Everyone watched as Gotang was submerged into the boiling hot acid beneath him. The world seemed to stop as Resi, Ligi, Bang, Lobo, and the rest of the Defending Tip looked on in horror as Gotang's legs started to disintegrate. Some couldn't look on and some couldn't take away their eyes from the disaster.
Gotang's face showed no pain, no suffering, and no regrets as his life began to fade away and melted into the acid. They saw him smile without care as if the acid wasn't making him bear an insurmountable amount of pain. The vines that constrained him started to melt as he got free from its clutches, but it was too late. Almost half of his body was consumed in the black acid.
Resi had his jaw wide open, disbelief ran through his face. This must have been a dream. This cannot be happening. A million thoughts ran into his mind as he almost passed out from the shock. His vision started to blur and he saw spots in his vision as he saw Gotang with the same uninjured face, full of joy and emanating reliability.
Ligi had no reaction to Gotang hitting the acid. He looked at every gory detail as the acid started to devour Gotang's whole body. He felt no pain. The two of them plummeted down due to Resi's weight. Having to carry someone was already his limits. His wings beat harder as he decelerated from their fall and only stopping half a meter away from the acid.
Bang couldn't believe a strong person like Gotang would die in a place like this. The movements, the skills, the power, and the wisdom he showed throughout the journey in the Dreaded Valley showed Bang that Gotang was practically invincible. He couldn't understand how he could so easily sacrifice himself for Resi. He couldn't believe the uncaring and resolute expression on his eyes.
Lobo felt frustrated at his inability to save his leader. What good was he as a vice leader if he could not even save his own leader, his mentor. His heart stopped as he saw Gotang hit the acid, effectively killing him without any saving grace. Gotang's fate was sealed the second his feet touched the acid.
Gotang endured the best he can to stay alive while his lower body was being consumed and disintegrated by the black acid. He still had to do something before he can leave peacefully from this world. He waited until the vines that were restraining him from his movements and his skills were dissolved by the acid. To do that, he had to survive the pain from his lower body being disintegrated.
He used the last of his strength and produced a transparent liquid in his head. It dripped down into his face and it shot forth outwards, splitting into different streams. One stream of the liquid hit Resi, one hit Ligi, one hit Lobo, and one hit Bang, and one hit every single remaining member of the Defending Tip.
The stream of transparent liquid hit their heads and was absorbed into their skins. For a second, they were stunned as they heard a familiar voice inside their heads.
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Last letter to my family, the Defending Tip
I know what you're all thinking. It's me. I just couldn't let you guys off without a final goodbye so I condensed my thoughts into the liquids that I shot off towards you guys.
Don't be sad. Remember what I told you, always look on the brighter side and never look back. You guys are now responsible for the Defending Tip and Lobo will need all the help he can get. Don't hesitate to call him out on his mistakes. As you know, Lobo can lose his cool at times but that's why he has you guys.
I've always treated you guys as my family and I did the best I can to accommodate everyone's interests. If there was one thing that I wanted you guys to remember me by, remember me by the sword I gave you guys.
A sword can be used either to attack or to defend. Its long edge allows you to reach those that you never thought you could reach. Its hilt prevents you from being injured by your own sword. Your ambitions will soar into the heavens but don't be too caught up in it or you'll injure yourself from overexertion.
I wish you all the best with all my love.
From your leader, Gotang
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The members of the Defending Tip heard the voice of their leader directly in their heads. They listened to their leader for the last time, savoring every word of wisdom he taught them. Millions of memories came to them as they reminisced about their leader's greatness.
One man from the Defending Tip was a homeless man living in the dirty streets of the Suno town. He was destitute and just waiting for the day death comes by his wooden door. He had no future and no family. One day, he was out begging for scraps of food and he came across a man. This man didn't look at him with pity nor with disgust. He looked at him like he was a person.
Gotang gave the man his food and went on his way. There was no one around them to see the gracious act. He only did it out of the kindness of his heart. The next day, Gotang came back and fed him again with more nourishing food, food that he has never seen before.
For a week, Gotang would come to him and offer him food with nothing in return. Gotang spoke to him and he, to this very day, remembered his exact words.
"Do you want to come to our home?"
The man quickly agreed and followed Gotang to his base. In there, he met a lot of people who treated him with kindness and respect. The members' behavior reflected that of the true nature of their leader. He quickly adapted to their home as they gave him food and kindness to assimilate him better in this new environment.
He was given the task of cleaning out the trash and helping out with miscellaneous tasks like lifting heavy stones. In exchange for his work, he was given food and shelter. After doing it for a year, he was given more serious stuff as people started to trust him more and more. He was given money for him to spend at his leisure. It was his first paycheck which made him immensely happy at the accomplishment. He could not believe the stark difference from when he was homeless to now living with his new family.
He had a job and it made him content. The other times that he applied for a job, most employers turned their backs to him and closed the doors. There were even some who employed him yet they did not pay him for his services. Gotang was able to give him a life.
The man swore to repay Gotang in any way he could. He saw that they were out adventuring a lot and he begged someone to teach him how to fight. He trained until his legs gave out and his mouth wanted to puke but he persevered. Gotang saw the efforts put in by this man and recruited him into the army.
Gotang gave him a sword and taught him a skill. He still remembered the excitement he felt when he held a shining sword that gleamed in the moonlight.
After a few years, he now had a family of his own and his strength allowed him to fight alongside Gotang. It pleased him greatly seeing the might and strength of Gotang. His unyielding spirit made him look invincible to their eyes, yet he saw him dying in the most painful way possible. He just could not believe what was happening.
He wanted to jump into the acid to try and save Gotang but it was too late. He wanted to bargain with the god of death to take his life instead of Gotang. Gotang still had a lot of good he had to do in the world. Death took him too early. As he absorbed the information given to him by Gotang, he swore to himself to continue his legacy. He will continue to spread joy and kindness to others like what Gotang did to him.
His experience was not unlike the experiences of most of the members of the Defending Tip. They all came from a humble background and was took in by Gotang to lead them into a better life. They had stable jobs and a full stomach, some even had families of their own. They enlisted into the army as a way of paying back some of the good that Gotang had done for them.
They wanted to see Gotang lead them into victory and into the big stage. Some of them were in denial as they looked up, angry at the injustice the heavens had done to them. Some punched the ground, angry at their incompetence and absence in the last seconds of Gotang's life. They shed tears and shed blood as different emotions filled them in these trying times.