No matter how good you are, no matter how powerful, a time comes for everyone where your limits are tested, and it is not always friendly. Moonwalkers might be powerful, but we are not immortals. Just like other mortals, we bleed, we feel pain, we also die. Your destiny doesn't make you immune to mortality at any point in time. Several destined ones are in the grave too. That's is reality, that is the truth.
KALAKALA SOLDIER CAMP, ROCKYLANDS.
Kalakala soldiers are celebrating their multiple battle successes so far, having a lot of wine, meat and ladies taken from nearby villages and from the enemy.
"To our display of Kalakala might!" yells one of the warriors, raising his wine as the others give a powerful chant. Another speaks,
"The barbarians could not hold us, not even Arida could keep us at Bay!"
The soldiers jubilate for victory. For the first time in a while now, Yakoza smiles, knowing very well how their forces are on a good side of the war for now. General Longi climbs a table and call for attention as he speaks,
"May I have your attention boys? I must say that so far, I am impressed at what I am seeing. We're gradually purging the Rockylands, the almighty stronghold of the barbarians. And who made this possible? You, with your arrows, with your spears, and with your swords."
The warriors give a glorious shout and Longi continues,
"I have so far been impressed even more by one of our very own, the lover boy himself."
Warriors laugh to this, along with Yaki who smiles. Longi continues,
"The very first person to encounter Arida first-hand, the one who fought back despite being outnumbered, the Archer who has his sword glued to his palm by the blood of his enemies. Boys, show some love for Yakoza."
The warriors begin to hail Yaki and soon start chanting his name as he is raised and brought forward. He greets the general who speaks to him,
"I've watched you fight boy, you have the spirit of a true warrior, one with destiny in his hands. One thing I know about war is that it respects no life, but I have a strong feeling that if one of us is to fall in this battle, it will be me."
The warriors laugh to this again as Longi continues,
"It will be a glorious moment for me, finally knowing what it feels like to die in battle. This is one experience that I am yet to have in war. Tomorrow, we advance towards the heart of Arida forces over the stream, in the cold woods, and we draw blood from those imbeciles. In this fight Yaki, I offer you the chance to ride with me, and fight along side my special boys. You've earned it."
Yakoza smiles and replies,
"As tempting as this offer is general, I would like to fight like my brothers in the heat of combat, at the forefront of the battle."
"Who says we'll be behind?"
Everyone laughs to this and then continues chanting Yakoza's name, unaware of what awaits them next morning, a foggy battle, one that will stretch out the hands of carnage upon them.
ARIDA SOLDIER CAMP, ROCKYLANDS.
General Eudax arrives and comes before Akrol who's terribly sick from his injuries.
"I see you are sick general," Eudax says as Akrol responds,
"I am in pain Eudax, I want no more of it. Ease my pain Eudax."
Eudax draws out his sword and pierces Akrol on the chest, killing him as he speaks, sending him to the underworld,
"It's okay, it's all over now."
After this, Eudax assembles the entire forces of Arida on camp together and address them under the moonlight,
"Your general has passed away, I am now in charge, and that means more work for everyone. Aren't you tired of putting shame to the legacy of our kingdom's military? Tomorrow, Kalakala will see another side of Arida. Tomorrow, we claim this war."
The soldiers give a great chant as a sorcerer comes to Eudax from behind and speaks,
"We are ready. How do you want us to serve?"
WILDERNESS.
Rona wakes up and finds herself in a tent, wrapped all over. She tries to move but can't. Her vision is still blurry and she's covered in a lot of bruises, ruining her beauty. Yunu and Kiri come in with food and see her awake as Yunu hurries to her and speaks,
"My goodness! You're awake!"
"Don't try to get up, you're not out of danger yet," Kiri says as Rona asks,
"Where am I? Why can't I move?"
Yunu replies,
"You're in a tent of a healer we found in the woods. He administered you a drug to temporarily paralyze you and let magic heal you from within."
"How long have I been asleep?"
"Six days."
Rona is shocked upon hearing this. She remembers her mission and speaks,
"I have to go."
"No Rona, don't fight your healing. You have to stay put," Kiri says as Rona responds, paranoid,
"Undo what you have done to me! I have to go now."
The healer in question comes in and puts Rona to sleep.
He speaks to Yunu and Kiri,
"I need more herbs, the same ones you helped me fetch before. Find more."
"More? Those herbs are far away," Kiri says as the healer continues,
"Do you want your friend to loose her life? She is not out of danger yet, she needs more herbs."
"Come on Kiri, let's go get more herbs," Yunu says as they move out.
Later on, they are both far away, plucking herbs. Kiri is holding Rona's sword to protect himself and his sister.
"Why did you bring that along?" Yunu asks as Kiri replies,
"Our journey so far hasn't been friendly, and Rona is the reason we're still alive. Now, she's in critical condition. I can't help but worry that something else might be out here waiting to cause us more harm already."
Yunu smiles and replies Kiri,
"Relax Kiri, we're gonna be fine. Remember why we're doing this, we're on our way to find mom, and we'll see her in one peace, I believe so."
Suddenly, a man comes out of the bush and grabs Yunu from behind.
"Yunu!" Kiri calls out and takes up Rona's sword to fight but is dived down to the ground. And then, Gerok surfaces along with other virgin hunters and smiles as he speaks,
"We finally have this one, the runaway bush rat."
ROCKYLANDS.
Kalakala soldiers are marching through the cold woods which is creepy silent.
"I have a bad feeling about this place," Yaki says to Longi who replies,
"Easy boy, you're paranoid."
All of a sudden, arrows are released from all over, raining on them, ahead of them, behind them, from left and right.
"How is this even happening?" A soldier asks in puzzle and suddenly gets hit by an arrow. Soon, fireballs are being released, and the place starts getting foggy. Magical blasts also start coming through, killing Kalakala warriors like ants. Through the fog comes Arida warriors charging towards them, with their entire body painted black, terrifying Kalakala. They clash with Kalakala in a bloody battle, tearing them apart like hungry Lions, fighting wild, wilder than the barbarians fight. Yakoza and Longi fight side by side through the enemy, but they are outnumbered and overpowered. Longi gets shot on the head with an arrow and he falls to the ground, terrifying Yaki who gets shot on the chest after that.
WILDERNESS.
"Let go of my sister, you imbecile," Kiri says as one of the virgin hunters slap him. Gerok speaks to Yunu, touching her face with his hand,
"Do you know how long we've been tailing you? You were a difficult one. What matters now is that we have you."
"How about you just kill me now?" Yunu says rudely as Gerok responds,
"Is that what you want child? No no no no, that's not how it will go down. You're a pure one, and you have your purpose to serve. You will be used to appease the god of Arida."
Yunu spits on Gerok who slaps her as Kiri yell on him,
"Stop! If you touch her again, I swear I'll kill you!"
"You...kill me?" Gerok says and turns to Yunu as he speaks,
"You spat on a sorcerer of Arida, that's an insult. We sorcerers are known to be quite unforgiving, and your insult will be rewarded with your brother's life."
Gerok levitates Rona's sword and pierces Kiri through his heart as Yunu cries out,
"Noooooo...!"
HEALER'S TENT.
The healer is lying on the floor, beheaded. Three moonwalkers sent by Onelo are standing before Rona who's awake, but weakened to do nothing.
"Onelo wants to see you, dead or almost dead. But based on our history with you Rona, we would prefer the former. How would you like to see your maker Rona?" One asks as Rona looks up and tears role down her eyes. She then closes her eyes as she hears the blade of a moonwalker drawn out of the girdle, about to claim her life.
ROCKYLANDS.
Yakoza is surrounded by a lot of enemies, but he keeps on fighting in pain, very much aware of the fact that his chances of surviving are not in his favor at all. He is pierced on his side with a spear and he falls to the ground. And then, General Eudax comes to Yaki and strikes him down.
WILDERNESS.
Yunu cries and whales for her brother, but he's too dead already to hear her cry. His soul has already departed, and his sister has been captured. She is dragged away by the virgin hunters, taken to her demise.
Rona is gone, so is Yunu, Kiri and Yakoza. Is this the end? Is this the end of our favorite four?
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Till next volume on the Moonwalker