Brigante Ark - Chapter 165

For quite some time now an arousing question had lingered on Timber’s head. He was skeptical about his motifs. What could be so important that I must leave behind rather than helping his comrades take him on, knowing he’s already in his tracks?

He only understood his motives so little yet even his skin makes him tingle.

All will be cleared soon.

A white beam shoots out from the pyramid towards the sky.

“What the-?” The occurrence was the least he expect the most. His eyes went big as the bright light remains rampant. “What the hell did you do this time?”

Grinning like a child, Hannibal replied to him with eerie, chilling words. “I’ve liberated them.”

“What do you mean by liberating?” he asked, glaring at Hannibal.

Abel had smiled. Misfortune already fell the hunter.

“What did you do?!”

“I’ve sent all of them in the limbo and also, I’ll release dozens of monsters from that hellhole.” Hannibal calmly replied. “It’s a perfect cover, won’t you agree? You won’t have to worry if the Ylfon Kingdom would find out you and your army of trollops are scouting here far from your home. This little incident that I concocted would be convenient for the both of us.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“As do you? What were you thinking? You made a camp just around the border which can be easily traced by the kingdom’s soldiers. Even I, outsider, easily track this place.”

“What’s the game plan, huh? You throw this glib and charades, yet here you are, bantering about my decisions.”

“I just wanted to know, how critical you are when it comes to tough situations, would you just leave your comrades behind, turn on that boy, or will you save your precious tribe?”

Timber couldn’t help it. Hannibal’s words are kind of funny. Timber has honor, values, and morals.

“You think you’re so funny, do you? How about this, fuck off. I am nothing like you, I don’t sell out my friends nor compromise the importance of our tribe.”

“Do you? Correct me If I’m wrong, one of the things you value the most in the life of people, right? So, when it comes to a dire situation, how convicted you are of your beliefs? Will you save your people first, or will you abandon the outsider and prioritize your own kind?”

Timber’s eyes widen for a moment, realizing what he had done. He snapped, angry at seeing Hannibal’s delightful expression.

“How is this possible?” Timber asked Hannibal and moreover, to himself.

“Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t contact the Ylfon Kingdom about this small camping of yours. This is all on you.”

Timber turned to look at the temple. So far, it hasn’t received any damage yet. Around it was cries of both men and monsters. Fire blazed and rampant.

“My guess is they’ll be here around 10 minutes. Give or take.” Hannibal replied. “Now. For the biggest question. What will you do?”

Timber glared at him slightly, “If we’re going to get messed up, I’m taking you with me.”

Jett was in the passenger hold for quite some time, standing steady at ready behind the shadows, watching how their conversation transpires. When he saw Timber propelled forward, he made his move. Bounded like a horse across the meadow, into his fist, power accumulated. Jett gave a great lurch, stopping between them, his fist swings meeting his.

It was like heaven and land crash at each other, the ground cracks, the trees collapses and the wind had erupted and exploded.

“Hey there, old buddy.” Jett greeted cheerfully, “Sorry to tell you, but that won’t happen.”

“Till next time, master.”

As Hannibal held Jett’s arm, they turned into a silhouette, completely gone out of his sight.

“If he were telling the truth, then the Ylfon Kingdom will arrive around 8 minutes. That’s enough time for us to gather the injured and escape this place. Forgive me, Al, but my people need me. I’m sure you’ll be able to take care of yourself.”

“What’s the point of all of it, Hannibal?”

The two stare at the chaos below the cliff. Expecting the worst outcome of their raid.

“I wanted to make a point.” Hannibal sternly replied.

“About what?”

“That Timber is just as selfish as we are. He pretends to be a saint but in the end, he will cut the rope of those he doesn’t need, just like what he did to us.”

Jett didn’t reply. He watched as soldiers around the corner of the mountain marched down with the insignia of their country.

“It’s all over for them,” Hannibal said. “They won’t have access over that relic for a very long time. Only a few people knew about it, and I doubt that Timber will ever find it again.”

“You set a spell on a timer, didn’t you?”

Hannibal replied with a grin. “Aren’t I the sneaky one?”

“Yes, you are. Multijunction spell, it’s quite useful.”

“I won’t regard it as much. That magic requires a lot of mana. I had to borrow the power of dark magic just to pull that spell.”

“In any case, we did our promise to Abel. He should be able to pass through the gate by now.”

“I won’t be so sure.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t make a portal directly to his world.”

“What?! So it’s a failure then?”

“No. He’s automatically sent on limbo. He will have to find his way home with the homing magic I set on him.”

“That’s a relief.”

“You expect me to not hold the end of our bargain?”

“No. I never doubted you once.”

“But you just did.”

Jett didn’t reply, instead, he pretend to cough.

“Let’s just move to our next destination, shall we? We still have to help Benny.”

“Yeah. Come to think of it, I didn’t see him since we’re in the pyramid. Where could he be?”

“Maybe he already bailed?”

“I won’t be so sure.”

Alastor was not sure how long he’s been here. At first, he thought that a monster had engulfed him. The light passes around and in front of him is complete darkness, an abyss staring at him.

He couldn’t feel anything, let alone his body. As if his sense of self has been diminished, there’s only his mind and spirit, knowing what this is. Despite everything, he never felt a sliver of fear or panic.

He’d wish all of this were just a dream.

Alastor woke up from a deep slumber. The first thing that catches his eyes is the riverside. He felt something crawl on his back. He’s unsure what it was, but it’s big and has tiny legs.

Alastor pretended to be asleep and remained motionless. When he felt that the creature is no more, Alastor rose. His head hung, dizzy and heavy.

He saw his sword lying next to him. After he cheated back to the scabbard, he felt his throat are dried, Alastor naturally came to the river.

It wasn’t an ideal place to drink due to the fact he has no knowledge of his whereabouts. He wasn’t trusting everything. Always skeptical, but at least, it appears that there’s no sign of enemies. So, he thinks that it’s okay to lay his guard down for a moment.

He scoop his hand to the river, relishing over the taste of the water on his mouth and rejuvenated.

Alastor looked behind and saw the forest, a rather huge one. It lines among the long river and seemingly has no end. The same as on the other side of the river, it has no end and was covered with thick smog just as where his side is.

He noticed the birds hastily flew away, scared of something. He calmly paused his walk. Alastor felt something’s amiss. Turning his attention back to the river, he noticed a bubble pops. He knew from that moment, it wasn’t natural.

Then there’s another more. Popping one by one. To his surprise, the water soared high into the air from the river. The water sprinkled and spark elegantly.

Alastor rolled and came up, breathing heavily. The creature had unveiled itself to him. The monster is an unsightly one. The monster has a dark shell that covered its body and blue skin. It has teeth that are sharp as a shark, has a tail of a lizard, its feet are awfully long that is comparable to a spree walker along with its chiseled claws and it possessed a body similar to an elephant.

“An amphibian monster, huh. I’ve never heard of a monster like this before. Must be a new one.”

The monster growled, eyes were locked on its prey. Its eyes are measuring him.

“So, I’m your victim.”

Alastor observed, waiting for the right opportunity. The monster was unknown to him, so it is for the best he shouldn’t act hastily.

Alastor withdrew his sword, feeling the handle through his fingerless gloves. In it, he drew comfort.

Will it go directly at him or will it show one of its plays?

Every monster has their own tactics for catching their prey, despite their lack of intelligence they are still capable of developing their survival instincts, let includes the ability of an element of surprise.

The monster did not move an inch. It remained perfectly like a stone or better, a statue. Alastor came closer, his blade staying his side. As he went, he felt its breath become heavier and ragged, its face turned to grim. Until then… the monster enacted loud compaction on his teeth, nearly clutching his arms.

“Whoa! So, that’s your play, huh.”

He moved back, and once, he conjured his signature transparent wall, blocking the enemy’s deadly jaws. Alastor swiftly came to its side and stab the neck, but instead, he felt that it didn’t pierce through, only at the surface of its skin.

Alastor tried to pull it out, but it won’t budge. The monster’s skin began to wrinkle, the tip of the sword being absorb inside the shell.

His face became troubled. “Well, aren’t you the sneaky one?”

Alastor pulled his arm, his palm pushed with great strength, conjuring a transparent wall that forcingly pushed the monster and pulled out the sword in the process. The recoil of the expulsion had Alastor thrown off his balance. The monster snarling, used its tail to wrap him and threw him on the tree.

Alastor coughed and spit blood. He used his sword like a cane to stand. He couldn’t tell where did he get this much energy despite getting thrown and beat for a couple of hours. Time seemed at a standstill as his lungs were catching breath, taking its time to process his next move.

The monster is not faster than me, his shell must be that heavy, enough to weigh him down, that’s good. But the thing is, the raw power, a single crunch from it will entirely break an arm should I ever let my guard down.

Alastor took a last deep breath before opening his eyes. The mercenary moved first, blocked the enemy with his transparent wall, and created another one that levitates, he leaped and hurled himself into the air with great speed. As landed behind the enemy, Alastor automatically swings his sword and cuts off the enemy’s tail.

The monster howled. Its’ blue skin turned to red. The smog of dust and grime was pushed by the wind and dissipated. The hazy red light illuminating appeared to be small particles released by the amphibian monster.

Alastor covered his nose. He moved away from the monster while holding his breath.

“This is troublesome. Of all survival skills, you possessed the same berserk that the minotaurs have.”

The monster heaved forward. Alastor had already anticipated the monster’s movements, hence, he conjured another 4 transparent walls. One by one, the amphibian monster breaks the walls apart as if they’re just pebbles stomped by a mammoth.

Alastor hurriedly ran away, ignoring the foreign language warning sign.

The loud stomping of the monster is still following him, so, he didn’t stop.

For the next few seconds, Alastor would’ve witnessed the animosity of the land.

When he looks to his left he saw a giant figure. Over 20 feet, hurdling itself in the air. He looks below him, a shadow cast and it’s getting bigger.

“Oh, fuck! What the hell is this place?!”

In profane he found the courage to look behind. The giant figure landed and completely decimated the nearby trees along with the amphibian monsters that is following him.

Apparently, the giant figure was a mammoth-like monster, although there’s only a small difference from the latter, but rather the monster has no eyes, it has 4 horns, and its trunks are sweating with green and violet liquid.

Alastor observed the foreign liquids oozing out from its trunks. The liquid melted the grass.

At this time, Alastor couldn’t move an inch. His instincts are telling him not to move or else…