Chapter 25 -- Stop
AIO: Here we go.
A remote island. Truly isolated.
Small. Too insignificant to be called a country.
Separated by waters of varying colours. Waves that ebbed and flowed in patterns depicting serenity.
...
A young boy.
Black scruffy hair - no traces of red.
He sat on a wooden log, viewing the horizon.
'What could be out there?' - he thought.
Not that he was unhappy, but it was human nature to question the unknown. To be curious - whether innocently or maliciously.
...
A man approached.
His feet rustled in the sand.
The man spoke softly.
...
Valmond: "What are you doing?"
...
The boy - a bit slow to snap out of his daze, turned his neck.
...
...
Ishi: "Dad."
...
...
Valmond patted Ishi on the head.
Valmond: "Are you daydreaming?"
Ishi: "Mm."
Valmond was fairly tall and slim.
He had pale skin and short scruffy hair that was a blend of brown and black.
His eyes were black with a hint of grey.
Valmond: "Was it a nice daydream?"
Ishi: "I guess."
Valmond joined Ishi in viewing the horizon.
Valmond: "It's nice that we can talk like this."
Valmond: "I remember when you were a baby. You used to scream all the time."
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "It was real hard."
Valmond: "You wouldn't get it, right?"
Ishi: "No..."
Valmond: "Haha."
Valmond crossed his arms.
Valmond: "Sometimes it'd make you question everything."
...
Valmond: "But, you know..."
Ishi: ?
Valmond: "...I'd protect you without a second thought."
...
Valmond: "That's what it means to be a parent."
Ishi paused for a moment, then smiled.
Ishi stood up and hugged Valmond.
Valmond hugged him back.
Ishi: "Let's go home."
Valmond: "Mm."
Valmond nodded in agreement.
They left and entered a forest. The trees were mostly tall with long, soft leaves that hung below.
They passed other people who lived on the island - each carrying out various tasks; gathering food or water, or constructing basic things from wood.
The clothes everyone wore were intrinsically similar - either made from simple fabrics or nature itself. Browns and greens were common among the folk who lived here.
Ishi and Valmond descended slightly into a more populated gathering of trees.
They pushed through branches to reveal their village. Their birthplace.
Not tiny, but not gigantic. What would cover the inner circle of the small island.
Wooden houses - spread and stacked among one another.
Vines and ropes scaling between them.
Children running and laughing.
Others sobbing and hugging...
Ishi: ...
To the left was a collection of sticks that stood vertically out of the ground.
Surrounding the sticks were pretty rocks, jewellery, messages... And so on.
Ishi and Valmond detoured this way.
They stopped at one particular stick.
They hugged side-on, sharing a moment to think.
...
Valmond: "Trix will be remembered."
...
Ishi: "I miss her... Dad."
Ishi felt sad.
Valmond: "Your cousin was full of joy. She lived happily."
Ishi: ...
Valmond looked at Ishi.
Valmond: "She will live on through us, Ishi."
Ishi's sadness turned irritable.
Ishi: "That's what they all say."
Ishi: "But..."
Ishi: "...But she's dead, Dad."
Valmond: ...
Valmond: "I know."
Valmond took a slow breath as he looked upward.
Valmond: "That's why it's up to us to live."
Ishi looked down at his feet.
He held back a tear, feeling sad once again.
...
Ishi: "I don't want to get a disease... Dad."
...
Valmond quietly looked at Ishi.
...
Ishi: "I... I don't want to die..."
...
Ishi: "...I... Don't want to leave you and Mum."
Ishi: "I don't want to hurt you."
Ishi: "I want to protect you."
...
Valmond patted Ishi on the head once more.
Valmond: "We don't know what will happen."
...
Valmond: "That is why we must live to the fullest."
...
Valmond: "That is why we must love."
Ishi: ...
...
...
Valmond: "For that is the way of human life, Ishi."
Ishi nodded, unsure if he really understood.
Valmond: "Either way, we will be with you from here until the very last day."
Valmond gave out an inspiring, beautiful, big smile.
Valmond: "We love you, always."
In this moment Ishi felt nothing but warmth and love.
...
...
They returned home - a simple abode. A simple interior.
After experiencing a recent mix of emotions, Ishi ran straight for his Mum and hugged her.
Melanie: "Omph!"
The hug was unexpected.
Melanie: "My... Welcome home."
She kissed Ishi on the top of his head.
Melanie had inky black eyes and long black straight hair.
Her skin was slightly darker than Valmond's and she was almost just as tall. Both of them relatively lean in stature.
Melanie wore a sturdy black necklace just above her light brown dress. It matched the bracelet Ishi wore on his left wrist.
She also wore small black teardrop-shaped earrings. They did not appear to be crafted that way, but rather discovered in that natural state.
Valmond: M-Melanie's so beautiful...
Another girl entered.
She was years older than Ishi - in her upper teens.
She thumped Ishi on the head.
Ishi: "Ouch."
Iris: "You're too soft, Ishi."
She strolled past and began to stretch on the other side of the room.
Iris: "You should be training more."
Ishi: ...
Melanie: "Be nice to your brother, Iris."
Iris: "I am being nice."
Iris: "This is motivation. To get stronger."
Ishi thought to himself.
He hesitated, then spoke.
Ishi: "I don't want... To fight."
Ishi looked sad. Conflicted.
Valmond: "Ishi will do things at his own pace, Iris."
Iris: ...
Valmond: "Ishi is a gentle soul."
...
Valmond: "But... He does want to protect us. He told me that only minutes ago."
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "He'll get there, in his own way."
Valmond put his hand on Ishi's shoulder.
Ishi began to smile.
Iris: "Hmm."
Persuaded by Valmond, Iris changed her phrasing to be more supportive.
Iris: "Okay."
Iris: "Well, keep in mind, Ishi. You don't need a disease to be strong."
Iris tensed her muscles, as if to demonstrate.
Ishi almost giggled.
The appearance of Iris was somewhat similar to Ishi, but naturally older, feminine, and more defined.
You could tell that they were related, despite their differences.
Iris: "Besides, I don't think you'll get one."
Iris: "It feels too long. I'm sure it's passed."
Iris was silently concerned for Ishi's wellbeing - understandably.
Ishi's smile wavered.
Ishi: "But... Trix..."
Melanie put her hand on Ishi's head.
Melanie: "It's okay."
She smiled.
Melanie: "It'll be okay."
Ishi smiled, too.
- - - -
The next day.
Villagers continued with their normal activities.
Working, training, parenting...
This village - or island, had not yet mastered travel by sea.
And so they had no choice but to live within - which comparatively, in such a world, was not an undesirable circumstance.
Moreover, means of survival was plentiful.
Drinkable water. Food and plants that continued to thrive. Viable temperatures. Shelter.
No technology.
No infrastructure.
No Dines anywhere within sight.
'Disconnected' in this instance certainly meant safe.
...
CLASH.
Two warriors bang their blades against one another in a violent display.
Clang.
Swipe.
Shink.
Their movements too fast to follow for young Ishi - who watched on in awe.
Ishi: S-Scary...
A third warrior entered, joining the battle.
The three of them flipped and attacked fiercely - yet no blood was drawn.
For they were training... After all.
...
One walked over to Ishi, huffing.
Valmond: "Hah..."
Valmond: "That's good..."
Ishi: "Dad."
...
Valmond: "Phew. Want to join?"
Ishi: "No..."
Valmond: "You sure? That was one of the easier groups."
Valmond: "No disease-holders."
Ishi: ...
Ishi: "Maybe next time."
Ishi and Valmond walked through an open area of the island; purposely designed for combat.
Different groups trained using different methods.
Ishi knew... That his village was not weak.
...
They left the area and arrived at a series of thicker trees.
Many of the trees had drawings, carvings, or shattered bark - the latter suggesting excessive use.
Valmond: "This is where you can train without people, if you like."
Ishi: ?
Valmond put his hand on one of the trees.
Valmond: "Here."
Valmond began to demonstrate.
He started tapping the tree using light punches.
Valmond: "You punch it. And punch it. And punch it."
Valmond: "Until it breaks down."
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "It gets your hands used to the pain of attacking - which is commonly overlooked."
Ishi: ...
Ishi: "But..."
...
Ishi: "...Who are we attacking, Dad?"
Valmond paused, then looked to the sky.
Valmond: "Well... No one, right now."
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "But this village has been attacked in the past. Many times. Before you were born."
Valmond: "Your grandparents talk about people who were able to travel here when I was young. And there would be times before that, too."
...
Valmond: "It took time for the village to adjust to the thought of outside threats. Outside disease-holders."
...
Valmond: "Our..."
Valmond: "...Our village has slowly learned... What other people are like."
Ishi: ...
Ishi seemed disheartened.
Valmond: "Hey... I'm sure they're not all bad."
Valmond smiled.
Ishi appreciated the sentiment.
Ishi: ...
Ishi faced the tree.
He put up his fists.
Ishi: ...
He began to punch.
Ishi: "O-Ow!"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
His tempo increased, then slowed exponentially.
Ishi: "Ah."
He huffed and quickly stopped.
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "G-Good start."
Valmond drew his blade.
Ishi: ?
He inscribed Ishi's name on the tree.
Ishi: ...
Valmond: "This one can be yours."
Valmond: "Come back as much as you want."
...
Valmond: "Slowly but surely, you'll see progress."
...
Valmond: "And if you don't see progress, that's okay, too."
Ishi inspected the other trees which had much larger dents.
Even young villagers alike Ishi... Could do more.
Ishi: ...
...
Valmond: "To not seek violence... Is indeed an admirable quality."
Ishi: ?
They sat down together.
Valmond looked forward.
Valmond: "It's okay to cry, Ishi. It's okay to be emotional."
Valmond: "That goes for you. For me. And for everyone."
Ishi felt comfortable hearing those words.
He felt like he belonged, without having to do anything. Without having to pursue acceptance.
Valmond: "Your mother and I will be forever happy if you never have to fight."
...
Valmond: "But the unpredictability of mankind... Is unforgiving."
- - - -
Ishi wandered around the island, as he thought back on the many things his father had told him.
Valmond went back to training, this time with Iris.
Melanie participated in non-combat training; running and bodyweight exercises.
Ishi found himself at a small pond surrounded by black rocks.
A quiet spot he routinely visited.
Ishi: ?
Crouching there was a girl - around the same age as Ishi.
She was slender, tan, and brunette.
She wore a less-than-scientific version of glasses. They were formed from wood, with some kind of film from a plant for lenses. Its unique constitution made you question its effectiveness.
????: ?
????: "Ishi!"
She noticed him approach and quickly ran to hug him.
Ishi: "M-Milee."
She smiled, then let go.
Her voice was soft, yet friendly and energetic. The kind of person to wear their heart on their sleeve - to speak honestly and sincerely, at all times.
Milee: "You're so handsome, Ishi!"
Ishi: "W-"
Ishi blushed.
She held his hand and guided him closer to the pond.
Milee: "Look."
Milee: "I was trying to see which rocks sink the fastest."
Milee: "They began to pile up at the bottom - so I tried to build something out of it."
Ishi: ...
Ishi wasn't that interested, but he liked being around Milee.
He noticed the rings on her hand.
Ishi: "I-I like your rings..."
Milee: ?
Milee: "Oh! Thanks!!"
She let go of Ishi's hand, explaining each of her rings.
There were three or four on each hand of varying colour and make.
Some artistic, some rugged. Some bulky, some dainty.
Milee: "You should wear rings, too."
Milee: "Though I do like your bracelet."
Milee: "Hmm."
Milee: "They could complement each other."
She held Ishi's hand once again and began to point out ideal spots for rings.
Ishi: ...
She suggested the index fingers on both hands and one pinkie finger.
Though again, Ishi wasn't paying close attention.
Milee: "I think it'd look really nice. I'd like it."
She smiled.
Ishi: "M-Mm."
Ishi: I'll have to get rings.
They eventually sat down together and talked about their days.
They shared stories of their training struggles.
They shared stories of their families.
They shared stories of the people... Who were no longer around.
They talked. They laughed.
They occasionally touched hands.
These memories were truly... Special.
- - - -
Ishi sat at home one night with Melanie, reading.
Melanie: "You're getting good at this, Ishi."
Ishi had spent the last few years learning how to read. Only recently was he able to break into more complex words and mature themes.
The village overall lacked in literature. Basic texts were passed down with each generation, or books from elsewhere would occasionally wash up on shore.
In the past decade, however, adults were taking it upon themselves to write more and more. For the purpose of education, creativity, and world awareness.
Melanie: "You don't need my help anymore."
She smiled.
Ishi maintained focus on the writing in front of him.
Melanie: He's grown so much.
Melanie: My sweet boy.
She could not help but admire the kindness and growth of her son.
...
...
She snapped out of it, noticing how dark it was outside.
Melanie: "Hmm. I wonder where your father i-"
Doom.
Melanie: ?
Doom.
Ishi: ?
Ishi looked up.
Shink.
Melanie: "What's that sound?"
She stood up.
Doom.
Ishi: ...
Doom.
Ishi stood up.
Shink.
Melanie: ...?
They both walked out the front door.
The noises continued.
From somewhere.
Doom - a deep, loud, booming sound.
Doom - a second one. The same sound.
Shink - an uncomfortable, piercing noise. Reminiscent of the sharpening of blades.
Melanie: ...
They saw other villagers outside their homes, wondering the same thing.
Several warriors grabbed their weapons and sprinted away.
Melanie: "Where are they going?"
Melanie: ...
Melanie: "To the shore?"
Ishi: ...
The noises in the background did not stop.
The exact same rhythm.
Melanie: Something is wrong.
Melanie put her hand on Ishi's head.
Melanie: "Go back inside. Hide you-know-where."
Melanie: "I'll be back in a minute."
Ishi: "Okay."
Ishi: "Where's Dad?"
Melanie: "I'll find him."
She kissed Ishi on the forehead, then walked away.
Ishi returned home.
...
...
Melanie ran out of the village and up through trees. She leapt and navigated over difficult terrain.
She followed other warriors who charged ahead.
The noises only got... Louder.
...
As if bursting out of a hidden village, she made it to the shore.
The water appeared black and purple under the dark of night. Celestial stars reflected on the waves.
A group of villagers stood before her, mostly warriors.
They all faced the other way.
Melanie: ...
She found him among the crowd.
Melanie: "V... Valmond!"
Valmond did not hear her.
Melanie: "Hey-"
She looked up. It was right there.
The noises right in front of her.
A massive... Ship.
Looming in on the island.
It was predominantly black with a triangular metal base. White markings spread across its top.
Melanie: "Wh-What is..."
Melanie: ?
They saw many...
Many people on board.
Melanie: ...
Melanie gulped.
The ship was much taller than the island.
An ominous vessel... Of unknown strength.
...
The village leader - Raiphonze, stood in front of everyone.
Raiphonze: "This is not the first time people have come here."
He spoke confidently. A firm resolve.
Raiphonze: "Let us first... Ask."
Raiphonze was tall, tan, and blonde.
He had two vertical scars over the left side of his mouth.
Raiphonze was an older gentleman... But capable.
His eyes turned orange.
He slowly grew...
And grew...
Melanie: W-Wow...
The ship was about to crash onto the shore.
Raiphonze was surely now within their view.
He spoke in a deep, penetrating voice.
Raiphonze: "Why did you come here?"
His words projected over the ship.
Several villagers had to cover their ears.
Raiphonze: "Did you come for exploration?"
...
...
Raiphonze: "For discussion?"
...
...
...
Raiphonze: "...Or war?"
The ship went silent.
The noises stopped.
No one responded.
Raiphonze: ...
On board, someone leapt onto the front of the ship.
You could tell they were some sort of commander. The boss.
The 'other' leader.
Raiphonze: ...
It was hard to make out their appearance.
What you could see... From afar...
Was a brief... Little...
Smile.
BANG.
They flew through Raiphonze's chest.
Raiphonze's enlarged left side - his heart - destroyed.
Valmond: ?!!!
Blood erupted as Raiphonze's huge body emphatically plummeted.
Warriors and villagers dispersed.
A second...
BANG.
The ship crashed onto the shore.
Sand flew everywhere.
The man - the killer, landed.
He shook off some of the blood covering his body.
Melanie: Wh...
Melanie: ...Why...
Melanie was in shock.
The man wore a long black coat, a white shirt, and loose black pants.
There was a gap between his pants and flat black shoes - no socks.
He had wavy, medium-length hair. It was mostly black with stylish strands of white at the front.
He had one black eye and one white eye. Black eyelashes with white tips.
Taller than your average person.
His physique and appearance were what you would call conventionally attractive.
????: "Hmm."
He looked around.
As if inspecting the quality of the people of the island.
????: ...
He smiled prettily - white straight teeth.
No hesitation in his words.
????: "Kill everyone."
Roughly 100 invaders bounded down from the enormous ship.
Melanie: ?-?!!
They immediately clashed with the warriors of the island.
Valmond: "G-Guh!"
Valmond included.
Melanie looked on, concerned.
It was clear - they were greatly outnumbered. More and more disembarked.
Melanie: Wh... What do I do?
With people everywhere - chaos ensued.
One invader circled around the group and attacked Melanie with a long black spear.
Melanie: ?!-
She jumped, dodging the attack and kicking the invader in the side of the head.
The invader was concussed but not defeated.
She breathed heavily after landing.
Melanie: Iris. Ishi.
She glanced at Valmond who had just slashed someone.
Melanie: He's in the middle of it.
Melanie: I-I have to protect them.
She ran quickly, back towards the village.
Her trust in Valmond and swift decision-making allowed her to move.
She dodged a few more attempted assaults before breaking away.
The invaders were all over the place.
Screams. Fire. Blood.
Everything was happening so fast.
Melanie: The village.
She was almost there.
Whap.
Someone grabbed her arm.
Melanie: A-Again?!
An invader smiled, swinging their large hammer.
Melanie: "G-Get the f-"
Shink.
The invader fell.
Slashed from behind.
Iris: "Mum."
Melanie: "I-Iris!"
Melanie embraced her.
Melanie: "You're okay."
Iris: "Wh... Who...?"
Melanie could feel Iris trembling.
Melanie: "It..."
Melanie: "We-"
Melanie: "We need to move."
Melanie could not think straight, either.
Melanie grabbed her hand and ran into the village, towards home.
Hordes of invaders were visible in their peripheral vision on each side.
Melanie: "H..."
Melanie: "Hah..."
...
Melanie: "U-Ungh..."
Melanie let out tired, afraid noises.
Uncontrollable whimpers.
Melanie: Wh-Why...
They tried not to look.
But it was hard not to see...
Their fellow villagers being slaughtered.
Melanie: This is just... Too cruel...
Iris cried while running.
Melanie: H-
They stopped all of a sudden.
...
At their house - but not quite.
That same person. That same leader.
...
????: ...
...
His black coat faced Melanie and Iris.
He held a dead child by the head.
Melanie: No...
...
Iris: "Ah... Ah..."
They were both in shock.
Iris cried deeper.
????: ?
The man tossed the corpse away.
Melanie looked on with horrified eyes.
Melanie: It's...
Melanie: ...It's not...
...
Melanie: ...Ishi.
She sniffed.
She couldn't speak.
????: "I wonder how long this will take."
The man scratched his head.
Swarms spread everywhere.
Shrieks turned into white noise.
Melanie: Ishi... Please be okay.
- - - -
A dark place. Intentionally isolated.
Cramped. Too many unknowns to be called safe.
Separated by wood and devoid of sound. Snippets of vibration that caused unimaginable visions.
...
A young boy.
Black scruffy hair - although hard to see in the dark.
He sat within.
'What could be out there?' - he thought.
Not that he suspected something horrible, but he was certainly anxious. To be worried - as is human nature.
...
Ishi: It's... Quieter now...
Ishi: What's going on...?
...
Ishi: I'll...
Ishi: I'll go check. I need to.
Ishi: Now.
Ishi: Quietly.
Ishi lifted the hidden door above him.
He was underground.
Beneath a door - beneath a rug - that was beneath a basic bed inside their home.
Ishi: ...
He climbed out, noticing the place had been ransacked.
Ishi: ?!
He instantly became sad. Apprehensive.
Thinking of the worst.
Ishi: M-Mum...
He was scared. Alone.
He crept to an open window...
...And peered outside.
Ishi: ?-?!!!
He gasped.
He couldn't breathe.
His eyes shot from side to side.
Ishi: Wh-Wh-
Tears uncontrollably leaked from his eyes.
People.
Villagers.
Acquaintances.
Friends.
...And family.
Piled in the middle of the village.
Some on top of each other, some scattered. Some tied and hung, some burned.
Probably about half of them... Still alive.
Ishi: E... Everyone...
He clenched his teeth.
He pleaded.
Ishi: B... B-But...
Hope.
The tiniest bit of hope...
Went through Ishi's mind.
Ishi: Wh...
Ishi: ...Where...
He tried to account for every person he cared about most.
Ishi: ...!
Lisen - a friend, unconscious.
Rao - another friend, whimpering and shaking.
Traze - Ishi's remaining cousin, bleeding from the ears.
Trex - Ishi's aunty, missing all her fingers on one hand.
Zham - Ishi's uncle, missing an arm.
Vol - Ishi's grandpa, coughing up an excessive amount of blood.
Vly - Ishi's grandma, crying and seizing.
Ishi: Ah... Ah...
The tears continued.
.
.
Iris - on the ground with a spear impaled in her back.
Milee - squashed between corpses, gasping for air.
Valmond - missing both legs.
Melanie - daggers through both hands, pinned.
Ishi: F-F-F...
Ishi winced, seeing the horrible state they were all in.
Ishi: N... N-No...
He grabbed his head with both hands. Unable to process what he just saw.
Yet, they were all...
Yes - they were all...
...Still alive.
Ishi: Hah... Hah...
His eyes spun.
Ishi: I... I-I need to-
A villager steps out before the group.
Ishi: -?!
Huffing. Bleeding.
But victorious.
They were not part of the masses.
They joined from elsewhere.
Ishi: Th-That's...
The leader of the invaders reacted.
????: "Still a couple outliers, hm?"
Another subordinate stepped forward.
????: "I'll take care of them, Tibblack."
...
Tibblack: ...
The leader didn't like having their name mentioned so casually, but in the end it didn't matter - since all the villagers were going to die anyways.
The subordinate ran towards the newly arrived villager at decent speed.
The villager had long grey hair covering their face. Hidden black eyes.
Tibblack spoke quietly, responding to his subordinate.
Tibblack: "Yeah. I'm not sure you can."
In a trail behind the villager... Were two dozen invaders - deceased.
The villager touched their palms together and slowly opened them. A black and green type of thick liquid formed between.
????: ?
The villager coated a small shiv-looking weapon in the liquid.
????: "What is-"
The shiv went through the invader's throat.
The invader choked and bled and seized.
It was over too quickly.
Tibblack: "Yep."
Ishi clung onto hope.
His breathing calmed temporarily.
Ishi: That's Xennon... Our strongest fighter.
Ishi: I've only seen them once before.
...
Ishi: They...
Ishi: ...They can save everyone... I know it.
Tibblack dusted his coat.
Tibblack: "That's some disease."
Tibblack: "What's the liquid stuff-"
Three more coated shivs launched at Tibblack - doom, doom, doom.
Ishi: ?!
Ishi: So fast.
Ishi: ?
Ishi: That noise?
Xennon was confused - not to have killed their target.
Tibblack: "Ah..."
...
Tibblack: "Am I too lazy to dodge?"
Tibblack: "...Or do I just want to show my dominance?"
...
Tibblack: "Hahah..."
Ishi: Wh-What...
Tibblack removed his coat.
He took off his shirt.
His skin was now a combination of black and white - black with white markings spread on top. The markings comparable to complex patterns or circuits.
The detail increased with every inch upward, peaking at his neck and facial structure.
His body was already defined and muscular. Yet his skin now was... Abnormally hard.
Doom.
He banged his chest. Sound reverberated across the island.
Doom.
He banged it again.
Ishi: It-It's that noise...
Ishi shivered.
Tibblack: "Don't compare me to other disease-holders."
Tibblack pulled out two long sharp white weapons - seemingly out of his shoulder blades. You would speculate that they were bones, but alas, they were not.
It was entirely unclear... How this worked.
Shink.
He sharpened the two white weapons against each other.
Tibblack: "You're rude, you know that?"
He spoke to Xennon.
Tibblack: "Well I guess I am, too."
Xennon rapidly approached Tibblack - attempting to cover him in that unknown substance.
Tibblack: "Ha."
Tibblack spins, decapitating Xennon in a dramatic display.
Ishi: ?!!!
Ishi fell to his knees in despair.
Ishi: X... Xe...
The hope... Began to fade away...
Ishi breathed heavily again.
Building and building.
He looked down at his quads - seeing tears fall upon them.
Ishi: "G... G-Gagh!!"
He punched his legs.
Ishi: Get up.
He punched them again.
Ishi: G-Get up!!!
He stood, painfully.
Legs wobbling.
Ishi: If-If I can just...
...
Ishi: ...Save some of them!!!
Adrenaline took over.
He sprinted out of the house.
He ran behind trees and past corpses.
Ishi: D-Don't look!!
Tears dispersed into the air.
He navigated between living and non-living obstacles. Through embers and awful smells.
He had tunnel vision - he could make it.
He could do it.
She cried when she saw him. Still pinned on her front.
Melanie: "I-Ishi!!!"
Ishi: "Mum!!"
Bang.
Tibblack flattened Ishi.
Face-first into the ground.
Everything went quiet, then loud.
Ishi was dizzy. Helpless.
Dirt and vomit projected from his mouth.
In a muffled tone he could hear his mother.
~
~~
Don't hurt him!
~~
~
His head throbbed.
Sound eventually snapped back to normal, but he couldn't move.
He was trapped under the foot of Tibblack.
Ishi: "U-Ungh..."
Tibblack looked down on him.
Tibblack: "The last outlier."
Still transformed with hardened skin - Tibblack pulled out another long sharp white weapon from his body. This one particularly thin with pointy ends, akin to an incredibly long needle.
Melanie: "I said don't fucking hurt him-"
A subordinate kicked Melanie in the face.
????: "Don't talk to Tibblack like that."
Ishi screamed.
Ishi: "M-Mum!!!"
Tibblack stabbed Ishi in his right forearm.
Ishi: ?!!!-
Tibblack began dragging the weapon down Ishi's forearm - creating a vertical line.
Ishi: "Ah-Ah!!!!"
Tibblack pulled the weapon out after a few seconds. Once he was satisfied with the line.
A random adult villager who laid nearby, spoke up.
????: "P-Please... Stop."
Tibblack: ?
????: "Why-"
????: "Wh-Who are... You people?"
Their breathing was faint.
Tibblack walked over.
Tibblack: "Hmm."
...
Tibblack: "We... Are the Grey Darts. My new faction."
Tibblack smiled.
Tibblack: "And that..."
...
Tibblack: "...Is the last thing you will remember."
Tibblack stomped on their head.
Tibblack: ...
...
Tibblack: "Though, we have much more growing to do."
One subordinate was clapping their hands.
Tibblack: ...
Tibblack: These grunts are worthless.
Tibblack: If only 'Bara' had joined me.
...
Tibblack: "Ah. Where was I?"
Tibblack returned to Ishi.
Tibblack stabbed him a second time in the same forearm - creating a second line next to the first.
Ishi: !!!!-?-
Ishi was fading in and out of consciousness. His mind and body were struggling to cope.
Melanie cried quietly.
Melanie: Wh... Why haven't they...
...
Melanie: ...Killed us yet?
She glanced around, with what little ability she could.
Melanie: Who they kill...
Melanie: A-And when they kill...
...
Melanie: It's entirely up to their whims.
She rolled her eyes back, into her skull.
...
Melanie: Ah...
Melanie: Please...
...
...
Melanie: Release me from this hell.
The same subordinate who kicked Melanie, spoke.
????: "What should we do now, Tibblack?"
Tibblack: "Hm? Um..."
Tibblack pulled his weapon out of Ishi's forearm.
He inspected the wider area - noticing all the writhing bodies.
Tibblack: ...
Tibblack: "We finish off all the ones who are still alive."
...
Tibblack: "Then see if this island has any drinks."
His subordinates nodded.
Tibblack proceeded to kick Ishi in the ribs.
Tibblack: "So that one is your Mum."
Tibblack lifted Ishi's head by the hair, in the direction of Melanie.
Tibblack: "We'll save her for last."
Ishi: -?-?!
Ishi could not find his voice.
However, he glared...
He glared hatefully...
Maliciously...
At Tibblack.
Tibblack: "Why, you ask?"
Tibblack faced forward.
Tibblack: "Because I'm the worst."
Tibblack let go of Ishi's hair.
Ishi's face fell back down.
Tibblack: ...
Tibblack: ?
Tibblack looked down at his own hand.
Tibblack: It's... Hot?
Tibblack shook his hand in the air.
Tibblack: "Hm. You wait here."
...
...
Tibblack: "I'll put on a show."
Only one word - one futile word... Went through Ishi's mind.
.
.
.
.
'Stop.'
.
.
.
.
Futile... Indeed.
...
...
Tibblack and his subordinates filtered through the mass of villagers.
Their only concern was 'dead' or 'alive'...
...
...
A person.
Stab.
Ishi: Stop...
An older person.
Slice.
Ishi: Stop...
A child.
Slash.
Ishi: S-Stop...
.
.
All kinds of instruments were used.
Weapons. Body parts. Inanimate objects.
It was as gruesome as it was heartless.
.
.
Lisen - a friend.
Shink.
Ishi: "S... Stop..."
Ishi began to whisper.
Rao - another friend.
Boom.
Ishi: "Stop..."
Cousin Traze.
Fwoop.
Ishi: "S-Stop..."
Ishi's whisper got louder.
Aunty Trex.
Thunk.
Ishi: "Stop..."
Uncle Zham.
Splat.
Ishi: "S-S-Stop."
Ishi's voice got louder.
Grandpa Vol.
Bang.
Ishi: "Stop."
Grandma Vly.
Crunch.
Ishi: "Stop."
.
.
Laid out on the ground, Ishi began to twitch.
He began... To yell.
.
.
Iris.
Ishi's eyes were empty and dry. In utmost suffering.
He could see her.
Not as a tough big sister... But as an innocent, scared girl.
...
She could feel them approaching.
...
Iris: N-No...
...
Iris: Please...
She tried to wriggle away but the spear did not budge.
Iris: I-Ishi...
Iris: I...
She had no voice.
...
She had no saviour.
Iris: Please...
...
Iris: P-Please...
Iris: I-
...
Iris: I never got the chance to-
Crack.
Ishi: "Stop!!!"
Milee.
She tried to smile as her last moments came.
The bravest, most heartfelt smile.
Milee: Ish... Ishi...
...
Milee: ...The time I spent with you was-
Thwap.
Ishi: "Stop!!!!"
Dad.
Pale. Blue under the eyes.
Quiet. Barely breathing.
He'd been watching Ishi this whole time.
He hadn't dared to look away.
They made eye contact. Ishi on the brink of mental collapse.
The softest noise came out.
Valmond: "...Ishi..."
Valmond nodded.
He smiled.
Valmond: "We..."
...
...
Valmond: "We... L-"
Chunk.
Ishi: "S-Stop!!!!"
Mum.
Returned from her hell, but still in it.
Cheeks drenched in tears and blood.
Squinting. Trying to talk.
Melanie: "I-I'll... I'll finish what he said..."
She cried louder.
Hyperventilating.
Tibblack stepped closer. She was the last one.
Melanie: I-I have to say it.
Melanie: Even if it's the last thing I do.
We saw her beautiful face... For the final time.
...
..
.
Melanie: "...We love you always, Ishi."
.
..
...
Smash.
Ishi: "STOP!!!!!!!!!"
BOOOOOOOOM.
An explosion of hot air sends everyone flying.
Trees melt.
Corpses deteriorate.
Tibblack: Wh-What the fuck is th-
At the epicentre was a mass of dark red lightning...
Stood there... Was a boy...
Flowing red hairs... Emerged from his scalp...
His eyes... Turned into a petrifying dark red...
And everything he saw went...
Black.
BOOOOM.
A second shockwave.
Sent across the entire island - causing the giant docked ship to rock.
Tibblack could see his subordinates flailing in the air - some dying from the impact alone as they snapped their necks upon landing.
Tibblack was able to take the brunt of the wave. His transformation increased his weight, allowing him to better stabilise on the ground.
Tibblack: Th-The boy??
Tibblack: A disease? Now?
Tibblack: Fuck. Of all things.
Some of Tibblack's stronger subordinates were able to hang on nearby, as the wave slowly settled.
Tibblack: "Kill him now!"
...
Tibblack: We don't know how much stronger he'll get.
Tibblack: Th-This kind of power... Is even comparable to me.
The stronger subordinates flipped above Ishi with complex weapons, looming upon his neck.
...
They had no time to comprehend.
With his small hands... Their faces were caved in.
Tibblack: ?-?!!
It was as if Ishi could not feel pain.
He was there but not there.
He did not speak. He did not think nor grieve.
Almost innately to him...
He simply...
Destroyed.
????: "T-Tibblack, he's-"
BANG.
Ishi jumped and landed in another group. His legs pierced the gut of a subordinate.
He broke the necks of four around him.
????: "We-We can't-"
He pulled the head off another.
He ran through five.
10.
20.
30.
Tibblack: I have to-
Tibblack darted into the action with absurd speed. The white markings on his body occasionally glittered.
Faster than when he killed Raiphonze, he threw a strong right fist at Ishi.
Little sparks...
Little sparks tickled... Across Tibblack's right arm...
In the absence of feedback, Tibblack's head was driven into the ground.
Tibblack: ???!
Ishi rotated, lifting Tibblack and sending him flying back into their invading ship.
BOOF.
Tibblack landed and coughed up blood.
Tibblack: "Gah!"
Tibblack: H-How did he dodge my punch so quickly? And counter??
Half-submerged with his back against the ship, Tibblack heard his fellow Grey Darts members being massacred.
The amount of subordinates he had... That number - was never so meaningless.
Tibblack: "Fuck!"
Tibblack returned to the sand.
He was greeted by the ultimate victim.
Tibblack: ...
Perhaps instinctively homing in on the perpetrator... Ishi walked straight ahead - towards Tibblack.
Tibblack: It's all or nothing.
Tibblack's expression became more serious than ever.
He clashed his two hard fists together, creating a flash of white light from his arms. Ishi was blinded for a moment as Tibblack sent him flying through a series of trees with a right-footed kick.
Ishi spiralled and spun but sprang back immediately.
BANG.
The two simultaneously trade punches in the face.
Ishi bled but Tibblack came off worse.
Tibblack: E-Even with my disease?
Tibblack: What the f-
BANG. BANG. BANG. BANG.
They trade punches in the head - gut - arms - ribs.
Tibblack: "G-Gugh-!!"
The 'doom' noises from earlier were fading away.
Tibblack's skin was getting... Softer.
He coughed up blood again.
Tibblack: "F-Fuck-"
Ishi flattened Tibblack with an overhead kick.
Sand exploded everywhere.
Ishi's eyes were lifeless.
Despair combined with rage, no motives other than a subconscious 'kill'...
Hatred and malice oozing from his very self...
...
A few remnants aboard Tibblack's ship watched on, stunned.
????: "We... We have to get out of here."
????: "We have to leave."
...
????: "Th-That boy..."
????: "That thing..."
...
????: "...Can't be allowed to escape."
They turned to prepare for departure.
THWAP.
Ishi was everywhere.
...
...
Tibblack too, was stunned.
Tibblack: Wh-What the fuck... Is this ridiculous strength...?!
Ishi aimlessly made his way back down to Tibblack.
Tibblack: ...
Tibblack's skin changed back to normal.
Tibblack: I need to finish this. Now.
Still monstrously strong, Tibblack punches the ground with great force.
The ground shakes and ruptures, causing Ishi to shoot high into the air.
Tibblack springs upward - meeting Ishi.
Tibblack: Now-
Ishi's expression was unchanged.
Tibblack: N-
Somehow Tibblack knew...
That everything he'd done...
Everything he'd hoped to do...
Was ultimately...
In vain.
Shink.
Ishi dodged a last-effort attack from one of Tibblack's hidden white weapons.
Tibblack: ?!!!
Ishi pivoted in mid-air, grabbing Tibblack by the back of the head.
Tibblack: "D-Don't you know who I am?!"
Tibblack: There's no way I'm dying here.
Desperate, negotiation was all that Tibblack had left.
Tibblack: "I'm one of the fucking E-"
CRUNCH.
Ishi's small hand pierced his skull.
They fell...
And fell...
Poetically.
Comparable to a dark red comet.
Gaining speed with each descending metre.
...
..
.
BOOM.
Sparks soared upward into the night sky.
.
..
...
Tibblack's head was now buried and destroyed.
His terror...
Had finally been put to an end.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ishi stood there for an unknown amount of time.
His awareness slowly came back to him, as his red hairs dropped and his eyes returned to black.
But his emotions were currently... Non-existent.
He looked to his left, noticing a tree trunk that had fallen by his side.
'Ishi' was inscribed upon its bark.
Ishi: ...
A teardrop from earlier... Fell from his chin.
...
...
The boy known as Ishi was truly isolated on this remote island.
Friend, foe, and family alike... Were all dead.
The only one left... Was him.
...
...
Ishi pulled Tibblack's head out of the ground.
It was deformed, barely in half. You could see eyebrows but nothing below.
He held it by the hair.
Ishi: "Hey... Which way do I go?"
He looked around with dead eyes.
Ishi: ...
He seemed mildly confused that the partial head did not respond.
He dropped it.
Ishi: I feel... Nothing...
He stared at the giant ship that was softly swaying in the water...
And headed that way.
- - - -
Ishi slowly made it back onto the ship.
His thoughts were not organised nor logical.
Ishi: I... I-I can't think.
His breathing was irregular.
He drew blood as he scratched his head, struggling to operate the ship.
Ishi: I don't need much.
Ishi: I just n-need...
Ishi: Need... N-
His mind was foggy.
He was fatigued. Traumatised.
He eventually got the ship moving - unsure how.
Ishi: I don't care where.
Ishi: Anywhere but here.
He sat among the darkness. Arms wrapped around his knees.
Ishi: I don't know...
Ishi: ...What...
...
Ishi: What to...
Silence.
For hours and hours on end.
- - - -
BANG.
The ship crashes somewhere.
An unknown place. An unknown time.
Ishi: S-Stomach... Hurts...
He disembarked.
Another Ishi may have been excited and enthused by the amount of vast new scenery he saw.
Green as far as the eye can see.
Tropical colours.
Rocky areas.
Deserts.
But this Ishi... Only walked.
He walked and he walked.
Day and night.
Occasionally eating scraps of whatever he could find. Whatever sources of water appeared good enough.
His body able to sustain with so little.
His ability to recover so ignored - not even a problem.
His latent aptitude for survival... Was unheard of.
...
One night.
Familiar colours in the sky.
Ishi: ...
Ishi: ?
He looked up.
A giant dirt cylinder.
Vague traces of flickering light atop.
Ishi: I like... The look of that place...
He continued forward.
Ishi: Somewhere high...
Ishi: Somewhere far away...
He went up a bridge that was in decent condition, though had signs of gradual wear.
He entered through a tall black entryway, into an unfamiliar town...
It wasn't long before he got mugged...
He mumbled quietly to himself.
Ishi: "Ah..."
...
Ishi: "You're just like them..."
His voice became deep.
- - - -
A nearby girl was half-shocked, half-impressed in the aftermath.
She had seen something gruesome, yet, her demeanour gave an indication that she had seen many gruesome things before.
????: W...
????: ...Wow...
Ishi strolled past as his eyes returned painfully black.
????: ...
She was close to Ishi's age or perhaps a few years older.
She had shoulder-length pink hair with white streaks - the white streaks almost sparkling under the dim flames of the town.
She was dirty, malnourished.
She may have had beautiful eyes... But Ishi never did see her face.
She held a small brush in her left hand.
...
Within this dark, bleak town, Ishi stumbled upon a vendor.
For some reason, the vendor's goods caught Ishi's attention - something that had proved difficult to do recently.
The vendor, intelligent enough to have survived this long, noticed the blood on Ishi's hands - as well as the stains on his clothes.
The vendor paired that information with the screams from just a moment ago.
Vendor: ...
The vendor offered Ishi two free items.
Ishi: ...
A wave of muddled thoughts suddenly hit Ishi.
Ishi: ...!-
'You should wear rings, too.'
He began to breathe heavily.
The items on display... Were mainly jewellery.
...
He scanned the items, trying not to think too hard.
Tears began to circulate. He couldn't comprehend why.
He chose two items.
Two artistic, silver rings.
He felt there was a point... But also no point.
A distant residual of something nice, possibly.
He placed the rings on his right hand and let out a shallow 'sniff' noise.
His face... Trembled.
...
...
Will he ever... Smile as big as he once did?
That feeling of pure joy... From childhood?
...
That continues to remain... Unanswered.
...
...
Ishi ignored the countless happenings across town.
The good and the bad.
...
He walked and he walked and he walked and he walked.
...
...
His last thoughts of the night... Amid everything that had happened... Were plain in nature.
Ishi: I'll find a nice dark corner...
His very being... Overflowed with hollowness and anguish.
Ishi: ...And stay there a while.
[Chapter 25 -- End]
