Warlock: Demon Bane

Meanwhile, Baker left the crowd and walked to a secluded courtyard on the edge of the village.

This spot was near the most dangerous part of the village, where rumors said monsters often wandered. Dark green vines climbed all over the courtyard walls, nearly covering the entire place, leaving only a worn wooden door slightly ajar. A few withered, leafless trees stood inside, their twisted branches like the limbs of struggling ghosts. The air was thick with a foul mixture of decay and blood.

This was the home of the Insect Keeper. In Oak Village, he was a mysterious and frightening figure. He kept to himself, rarely speaking to anyone. Most villagers kept their distance, wary of his rumored powers—some said he could control insects or even communicate with monsters. Nobody wanted to risk upsetting him and inviting disaster on themselves.

Baker stood at the courtyard gate and took a deep breath. The nauseating stench in the air made him wrinkle his nose slightly. He raised a hand and knocked gently on the half-open door.

"Who's there?" a hoarse voice rasped from inside, like rough stones grinding against each other, jarring to the ears.

"It's me, Baker."

Baker's voice was calm and steady, completely unaffected by the eerie atmosphere around him.

With a squeal that echoed in the silence, the door swung open. An old man hunched in the doorway, so gaunt he was practically just bones, dressed in a ragged black robe so faded you couldn't tell its original color. His face was hidden beneath the hood's shadow, revealing only a pair of cloudy eyes that glimmered faintly in the dark.

"Doctor Baker? What brings you here?" the old man asked warily, his voice still rough and scratchy, clearly surprised to see Baker.

"I need a core," Baker said bluntly. His tone was fearless, as if he were just chatting with an ordinary old man.

"A core, huh? What do you want with that?" The old man narrowed his cloudy eyes, studying Baker's face, trying to glean something from his unruffled expression.

Baker leaned in and murmured something under his breath.

The old man fell silent for a moment, as though considering the request.

"Well now, you're certainly willing to pay. A core isn't exactly cheap," he finally spoke, a faint note of amusement creeping into his gravelly tone.

"Cut the chatter. I'll pay whatever it costs," Baker replied without hesitation.

"Alright then, follow me." The old man stared at Baker for a moment longer, then let out a strange smile. Turning on his heel, he limped into the courtyard, walking as if he were an injured beast.

Baker followed close behind, entering that eerie, unsettling place. Throughout it all, his face remained unreadable, as though oblivious to the horrors around him.

...

By dusk, Baker still hadn't come back.

William was starting to worry, but recalling Baker's instructions before he left, he decided to head over to Alpha's place first.

Alone, William walked down the dirt road in the village with an oil lamp in hand. The surroundings were silent except for the constant chirping of insects.

He felt a little uneasy, since it was his first time venturing out at night—and to a stranger's house, no less.

When he arrived at Alpha's door, William knocked.

"Come in," came Alpha's voice from inside, so William pushed the door open and stepped in.

"You're here," Alpha said from his seat at the table, a book in hand. "Baker's not back yet?"

"No," William replied. "He had some errands to run."

"Have a seat," Alpha gestured toward the chair next to him. Then he asked, "Can you read?"

"A little," William nodded.

Alpha picked up a book from the table and handed it to William. "This is Wolf's Breath, a breathing technique. Take a look."

William glanced at the cover, where the bold characters spelled out "Wolf's Breath." He flipped it open, and line after line of text appeared before his eyes. Despite his memory loss, he was relieved to find that he could understand the words.

"This breathing technique is a method of building strength passed down by the Hunter's Guild of the Rhine Empire," Alpha explained. "If you're literate, it's easier to grasp the key details."

"I see," William murmured thoughtfully. Then he asked, "Captain, could you tell me more about this world? You know, things like how the empire is organized, the guilds, the Rhine Empire itself…and also about warlocks."

Alpha gave William a curious look, slightly surprised at his question, but he patiently began to explain. "We're in the Rhine Empire, Norton Province, Blackwater County, Oak Village…"

By the time Alpha finished, William felt he had a clearer picture of this world. But at the mention of "warlocks," Alpha's tone grew noticeably cautious: "Wizards are incredibly rare and powerful. They command mysterious powers, but even the two 'wizards' in our village aren't true warlocks."

"Then… what are they?" William pressed.

Alpha hesitated for a moment. "They just know a few basic witchcraft tricks. They're far from being real warlocks."

"Gotcha," William said, leaving it at that.

"Alright, it's getting late," Alpha stood up. "I've spoken with Doctor Baker. You'll stay here tonight— it's not safe out there. Plus, I can help guide you with the breathing technique."

"Thanks, Captain." William secretly found it amusing that Alpha, having taken Baker's rune coins, was actually quite dedicated to his duties.

"Sensing the free-flowing energy in your surroundings is the key to getting started," Alpha said gravely. "Only once you pass that step can you really begin your martial training. But don't worry—I'm not giving Baker's money back even if you never manage to pick it up."

William: "…"

The hint of goodwill William had toward Alpha disappeared instantly. This guy really was hopelessly money-grubbing!

"This technique is called Wolf's Breath, and it works by using specific breathing rhythms along with physical movements to stimulate your body so you can sense the free energy around you," Alpha said, sitting cross-legged on the bed. He might have taken Baker's rune coins, but at least he wasn't holding back in his teaching. "Of course, that's just the basic first step. To truly master a breathing technique, you have to train continuously, get used to that energy, and learn to absorb it as your own."

"So, how many members of the Security Squad have managed to get that far?" William asked, curious.

Alpha held up two fingers. "Counting me, just two."

"Only two?" William was taken aback. He'd figured most of the squad would know how to do it.

"What, did you think this breathing technique is a dime a dozen? You need talent, hard work, and resources to make it happen," Alpha scoffed. "As far as I know, including me, only four people in all of Oak Village have truly succeeded in learning a breathing technique."

"Who are the other two?"

"One is the village chief. The other… you'll find out later." Clearly not wanting to dwell on it, Alpha continued, "Even if you can't properly step into it, practicing Wolf's Breath over the long term will still strengthen your body, make you faster and stronger."

"I see." William nodded, deep in thought.

"Alright, I've shown you how to get started. Go ahead and work on it by yourself, and if you run into problems, just ask," Alpha said, picking up a book and lounging back on the bed, looking quite at ease.

Not wanting to disturb him, William began memorizing the contents of Wolf's Breath in earnest. Even William himself was astonished at how good his memory was—he quickly memorized the entire book, word for word.

"Inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale…"

Following the book's instructions, William adjusted his breathing rhythm and paired it with the prescribed movements.

"No, no. You're breathing way too fast," Alpha spoke up suddenly. William hadn't even noticed him put down his book. "Slow it down. Really feel the air moving through your lungs. Think of a wolf—deep, steady breathing."

At Alpha's words, William hurriedly slowed his breathing.

"Keep your arms lower. You're too stiff. Tensing your muscles doesn't mean turning into a statue. Imagine you're a wolf watching its prey, ready to strike at any moment," Alpha continued, pointing out William's posture issues.

With Alpha's guidance, William kept fine-tuning his movements and breathing. It didn't take long for him to grasp the basics. Despite Alpha's laid-back demeanor, he had a wealth of experience, and his feedback was always spot on.

"Good, keep that rhythm," Alpha said with satisfaction. "Now comes the crucial part—trying to sense the free energy around you."

William closed his eyes, following Wolf's Breath as closely as he could, focusing all his attention on his own breathing. He felt like he was surrounded by darkness, everything completely still except for the sound of his breath.

Time ticked by. A fine sheen of sweat formed on William's forehead as he repeatedly adjusted his breathing, trying to sense the so-called "free energy." But no matter how hard he concentrated, he felt nothing but darkness.

His legs began to go numb from holding the same position for too long. His back started aching from tensing his muscles. Still, he refused to give up—this might be his best shot at surviving in a dangerous world.

"Relax a bit," came Alpha's distant voice. "You're trying too hard. Sensing energy isn't about brute force; you've got to be patient and keen—like a wolf."

William took a deep breath, attempting to release the tension in his body. He centered his mind on his breathing, listening to it flow through his lungs. But aside from his own heart beating and the rise and fall of his chest, he felt nothing.

Suddenly, an icy sensation ran up his right arm, as though something were wrapping itself around him. Instinctively, William opened his eyes—but saw nothing. The feeling vanished as quickly as it came, but it left a subtle change in the air.

"Don't rush," Alpha said, noticing William's anxiety. "Sensing energy takes time and focus. Plenty of people never manage it, not even once. When I first started…"

Before Alpha could finish, a faint swirl of air gathered around William's body. It was barely noticeable, but to someone who'd mastered a breathing technique, that slight current was as obvious as a beacon—and a clear sign that William had succeeded.

Alpha bolted upright, eyes wide in disbelief as he watched the faint currents swirl around William.

"You… you actually sensed it?" Alpha murmured. "How's that even possible? It took me three whole months just to feel the energy, and you…"

William slowly opened his eyes, sensing some subtle shift within himself. It was slight, but his strength felt marginally greater.

"I think…I managed to sense it," William said quietly.

"Kid, you're a freakin' monster," Alpha blurted out, unable to hide his shock. As one of the village's former prodigies, he knew how hard it was to reach this step—William's talent was beyond his expectations.

"Now that you can sense the energy, you should feel a bit stronger," Alpha said, leading William outside to the yard. He pointed at a stone in the corner. "Go check."

William approached and squatted by the stone. It was a half-height chunk of bluestone, nothing special. He took a deep breath, grabbed hold of it, and lifted.

"Heh!"

The stone actually rose off the ground. William's arms trembled, but he was holding a stone that had to weigh close to a hundred pounds.

"Not bad," Alpha nodded. "A normal person couldn't do that."

Setting the stone back down, William stared at his hands in awe. He could feel a warmth running through him. That power had come so suddenly, it was almost hard to believe.

"Haha, I'm actually stronger now!" William couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Alpha said with a sneer. "You think that's enough?"

He inhaled deeply, and William heard a crackling sound within Alpha's body—energy coursing through him. The air around Alpha was far more turbulent than around William, blowing his fiery-red hair back as if caught in a breeze.

"Watch closely."

Alpha casually grabbed the same stone and tossed it lightly into the air like a child's ball. As it came down, he swung a single punch.

"Whoosh!"

A loud blast tore through the air, so powerful it made William squint and nearly knocked him off balance. Even the faint energy swirling around him got blown away. A punch like that would seriously injure—if not kill— any living target.

"Boom!"

The stone shattered instantly, fragments flying in every direction.

William's eyes shone with a mix of admiration and excitement.

So that's the power of a breathing technique. It's incredible.

The stone that had required all his effort to lift was destroyed in seconds by Alpha's fist. And it wasn't just brute force—Alpha had such fine control that no one else was harmed by the flying shards.

"Remember this,"

Alpha dusted off his hands.

"In this world, you never know what kind of monster is lurking around the next corner. That bit of strength isn't even enough to give them a toothache."

William's grin faded. He'd gotten so excited about getting stronger that he nearly forgot how dangerous this world was.

"Starting tomorrow, you'll be patrolling with the Security Squad," Alpha said sternly. "I really don't want to hear news of your death on your first day."

Putting aside his earlier impressions, William felt a sense of respect and warmth toward Alpha. For all his flaws, the man clearly cared about his well-being.

Alpha patted William on the shoulder. "Alright, it's late. Get some rest. We'll continue this tomorrow."

"Got it, Captain."

"Man, I wish I'd known you'd pick this up so fast. I would've charged Doctor Baker more. It's not like he's short on coin," Alpha mumbled with a sigh, talking mostly to himself.

William: "…"