CH9

Mark turns his head; Dunkirk is moving away.

“No…This can’t be happening” Mark said dashing towards the ship. “Paul, follow me!”

Paul nodded and followed.

They arrive to see Rose sitting next to Furi’s unconscious body.

“What’s going on?” Paul asked

Rose looks up to Paul, who is standing before her “They’re recalling the ship” Rose said silently, visibly almost crying

Mark, hearing this, rushes towards the wheelhouse. Grabbing the door and bursting in

“Hey! What are you all doing!?” He screams at the crew.

“We don’t know, sir! The ship is moving on its own” One of the crew shouted back.

“Can you regain control of it?” Mark ordered, sweat drip down his face.

“We’re trying, but it seems like the controls were taken over!” Another crewman explained

Mark turned his head and looked at the shore, slowly drifting away, faster and faster.

Mark is nervous, sweat continues to drip on his face. if this continues.

The “plan” will fail. Their objective was to sink the NRS Dunkirk and go out on a bang. But now, there is only meaningless death.

“Whatever you’re doing, do it quickly!” He snaps back the crew “Fire at the shore if it’s still in range!”

“Will do sir!”

“Paul! What are you doing?" Mark shouted, seeing Paul at the front of the ship, ready to jump off

“I’m going to help them!” Paul replied, climbing the railing

Mark dashes in and grabbed his arm “It’s pointless now. Although I wanted to. It is meaningless”

Paul shakes Mark’s arms off. In a fit of rage, he threw his sword down with a loud “FUCK!” and stormed off to the front of the ship.

He has had enough of these higher ups, they never know what happened in these below

Back then, Turing Kingdom, Noon

‘WE NEED YOU TO FIGHT! FOR GLORY’ Poster is seen hanging of a small church in a small village by the sea.

“Mom, can we get some meat today?” A young Paul asked his mother, walking in the small-town square

“Let’s wait for your father to bring some, alright?” His mother replied, “Her skin is pale, long ears. Eyes are sharp like emeralds.

“But I want to have it for Lunch!” He replied “I don’t want to eat potatoes again”

“Sweetie don’t be like that. Patience is the key to success” She said, smiling “Your father will bring lots and lots of meat when he comes back, promise that you’ll wait?”

“Fine, I promise”

“Pinky, promise?” She uttered, raising her pinky.

“Promise” he said, promising.

His father was a Lieutenant of the kingdom. Sent to battle Hypetia’s forces in the south. Along with his peers from the village.

A glorious war, A heroic and adventurous one they said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

From the numerous young men sent to fight.

Only two returns.

“Look Mom! Dad have return!” Paul said, jumping in excitement.

His mom ran outside of their house. She is horrified.

Her once joyful, loving husband. His face now grim, like a shadow was painted on his face. His left arm is no more. His eyes once hopeful now a blank canvas.

The pale skin signature of their “Lensurian” race, even that was burnt in the face of war.

His buddy was no different. His eyes have no target but a drift through nothingness

“Dear! what happen to you?” Paul’s mother cries out.

“Oh, Silvia” He said, stuttering, his eyes start to watered “It is good to be back”

“You should go rest, come. I’ll make you soup” She worryingly said, her husband crying his heart out “Paul, your dad is a bit sick. Go play with your friends first, ok?”

“Yes mom” Paul replied.

A child may not understand what is going on, but that day, Paul knew that his father wasn’t the same.

That night, Paul opened his eyes not being able to sleep

“Mnn, I need some water” He though, getting up from his feet.

Walking around his house, now, feels different.

“All of that! All of that! For what?” His father’s cry echoes throughout the home.

“Honey, honey. It’s alright, It’s the past now” Him mom said, comforting his broken father

“Those fuckers up top, they don’t care about any of us!” his dad said “Do they not see us as people? Why do they trample over us, all that for a fucking ghost town”

“Honey it’s ok, It’s all over now. You still have us” His mother shadow, casted by the shining moon, embracing her husband with warmth.

Paul, standing near the door, heard all of this. He ran back to his room.

Although he did not understand, he felt despair in his dad’s tears.

The next morning arrived; grim news swept across the village. The other man who returns.

Hanged himself.

He lived alone.

This experience has planted the seed of hatred into Paul.

Mark sat down next to Rose, as they watched. The ships and boats explode or sink, one by one.

Until all that was left was an empty shore but filled with bodies.

A crewman came out, ran approaches Mark, stopping just before him

“Sir, we’re sorry we can’t continue the battle” The crewman said, a sad expression.

“It’s fine. Nothing was in your control anyway” Mark replied, looking down at the steel deck.

The crewman then slowly went back into the wheelhouse.

The sun has set beneath the horizon. Its last golden light illuminates the lone ship, before the darkness swallows it whole.

Such as its mood.

But this will not be an uneventful night.

BZZ BZZ BZZ

Suddenly, buzzing pierces through the silence.

Mark snaps back and quickly dash for the wheelhouse.

“Hey! Turn on the searchlights!” He ordered at the crewmen.

The lights from mana stone flashes to life. Their rays’ slice through the void of the night sky.

Except, it wasn’t an empty void. But a “scourging” one.

“It’s Spellships!” Mark yells. “There still stalking us!”

Rose looked up from her sorrow, her eyes widened. She quickly got on her feet.

At this point the ship’s mana shield is in complete ruin. It can handle a couple more shots, but a volley will be the end.

The runes on the guns lit up once more. The barrels aimed at the insects above.

BANG!

Insect’s bodies fell to the black sea below.

Magic circles flared from their tails, unleashing hell onto the ship.

“Scourges!?” Paul yelled, running from the front of the ship.

Grabbing his sword, he slashes them.

Water shot out of his blade, cutting numerous scourges into the abyss.

Seeing this, Mark is frustrated. He cannot jump that high and does not have any range attacks.

“I’ll take care of Furi, Rose, go help Paul out!” Mark turns toward Rose.

“Ye…Yes!’ Rose replied, running to Paul and grabbing her aether gun.

BOOM!

An explosion rocks the ship.

The mana shield has given out.

Fireballs begin to pummel the deck.

“Aughhh” Paul is thrown into the air. A fireball hit him. His skin burnt, but he was mostly fine.

“Are you good!?” Rose screamed, aiming at another scourge.

“Yep, I’m fine-” Another explosion hit him, this time in his left leg.

Which was completely blown off

His scream echoes in the night, clutching for his long-gone leg. The pain is unbearable; Blood splattered on the deck.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

More explosions scattered on the deck, punching holes throughout.

The guns, once big and mighty, are now a smoldering wreck. A lump of useless steel and burning wood

Mark is also seen blocking attacks, using his axe as a shield to defend himself and Furi.

Many thoughts ran through Rose’s mind. The only person able to attack effectively

‘What should I do’

‘Should I just give up?’

It would be logical, they have seen combat for the whole day, their bodies tired,

Their cards have been played. And the deck is running out.

But if she gave up everyone on the ship would die.

The ship will return, not as a battleship but as a funeral.

Furi was still young, she thought, there are many things she has yet to experience, many things to explore. Even if it’s this goddamn world

If she was going to die, she would not die cheap. Those insects will have to pay.

She will go out on a bang, just like Mark said.

The final card is played. Her decision is made

The wind rushes around her. Gathering at her fingers.

Magic circles flared under her feet. A ball of wind forming at her fingertip. Wind gusting around it.

“Rose, what are you doing!” Mark yelled “You’re going to die!”

“Heh” She turned towards him. “I’m sorry Mark”

“But this is Grinda’s final goodbye”