"What we should do bro?" Shiva asked his brother, he doesn't feel fear.

  In fact, he's more concerned on what his brother might do to the carnappers.

  "Just continue driving. And don't show any sign that we know they following us."

  The white van Grand Ectasy is in continues to traverse the lonely road covered by trees and no sign of human habitation in sight. The sun is now preparing to set down but for everyone involved in the current situation, its just getting started.

  Grand Ecstasy look on the yellow car following them behind from a distance.

  "If we don't know first hand what their plan was, we really don't notice them. These fuckers are skilled at their work." Beltrand commented out of spite.

  "What do you think their way of trapping their victim Mateo?" Claustrine asked as she continues to observe the tailing car behind them.

  "My prediction is they going to block the road ahead of us. It's a syndicate we talking here so that single car is just a look out."

  "But its been hours yet they still doing nothing." Shirna asked.

  "Of course. We're in a populated area earlier and it's still daytime. Once we got their criteria, they gonna act."

  "So that's why you insisted on traveling on an isolated road." Shiva's realization.

  "And night time is closer which means there's lower posibility of any vehicles passing by while they do the deed." Mateo's continuation.

  "Which lesser potential witnesses or of the operation messing up." Sophia swallowed a lumped.

  "They gonna act soon. Get ready."

  And Mateo's prediction bare fruition when the surroundings is now dark and when they make a steep curve turn, they see three cars blocking the road. They can clearly see several men holding rifles as they wait for Grand Ecstasy. They point the guns to the white van.

  "Exit the car now or we going to shoot you!"

  Grand Ecstasy follow their command and exits the van. Behind them is the yellow car that tailing them for hours. Stopping behind them and three men exits the vehicle, they also holding rifles which they point to the van.

  "You're all surrounded now! One wrong move and we going to put holes on your bodies! Raise your hands where we can clearly see them!"

  Grand Ecstasy raise their hands as instructed. The carnappers walks closer and inspect them, one man whistles as he eye both Sophia and Claustrine.

  "Damn. They're more beautiful than what I imagined. We're feasting tonight boys!"

  "Two beautiful ladies and a girl. And all foreigners. Damn! At this point, the van is just a bonus boss!"

  "Nothing personal dude, just work." The pressumed leader of the operation speaks to Mateo.

  "Yeah. Isn't this a little bit overkill. Needing a little army just to steal someone's car?"

  "Hmmm? Just safety protocol dude. Some targets are armed so we prepare for such scenario."

  Mateo looks at the leader.

  "What you gonna do to us? Would you let us live?"

  The leader scoffs after hearing the question?

  "Let you live? I'm sorry that's not how things work here. Don't worry, we gonna give all of you a quick death."

  The leader looks on Sophia, Claustrine and then finally to Shirna where he gives a sinister stare while licking his lips.

  "Sadly for your beautiful ladies here. They gonna need to live longer and entertain us a little bit."

  The leader hears a deep sigh from Mateo.

  "I see..." Mateo's short words, full of dissapointment.

  The leader just notice something which starts to bother him. The previous victims would probably start begging on them now and crying their hearts out to garner their sympathy.

  Yet their target... Is eerily calm and collected which is extremely unsual for people in death's door. All of them are have a deadpan look as they seems observing all of them, even the supposed child is not panicking and he already dealt some of them in the past.

  The leader feels his stomach churning as the situation is such an anomaly that his confidence is slowly being replace by doubt.

  But as a leader, he needs to show will or else his subordinates would lose respect on him.

  "That's quiet a last words you got there. Sadly that's truly the last. Good bye."

  The leader aims his pistol to Mateo's head.

  Yet, before the leader even pulls the trigger, he just seen the gun on his hand being held by Mateo. And then, Mateo slowly crush the pistol with his own hand.

  "!!!"

  The leader's fear amplified not only by the absurd situation, but the moment he looked at Mateo... He see his seething rage.

  The leader panicly walks back in horror.

  "Fire at them!"

  "But..."

  "JUST FIRE GODDAMNIT!"

  The carnappers sprays bullet to Grand Ecstasy. Shiva quickly duck to the ground and dive inside the van. While Sophia summons a huge barrier to protect everyone, including the van itself. Claustrine summons a mana shield behind them for the yellow car behind them.

  "W-WHAT?!" One of the goon's surprised reaction when they see the bright barrier of Sophia easily blocking their bullets.

  "What the hell is happening?!"

  Beltrand look inside of the van when he heared someone calling his name. And it's Shiva holding a metal pipe which he giving to him.

  "Here."

  Claustrine does the counterattack by summoning few icicles aimed at the carnappers on the gray van to the right. Without her staff, her skills is only limited to basic spells. She launched the icicles to the carnappers who watch in horror, the barrage easily kills 2 goons who got hit on chest and stomach.

  "M-M-MONSTER!!!"

  Shirna unsheaths his balisong and dash towards the yellow ban. The goons can't even track Shirna speeds as they blindly fire their gun on his afterimage.

  The driver of the yellow car only see his friend's neck gets cutted and sprays blood everywhere. Screaming in agony as they fall to the ground. The driver panicly gets the his pistol on the compartment yet he didn't even manage to pull it out as Shirna's balisong come smashing the glass window and stabbing the side of his head. Shirna look at him with apathy as he pull his balisong and watch the driver slump lifeless on the seat.

  Shirna recognize the man in the driver's seat, it's the one spying them earlier.

  Beltrand meanwhile focused on the goons on the left black car in front of them. The goons firing their gun, screaming in fear and terror as they watch the large physique of Beltrand tanking all of their bullets as he walks dragging a long metal pipe.

  "WHAT ARE YOU?!!!"

  "DEMON!!!"

  "Compared to her, your bullets are nothing." Beltrand's solemn words.

  "FUUUUCKKK NOOOOOO!!"

  The three goons tried to run away in panic when they emptied their magazines. But their heads get smashed simultaneously with a single swing of Beltrand's metal pipe, borrowed from Shiva.

  Mateo rushes on the blue truck on the middle of the blockade. Bypassing the leader who curled on the ground, cowering in fear.

  All the bullets shot by the goons are just casually deflected with his hands as Mateo continues to run. And his first target that reach his grasp recieves a single punch to the gut. Not strong enough to kill him but rather the purpose is to incapacitate not only the first goon but also the others around the blue truck.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "AUGH!!!" A goon got slammed to the ground after Mateo grabs his neck.

  "AHHHHH!!!" One screams a he got thrown to the blue truck.

  "NOOOO!!!" Another goon's cry of misery as he attempted to run yet Mateo easily reach him and grab his collar where he recieves a gut punch.

  "AAAAAAAAA!!"

  Mateo makes a quick work of the goons and disable them. He manages to gather 6 alive members including the leader.

  The six survivors are watch in absolute disgust and horror as they see the remains of their comrades. Pierced by icicles, head's missing and cutted from the neck.

  Mateo ordered them to kneel in rows which they quickly follow.

  "What... Are... You?" The leader's question is truly out of fear as his mind can't comprehend the people in front of him moving extremely fast while also tanking bullets. Also summon some bright wall and ice. Like they stumbled something they should really not confront.

  "You should let me join bro." Shiva exits the van after the chaos settled.

  "No. I can't let you in the risk of danger. Besides, have you killed a human before?" Mateo asked his brother.

  "I'm prepared to do so if I need to protect mine and my loved one's life." Shiva shows his pistol.

  "Not really needed. The thoughts is appreciated though." Beltrand's short response.

  Mateo just sigh, borrows the gun from Shiva and then focus his attention to the surviving carnappers.

  "Now I'm the one asking questions. Where do you hide your victims?" Mateo's stern question.

  "That doesn't matter?! They already de-"

  BANG!

  The leader didn't finish his answer as he screams in pain. A bullet just plunged on his knee.

  "Where did you hide your victims?" Mateo's cold question.

  "W-WE DON'T KNOW! WE KILLED THEM ON THE SPOT THAT WE BARELY EVEN REMEMBER WHERE WE BURRIED THEM?!"

  "Liar."

  "I'M NOT LYING!"

  "Is he not lying?" Mateo asked the goons who panicly nods.

  "I think what they saying is true bro. They operate in the entirety of Northern Luzon's desolated roads like where we are now. Burying their victim deep in a jungle no one goes is a great way to hide evidence. Spread that to multiple spot makes finding the remains of the victims difficult." Shiva's thought. Mateo bit his lip out of frustration.

  "Even bringing closure to the relatives of the victims is not even possible huh? Fuck."

  Claustrine pats Mateo's shoulder.

  "There's nothing we can do Mateo. We can only wish that one day, someone discovered them and give them to their loved ones." Claustrine's sad yet hopeful words of encouragement for Mateo.

  Mateo looks at Claustrine with pained expression and then he just gives a deep sigh. Calming himself and letting the truth of the situation settle on his mind.

  "I guess you're right Claustrine."

  "Catching these people is the only thing we can give to the victims. Afterall, we bring them justice and prevents any future incidents. Lets look on the positive side ok?" Claustrine gives a pained smile. She's worried that Mateo would go back sleepless and full of thoughts.

  Mateo looks at the carnappers. Wrath still plastered on his face.

  "Shirna."

  Shirna gulped after hearing his name being called by Mateo as he understand what's going to happen next. He start to walk back to the van with a melancholic expression on his face.

  "Shirna stop."

  Shirna stops after hearing Claustrine's command.

  "Trinne?" Mateo asked Claustrine.

  "You're better than this Mateo." Claustrine gives a sorrowful expression.

  Even Sophia is saddened as he look on Mateo.

  And Mateo realizes that he's going to do what he did to the mercernaries who killed Dereia's family. He stares at Sophia who doesn't want to see such gruesome sight.

  And then to Shiva who might be scarred if he watch the entire ordeal.

  In his mind, he is doing it for revenge but... Is such extreme measures really necessary?

  And in line with their morality?

  He remembers the mercenaries... He thought that killing them instantly should be enough. Giving them misery until their last breath is just overkill to satisfy their sad thirst for revenge.

  Him and the others are not new on killing another human life. But bringing themselves down to the level of the scums is a new low.

  "Why you guys join me back then?" Mateo asked his friends.

  "Because you're our leader, and a friend. We also feel the same as you at that moment Mateo." Claustrine's honest answer.

  "But why you stopping me now."

  "Because such actions would ruin us in the long run."

  Mateo close his eyes for 10 seconds and that time is enough for him to reach a decision while the Carnappers watch him in fear. And that decision is.

  .

  .

  .

  BANG!

  Mateo shots the leader point-blank to head. He didn't even let the others process what just happened as he also shot them one-by-one.

  Grand Ecstasy watch as Mateo do the deed. Mateo meanwhile looks at the now dead Mercenaries with indifference.

  "Trinne."

  "Yes Mateo."

  "Create a huge deep hole in the ground for all of them."

  "Can I use the Bag-of-Storage? I need my staff for such magic."

  "Approved."

  After getting her staff, Claustrine easily makes huge square hole with depth of 3 storey building far side of the road. Beltrand and Mateo throws the cars first and then they throw the bodies weapons and fragments of the carnappers.

  "Why smash their heads." Mateo criticizes Beltrand.

  "Sorry." Beltrand can only apologize.

  Once the deed is done, Claustrine seals the hole back and she proceeds of washing out and diluting the blood splattered to the ground and road, guided by Sophia's light orbs for illumination.

  After final inspection and washing their clothes of the small stains of blood. The road is now clean like nothing even happened there.

  "Let's go guys." Mateo smile.

  Grand Ecstasy returns to their van and drive away in silence. Everyone didn't expcected that the supposed vacation suddenly have a dark turn.

  "So that's what the real power of another world. Amazing..." Shiva's awed words as he remembers the fantastic things Grand Ecstasy did.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  It's morning when they reach their target village located high on a steep mountainside. The village is Ligaya's hometown and it have a calming silence into it.

  "So many things changed. Yet still nostalgic." Mateo smiles she feels nostalgia.

  They mesmerize to the scene with the houses built both higher and lower on the moutainsteps and not far from the village are rice terraces that looks huge green stairways carved on the moutains.

  "Woah..." Beltrand's amazed reaction.

  "You say this village changed. What exactly?" Claustrine asked as she can't believe that such serene scenery is changed according Mateo.

  "Well... A decade ago these houses are mostly still made of wood with fewer buildings and a lot more vegatation, there's even pigs just freely roaming the roads. But I guess even such isolated places are not immune to progress." Mateo looks at the houses now made with concrete and corrugated steel sheets.

  Grand Ecstasy walks up to the very steep stairs. They're already used on such ordeal except...

  "P-phew... I'm too tired." Shiva sits on one of the steps as he breaths heavily, people look at us, curious on the group.

  Maybe because some of them looks like foreigners, or the fact that Mateo and Beltrand are lifiting stacks of boxes and plastic containers while climbing the stairs with ease.

  "But we can still go." Beltrand's casual words which make Shiva tick a little.

  "Well I'm sorry if I'm not constantly fighting monsters. I'm just a normal dude who just happened to join a group of superhumans."

  "Sorry." Beltrand just apologize.

  Shiva stand up and take a deep breath. Then resumed walking upwards.

  "The folks on your mother's hometown are quiet a curious bunch." Claustrine's observation as she look at the people giving them glances.

  "This village is not really a tourist spot unlike Baguio and Sagada so outsiders must be a rarity here." Mateo answers.

  "Atleast they're not hostile." -Beltrand.

  "That's very disrespectful you know." Sophia chastised Beltrand.

  They finally reach their destination, a medium sized home made with a combination of concrete, steel and wood with a very open wall-less ground floor. On the side of the house are what seems to be graves.

  "Haaa.... Haaa... Finally..." Shiva is panting, her legs are shaking due to tiredness.

  A middle aged lady exits the home and surprised to see the visitors. At first she is confused to see the foreigners and then smile to see a familiar face.

  "Oh Shiva it's been while."

  "Hello Auntie Esmeralda." Shiva gives a bless.

  "You should tell us that you coming so we can prepare."

  "Auntie that's not really needed, we just come here to give these."

  Esmeralda look at the boxes and plastic containers.

  "I see... You know what. Come inside, you kids must be hungry, thankfully one of the neighbor just give us a cut of meat."

  The prospect of food makes Beltrand's stomach growl which make Esmeralda have a joyful laugh.

  "See? So let's eat and talk."

  .

  .

  .

  Grand Ecstasy is now sitting around a large wooden table. The house is clearly modernized yet there's still some aspect on it that gives an old school vibes.

  The old wooden floor, the carved furnitures, some part are still wooden and the house have aged nostalgic vibe into it.

  Esmeralda cooks pinakbet full of meat with the alamang brought by grand ecstasy. She also fried some dried fish as complimentaries. Esmeralda and his daughter brings them to the table.

  "Let's eat."

  With that words, Grand Ecstasy give thanks for the food and starts digging. Esmeralda is amused that the foreigners are already so used on eating their food.

  And they're also seems really enjoy the cuisine as the pinakbet made with fresh vegetables is one of her specialties.

  "I'm glad you like my food. I thought I gonna need to cook some spaghetti or something." Esmerald smiles.

  "Auntie you should eat too. Even Jenny is now eating." Shiva's suggestion.

  "I'm fine don't worry. So Shiva, who are these beautiful folks you bring with you here?" Esmeralda asked with curiousity.

  "Ah, we're so hungry that we forgot to introduce ourselves. Sorry ma'am."

  Claustrine gracefully drink water and wipe his mouth with her napkin.

  "My name is Claustrine Evergreen."

  "Beltrand Fischer ma'am. And your cooking is so good."

  Beltrand notices that Jenny is giving him quick glances.

  "Just call me Shirna ma'am."

  "Sophia Amstrend. Nice to meet you ma'am."

  "And you?" Esmeralda looks at Mateo.

  "Really Auntie? You don't recognize him?"

  "Huh? Should I?"

  "Yes because he is your nephew Mateo."

  "Hi tita." Mateo smirks.

  "You're... Mateo?"

  Esmerald almost spits her food. Even Jenny is surprised.

  "I almost didn't recognize you!"

  Shiva just sigh.

  "I can't blame you auntie. It's been a while since he visited here."

  "I know that! But... There's so much that changed!" She looked at Mateo as the last time she remembers him is a fat kid.

  But the Mateo in front of her is like completely different person. As this is the first time she see him again before his supposed disapearrance 4 years ago. Not only Mateo is now well built but also more mature looking like he experienced so much.

  Esmeralda finally calm herself and gives a smile to Mateo.

  "How is Ligaya?"

  "Still energetic as usual." Mateo happily replies.

  They finish the meal full ot chatter and embarassing call back to the past by Esmeralda. Grand Ecstasy learnt a lot about Mateo.

  "So you're a nudist huh?" Beltrand smirks at Mateo.

  "I'm just a dumb kid at that time ok?!"

  Grand Ecstasy are just sitting on the sofas chattering with each other. Esmeralda and Jenny brings them freshly brewed coffee on steel cups.

  "What's your plans next? Be careful, those are hot." Esmeralda asked as she gives the cups to each one.

  "We probably just gonna rest a little bit then continue our road trip." Shiva's answer.

  "To be honest, we just visit here to give these dried fish and alamang. Sorry tita." Mateo's honest answer.

  Esmeralda smiles.

  "It's ok. But I suggest that you should stay here for few days."

  "Why tita?"

  "Becausd 2 days from now is the festival of your mother's hometown. Isn't that exciting?"

  Grand Ecstasy looked at each other, looking if they're interested on the idea.

  "But tita, we come here unannounced. We might be burdening you."

  Esmeralda just gives a chuckle.

  "No problem! I'm already prepared the moment you came here. Just consider this as my payment for all of these amazing gifts."

  Mateo smiles.

  "I see... What do you think guys?" Mateo asked her friends.

  "Sounds great to me." -Beltrand.

  "This is a great opportunity to learn something." Claustrine's approval.

  Shirna and Sophia gives a thumbs up.

  "Well then. We're in your care tita." Mateo's answer which make Esmeralda gives a gentle smile.

  "Jen, prepare their room."