Chapter 287: 287

It has been a few months since Niel became a mercenary, and in those few months Niel had risen through the ranks in such a terrifying manner . The moment Niel registered as a merc, he was placed as a D rank .

After gaining his rank Niel immediately took the most dangerous mission he could find . The person who gave out the mission didn't really care what rank of a merc Niel was as long as the job was done then it didn't matter . If the kid dies then it's the kid's own fault that he died . Seeing as the expected rank needed to complete the mission was of that a lower A rank merc, or at least a six man team of B rank mercs, but Niel took on the mission by himself, making the man who gave out the mission quite sure that Niel was one of those fools that thinks he's some sort of hero in a story . There were many of those dreamers that suddenly popped up when this all out war started .

The man who gave out the mission never expected Niel to complete mission, so he waited until he heard the news of Niel's failure or death, yet neither of those things happened . Instead Niel was able to successfully complete the mission, even though he completed it with some broken ribs, a bullet wound on his shoulder, and knife wound near his gallbladder .

Even with that kind of damage Niel returned to the person who gave out the mission, with an angelic smile on his face as he handed the proof of completion . The person in question couldn't believe what he saw and had to double check if Niel was actually able to kill a rogue squad, that was attacking both the Empire and Berdonian forces . Yet after checking the corpses Niel brought back, the man who gave out the mission had confirmed that this was that rogue squad in question . He couldn't believe his eyes, as he absentmindedly handed Niel the money for completing the mission .

This was but the start of Niel's career as a merc . With his always angelic smile on his face Niel continued doing the hardest missions he could find, and immediately ranked up to C rank . This speed of ranking up was nearing the speed in which Lyner got through the mercenary ranks .

. . .

Granado Empire Soldiers POV:

I kept on running as I tried my hardest to head back to base . It wasn't suppose to be like this, it was just suppose to be a normal scouting mission! Why did we have to find that monster while scouting .

As I continued running I couldn't help but remember the killer of my comrades . The person we faced was a young man, with a radiant angelic smile that could lower anyones guard when they saw it . At first that was the initial reaction we all had when we saw the boy, but then I felt something uncomfortable, and then I remembered that rumors of a new up and coming young merc that blazed right through the ranks . It was said that this young man was a second monster of Berdonia like Lyner, they called him the Smiling Demon, or the Angel of Death .

When I realized who the enemy was, I immediately stepped back and tried to warn the others, but before I could say anything I saw my comrades heads detached from their bodies . The Angel of Death showed me his iconic smile, and spoke to me .

"Oh, you were able to evade . . . Are you perhaps strong? Are you another one who will confirm that I'm alive right now!?"

The Angel of Death's smile grew wider, as he looked at me with an enchanting gaze, but at the same time a frightening horrific look could be seen beyond that smile of his .

The moment I saw this, I immediately started running . I needed to quickly inform the commander about the enemy that was coming .

I was so frightened I didn't have time to look back . I couldn't hear the Angel of Death following me, but I just couldn't stop running nor could I gather the courage to look back . When I saw the base in front of my eyes I felt a bit relieved .

I immediately tried to warn the guards in front of the base .

"ENEMY ATTACK!" The moment I said this, I heard the sounds of gunshots from behind me then I saw the heads of the guards be blown into mush . It was then I heard the Angel of Death's voice for the last time .

"Thanks for leading the way . " Those were the last words I heard when everything turned dark .

. . .

Granado Empire Captain's POV:

I suddenly heard the sounds of gunshots being fired in the base . The first thing that came into my mind was a night attack from those Berdonian bast*rds . Of course they would use such cowardly tactics which was expected of slaves .

As I was about to go out of my tent, my second in command came inside .

"Second lieutenant report what's happening outside? How many enemies are there?" Even in this tense situation, my second in command still had time to give me a proper military salute . I on the other hand, didn't have time to reprimand him at the moment, but once the danger is gone, I need to explain to him that there is a time and place for everything .

"We're under attack commander!"

"I already know that you fool! How many enemies are there, do they have tanks or air support?"

"There is only one enemy, and it's a named merc!"

"A named merc from Berdonia? Is it the monster Lyner, is it the messenger of death Carlo, or the infamous silent flash? Who is it?"

"It's not any of those people Sir, it's-" My second in command couldn't finish what he was saying when I saw his head being decapitated . Once the second lieutenant's body fell down, I saw a young boy smiling at me . The smile he had on his face was so radiant that he looked like an angel .

That would have been my actual impression if the boy wasn't stained by the blood of my men . So instead of an Angel that brings peace, he looked more like an Angel that bring only Death .

"I see . . . So, it's the Angel of Death, Niel Rayheart . "

"You must be the commander of this base . I already killed most of your men . They weren't anything special and I didn't get the feeling that I was alive . So Mister commander I hope you'll give me that thrill, I hope you will grant me a battle that would prove that I'm alive!"

That angelic smile from the Angel of Death didn't disappear, it still looked angelic, but to me personally it looked like the smile of a crazed person .

I aimed my rifle at the Angel of Death and started firing . The moment I started shooting, the Angel of Death jumped outside of the tent . I of course followed after him, but when I got out of the tent I couldn't spot him . I then felt something dangerous so I evaded by jumping to the right . Out of nowhere the Angel of Death fell from above and stabbed the ground I was standing from awhile ago .

He then pointed his Peacemaker at me and started shooting . I tried to evade, but then I felt something caught my leg, I saw that some wires had entangled my right leg . Because of those wires I wasn't able to evade properly, and got hit in my left thigh .

I was above to distance myself from the Angel of Death, but the moment I tried to move, I felt a cold steel object pointed at my forehead . The Angel of Death looked at me with a look of disappointment .

"I guess, you weren't someone on that level yet . So before you die, do you know anything about Alexander Samarita?"

I didn't know who he was talking about, but I needed to talk like I know who that is to give me more time .

"Why do you ask?" The Angel of Death looked at me, and sighed .

"So you don't know anything . How about the Shadow Mercenaries, do you anything about them?"

Now he's talking about fairy tale characters . Is this young man right in his head? Never mind that, I shouldn't make it obvious that I don't know anything . Before I could answer I heard a gunshot, and then everything went dark .

. . .

'So he doesn't know anything as well . ' Niel was able to easily figure out what the Captain was thinking base on his subtle changes in expression . If he wasn't on the same level as Alex or even Emily with their poker faces, he wouldn't be able to fool Niel .

"That battle wasn't much, but I was sure that the commander of this base was someone who knew the Shadow Mercenaries . I guess the information I gathered was false once again . If only Kei was here, this would be much easier . I wonder where he is now? . . . I guess it would be easier to find Kei than Alex . Once we team up we might be able to figure out where Alex was taken to . "

Once he decided his next course of action, Niel took the dog tag of the Captain, as well as his uniform as proof of the kill . Seeing as he destroyed the head of the Captain beyond recognition he had no other choice but to bring these items instead for him to complete his mission .

Niel then silently left the base that had nothing left but corpses .