Chapter 31 – Siege of the ruined City (1)

There was rubble, pebble, blood, intestine on the ground that Joshua was running. He smelled innards, gunpowder, and heard shouting from people who had been hit. He had been dodging the bombs and thanks to the words floating in front of him. He was able to avoid death. Like a QuickTime event that he would see when he faces certain death. It wasn’t invincible though, and those that the vision didn’t recognize as life-threatening would not let this strange guidance appear.

That’s why when Joshua sprinted down this area. He was suddenly hit by a stray cannonball that made him flipped sideways. His back smashed upon the wall and he writhed in pain. He stood up. It was rare for him to act brave. It was not that he wanted to be brave. But the situations call him to be brave.

He had been living in a safe world. Things like these made him want to squeal and cry. He wanted to run away but his heart told him not to. He imagined Shig, Leiko, and Kioko, their faces made him gather all the courage he had. His breeches were wet with piss. He was shitting himself as every bomb drops near him.

BE BRAVE JOSHUA!

He eggs himself up to keep his feet running. The way he was running made sense to him. He found three or two soldiers or unluckily servants sprawled on the ground with their eyes facing the ceiling. His heart would hurt. The images he was seeing made him want to run away. But Joshua would shake his head. He would fight on and continue despite the despair around him.

Either that or run away. He has already started running through hell. He was already halfway down this path. But what choice did he have? To turn his back and sprint back to the way he just passed by? He was already dirtied and wounded by all the dodging he does. He faced near-death twenty times just by crossing a destroyed hall. He only wanted to go and find the place where Kioko was.

He found the place after running. He saw that the way was blocked. The rubble must have come down when the hail of bombs dropped near. He carefully listened until he heard the sound of someone crying. Joshua got happy, he wanted to drag the rubble but what was he? He was just a human that could not even calm his shaking hands. The rubble that was blocking the entrance weighs too much for him to even think of lifting it.

He had those words floating but so what? It only activates when he faces death. It was his convenient ability that only allowed him to save himself for a quick second. That ability could not move boulders. That ability could not let him become superhuman. He was already lucky that he had this ability. So Joshua could not curse or even mock his own helplessness.

The people down there were clearly crying. He wanted to save them but what can he do? Use the bombs he had modified to open the path? How can he do that without hurting them? It was easy to say he wanted to save them. But doing that so might cause their death, so instead, Joshua steered clear and shouted. “Do not move! Unless you hear a friendly soldier or me shouting! Don’t make a sound! Please, I am begging you all to stay alive!”

Then, Joshua ran again. He ran through the once lavish corridors until he was able to reach the office of the Warlord. There he found Shig wounded, his stomach bleeding heavily. He was trying to breathe but clearly, he was having a hard time. Near Shig was the Warlord of the city, armed with plate armor that got thrashed by the rain of bombs. Her hair was dyed in red. Her face was scratch all over. She didn’t mind it as she looked at Joshua.

“You are Shig’s friend?” said Mia.

“Yes, I,” Joshua approached while stuttering, it was clear that he was shaking. His legs betrayed him. Mia could see the wet patch on his crotch. He smelled of crap and the mustard-like smell that was surrounding him made it even worse. She would have called out but the smell of the air around her made her tolerate it.

“Do you have any numbing drug on you?” said Mia.

“No, I don’t have any,” replied Joshua. “What’s this drug anyway?”

“Painkillers...There should be one but I can’t leave Shig alone. Can you go? How did you even reach this place?”

“I managed somehow,” replied Joshua, then coughing. “So where can I find one?”

“Down this floor, there should be a cabinet. Take them all if you can. And hurry up, the bombs might fall again and Uncle Shig needs to move. See if you can find any round-bottomed flasks filled with blue pills.”

Joshua nodded. He sprung into a sprint and went through the rooms and started scouring for what Mia described. He found five bottles of the blue pills and immediately handed them to Mia. Mia was surprised how he was able to come back fast. But she didn’t think much and made Shig take some of the blue pills.

Shig’s expression softened. His crumpled face turned normal as he looks at Mia and Joshua. “Ah, I am still alive?”

“Sadly you still are Uncle,” she said almost sobbing. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

“Okay,” said Shig, he looked at Joshua. “It’s nice seeing you, Joshua. Did you see Leiko?”

“No I didn’t,” Joshua said truthfully.

“I see. Let’s pray that she’s still alive,” Shig stood up and lifted his burly body and cracked his neck. “I should be fine for now; the painkillers are working and the bandages should keep me intact,” Shig closed his eyes after saying that. He prayed and suddenly his body became that of a bull.

“Let’s go,” His voice changed. “And Joshua...”

“Yes?”

“Can you look for Leiko? Or anyone that could help us,” It was a rather faint smile. Despite the bull-like head. Shig was able to express what he wanted. Joshua could only nod at that. He bid them goodbye and left. He wanted to stay but knowing that Shig was okay made him hopelessly thought that they should be fine.

He wanted to think that despite knowing that there was still an army of men that have not yet to come down.