Tony stood on the edge of the molten crater, feeling the intense, oppressive heat radiating from the bubbling, churning lava below.
“So you really came,” Tony said
Hudson fell to his knees. Staying quiet.
“Pesky little critters,” Tony said, dusting off his attire. “These hum... bats swarming around the place. Annoying critters. Am I right, Hudson?”
“Why are you doing this?” Hudson whispered.
“And why do you want to know?” Tony asked. “Let’s leave Hudson. Won’t be a pretty sight if we stayed any longer”
Hudson remained on the floor, watching the red sea sway and boil.
“I said let’s go, boy!”
Hudson stayed quiet.
We have a long journey ahead and need to stay out of the area. We can’t waste time here worrying about the past.
Hudson eyed Tony. “You plan to kill all of them. The people of Pyrovile. Why?”
Tony grew angry and threw his walking stick at Hudson. “You inappreciative shit. I gave you a chance to live, and you came back, causing trouble for me. Even now I’m accepting you back in my household and what do you do?” he asked, walking to Hudson, throwing his briefcase to the side and grabbed his face. “Ask me any more questions and I’ll show you just how hot a red sea actually is?”
“You were never like this,” Hudson said, his eyes teary. “Y-you were never like this. Lord Tony. You always cared for everyone around you. I always admired you. Aspired to be just like you. Responsible, hardworking, influential, and protective.”
Tony’s gaze softened as his anger ebbed away. “I’m sorry, Hudson, but it had to be done,” he said, glancing towards the entrance. “There are forces in this world far greater than your Lord. Don’t shed tears for me, Hudson.”
Tony cleaned off Hudson’s tears.
“Look at me, Hudson,” Tony urged, his voice gentle but firm. “There’s no need for you to remain here. I intend to relocate all the workers so we can continue to be a family—one bound by love and compassion, just as we always have been.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure”
Hudson sniffled. “But the town-”
Tony placed a finger on Hudson’s lips. “It does not matter. The town can’t be saved, but your family can. You are a protector, right? Protect your family, protect me”
Hudson looked at him.
“The man you came here with. Is no ordinary man. Two of my men are dead already. He needs to die”
“But- “
“No Hudson. He won’t stand to reason,” Toy said, opening the briefcase. “This weapon is capable of killing him. I would have done it myself, but he doesn’t trust me as he does you”
Hudson eyed the weapon in. “He helped me”
‘If he does not die. He’ll kill me and you know it. Do you believe he can stop this eruption? Keep you and your family safe. No Hudson, he can’t. Now take this and fire at him when he’s off guard. Don’t worry about the speed, the weapon has been tested by Sparrow.”
“I’ve never killed someone before,” Hudson whispered.
“You’re becoming a man, Hudson. A man does what is right for his family, no matter the task. A man always delivers”
*
Blood dripped from Mr. Swordsman’s blade, pooling at his feet. Across from him stood two men: Lester, smirking with confidence, and Gorrick, groveling and drooling, his crazed eyes locked on the swordsman. Behind Mr. Swordsman lay the lifeless bodies of two more foes.
“Sounds like your little friend got into some trouble,” Lester said, unsheathing his blade. “Too bad you’ll be unavailable for the moment”
The dark ale was a blade forged by a madman, a fool who would rather spend his nights at the bar than in the smithy, but his talent was something. The sword oozed with dark energy like an infection. It does not cut, nor does it shed blood, but it is a rare weapon against one soul, feeding on it like the infection it is. Similar to Pasta’s Naga, this blade only needs a single touch to deal great damage. The six-foot muscle-bound mercenary next to him, wielding an enormous hammer, was the reckoning. It was rumored to bring down mountains. It’s rather a strange setup to have such a weapon with such a beast in this kind of place.
Gorrick emanated an intimidating presence, emitting a low, menacing growl. His face was poorly concealed by a shattered mask, and his dark skin bore multiple scars and bruises. Chains snaked around his powerful frame, and a flask strapped upside down to his waist, slowly dripping out water. He effortlessly lifted the massive hammer as if it were merely a plaything.
Mr. Swordsman flicked his wrist, sending the blood splattering off his blade. The weapon training he had undergone back home proved useful.
“You killed my men. Strange one. Tell me, what business does a talented swordsman such as yourself be doing in a place like this?” Lester asked.
Gorrick growled.
Mr. Swordsman eyed him. “Just passing by”
Lester chuckled. “I may look forgiving, but I’m no fool,” he said, his face stern. “Now tell me, what is a swordsman like you doing in a place like this?”
Mr Swordsman looked at him. “You really do talk a lot,” he finally said.
“That’s a new one. I’m mostly called a silent individual. You see”
Gorrick continued growling, clenching his fist.
“I heard you put up quite a performance at the market. But you shouldn’t stick out your blade where it does not belong. Swordsman,” Lester said.
The beast screamed in a horrendous screech, scratching his skin.
“Arrgh! Voices!! Kill, kill, kill, kill. Swordsman!”
Gorrick charged at Mr. Swordsman, his massive axe slicing through the air with a powerful swing that crashed into the ground. Mr. Swordsman leaped just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike. The impact of Gorrick’s attack left a glowing golden spiral etched into the floor, which soon crumbled into dust. As Gorrick turned, he locked eyes with the swordsman, who hovered mid-air, his gaze unyielding. “Die!” Gorrick roared.
The beast kept swinging at the swordsman.
Though the Gorrick movements were slow, a single hit from that weapon would send Mr Swordsman to an early grave. Blocking wasn’t an option either—the hammer’s immense power could easily shatter his sword and crush him in a single swing. Mr Swordsman leaped into the air to keep some distance.
Arrows came from above. He was still in midair. Mr swordsman cut them down, but some left holes in his clothes. It didn’t make a difference since it already has multiple holes.
“Guess we have some troublesome birds up there,” Mr Swordsman said.
Lester grinned. “Of course. I thought you noticed”
“I did.” Mr Swordsman said, closing his eyes. “You really are persistent”
Gorrick swung down from above while archers prepared to let loose another volley of arrows. Mr. Swordsman deftly dodged the attack, maneuvering behind the hulking tyrant for a precise slice at his torso. But just as his blade was about to land, Lester stopped his blade.
“Not that easy, sir.”
The arrows were fired at Mr Swordsman. He jumped out of the way.
“A frustrating fight this has become,” Mr. Swordsman remarked, shifting his focus to Lester. “I don’t have time for this. Those two are a nuisance.”
Lester raised an eyebrow, surprised. “So, you were aware?”
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“Why wouldn’t I be? Arrows were fired from various angles, each shot altering trajectory and speed. It’s obvious you have more than one archer up there who is also quite skilled in running on walls with ease. Unfortunately, it’s too dark up there to find them”
Lester observed Mr. Swordsman as he subtly moved his blade behind him.
“This man,” Lester uttered, his voice growing stern as he turned towards the roof and shouted, “Get down here, you scoundrels!”
“Guard, down!” the Gorrick bellowed, aiming another ferocious strike at Mr. Swordsman.
Mr. Swordsman adjusted his stance, taking a measured breath and casting his gaze upwards. With a swift motion, he sliced through the air, sending a definite, cutting arc toward the roof.
The two archers didn’t have enough time to dodge. Lester leaped swiftly, aiming to intercept the strike. “That Bastard,” he growled under his breath. As he turned back, a shiver ran down his spine at the sight before him. Gorrick’s head lay severed on the ground.
Mr. Swordsman stood behind the beast.
“My guard? Down?” he asked. His coating energy radiated out like furious flame and his dead eyes stared down at Gorrick’s body. “My guard is never down”
It was all a trick. Pretending to mount an attack on the archers, he anticipated that Lester’s swift movements would easily intercept it. The beast, on the other hand, was sluggish and had numerous blind spots. Lester had just left his huge dog unprotected.
Mr. Swordsman cleaned his sword. “Dragging the battle with him around would result in more casualties, right Mercenary?” His eyes glared at Lester like sharp daggers.
“Come on. Come on. This is no fair, you know,” Lester said, sprinting to Mr Swordsman and clashed his blade with him. “You killed three of my men. Good men. And you killed them”
Mr. Swordsman looked at him. “A good man with a bloody hand is unheard of, mercenary”
“And what does that make you, huh?!” Lester yelled. “Some saint with a blade? Some holy executioner? A god? TELL ME!”
Lester pushed Mr. Swordsman back. More arrows flew in; a lot of them.
Mr. Swordsman took a deep breath and focused on the urgent matter at hand: Lester. He sprinted towards the mercenary, paying no attention to the arrows, which he swiftly deflected while in pursuit. However, for a moment, Lester found an opening in Mr. Swordsman’s defenses. Yet, Mr. Swordsman managed to block just in time. It was clear that Lester had become faster.
“They had families. They did everything to care for them. I heard what you did at Kanto. Killed good men there too, yes? You are no better than those damm hunters”
“What is this? Are you feeling the pain of losing your comrades? Legendary weapons and a solid strategy now this. You mercenaries never fail to surprise me”
Mr. Swordsman shoved Lester and launched a powerful attack. The strike was impossible to block. He managed to dodge it, but it hit the roof, creating a cloud of dust. Two bloody archers fell to the floor.
Lester glared at their bodies, his own body shaking, sweat dripping off. He laughed, falling to his knees as tears streamed down his face. “You are no man. I may not be someone who has goals or dreams, just making a living to get fed, you know? Just ordinary. But those men you killed had aspirations. But those you slaughtered had visions, hopes that reached beyond mere coin. Today, I make a vow. I will hunt you down, Swordsman, through the very depths of hell and the heights of heaven. I will see you suffer. I swear it, Swordsman—”
Mr. Swordsman swung his blade at him, but Lester quickly dodged it and landed multiple hits on Mr. Swordsman, but each attack was deflected. He kept on pushing and pushing the swordsman back as he screamed for his fallen friends. As Lester feigned a strike at Mr. Swordsman’s head, it was merely a diversion. He plunged his blade deep into Mr. Swordsman’s heart,
Lester breathed heavily. His hands trembling. No blood was spilled.
“Men pay their prices. Don’t they? We’re all monsters, Swordsman there’s no doubt there,” Lester leaned in and whispered. “But Mother luck is on my side today”
Mr. Swordsman stood there, feeling no pain, his heart still beating. His entire body went warm, the falling rubble appearing to slow, just like his heartbeat.
“Mercenary,” Mr. Swordsman said, eyeing Lester. “You should know. There is no mother Luck”
Lester stared at him, confused. The dark ale had pierced his soul. By now, it should have been enveloped in darkness and crumbled from within.
Mr. Swordsman's shadow morphed into one of a beast with horns. His amber eyes stared at Lester. His face devoid of emotion.
“What is that?” Lester eyed the shadow, turning back to Mr Swordsman. “WHAT IS THAT?!”
“The dark ale, a blade used to strike the soul of anyone it as far scratches, filling it with darkness,” Mr. Swordsman whispered. “But I should tell you this. My soul is already one of darkness, mercenary.”
The shadow continued to stare at Lester as his screams echoed in the cave.
*
The camp was in disarray, with ruined tents, and carriages scattered everywhere. Tori twirled her scythe around her wrist as Matthew glared at her, breathing heavily. She had been effortlessly deflecting all of his attacks. She was truly a bad matchup for him.
Matthew’s attacks were long-range, but despite his advantage, Tori managed to deflect all the blasts with her scythe and redirect them back at him.
“Your gloves. Were they made here?” Tori asked.
“From overseas. Your strange blade seems to absorb my attacks. How do you do it?”
“So they’re not from around here, huh?”
“I asked, how did you do it?” Matthew said, glaring at her while he stood back on his feet.
“The gloves are just not impressive, that’s all. It’s not about my methods,” she said, glaring back at him. “You insulted my grandpappy. It made me lose my temper. No, I’m actually still angry”
Matthew smiled. “You’re strong. I’ll admit it but let’s not get full of ourselves. Anyway, you are nothing but a young damsel. My sword skills should be more than enough to bring you down”
“What do you mean by young damsel?”
“Oh. Are you angry? You are a girl, right? Come on. I’ll let you go if you ask nicely. I have more pressing matters to attend to”
Tori clenched her fist. “So what? Just because you’re a guy. You can defeat me?”
Matthew walked away, waving at her. “I don’t hurt princesses. My gloves may not work against you, but my blade will easily end you”
The Swordsman couldn’t have gone far. He headed for the mountains, Lester thought. As for the girl, spending time with her would be of no use.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Tori asked.
“The volcano. Be a good girl, grab your grandpap or whatever you call him, and scram. I’m trying to be considerate here so don’t waste it”
Hudson sighed and blocked Tori’s attack from behind.
“I can’t let you leave,” she said, trying to push him back.
“You really are sentimental. Is being a girl that much of an insult to you?”
Tory gritted her teeth. “You think I care if you treat me as a weakling?” she pushed him back, “Call my grandpappy’s name with disrespect again and I’ll shut your wide shitty mouth for good”
“Sounds like you’re threatening me”
“I’m not asking you out now, am I?”
Lester jumped back. “It seems I must bring this to an end. What a shame with a pretty face like yours. We could have been something special. We use the same kind of ability, we are both strong and our loyalty to our masters never wavers.”
“The Swordsman isn’t my master”
“Is that so? So you’re here not by his command to stop me but—“
“You will die here. I guarantee it”
Matthew’s face broke into a gleaming smile. “I admire your resolve, girl. You’re no ordinary opponent. That much is clear.”
Tori took a stance, her hair billowing in the wind. Matthew surged toward her, his blade aimed menacingly at her face. She met his strike with a deft parry, sending a surge of energy that cleaved through the ground. Matthew dodged it, still keeping his smile as he pressed forward with a barrage of attacks on Tori. Her eyes burned with resentment. Despite Matthew’s claims of superior skill compared to hers, his moves and strikes were glaringly predictable and crude.
Tori was furious. Her grandpappy was shared with everyone from the resort, he was later insulted by the mercenary and she was called weak.
Her headphones’ pins began to spin rapidly, the edges of her blade igniting with a fierce red glow. She held her blade and went right for Hudson’s neck. An image flashed in her mind—a masked figure observing her. She shifted her blade, slicing instead through Matthew’s side, opening his last wound and rendering him unconscious.
The once bustling camp lay in ruins, not a tent or stick was left standing, all buried beneath a veil of dust.
Tori gritted her teeth and sighed. “Jeez, I hope the others are safe,” she stared at the volcano.
*
A weapon capable of killing Mr Swordsman. Hudson observed it. Live it to Sparrow to find the strangest weapons. Lord Tony was right about all this. The damage has been done. The eruption was inevitable, and there was no way to alert the townspeople in time. Was he really a protector? Does a protector let hundreds of people die to save a few?
“Are you ready, Hudson?” Tony patted him on the back.
“I’m not sure,” Hudson whispered.
“Just aim and pull this thing right here. It’s called a trigger. That’s all you have to do”
Hudson held the gun and raised his shaking arms. Aiming at the wall.
“Yes. Then you pull the trigger. But not now,” Tony said, rubbing Hudson's head. “I’m proud of you, Hudson. I’ve always been.”
“You have?” Hudson said, meeting Tony's eyes.
“Why would I lie? You have become a strong man. A warrior. A protector, you even have a sword now. Of course, I’m proud,” Tony smiled.
Hudson dropped his arms. “Then promise me this”
Tony stopped smiling. “What is it?”
“I have a few friends who joined me. Can they accompany us on the carriage? I just can’t let them die here. They have nothing to do with all this,” Hudson lied.
“If they are not against us. I find no reason not to let them join us”
Hudson gave a half smile.
Mr. Swordsman strolled in, holding his stomach, breathing heavily. Using his gift used up a lot of his stamina. He saw Hudson sitting on the floor, and an old man who must be Lord Tony.
“What’s going on Hudson,” Mr. Swordsman asked. “Where’s the stone?”
Hudson stayed quiet and stood up, aiming at Mr. Swordsman.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. The weeping swordsman. A man whose prowess with the blade is extraordinary. My master holds you in high regard.”
Mr. Swordsman eyed Hudson. “Where’s the stone Hudson?”
“We can’t stop this eruption, Mr Swordsman,” Hudson cried. “It’s all over. But, but if you die, we c-can save some lives”
Tony picked up his walking stick. “Yes, Hudson. You’re right about that”
“I don’t have time for games, Hudson. What do you mean, we can’t stop the eruption?”
“WE CAN’T!” Hudson screamed. “We can’t. Mr Swordsman It’s all over. The stone has fallen in the lava. So please, please just die”
Hudson cried, his hands shaking. He sniveled, preventing eye contact, but his weapon still locked onto Mr. Swordsman.
“Yes Hudson. Become the man you’ve always wanted to be”
Mr. Swordsman eyed Hudson, coldly.
“I will fire this. Don’t even bo-bother to dodge. It’s been tested and- “
Hudson dropped his arm. “I can’t do it. Lord Tony”
“Can’t do it? He’s right there Hudson, take the shot,” Tony glared at Hudson.
“Without Mr. Swordsman, I would have been long dead. He is not a bad man. He’s a hero. Lord Tony, can’t we let him join us- “
“What do you think this is? A damm playdate! You shitty little boy. He’s right there pull the damm trigger!” Lord Tony yelled, looking at the lava. “We’re running out of time, but we can still make it Hudson, my boy. Just pull the trigger”
“But I can’t-”
“Pull the goddamm trigger, goddammit. He’s right there Hudson. Pull it”
Hudson stayed quiet, gripping the gun.
“Take the shot Hudson. I’m the only one who can save you and the workers. Do you think I can’t get another bunch of you guys? You all are just replaceable slaves in my manor living off my wealth like the damm insects you are. And you what sort of protector are you, huh?!” Tony yelled. “PULL THE DAMM TRIGGER AND BE THE PROTECTOR YOU WISH TO BE HUDSON!”
Gunshots reverberated through the cave. Hudson eyes watery, yet his expression remained resolute. Mr. Swordsman's knees gave out. Lord Tony, spitting out blood, clutched his chest as more crimson seeped from his wounds.
“You are not the same man back then, Tony. A protector? I’m already one. Not just yours,” Hudson dropped the gun. “I’ll save Pyrovile and my friends, so watch me from hell”
“So that’s how it is. Hudson,” Tony whispered, falling into the pool of lava.
The Volcano rumbled as rocks came piling down. Hudson sighed and quickly picked up his sword. He helped Mr Swordsman up and went out of the cave.