Zach blinked, feeling the strange fog clear from his mind.
The sounds of battle roared back into focus, and his eyes quickly found Kazaks in the fray, barely holding off both Sanaage and Xertu.
Blood ran down Kazaks' cheeks, neck, and from several deep cuts across his arms, legs, and chest, yet he fought on, eyes blazing with defiance.
"Kazaks?!"
Kazaks turned, a look of mixed relief and desperation crossing his face as he shouted back.
"Captain Zach! Help us!"
From a distance, Leeani was focused, sweat trickling down her brow as she rapidly fired arrow after arrow, each one aimed to keep Kazaks covered.
Leeani shouted, voice laced with tension.
"Captain! Are you back with us?! We need you!"
Zach hesitated, the memories from the void still clawing at the back of his mind.
But he quickly shook them off, clenching his fists as he assessed the situation.
Just as he took a step forward, Sanaage, with a predatory grin, took advantage of the brief hesitation.
He lashed out, kicking Kazaks squarely in the face, sending him stumbling back.
In a blur, Sanaage then lunged straight for Zach, his machete raised for a deadly strike.
Leeani's eyes widened, and she fired rapidly at Sanaage to intercept him.
"Not so fast!"
But Sanaage effortlessly swatted her arrows aside with a quick, deadly sweep of his blade, his dark eyes fixed on Zach.
Behind him, Xertu sprinted forward to cover for Sanaage, shouting.
"I got her! Keep going, Sanaage!"
Sanaage snarled, gripping his machete tightly as he brought it down in a sweeping arc aimed directly at Zach's neck.
"Got you now, Captain!"
Just as the blade came inches from Zach's throat, Zach's hand shot up, catching the machete by its blade.
Blood trickled down his fingers as the sharp edge bit into his palm, but his grip was unyielding.
Sanaage's eyes widened in shock as he tried to pull his weapon free, but it wouldn't budge.
Zach's gaze locked onto Sanaage's, his eyes calm and unyielding.
He tightened his grip on the blade, his voice low and dangerous.
"I won't be that person... not ever again."
Something in those words, whispered like an oath, froze Sanaage where he stood.
A flash of memories—of the ruthless Zach from before—crossed his mind.
But this wasn't the same person.
There was something different.
More dangerous.
Sanaage tried to yank the blade back, but Zach's grip only tightened, his blood dripping from the blade as he leaned in, eyes fixed on him.
Sanaage felt an unfamiliar twinge—a chill of uncertainty, even fear.
For a moment, the silence was suffocating.
Sanaage laughed, a forced, shaky sound as he tried to shake off the tension.
"You think you can scare me, Zach?"
But Zach's gaze was relentless, and he leaned in close, his voice a barely audible whisper.
"I don't need to scare you. I need you to understand."
In one swift, fluid motion, Zach released his grip on the machete and unsheathed his claymore, the blade flashing with a deadly arc.
Before Sanaage could react, the massive sword swept just a breath away from his neck, stopping mid-swing.
The steel glinted against Sanaage's skin, cold and unforgiving.
Sanaage's mocking expression crumbled as his life rushed before his eyes, memories of every close call and narrow escape now feeling distant, irrelevant.
The realization hit him like a punch—Zach could end him right here, without a second thought.
The control he had pretended to hold onto dissolved entirely.
He felt his legs weaken, and an unmistakable warmth seeped through his braies.
The silence thickened, more oppressive than any words.
Xertu and Leeani watched from a distance, stunned, while Zach held his blade firm, the silent message hanging in the air.
In a burst of desperation, he let go of his machete, twisting his body just enough to shove Zach's claymore away.
He launched his leg up, aiming a vicious kick at Zach's face, but Zach, calm as ever, was ready.
He deflected Sanaage's foot with a well-timed block, his muscles coiled with tension, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed the machete off into the trees.
And then, they clashed.
Sanaage lunged forward, bare fists swinging, his strikes relentless and fueled by raw fury.
Zach moved with calculated precision, his claymore never far from him but held steady and unused, as if merely testing his opponent.
Sanaage's fists flew, each punch missing by an inch or being brushed aside by Zach's quick defensive maneuvers.
With each dodged blow, Sanaage grew more frustrated, his movements more reckless.
Zach's words cut through Sanaage's frustration, his voice low and unshaken.
"In the realm of battle, composure is your sword. And you, my friend, just dropped it. A warrior with a temper is as effective as a sword without an edge—sharp in theory, utterly useless in practice."
Sanaage snarled, lunging at Zach with all his might. His punches were raw and violent, each one intended to crack bone.
But Zach's movements were smoother, a careful dance around every strike.
He ducked low, twisted to the side, using his claymore as an extension of himself—not to strike, but to guide Sanaage's unbridled attacks into nothingness.
With each missed punch, Sanaage's fury escalated, his face flushed with exhaustion and rage.
Finally, Zach took a step back, allowing Sanaage to stumble forward in his attempt to land another blow.
Zach used the moment, his claymore held steady, not as a weapon of death but as a symbol of control, waiting, assessing.
"Enough."
Zach's expression turned ice-cold as he closed the distance between him and Sanaage in an instant.
His fist struck Sanaage's solar plexus like a hammer, forcing every last bit of air out of his lungs.
Sanaage's eyes widened, gasping soundlessly.
Without hesitation, Zach's knuckles crashed into his jaw, dislocating it with a sickening crunch.
Sanaage staggered, but Zach wasn't done.
He delivered a brutal kick to his knee, buckling him to the ground, forcing him to kneel.
In one final blow, Zach kicked him in the head, sending Sanaage rolling across the ground, limp and unconscious from the impact.
Zach exhaled, sheathing his claymore with deliberate calm.
His gaze held firm, his voice low and resolute.
"Strength without restraint is a beast's curse. I left that path long ago."
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Kazaks staggered to his feet, vision sharp as he spotted Leeani barely holding her ground against Xertu's relentless halberd swings.
Without missing a beat, he closed the gap, his warhammer held high.
With a fierce swing, he drove it into Xertu's elbow with a sickening crunch.
Xertu's scream tore through the air as his arm crumpled.
"ARGHH!"
Seizing the moment, Leeani darted in close, slipping her knife from her pocket and plunging it into his side.
Xertu's eyes blazed with fury, and he managed to grab her arm, twisting it sharply.
But Leeani spun with the twist, using the momentum to coil herself around his right arm, her whole weight anchoring him down as he struggled.
Kazaks roared, stepping in with another brutal swing. His warhammer crashed into Xertu's left knee, forcing the giant down with a groan of agony.
Kazaks took the opening, sliding his warhammer handle across Xertu's neck in a fierce chokehold, planting his foot behind Xertu to lock him in place.
Xertu clawed at Kazaks, his one good arm pushing back with every ounce of his strength, his face twisted with pain and fury as he strained against the choke.
Kazaks bared his teeth, eyes locked on Xertu as he held him down with unyielding force.
"Captain Zach! Your orders?!"
Zach walked slowly towards them, each step heavy with purpose.
The air was thick with the smell of sweat and blood, the sounds of battle fading as he drew near.
When he finally spoke, his voice was calm yet authoritative.
"Kazaks, Leeani, that's enough."
Leeani and Kazaks released their grips on Xertu, but not before Kazaks slammed the giant's stomach forcefully into the ground, pinning him down with the heavy head of his warhammer.
Xertu gasped, the wind knocked from his lungs, his body struggling against the weight of the weapon.
"ARGHHH!"
With a swift motion, Leeani reloaded her crossbow.
She aimed the weapon at Xertu, her fingers steady, eyes narrowed.
Xertu, still straining against Kazaks's hold, let out a mocking laugh.
"Is this really the best your little band can do? A pathetic captain leading you to your doom! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
The taunt ignited a fire in both Leeani and Kazaks, their respect for Zach fueling their fury.
They exchanged a furious glance, muscles tense and ready to unleash their rage upon Xertu.
But before they could act, Zach halt them.
"Wait. Let him speak."
The taunt ignited a fire in both Leeani and Kazaks, their respect for Zach fueling their fury.
The command was firm, cutting through the tension like a knife.
Leeani and Kazaks hesitated, caught off guard by Zach's unexpected restraint.
Kazaks questions, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Captain?"
Zach replies, his gaze locked onto Xertu, eyes dark and determined.
"I want to hear what he has to say."
Xertu's laughter echoed around them, cruel and mocking, as he lifted his head to meet Zach's gaze.
"Look at you, Captain. Just a mindless killer, isn't that right? Ha ha ha ha! You parade around with your little army, thinking you're some kind of hero. But deep down, you're nothing but a coward, hiding behind your friends. What's next? You'll send these two to do your dirty work while you cower!?"
His words dripped with disdain, each sentence designed to cut deep.
"You think you're a leader? You're just using them, a bunch of tools for your pathetic agenda. They don't care about you—they're only following you because they have nowhere else to go. What's the price of loyalty when the man they serve is a monster?"
Kazaks tightened his grip on the warhammer, fury bubbling beneath the surface, but Zach held his ground, refusing to let Xertu's words provoke him.
"Look at how easily they bend to your will," Xertu continued, his tone icy and mocking.
"You think they respect you? They fear you! They know you'll drag them into the abyss with you. And when that day comes, when your hands are stained with the blood of the innocent, you'll be standing alone in the wreckage of your own making. Standing alone!!"
He leaned closer, a predatory grin spreading across his face.
"A monster in a different skin. You think you can save this world? You're just feeding the flames of chaos, and one day, you'll be left to watch as everything you built crumbles into dust! HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
Zach crouched down, bringing himself face-to-face with Xertu, his eyes dark and unwavering.
He leaned in closer, his breath a whisper that danced across Xertu's skin, sending a shiver down the giant's spine.
"Every monster I've ever faced has fallen to my blade. And believe me when I say, I'm not afraid to turn your own darkness against you. You think I'm the one hiding? No—you're the one hiding behind your bravado, terrified of what I might unleash."
Xertu's eyes widened, a flicker of unease creeping into his expression.
Zach continued, his words slicing through the air like a razor's edge.
"You've been playing your games for too long. I know the lengths you're willing to go to protect yourself. You think I won't find you? You think I won't hunt you down to the depths of hell itself if it means putting an end to your twisted reign?"
He pulled back slightly, locking eyes with Xertu, his gaze unyielding.
"You may see me as a monster, but you have no idea what true horror looks like. The day will come when you'll wish you never crossed paths with me. And when that day arrives, I'll be standing over you, not as your enemy, but as your reckoning."
With that, Zach straightened up, the weight of his words lingering in the air.
Zach straightened, turning to Kazaks and Leeani, his voice firm and decisive.
"Kazaks, Leeani, knock both of them unconscious. We can't let them regroup."
But just as the command left his lips, a sudden movement caught his eye—
Sanaage, seemingly down for the count, sprang to his feet with eerie silence.
He snatched up his machete from the ground, the blade gleaming ominously in the dim light. In one swift motion, he aimed to throw it at Leeani, the deadly intent evident in his stance.
"Fuck, I am not meant for throwing!" he muttered as the machete sailed past Leeani's head, embedding itself harmlessly in the ground beyond her.
Zach and Kazaks' attention snapped to Sanaage, a mix of confusion and fury washing over them as they realized how close Leeani had come to being harmed.
Kazaks's jaw tightened, his protective instincts flaring.
"You fucking— I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!!"
But before they could react, Xertu seized the moment. With a swift and brutal shove, he knocked Kazaks to the ground, catching him off guard.
The giant's teeth sank into the skin of Kazaks' hand as he instinctively raised it to block the attack, a growl of pain escaping him.
Kazaks roars, summoning his strength to shove Xertu away.
"GET OFF!!"
Xertu stumbled back but quickly regained his footing, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
He whistled sharply, the sound cutting through the chaos like a knife.
"YOU'RE ALL DEAD... NOW!"
Suddenly, the ground shook with a thunderous roar as trees crashed down around them.
The chaos intensified as a massive war elephant, its colossal form draped in jagged iron armor, charged through the clearing.
The sight was enough to steal the breath from Zach, Leeani, and Kazaks, their eyes widening in shock and terror. The creature was a mountain of muscle and weight.
It thundered forward, the ground trembling beneath its massive feet, sending shockwaves of panic rippling through the group.
Xertu, still mounted on the back of the elephant, suddenly yanked the knife from his side, grimacing only slightly as he removed the weapon embedded in his abdomen.
With a flick of his wrist, he threw the blade aside, its clatter lost in the chaos around them.
"Look at you! Reduced to mere insects, scurrying before a true force of nature! You thought you could stand against me? Pathetic!"
Sanaage, brushing himself off, joined in the mockery, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Yeah, good luck against a real warrior! Maybe next time, don't bring a knife to a battle when the real weapon is right in front of you!"
Kazaks pushed himself up from the ground, breathing heavily as he gripped his warhammer tightly.
Blood trickled from various wounds, painting a grim picture of his struggle, but he stood his ground, eyes locked on the approaching elephant.
"We... won't... back... down!"
Zach turned to Leeani, seeing the pained expression on her face as she clutched her arm.
With a swift motion, he pulled the machete from her wound, trying to do it as gently as possible.
"Hang in there, Leeani."
"Ah! It hurts!"
"Are you okay?"
Leeani took a shaky breath, her eyes meeting his, filled with fierce determination.
"I'm... okay... Captain... I'm ready to die for you..."
"Not today. We're going to fight together. We will make it through this."
Leeani took a deep breath, straightening up as she steadied herself.
She quickly reloaded her crossbow, the familiar motion bringing a sense of focus back to her mind.
"It was my fault in the first place for not being cautious enough for an unexpected attack..."
Zach shook his head, stepping closer to her.
"Don't blame yourself. This is no time for blaming. I understand your feelings, but from here on out, we are allies. We shouldn't be enemies, even with ourselves. Stay focused."
Leeani replies, determination flooding her features as she nodded in understanding.
"I'm sorry, Captain."
Together, they turned their gazes to Xertu, Sanaage, and the war elephant looming ominously before them.
Kazaks walked right up beside them, his warhammer resting heavily in his hands.
"Captain Zach, your orders?!"
Zach felt the weight of their collective expectations resting on his shoulders.
He glanced at his companions—each one scarred but unyielding, ready to face whatever came next.
Taking a deep breath, he knew that the time for hesitation was over.
"Gather your strength. We fight together. Kazaks, you take the left flank. Leeani, aim for the creature's eyes; blind it if you can. I'll handle Sanaage. Let's show them what we're made of!"
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Sanaage, grinning despite the tension, pulled a pair of backup knives from the sheaths at his sides.
He looked up at Xertu, perched atop the massive war elephant, and couldn't resist a jab.
"Hey, Xertu! Nice ride! I didn't realize you'd upgraded from rats to elephants—guess you're feeling a bit trunky these days!"
His words cut through the gravity of the moment, eliciting a brief flicker of confusion on Xertu's face before the corner of his mouth twitched into a scowl.
"Is that the best you can do, Sanaage? You're just a failed assassin playing dress-up. Better watch your back!!
"Ha! You'd need more than a war elephant and a few insults to scare me."
Sanaage retorted, twirling his knives with a flourish.
"But thanks for the compliment; I'll be sure to include it in my next performance!"
Sanaage's laughter faded, Xertu and the others suddenly exchanged glances, a realization dawning upon them.
"Wait a minute, Sanaage. We're facing them? Just a bunch of misfits? This is going to be a real slaughter. HA HA HA HA HA!!"
"Look at you three. What are you going to do now!? Play a game of 'who can die first'!? I'd pay to see that!!"
Zach, Kazaks, and Leeani remained unfazed, their expressions hardened by the weight of their past battles.
Taking a deep breath, Zach met their taunts with a calm steadiness.
"Kazaks, now is the time."
Kazaks stepped forward, a fierce determination igniting within him.
"I am Kazaks, the second strongest among the Warriors of Sins. WARRIOR OF WRATH!! And today, I will let you taste the one-in-a-lifetime experience of... FIGHT OR FIGHT!"
In an instant, a crimson tattoo erupted across his forehead, glowing with an otherworldly light.
"You think you know fear? You have yet to witness the wrath of those who fight for more than just survival!"
Xertu whistled sharply, and the colossal war elephant lunged forward, its massive form barreling towards Kazaks.
The ground shook beneath its weight, but Kazaks stood firm, muscles straining as he braced against the impending force.
"ARGHHH! I AM THE SECOND STRONGEST!"
With a mighty swing, he brought his war hammer crashing down onto the elephant's face, the impact echoing through the chaos as the iron armor buckled and bruised beneath his blow.
Yet the beast continued its charge, pushing Kazaks backwards, its sheer size a testament to the power it wielded.
As it attempted to step down upon him, Kazaks rolled to the side, narrowly escaping its crushing weight.
With a fierce roar, he pivoted and struck the elephant's foot, the war hammer smashing against the iron armor with a sickening thud.
The armor cracked, splintering under the relentless assault.
Meanwhile, Sanaage surged towards Zach and Leeani, intent on breaking their defenses.
Time seemed to slow as Zach stepped forward, eyes locked onto his foe, every heartbeat echoing like thunder in the silence that surrounded them.
Leeani reacted instantly, nocking an arrow and releasing it with precision, her focus unwavering as it sliced through the air towards Sanaage.
But just as the arrow was about to hit its mark, Sanaage laughed, dodging to the side with agility that belied his bulk.
"Captain, you're mine!!"
The atmosphere thickened with tension, the clash of wills palpable.
Kazaks continued to struggle against the elephant, each blow resonating with defiance, but the ground beneath them shook with the promise of chaos yet to unfold.
Zach stood at the precipice of confrontation, heart pounding as Sanaage closed in, the threat undeniable and imminent.
He locked eyes with his adversary, a steely determination igniting within him.
"Or am I?"