I Reincarnated as Drag king in Another World

Chapter 8: Shadows Among the Ruins

Asuka crouched low, her breathing steady despite the pounding of her heart. The figures before them moved with a calculated precision that sent a chill down her spine. These were not mere scavengers—they were predators. Their bodies exuded an air of cruel efficiency, their weapons more than tools of survival; they were instruments of domination.

Kaelith's hand shot out, signaling Asuka to stay put. The older woman's silver eyes scanned the surroundings, catching every flicker of movement. With a deliberate grace, Kaelith unsheathed her blade, the faint whisper of metal against leather sending a shiver through the still air.

"Don't move until I say," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the faint crackle of embers in the distance.

Asuka nodded, clutching her spear tighter. The weapon felt heavier in her hands now, as though it understood the gravity of the moment. Her eyes darted toward the raiders. They had stopped near what remained of a crumbled fountain in the village square. One of them, taller than the rest, raised a hand, silencing the others.

"Orders," the tall one barked, his voice deep and commanding. "We sweep the area. If you find anything breathing, you know what to do."

The others grunted in acknowledgment, spreading out with a practiced ease that made Asuka's stomach churn. These were professionals.

Kaelith leaned closer to Asuka, her voice a mere breath in her ear. "We need to move. Stick to the shadows and follow my lead. If we're spotted…" She didn't finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy in the air.

Asuka swallowed hard and nodded.

Kaelith slipped from their hiding spot, her movements silent and fluid. Asuka followed, her steps careful but less confident. The two women weaved through the debris, keeping low and out of sight. Each step felt like an eternity, every creak of wood or crunch of ash threatening to give them away.

From their new vantage point, Asuka got a clearer view of the raiders. The tall one was clearly their leader. His cloak billowed slightly in the wind, revealing a set of knives strapped to his belt. The others, though varied in build and weaponry, shared the same aura of menace.

Asuka's grip tightened on her spear. These were the people responsible for the village's destruction. Anger bubbled up within her, but she forced it down. Acting on impulse would only get them killed.

Kaelith's hand shot up, signaling for Asuka to stop. She pointed to the far side of the square, where a narrow alleyway led away from the raiders. It was their best chance to slip past unnoticed.

They moved cautiously, every step a calculated risk. Asuka could feel the tension radiating from Kaelith, her body coiled like a spring, ready to strike if necessary.

Suddenly, a faint sound broke the stillness—a cough, weak and ragged, coming from one of the ruined buildings nearby. Asuka's heart sank. Someone was still alive.

The raiders froze, their heads snapping toward the sound. The leader raised a hand, and two of his men moved toward the source of the noise.

"No," Asuka whispered, her voice trembling with fear and urgency.

Kaelith's eyes narrowed. "Stay here," she ordered, her tone brooking no argument. Before Asuka could protest, Kaelith disappeared into the shadows.

Asuka's mind raced. Should she follow? Stay hidden? Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she couldn't abandon the person in that building—or Kaelith.

Moments later, a muffled cry echoed through the square, followed by the unmistakable sound of a blade meeting flesh. One of the raiders staggered out of the building, clutching his throat as blood poured between his fingers. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Chaos erupted.

The remaining raiders drew their weapons, their eyes scanning the darkness for their unseen assailant. Kaelith moved like a phantom, darting between cover and striking with lethal precision. A second raider fell, his scream cut short as Kaelith's blade found his heart.

"Asuka!" Kaelith's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Move!"

Asuka didn't hesitate. She bolted toward the alleyway, her spear clutched tightly in her hands. Behind her, the raiders shouted, their voices a chaotic mix of anger and confusion.

Kaelith appeared at her side moments later, her blade slick with blood. "Keep going!" she barked, shoving Asuka forward.

They ran, the ruins of the village blurring around them. The alleyway twisted and turned, its narrow confines offering some semblance of protection. But the raiders were relentless. The sound of their pursuit grew louder, their footsteps echoing ominously through the maze of debris.

Kaelith skidded to a halt at a fork in the path, her eyes darting between the two options. "Left," she decided, leading Asuka down the narrower of the two routes.

The walls closed in around them, the air thick with the scent of ash and decay. Asuka's lungs burned, her legs screaming in protest, but she pushed forward. She couldn't stop. Not now.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by a loud thud as an arrow embedded itself in the wall mere inches from Asuka's head. She stumbled, her heart pounding in her chest.

"They're gaining on us!" she cried, panic creeping into her voice.

Kaelith didn't respond. She spun around, her blade flashing as she deflected another arrow. The raiders were closing the distance, their figures looming larger with each passing second.

"We can't outrun them," Kaelith said grimly. "We'll have to fight."

Asuka's stomach twisted at the thought, but she nodded. She wasn't ready for this—not mentally, not physically—but she had no choice.

Kaelith positioned herself at the mouth of the alley, her stance defensive. "Stay behind me," she ordered.

The first raider rounded the corner, his axe raised high. Kaelith met him head-on, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. The raider fell, his weapon clattering to the ground.

Another followed, then another. Kaelith fought with a ferocity that left Asuka awestruck, her movements a blur of steel and determination. But even Kaelith couldn't hold them off forever.

One of the raiders slipped past her, his eyes locking onto Asuka. He lunged, his sword aimed straight for her heart.

Asuka reacted instinctively, thrusting her spear forward. The crude weapon found its mark, the jagged tip piercing the raider's chest. He stumbled back, a look of shock etched on his face before he crumpled to the ground.

Asuka stared at the body, her hands trembling. She had just taken a life.

"Asuka!" Kaelith's voice snapped her out of her daze. "Focus!"

The fight raged on, the alleyway becoming a battleground. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing steel, pained cries, and labored breathing. Asuka fought with everything she had, her movements clumsy but effective.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last raider fell. The silence that followed was deafening.

Kaelith leaned against the wall, her chest heaving as she wiped the blood from her blade. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

Asuka nodded, though her hands still trembled. "I think so."

Kaelith's eyes softened slightly. "You did well."

Asuka didn't feel like she had done well. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—fear, guilt, anger—but she pushed it all aside. There was no time to dwell on it.

"We need to keep moving," Kaelith said, pushing off the wall. "There could be more of them."

Asuka nodded, gripping her spear tightly. Together, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the village of ashes behind.