The man tried stabbing again and again.

The knife never penetrated even skin deep.

His breathing had gone arid as the man stepped away. His eyes couldnt believe what hed just witnessed.

W-what, the hell are y

So youre done?

Thats when the boy swung his fist.

Yet, no one saw it move. Such was its speed.

What they saw was the result only.

The boys fist had punched through the mans chest and come out the other side.

Ah ahyauu

The man dropped to the ground, creating a large pool of blood.

Wha!?

N-no, fuckin

D-did this guy just punch a hole through

Hyai!

Splich, splich.

The boy walked on the the bloody floor.

Done?

He taunted the men, still grinning.

The remaining mens faces stiffened.

Goddamn w-well take im down with all of us!!

D-dont mess with me!!

D-Die, fucker, dieeee!!!

H-hyi-hyeeeeeeee!!

Four shadows converged on the boy. The flame in the lamp flickered.

Dancing shadows.

Once the flame regained its calm, on the floor of the cellar lay 5 corpses with holes for a chest.

looks like were done.

No one answered now.

Splich, splich. The boy stepped over the blood as he walked away.