Headed by a Snake

Lieutenant Shao Ran kicked the door of the Necromancer's hut, the strength granted to him by his cursed blood blowing it off of its hinges. From a scream of pain from one of the men outside, it sounded like he got one.

No one expects the door to attack them. He was pretty proud of himself for such a genius tactical move.

"M-my door!" The Necromancer shouted, "I... I just replaced it last week."

Ran pulled his cloth mask up and drew Chaleb's ancestral blade, "Your life is more important than a piece of wood, kid."

Walking outside into the cool night breeze, Ran breathed in the sea salt and fish rot in the air. Because of his Sea Wolf Curse, fighting in such close proximity to the ocean allowed his ki to circulate and regenerate almost effortlessly. That combined with his healing factor, he could shrug off sword stabs as easily as wooded splinters.

It was still annoying to breathe deeply, though.

Stupid cursed sword.

Three men stood warily, waiting for Ran with swords drawn. One of them was out of the fight, already-- knocked out by the door, lying unconscious underneath it.

Clean, dark coats, all uniform. Trimmed beards. Well-maintained weaponry.

...Assassins from a Dark Guild... Mercenary Witch-Hunters, maybe... Shao Ran's organization, the Sea Wolves, specialized in hunting pirates, and these cold, murderous bastards wouldn't be much different.

"Who in the Flame are you?" One of the bearded men asked.

"I am vengeance given flesh." Ran flourished his blade. He sheathed it with his fiery ki, lighting the blade aflame, "I am the stain that you cannot scrub."

Ran swallowed awkwardly... He did not mean to say that... any of that! Was this... also part of the weapons' curse?

The three men frowned at each other... before nodding and fanning out to surround Ran.

"Come with us quietly, and no one but the witch gets hurt," One of the mercs growled.

It was a threat. Ran hated threats.

He spun his weapon as he pirouetted backward, reversing its grip and holding it behind him. Ducking down, he then leapt forward, swinging his blade in a 720 degree spin...

...which was incredibly telegraphed and had far too much unnecessary movement. Was this the sword's effect too?

Double spins are stupid! Normally, he was conservative with his attacks-- one spin was okay. Two was too much!

Thankfully, his opponent was too slow to block. Ran struck the man's weapon out of his hand before spinning around again with a jumping kick to their head.

What... what was he doing? He lost so much power by jumping instead of staying grounded and using the rotational force to his advantage.

He was wasting so much energy that he struggled to breathe. Or was it because of the sword, again?

Sea god's socks! He HATED this sword!!

...But the kick struck true and the man dropped to the ground.

It really should not have worked. These people were not very strong... or maybe they couldn't see well in the dark?

"We shall not falter, evildoer!" One of the bearded rogues slashed his sword-- quick, clean, and straightforward...

Both Ran's perception and reflexes were advanced enough to see it like he was swimming in sand. All he had to do was to dodge it and counter-attack.

Instead, he reached out to grab the blade with his hand.

Ow! Seven hells! What?! WHY, SWORD?! WHY???

Ran gripped the blade hard, twisting it out of the man's grasp. All the while, he clenched his teeth, ignoring the pain. Though his hand stung hot, he could recover in a few minutes thanks to his healing factor.

"Wh-what are you?" The disarmed man stepped back, panic in his eyes, "Monster!!"

The guy wasn't too far off. He was a Sea Wolf... a creature unafraid of death! There was no way Shao Ran could die to these weaklings.

Ran grinned, "I am... vengeance... given flesh..."

WHY DID HE KEEP SAYING THAT?!?

Still, Ran continued speaking... magically compelled to do so, "I am the eyes that watch as you pee in the public bath!"

The man's eyes widened, his panic transforming into pure fear, "H-how did you know?"

Ran jabbed the bath-pisser in the stomach before slamming the flat of his fiery blade against the side of their head. Three of four, defeated.

The last turned and fled... but Ran was far too upset with his circumstances to give chase.

He grabbed a vial of seawater off his belt and poured it on his injured hand. Immediately, the wounds began to close... not that it really made him feel better.

"S-sir... You're so brave," The Necromancer kid's eyes were almost glowing with respect.

"Heh... It's no problem, kid." Ran shrugged... At least his hard work was appreciated. Something was better than nothing, "Who are these guys, anyroad?"

The Necromancer grinned sheepishly, "Oh, they're City Enforcers."

Ran paused... "They're what?"

"Like... city guards... except they enforce laws?" The boy pursed his lips, "I uh... Necromancy isn't... exactly legal in Tyrion."

Ran collapsed to his knees, allowing Chaleb's sword to clatter against the street stones and its flames to extinguish. He held his temples with his hand and smacked his forehead to the ground.

Sea god's balls... He was the biggest idiot in the Fleet. He had accidentally assaulted officers of the law...

"Sir! Sir? Are you okay?" The youth rushed to Ran's side.

Ran wanted to dive into the ocean and never return. He was in the wrong! Definitely in the wrong!

...

⟬ On the road to Caeruleum, via carriage. ⟭

"Miss Athena... I think you've changed a little bit," Parthenope Aldini grinned as she placed her hands on her junior's cheeks. Her skin was pale, like a doll's, and her bright, frosty blue hair was soft as silk.

Some guys liked that. The littlest lady of the Military Academy at Silva was one of the more popular girls in her year... Even some of the older boys in Parthenope's own class looked at her with lascivious eyes.

"Y-you think so, Theno?" Athena pursed her lips out... which looked very cute with her face squished as it was. "I'm pretty sure I grew an uncia... maybe two?"

"Nah," Parthenope sat back in her seat, placing a hand on her chin. "How can I explain it... it's like you grew up somehow?"

"I'm taller," Athena insisted. "I think my boobs grew a little too? Maybe?"

That... was probably not the case. Sorry, Athena.