Chapter 99 – Evil are those who lost (3)

The walls blasted open. Leiko whirled around, pointing her pistol and shooting it. Archie took cover using one of the pillars, opening fire as well. Shig made Mia lower her head.

“Uncle Shig!”

“No.”

She wanted to speak. But the situation made Shig unable to listen to her. It was also something that he will not listen. He promised to her father her safety.

The Templars hollered inside the halls. Archie reached for a grenade on his belt and threw them at the enemy. The blast rang out deafeningly. It made the little girl near Leiko shudder in fear. She covered her tiny black cat-like ears and hugged Leiko’s thigh. She looked at her little sister with a frustrated face.

“Come on, let’s move!”

Shig shouted. His body partially turned that into his beast form. He clapped his hands loudly and produced a shockwave that made the Templars take cover. They weren’t affected. They merely reloaded their rifles and open fired again. Shig clicked his tongue. He dashes and weaves through the corridors while dodging the bullets that were whizzing past them. They arrive in a hall that had a bunker emplacement. The men and women who were manning the bunkers started to open fire, protecting Shig and others from the Templars storming through.

Shig and the others were running away from the Templars when they heard a booming voice coming from behind them. “Shig the Cornus and Warlord Mia, you may surrender now!”

The voice came from a Templar carrying a weapon that was connected to a tank. The officer stride slowly towards where the bunker was and pointed his weapon at them, then a gout of fire exploded and it then burned the men and women manning the bunkers. Their screams could be heard from the hall that Shig and the others were retreating. Their faces twitched as they move on. Behind them were the grim fates of those who were against the Templars.

Shig and others arrived into this wide hall. There were many tools lying around. There was crafting tables as well as parts of motor cars. There, Shig turned his attention to the four-wheel car that had a deployable balloon. Shig ordered everyone to ride it and took the necessary parts and began to fiddle with it. It took time and when Shig was able to place the parts properly. The Templars barged in guns blazing, forcing Shig to have Archie operate the vehicle.

“Planning to escape means only your crimes are true!”

“Damn you lying Templars!”

Shig rolled to cover. The Templars tried to shoot him to death but it was too late for that. He had already turned into his beast form. His senses were dialed up to eleven. His instincts and reflexes were at his peak. Like a shadowy beast, Shig sprinted through cover to cover in order to avoid bullet fire. Of course, he couldn’t leave the others alone and was required to protect them.

The Templars were not stupid. While the others were shooting Shig, the rest tried to assault the motor car, they were planning to gun down the whole carriage. But Shig ran like a crazed bull and swing his massive arm to fend the attackers. The Templars were thrown away. But the others pointed their barrels at Shig and fired at his chest.

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The bullets made Shig stumble. A streak line of blood came out of his mouth as he feels short of breath. The Templar with the flamethrower approached. He shot at Shig, which he barely avoided. His left arm was burned by the fire. Shig tried to collect himself but the other Templars fired another round of shot.

“Uncle Shig!” shouted Mia from the carriage. She was being held back by Leiko. “Unhand me! We must save Uncle!”

“Run!” roared Shig. “Archie start the engine already and leave!”

Archie peeked at him with hesitation on his face. “What about you!”

“Leave! Take care of them! Go now before it’s all over!”

Shig could hear the marching of Templars. He could tell that soon this hall will be filled with Templars. He couldn’t allow them to be caught. The Templars justice is unsettling and he fears what would happen to Mia and to the Cattus sisters who were branded as spies of the Cagan.

“Run now!”

“Tremble upon this cleansing fire!”

The man with the flamethrower panned his weapon at Shig. Shig leaped back only to be caught in a hail of gunfire. Archie wanted to come out and help him. But the Templars that were not firing at them tried to capture the motor car. Leiko, who was holding Mia back shouted. “Go now!”

“But...”

“Do you want us all to die!?”

“We just can’t leave him!”

Leiko frowned heavily. She choked Mia and laid her on the floor of the motor carriage. She then pulled the lever down and started to operate the motor car. She had seen Joshua operate a carriage once. She had also heard how the ship works and with that, she started to turn the motor engine around.

“What are you doing!?”

“I am saving our hides!” shouted Leiko with a bit of pain in her voice. “I cannot let my sister die in here.”

Archie looked at Leiko with despair. He bit his lip and tried to get out, but he saw Shig’s glare. “Go already! I can’t hold them for long!”

Shig smashed both his arms and created a cloud of dust. Anger filled Archie as he went to where the driver seat was and threw Leiko out of the way. Leiko did not complain. She went to her sister and embraced her. The carriage rolled away and when Archie looked back. He could see Shig’s back that was so stern and taciturn that it was harrowing to look at. His red cape billowed on as he fights. It was cut and ragged. It was bloodied and worn. Yet his red cloak fluttered on.

Shig fought without thinking. He felt blood escaping from him. He felt his ears ringing. His breathing was getting shorter. He saw the man with the flamethrower. He sprinted to where this man and brought his fist to his face. The man’s head exploded. Shig heard gunfire and saw muzzle flashes. He felt more pain and he found himself kneeling.

He felt no strength in his limbs. He looked in front of him and saw that there was a woman clad in blue. Her faint figure made Shig beamed with a bit of joy. “Coming for me eh?” he murmured. “Looks like I can’t show you this disgraceful sight.”

With a smile, the Red-garbed Crazed Bull of the North stood tall. Without any fear or hesitation, he fought the enemies before him with all he got.