Maximus Augilleris Steefan hated being human. He felt weak and pathetic. He grew up watching superhero flicks on TV and decided that they were cooler. Max wasn't a cool dude even by normal human standards. He always wanted to be super powerful and someone who had weight behind his words. That's what Max thought he was right now. An all-powerful God-like being that can fight any for imaginable. Max had decided that he would crush everyone who stood in his way. Yet, in an instant he was cut, and he never felt more human than ever before.
Dreacon had used his blade to cut him diagonally, from his right chest to his left pelvic bone. The huge scar on him dropped blood continuously and blood rushed to his mouth. Max was done. In an instant, his head met the ground as he fell on his back.
Max was paralyzed and couldn't move his entire body. Max could feel every second of his pain in every inch of his body. But the immense pain made it impossible for him to scream as he just lay there, with his eyes open. The world around him made no sense, but he was still trying to grapple reality itself and stay alive. But all he could hear was the maniac, laughing at his weakness. And then, he became serious. Dreacon looked at the fallen Max in a serious manner, absolute disgust being his emotion.
Dreacon: You...A PUNY HUMAN DARED TO SAY THAT YOU ARE A GOD???! Isn't it a tad bit insulting????
Max just lay there, still unable to utter a single word as he kept losing his blood.
Dreacon: This is all YOUR fault, you hear me?? Damn it!! I just wanted to have q good game and you HAD to ruin it!! Now how will I see you despair?? Do you understand my problem??
Ranting on like a madman, which he was Dreacon kept walking left and right. He then looked at his servant, Savanta.
Dreacon: What are you even doing here?? Go get the kid! Your mission is to kill that little brat and make sure that he doesn't reach my room.
Savanta: Myaster gave me permishan to kyill???
Savanta looked overjoyed. Almost as if he would start jumping in excitement like a little baby.
Dreacon: Yes. But don't make it QUICK. Take it nice and slow and make sure he begs you to kill him. That's how we do it in the Dreacon Castle.
Dreacon smiled, and nodded at Savanta. The monster understood the meaning and started going the same direction as Chuck. Albert saw this and got up and tried running after him, desperately trying to be conscious, instead Dreacon jumped ahead and stopped him in place.
Dreacon: Where are you going..? I told you I was interested in your Blessing.
Albert steadied himself for a fight. And as Dreacon attacked, Albert with pain in his eyes, stopped him with Excalibur.
***
Chuck was running up the stairs. This place looked like a maze. No matter where he turned, everything looked the same. Sure, he used to see fancy rooms here and there, but all of them would be empty. Chuck had started marking where he had been, half the time always reaching a marked place.
After a few minutes of running, Chuck was tired. But he shouldn't give up on the key as they might all blow up. He trusted Max to fight against the two. And he was surprised seeing the Samurai with them, but he didn't question it as Max seemed friendly with him. Plus, even he was trying to save them, which made the Samurai his ally too. And suddenly he saw the rubble fall in front of, but there was no sound. Chuck realized that something was wrong. When he had woken up, the Samurai had taken a hit just like this, because the Monster had something like a Blessing which allowed him to cancel sounds. And since there was no sound of the rubble falling, Chuck was sure that Savanta was nearby.
Chuck turned to look at the rooms he had already been in. And from one of them popped Savanta. He was looking for something...or someone. Chuck was instantly scared so he tried hiding under a metallic table he found in the huge dining area of the castle. But, unfortunately, Savanta also entered the room. He was grinning as if he was sure Chuck was bere.
Savanta: Byetter come aut nowww. I cyan shmell youuu.
Savanta did a sniffing action, instantly terrifying Chuck. He had cupped his mouth with both his palms, so as to not make a sound. Savanta just smiled again and lifted the entire table and threw it out of the way, but unlike last few times, Chuck could hear this sound. It was almost as if his power was fluctuating.
Chuck turned to see him standing above him.
Savanta: Found youuu!!
He smiled like the Devil. Chuck got up and started running, screaming all the while. He had no choice of winning against a monster like this. Savanta started chasing after him, but he was unusually slow right now. Chuck was confused on why, not realizing that Savanta was going easy on him on purpose. Savanta wanted Chuck to be tired and suffer. Savanta knew he could kill the kid anytime, so he was just enjoying with his prey. Almost like a child playing with food in his plate.
Savanta: Are yuu the bouy Thyat led Myaster to the villlage??
Chuck turned to see Savanta, who was almost jogging, despite his enormous size and weight. Chuck was going in blind, with fear. But remembering his past on how he was the reason Dreacon found out about the village, Chuck was facing a dilemma. His entire village vanished and he needed to know why.
Savanta: You still dyont she it?? Thyanks tu yuu we got to kyill even more peepal!!
Chuck was scared, but intrigued. He was curios about what happened to his family. So he screamed on top of his voice.
Chuck: What did you guys do to my village?? Where is everybody???!!!
Chuck had bravery despite being in this tight situation. He had been running for more than a minute now, and he was sick, almost ready to throw up. With all the courage he could muster, he asked that question. And then came the answer.
Savanta: Ohh...shilly. Yuu still dyont she it?? Myaster used the Box on your village!!! Everyone went poof, thyere bodies fully dishintegrathing.
Savanta then followed that answer with a weirdly creep laugh. But Chuck could no longer run. His fatigue had finally hit him and he fell right on his face. Slowly Chuck started getting up, tears in his eyes. To this day, even though he knew deep in his heart that it wasn't possible, he had believed that all his family and friends were alive and well. But when he woke up to this reality finally, he couldn't help but breakdown. Chuck was the reason everyone in his beloved village died. He started crying, despite the looming presence of Savanta. The monster towered over him, looking at the helpless kid and lifted his axe.
***
Albert was trying hard to fight against Dreacon. But he couldn't really hit him with offense as he had to use everything he had just to defend himself. No matter what he couldn't allow himself to be cut down like Max was. If he does, then there will be no one to protect Chuck, the little boy that had nothing to do with this conflict.
Dreacon: You are good!! Proves that you have experience in the battlefield.
Albert was still squinting, but then as he stepped down, he could feel the vibrations again. It was like Savanta's ability had switched off for a second.
Albert immediately closed his eyes and now could sense Dreacon easily. He attacked faster, even though Dreacon blocked it all. But it was easy to see that he was doing better than before. His right arm was still numb from the thorn that was stuck, but now he was okay.
Still be was struggling with him, and he needed Max to help him, but it was impossible. Max lay there, and began thinking about his family. He would die here, again, without being able to meet anyone among his family. He didn't know if this was a beautiful death, cause he was dying like a hero, after standing against injustice. But he still felt like shit, as this was pathetic of him. He would die as soon as the blood would leave him.
Instead suddenly, he saw white strings appearing out of thin air, and stitching his wound back together, preventing even more blood loss. As he pulled his eyes away from the tattered clothes, Max saw Melissa right beside him, kneeling down and using her Blessing to stitch him back together.
Max: Me...lissa...
Max spoke slowly
Melissa: Don't talk. I'll heal you. In a minute. Please wait.
Max: Chuck...is....
Melissa: Don't worry....nothing would happen to him...."someone" will save him..!!
And in the corner of the room, where Melissa and Lin were before, was empty.
***
Chuck was crying and Savanta liftedbhis axe ready to chop the poor boy's leg off. But Chuck couldn't even run, even though he wanted to live.
But before he could strike him, a Kukri blade stabbed the monsters neck and went through his body to the other side. Savanta groaned in pain and looked at this new for.
On the roof like structure, was a black-haired guy in blue armour. He had another blade in his hand, and he smiled cockily.
Lin: You okay....Charlie??