Page 1
"Watch out!"
Maria's voice pierces the Father's ears like a blade.
He turns quickly, but he realizes he is a fraction of a second too late. The third soldier is behind him, his sword raised high, about to descend upon his neck.
Suddenly…
A sword pierces the soldier's face with incredible speed. He falls to the ground without a sound.
The Father turns. Maria is standing there, her face pale, her hand still raised after throwing the weapon.
He whispers with a broken voice, "Stay behind me… you've just given birth."
But before she can answer, a fourth soldier emerges from the darkness, charging at him with a long spear.
The Father braces himself. His breath is ragged, but his eyes still carry a fire that has not yet been extinguished.
Page 2
The spear whistles past his chest with terrifying speed.
The wood grinds against his armor, making a harsh, grating sound.
In a fleeting moment of focus, the Father grabs the spear with both hands. His knuckles turn white from the grip.
Page 3
With one swift motion, he snaps the spear in half.
In the same breath, he stabs the soldier in the neck. He falls.
Then… a sudden, sickening thud.
He turns.
Another soldier was behind Maria. His sword is buried deep in her body while she was protecting her husband's back.
She took the blow intended for him.
Page 4
Time stands still inside the Father's mind.
Maria…
The soldier pulls his sword out of her body with a gruesome sound. She collapses to the ground. Her blood flows profusely.
The Father's eyes widen. His face freezes.
Then, he explodes.
"MARIAAAAA!!"
A scream tears through the forest. The scream of a man watching his entire world collapse before his eyes.
He lunges at the soldier with savage ferocity. He punches him until he falls. He throws himself on top of him, delivering blow after blow. He doesn't stop. (The sound of breaking bones... blood splattering). He hears nothing, sees nothing. He wraps his hands around the soldier's throat, choking him with every ounce of strength left in him until the soldier stops moving entirely.
The Father's tears mix with the soldier's blood.
Page 5
A spear pierces the Father's back.
Pain surges through his body like fire.
Yet, he stands.
Slowly. Very slowly. His body trembles. His face is covered in blood, sweat, and tears.
He looks at Maria. Blood escapes from her mouth. Her eyes are searching for him.
He reaches for the spear embedded in his stomach. He grinds his teeth. He pulls it out with a violent jerk, turns, and hurls it toward the soldier who struck him.
The spear pierces the soldier's chest. He drops dead.
Three soldiers stand before him now. None of them advance. Fear holds them back.
Page 6
The Father says in a hoarse, broken voice:
"If you won't come to me… then I am coming for you."
He charges forward with everything he has left.
His sword pierces the chest of the first soldier. He falls instantly.
The second soldier stabs him in his side. The Father screams in agony, but he responds with a powerful punch, pulls the sword out of his own body, and cleaves the soldier with a single strike.
He pulls a hidden knife from his sleeve. He plunges it into the third soldier's eye. The man screams and falls, writhing. The Father takes one step, draws his sword, and drives it into the soldier's heart.
Page 7
The Father stands amidst the corpses.
But the soldiers are endless. they keep coming from behind Boomer like a tide.
Boomer laughs from atop his horse, enjoying every moment.
Maria is on the ground, bleeding out. Her eyes are fading.
The Father is covered in wounds. Blood leaks from his mouth. But he does not fall.
Page 8
A sudden moment of silence.
Only the sound of his heavy breathing fills the air, along with Boomer's distant, mocking laughter.
Everyone looks at the blood-soaked Father.
He looks like a wounded beast that refuses to die.
Page 9
Suddenly, his knees betray him.
He falls to one knee.
The blood loss is too much. Dizziness takes hold of him.
Boomer steps forward with Kazuko slowly, shouting mockingly:
"Look! The strongest General in the kingdom… fallen on the ground like a dog!"
Page 10
The Father looks down.
His blood drips onto his orange armor. The same color he once wore with pride.
Only one voice echoes in his mind:
Mabo… Maria… I cannot lose them.
His breaths turn into short, painful gasps. Every wound in his body screams.
Page 11
Boomer says with a cold smile:
"I think this is the end, General. You fought well… but you didn't live up to my expectations."
Page 12
The Father suddenly stands.
With extreme difficulty. His body refuses, but something inside him denies surrender.
He raises his sword with a trembling hand.
"I am just a man trying to protect his family… but you won't leave me in peace."
He takes a step. Then another. But his body is much slower than it once was.
Page 13
A treacherous blow comes from behind.
A sword pierces his back brutally.
His eyes widen from the sudden agony.
The pain finally overcomes him.
Page 14
He falls to his knees for the last time.
The sword slips from his hand, hitting the ground beside him.
The dirt clings to his warm blood.
Page 15
He falls onto his side.
He tries to move… he cannot.
The world narrows around him. The sounds drift away. Darkness creeps toward his eyes with merciless slowness.
Page 16
The soldiers advance. They bind the Father and Maria with cold iron chains.
They throw them next to each other on the ground.
Boomer says in a loud voice that fills the forest:
"This is the reward for those who betray me!"
Page 17
Maria, despite the pain and the wounds, tries to crawl toward her husband.
Hot tears fall from her eyes.
The Father, with half-closed eyes, looks at her in silence. A look filled with pain, love, and regret.
Page 18
A soldier steps forward and asks sharply:
"The informant told us you had an infant. Where is he?"
The Father presses against his wound with his shackled hand.
He responds only with silence.
Page 19
Boomer says mockingly:
"Even if that child escaped, it is impossible for him to survive in this vast forest."
Page 20
Boomer turns toward the dark forest:
"Vice-Admiral Linsan… do what we agreed upon."
Then he turns to Kazuko:
"Kazuko… what do you suggest we do with them?"
Kazuko smiles a cold smile. He hesitates for a moment, as if weighing his words carefully.
"Take them to my palace… and burn them alive. Then place their bodies at the gates of the capital, so everyone knows the fate of traitors."
Page 21
Boomer looks at his son in silence for a moment.
Then he shouts with a voice full of pride:
"That's my son! Hahaha! You have grown, Kazuko!"
He continues laughing alone in the silent forest.
Page 22
From the darkness, a masked figure approaches slowly.
Boomer notices him. He stops laughing.
The masked man leans into the King's ear and whispers. No one hears the words.
Page 23
Boomer says in a low voice:
"Fine… that is our deal. You are free to do what you want."
The masked figure turns slowly toward the Father lying on the ground.
His steps are calm.
Page 24
The masked man leans close to the Father.
He whispers words to him that no one else hears.
The Father opens his tired eyes suddenly… in shock.
Then a simple, mysterious, and sad smile appears on his face.
To be continued in Chapter 3: What Escaped with the River