Chapter 3
The other side
Episode 1- The Journey
All the main cast was on board now. Sazji was the driver . Sheru was the fisherman. Waada was the gaurd against the dark mist and high waves and some debris. Nicka was resting and A was enjoying it all after so much time.
The stolen fishing boat, barely seaworthy, < Because it was not used for like past 11 years>became their unlikely vessel. For what felt like an eternity, they drifted with the currents chosen by the straws. The days bled into weeks under the relentless cold, the nights punctuated by the rhythmic creak of the wooden hull and the endless expanse of the dark but yet glowing sky.
Food was scarce, supplemented by the occasional fish Sazji managed to catch with a makeshift line. Water was not a problem as Waada could take out all the impurities and salts out of the seawater.
[ What he actually did was just prees the water with air to boil it and filter it by using dirt and sand . The boiling water part is what made it difficult as it was already hard enough for him to maintain the boat with water control so that it doesn't sink.]
Sheru's missing tooth was a constant reminder of their brutal encounter with the King. Nicka, with Sazji's help, had fashioned a temporary fix using hardened tree sap, but the gap remained a visible scar. A, still regaining his strength and fragmented memories, mostly kept to himself, observing the others with a quiet intensity.
Waada, ever the pragmatist, navigated by the stars and the subtle shifts in the ocean currents. He spent hours in quiet contemplation, his aurra occasionally flaring as he seemed to sense something in the water or the distant horizon.
One morning, a faint outline broke the monotony of the sea. As they drew closer, a strange island materialized through the mist. Jagged black cliffs rose sharply from the turbulent water, and twisted, skeletal trees clawed at the sky. An unsettling silence hung over the isle, broken only by the crashing waves against the unforgiving shore.
"What is this place?" Nicka asked, her hand instinctively resting on the newly attached spearhead of her staff.
Waada frowned, his gaze sweeping across the ominous landscape. "I don't know. But the currents have brought us here. We need to find land to rest and resupply."
As they cautiously approached a small, rocky cove, the silence shattered. Grotesque figures emerged from the shadows of the cliffs – their forms twisted and unnatural, with limbs too long and eyes that glowed with a malevolent green light. These were unlike any monsters they had encountered before. An aura of corrupted energy clung to them, a sickeningly familiar signature.
"Monzters," A whispered, a tremor in his voice. "Created by... him."
The monzters lunged, their movements disturbingly swift. Sheru, despite his weakened state, was the first to react, his remaining throwing knives flashing in the dim light. Sazji drew The Silver Sculptor, its eerie glow seeming to intensify in the presence of the corrupted aurra. Nicka whirled her staff, the spearhead a deadly point against the advancing creatures. Waada unleashed blasts of compressed air and water, knocking the monzters back.
The fight was brutal. The monzters were relentless, driven by a twisted intelligence. Their attacks were erratic and vicious, their claws tearing at the air. Sheru, agile despite his injuries, danced around them, his knives finding weak points in their unnatural hides. Sazji's blade hummed as it sliced through the corrupted flesh, leaving trails of dark, viscous fluid. Nicka's staff became a blur of motion, its spearhead piercing and crushing. Waada's elemental attacks provided cover and disrupted the monzters' advance.
A, though initially hesitant, found a strange resonance with the corrupted aurra surrounding the monzters. He began to move with an unexpected fluidity, his hands emitting faint pulses of energy that seemed to disorient and weaken the creatures.
After a fierce struggle, they managed to fight their way through the initial wave of monzters and onto the rocky shore. Exhausted and injured, they knew this strange island held more dangers.
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Episode 2 - The Scarred Land
They ventured inland, the landscape a desolate expanse of black sand and petrified trees. The air was heavy with a strange, metallic scent. Deeper within the island, they discovered scars on the land – deep fissures that glowed with the same malevolent green light as the monzters' eyes. The very ground seemed tainted.
Following one of these glowing fissures, they eventually arrived at a large, circular clearing. In the center stood a colossal structure made of obsidian-like stone, pulsating with a faint green aurra. The air here thrummed with a palpable energy, a distorted echo of the power they had felt within the M's domain.
As they approached the structure, a sense of dread washed over them. It felt like a nexus of corrupted power, the source of the monzters and the island's unnatural state.
And then, they felt the presence of the mighty M . He had kept the kingdom at its toes . Citizens might be ignorant to this fact but the wall gaurds knew it pretty well. That single man was responsible for all the deaths at the old wall .
His strange glowing green aurra could be felt here. It was like radiation left after a nuclear weapon.
This was the place where their forced journey had led them –
" This place ... It feels like a ... Like a place inextricably linked to the real Devil Born." Added A
"The real devil born .... ? .. I thought you were the only candidate for that title. And a fake one at that." Asked Waada
Meanwhile all the others were wandering around the place for safety check.
" Yeah I am the accused one and a fake . But that doesn't mean there is no real devil born . " Answered A
".... "
"Oh right you weren't a member of the elite gaurd back then . .. okay that explains it . Back at that time the rightful and righteous king had two children . His majesty was more powerful than you can imagine."
( Okay should I tell them the boss they met at the old wall was just a creation of the original...um..no that would be too much ) A thought
" Um okay here are the main details . _
No. 1 The princes both fought each other all the time . The king was trying his best to protect the planet from the alliance.
No.2 The princes were both combined powerful as the king. But they were kept in dark by the king about all the planetary war. Something caused them to fight together as one to defeat the king.That was the path the foreign alliance used to defeat him .
No. 3 ummmm. The guy you faught earlier might be in fact a underling of the real prince so like _
We will lose to them for sure if we donot fight properly."
" Woah woah woah. ... Slow down ... Calm yourself . You say that M is someone's underling ( I thought so too . Like ,king himself is way more powerful than M so it felt a little odd.) and there was a invasion as well . "
A was about to answer but waada still continued
" Where ?, when ,? how? did it all happened. I am pretty sure our civilization is not thaat old ."
"Shhhhh" A shushed Waada and answered
" First of all ,maan you are talkative one. I thought you were one of those cool and cold ones"
Waada raised his left eyebrow and side eyed A . His face was red with shyness yet serious enough for A to change the topic.
" Okay okay.. So like ... Yeah ..ahem . Sorry but like who is this M guy and what's your story? Would you fill me in . Like then I will explain accordingly."
After like half an hour passed,A was yawning and listening to Waada giving him the details.
[ Like I said Waada is way too talkative or way too silent. Here its the former case.]
" Okay then you fought a gas controling person and you the man who can literally manipulate the damn air was fighting the weaklings ...why? "
"That was Sazji's pla.."_
A interrupted him and shushed him again.
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Episode 3- The Bonfire
" Shhh let me talk. And he took the damn girl like nothing??? How dumb were you to not use the powers she and you possessed against him at once that would have caused at least some resistance..??"
Waada looks embarrassed here.[lol]
" And you entered 'that' room without knowing its restrictions ? Why did you not explore that place in full? There was like a huge sign about this room."
( Oh I get it now . That time I got happy and used a scraped pure metal sign as a resource for my shield .. that must have been the warning sign.)
Remembers Waada.
" And for your kind information that gas freak 'M' . He is kinda the devil born. Well technically as he was created by mixing dna of the elder prince with some other guy with air manipulation guy and palced to flourish in a foreign lady. "
( Thank my eyes I am so glad that I heard that story when the princes were fighting the king. Now this man will think I am not just some ugly little fella) thought A
".."
Waada was so baffled by the info he went silent and thought
( Oh fuck He only knows a little but he knew pieces I didn't have a clue about) and A continued.
" And yeah the elder prince knew about the invasion but by then he was just way too motivated along with the younger prince to kill their father."
Waada had now realized that even if small, info shared between people can change a lot of things.
" Hey all of you come here ." Waada shouted
Nicka came in from the right side as the bushes swirled as she passed through while soon Sheru came from the left side as he jumped down from a gaint petrified tree.
"Yeah what is it? " Both asked simuntaniously while Sazji appears on top of a large stone and said " yeah ?"
" Come sit here and Sheru would you mind climbing up again and bringing down some dead branches for a bonfire its getting cold down here."
Nicka and Sheru were smiling like children who got something they wanted for so long. While Sazji not that excited came down and placed his whetstone on a small rock while sitting in a chair position without a support. The. Slowly unsheathed his Sculptor and began sharpening it.
Next scene
Bonfire was burning bright . While everyone got comfortable around it Waada said,
" Finshed making a creepy smile Nicka? And sharpening the blade Sazji?"
Waada's eyes dark and his face muscles tensed.
" Yeah ".... "Yeah " both replied
"Okay everyone be serious and tell everyone here about any and everything you know . I know we can trust each other enough for a good sharing. Right?"
Everyone nodded and then Nicka the only female in the group spoke
" Well let me start as I may have told you all except for A about myself and my previous life . There's nothing hidden here.. "
Everyone nodds and then Nicka whispers to A
" We will talk later "
"And have you told them about your original world?" Waada asked
" But that was.._"
" Please I beg you all please donot keep anything from anyone . Share ecery detail you can remember.. not personal secret even not any invaluable detail . Do not keep it hidden. Understood."
Everyone nodds.
( Has he lost it . Does he mean it? ...yeah obviously he does or he wouldn't have shown his original weak side here.) Nicka
( ... Whaaaaaaaaat is he serious. Yeah I can tell he is or he ... Nope it doesn't evem matter I trust them) Sheru
( Hummmm interesting.. he means it I can tell . Okay guess every secret cannot be hidden) Sazji
" That goes for you too A. Yess even though we just met. I know you know we are not any backstabbers."
A nodds aswell
( Guess I will trust them even though that was all the info i knew anyway. I don't even have any secrets to begin with . I just wanted adventure and good friends.) A
[ It started at about 7 in the evening and ending about 8 in the morning.]
Waada was completely blank as were all the other members of the group.
" Yeah take turn slepping now we move noon ...." A fell on his back while sitting and thought (Maan that was way too much. I didn't think Sheru was like this due to thaattt. And Nicka and this bastard yeah they know their stufff too. Sazji yeah he is the closest one to being sane here.)
They then took turns sleeping. First 3 hours were Waada A and Nicka . Then they all repaired the boat amd collected meat as much as they could .
" Hey guys why are these monzters all so old here . They are all looking delicious why the way :) " shouted Nicka
" Yeah that must be due to M creating them very long ago and forgetting about them . These 500 are in fact looking delicious. " Replied Sazji
They resupplied and repaired for next hour and left at noon.
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Episode 4- The Sea Split
" Yo A can you cook?" Nicka
" Nope but he can you know he said he cooked for himself before he met you and joined the king." replied A
" Okay fine I will cook " Waada raised hs hand and started cooking
"Make sure that you don't wake the others up until night . They will take the night shift today." Waada shouted slowly
Next sence
A beautiful yet scary seamist was visible afar. Large creatures were flying over a poorly repaired boat . Screeching and bellowing creatures were flying and swimming in hordes and hordes in their respective territory.
Then
" Yo Waada its been 25 days already since we left the kingdom but have you noticed that their is no sun in the day and no moon at the night? Why and how is this possible "
" Well I am not sure but I think the day and night around the kingdom happens due to some spell or some other shit. And there is no actual sun or moon present for our planet as you know from well 'your' past."
" Oops you aare right about this ,my bad.. no not my bad . You bastard know I can't remember remembering anything so stop stating that as 'my' past. I do not know how those things I told you all cane into my mind."
Nicka's tone ferocious but Waada knew it was not anything bad so he just smiled and was about to leave
"Well now that I am in mood of hitting you ,would you like another sparring session?"
"Nope I promised A to help him learn sword fighting and dagger throws along Sheru and Sazji so I will spar against those two today. So yeah sorry"
[The sea was dulling them not physically but mentally. They were training their bodies but started to ignore that minds . But you can guess that something will remind them soon enough of what they have forgotten:)]
They waves of the sea were getting rough now. The boat was going up and down. And five people could be seen gathered on the deck.
" Hey you said this sea was never harsh here. So why?" Waada
" Like I said I do not like to remember much details . But I am sure this one I was quite sure of soooo I don't have a clue" A
Others were muttering as well amongst themself but then suddenly the sea water got darkened and a large sea monster appeared.
Its tentacles were headed towards the boat .
" Waada ,Sazji stop them " A shouted
But then something shocking happened
" Where is my Sculptor and my lion?"
" How is this possibility?"
Both of them were staring at fhe flying tentacles stunned.
Waada couldn't use his aurra or his control abilities and Sazji was missing his weapons.
"Damnit..."
The tentacles hit the the boat . Thud
The boat seemed unharmed but still the keel waas above the water.
But strangely none of the group members had got caught in the turning over.
" What the hell is going ooon." Sheru shouted
" I couldn't even find single tool or weapon." Continued Sheru
" Do not worry... Same here." A replied
Sheru had a face... His eyes seemed to go inwards. His tounge was like someone was pulling it.
Same was for the others.
Their ears were ringing. Yet none of them could understand what was going on . "What the fuuuuck " shouted Nicka
Suddenly it all stopped. And a army of about 700 monzters appeared marching towards them while walking on water.
And again with a tick . The sea was split apart. Like cut with a sharp sword .
All of them were staring at it. Mouths opened as if to take a huge bite.
And soon it was all coming to an end . At the head of the army a dark figure . With him a green figure could also be seen. The aurra was splitting the atmosphere. The steps taken by the former figure felt like tremors in the ocean.
And then suddenly he advanced. "Ahh ah c"
"What ?"
"How ?"
"When?"
"It can't be "
All of there questions were legit considering that they all had been cut in half in under a eye blink.
Nooooooooooo with a loud shout A opened his eyes.
"What ?"
"What ?"
"What?"
"How?" Waada
"I don't know. "
Then with a splash something fell into water.
They were back on the boat .
Still upright and afloat
Then Waada was seen angry at first but then he was smirking like he had realised something
" A..... Didn't you say the sea foots were not a problem now a days. As they like hot weather? Hmmm?"
" Ohhhhh I told you I remembered so
* That day just before midnight
"And another thing . Though not a secret but a info. I heard from someone that these waters have hot weather liking pink and fluffy creatures called sea foots. They are basically a friendly dream illusionist. "*
I didn't say that was a sure fact! Cough cough" A now choking on his own Saliva , sits back up straight.
Everyone sighed together as if were one being.
" Did you all also saw the same?" Sazji asked
"Yup I think so , because we all did wake up at the same time . Well what do you say Waada " Sheru answered
" See I told you sharing stuff would help us somehow. And it did . We all have heard and felt each others experience and pov now . So we technically might sometime have same thoughts and feelings at the same time and that might have caused it " Waada said it in a loud and proud tone .
Everyone would have been surprised but they knew Waada well enough now to understand his true nature . And knew that 'this ' nature was in fact his true
" Land hooo " yelled Nicka who was still dizzy but went to see the sea foots.
Everyone turned around in unison and srood there with serious faces .
" Yeah.. lets do this.. and do not forget that the path ahead is even more ...no way more dangerous than before. So do not slack around too much when we reach there."
Everyone nodded and hummed .
Next scene they were at the shore of the unknown.