DEMON HUNT

Chapter 37: Insights on the past III

It's dawn. Torches light up Seagard as carriages move bodies, eventually dumping them on the soil, stacking them in piles. Malvay has conquered at Novali's expense. The body count indicates that all the Novalian soldiers have been taken out...all except one. Their captain is dropped to her knees as she glares at John Kado and his warriors. She spits out some blood. She's exhausted, but refuses to admit or show it. She struggles to her feet, but she's brought back down. John attempts to reason with her.

John Kado: You can't do any more. You're surrounded, outnumbered and outmatched. Take your fallen comrades back to their families...to their husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters...We will guarantee you a secure and safe escape route with a vessel you'd be able to use. Malv warriors will transport the bodies right behind you as long as you guarantee their safety.

The captain scoffs again. She suddenly begins to cough violently, causing blood and saliva to flow out of her mouth. She wipes her mouth with her left hand, leaving trails of blood on her face.

Novalian Captain: Guarantee their safety? Just like you guaranteed your surrender? Now, this is great!

John Kado: We did what we had to do. You're the aggressor. All we did was defend our nation. Take this message to Novali. Give it to your superiors. We still want peace.

John tosses a relatively small scroll, making it land just in front of the kneeling Novalian captain. She opens it and rushes through its contents. She smiles and then transitions into laughing out loud, causing Gaius to speak.

Gaius: You find it funny?

The Novalian captain replies while somehow still having a laugh.

Novalian captain: It's laughable, is it not? You want Sahara, daughter of Geralt, to hand deliver a petty message for you. You think me a petty messenger, do you not?

She slowly begins to rip the scroll apart, piece by piece, continuously reducing it to shreds. John watches on, without attempting to interrupt.

Novalian captain: You're high up the clouds, are you not? And for what? Just because you've won one little battle. Novali will come for you and will deal with you mercilessly. You will rue the day you defied Novali's authority. Mark my words!

Fate had brought them all to the seashore where it all began. Sahara's words strike fear in the now doubting hearts of the Malv resistance force. It all feels ominous, seeming as though a curse was being placed on them. The area had lightened up as the sun hit the sky, making the gentle movement of the seas visible. There is sudden calm. There doesn't seem to be a particular reason for doing so, but everyone just went silent. The silence soon breaks as a mast from the sea suddenly reaches everyone's line of vision. The ensign indicates the ship is a Novalian warship, causing panic among the resistance army.

Gaius: Oy, oy, oy! I thought there were only seven ships? Why's there another one headed this way?

Gaius had barely finished speaking before another mast appeared. Then another, and another, and then, another. Dozens of Novalian warships appeared over the horizon. The sheer amount of warships scare the already fatigued Malv resistance army. Their numbers isn't the scariest factor, however. The visible features of the ships bring some things to mind. Gaius voices out once more.

Gaius: I recognize those ships. The size, the intimidating look...it can't be! Those are Novalian deathbringer ships! Each one capable of housing more than eight hundred soldiers...the type that crushed the island nation of Carapace. There's not just one...there are dozens of them!

The resistance force suddenly becomes disheartened. Sahara, the Novalian captain begins to laugh loudly and uncontrollably as she adds to their woes.

Sahara: Invaluable! The look on your faces is invaluable! Take that! Did you really think you had this won? Your end is surely upon you. We came to you with swords and axes...the occupants of those ships bring a weapon the likes of which you've never seen before. Crumble in the hands of the deathbringer fleet!

Cries of fear suddenly erupt as the warriors begin to take some steps back. Small steps soon turn to faster movements, they begin to flee cowardly, to Sahara's delight.

Sahara: Forget about honour, pride, patriotism, valour. When it all comes down, this is all you're worth. Cowards! That's all you are deep down!

Sahara becomes surprised, however, to see John standing firm. John clutches his sword, his gaze fixed at the incoming ships. In this moment of chaos, Gaius sees John's terrifying resolve. He grabs his blade and follows. Gaius never feared death. He always welcomed the prospect of dying in battle. Sahara proceeds with her mockery, this time, less boldly. She's thrown into a state of uncertainty.

Sahara: I've already seen through this façade of yours. Go on and run, just like the rest of your men. There's no point putting up a front now.

As the ships etch closer to land, a cannon is loaded and aimed towards the courageous men. John is unfazed. He daringly points his blade at the ships in a provocative manner, causing Sahara to ponder.

Sahara: (thought) This man...does he truly not care for his life? What is it that you're trying to prove? Have you finally lost it? Do you believe you can tank a cannonball and live?

John yells out with all his might. A cry that could be heard from as far as Crownstone.

John Kado: For Malvay!

A deathbringer fires a cannon. The cannonball moves with so much destructive force that it unsettles the water as it goes on, gaining momentum with every second. Only Gaius, John and Sahara were left on the seashore at this time. They all stared death in the face as the cannonball approached.

In the blink of an eye, they all feel a strong aura as the figure of a man appears on the seashore, some footsteps in front of them. He stretches out both of his hands in the air and slowly opens his eyes. His glorious blue hair leaves no doubt about his identity...at least to John Kado. Glorious blue hair and bright blue eyes...Kardama has arrived. The cannonball suddenly vanishes into thin air. In an instant, the deathbringers all follow. The sea becomes clear, like there was nothing there to begin with. All three of them gawk in amazement, but Sahara is even more amazed than the other two. With her amazement comes a feeling of fear and terror. She begins to tremble because of the scene she had just witnessed.

Kardama turns to John Kado, his blue eyes staring at him. Gaius couldn't help but open his mouth agape, watching in a frozen state. A great threat to an entire nation, just disappeared into thin air, and it was all because of this man. Man? He doesn't appear to correctly fit into that category. This creature, whatever it is, has a certain presence about him. A force- Kardama has aided Malvay. John Kado just stares back at Kardama, gravely unsure of what to do.