The Sins of the God King

Chapter 12: Xan

As Xan 's desperate struggle to swim for air against the powerful currents continued, his strength gradually waned. Each passing moment drained him further. A thought crossed his mind, contemplating the possibility that this was the will of the God King, his fate intertwined with the countless souls destined to become part of him. Resigned to his impending death, he closed his eyes and awaited the embrace of death, already feeling the excruciating pressure building in his lungs. "May my soul be with you, my Lord," he whispered, surrendering himself to the depths.

Against all odds, an inexplicable force lifted his body from the water.  He found himself floating in the air, desperately gasping for every precious air. To his astonishment, he noticed Maru and several other men also suspended in mid-air. Surrounding them were multiple warlocks, their voices carrying an unfamiliar chant as they worked their powerful sin to elevate a select few. The scarlet hood warlock, their leader, was the one carrying Xan.

The strain of this extraordinary sin was evident as the warlocks' very skin melted like a candle, the price they paid for harnessing such immense power. Undeterred, they moved slowly forward, distancing themselves from the chaos of the tumultuous sea. With every passing second, another warlock succumbed to exhaustion and plummeted into the depths of the ocean, taking with them the men they carried.

Xan estimated that it would take at least five miles to escape the relentless currents, but the scarlet hood warlock, despite losing his very face to the corrosive sin, remained resolute in his determination.

Once, there were fifteen warlocks courageously bearing men aloft in the air, but now only four remained, their numbers depleted by the toll of their sin. Despite his personal reservations towards the scarlet hood warlock, Xan couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for the leader's heroic gesture. He found himself offering a silent prayer, desperately hoping that the scarlet hood warlock would gather the strength needed to carry them all to safety, far from the imminent danger.

Moments passed, and the scarlet hood warlock's body was now marred by the loss of his left arm and legs, yet his determination remained unyielding. Xan glanced at the distant horizon, his sees towering rocks that stood like mountains in the distance. It became clear to him that reaching those rocky outcroppings was their only hope for survival.

Summoning the last reserves of his strength, the scarlet hood warlock lifted his remaining right arm and propelled the air ahead with a forceful push. In an instant, Xan and the others were propelled forward with an intense amount of speed. The remaining warlocks followed, employing their own sin to propel the group they carries.

With a sudden jolt, Xan was thrown into the waters, where the currents still roiled, though not as mercilessly as the treacherous wailing sea they had just escaped. Determined to survive, he mustered all his strength and began swimming resolutely towards the towering rocks that beckoned as their beacon of hope amidst the tempestuous waves.

Struggling against the relentless current, Xan felt the weight of his age bearing down upon him. The sheer force of the water made it arduous to remain afloat, let alone swim towards safety. With a heavy heart, he witnessed more of his comrades succumbing to the unforgiving depths, their bodies sinking like stones into the abyss. The sight was a haunting reminder of the brutal toll exacted by the raging waters.

A piercing scream tore through the chaos, capturing Xan 's attention. It was Maru, who had hit the water with a jarring impact, her cry a testament to the agony she endured. Xan approached her, his own strength waning. "My arm is broken," she gasped. "I fear I may lose consciousness." Determined to protect his fellow warrior, Xan carefully hoisted Maru onto his back, securing her as best he could. "Do not worry," he reassured her with unwavering determination. "I will carry you to safety."