Chapter 4

Pointless Struggle

A cold object, so small yet so painful.

Dropping into the river all his thoughts escaped his mind, all his worries ran away.

Bearing only one thought, clinging onto the only bit of hope he had, only for it to run away.

His cold body was surrounded by water just as cold. He was slowly drowning, every second is now just more oxygen lost. Was he really that hopeless? Was he going to give up now and let them die? Was he just going to entertain Adalie by dying over and over again, only for her pleasure? Will he give in?

The world was going dark, his body relaxed. The wound in his back painted the water red. Although he was only in a river, his emotions turned it into an ocean in which he was at the bottom.

As he was about to exhale his last breath someone came to mind.

Ema, although he knew her for less than a day, her spirit gave off an overly-friendly vibe he would feel only around the best of his friends.

Then there is Ekerd, who admires him, after all he got him through the trial. The essence of the words he said to Arnold, though not many, were purer than tears. A person who explained him the way of this world without even flinching.

Was he just going to give up on them?

Opening his eyes furiously a sudden surge of power hit him.

Energy flew through his veins in plenty.

His retina lit up in anger as he launched out of the river.

Although he was barely able to move his arm he managed to get his weapon out with it.

Right now pain isn’t a worry.

‘‘ARNOOLD!’’

‘‘ARE YOU OKAY?’’

Those were the voices of the only people he knew in this world. Voices so unknown, yet so close to him.

Quickly looking around he saw the person that shot him high up in the air.

The bayonet at the end of his weapon turned red when he launched at him with full force.

Watching from a distance, you would only be able to see a red glowing line going up high.

Like a laser he closed in on that person, aiming straight for his torso.

Upon noticing the immediate threat the foe pulled back and made a loop move, avoiding Arnold and quickly blasting an explosion underneath his feat, firing Arnold even higher up.

Not able to think over the situation, ruled over by the thirst for blood he propelled himself back down at the enemy.

A move easy to dodge, however, upon dodging he was met with more and more, faster and faster attempts to land a hit.

The speed at which he was moving was simply incredible, but the enemy still somehow managed to avoid all attacks but one.

He sliced open the foe’s hand, bringing him to pain. While he was distracted with this pain Arnold aimed right at him and catapulted with the same speed.

An attack so straightforward and so deadly.

In response to this super fast move the enemy deflected Arnold’s attack with his weapon bringing them to a force showdown.

Pushing one another with their weapons against each other, flying in circles and losing altitude.

Knowing they were going to hit the ground soon, the enemy moved out of his stance and proceeded to try and push Arnold to the ground with incredible force, he failed to reach him and Arnold grabbed his leg and threw him to the ground with a lot of force of his own.

A big blast followed after the foe’s collision with the ground.

Using this moment Arnold fired explosive bullets straight at the epicenter of the blast.

Firing and firing, not stopping until he sees him dead.

A battle between two hunters, question is: who hunts who?

Suddenly he stopped firing. He ran out of ammo in this magazine and he was quick to find another one.

Loading it into the gun he saw a figure coming out of the smoke and ashes.

It was coming in as fast as a bullet.

Immediately after coming out it aimed at Arnold swiftly.

His gun lit up in green and he fired a bullet as red as a rose straight at Arnold.

He was quick to put up a shield but surprisingly the bullet somehow cut straight through it, exploding immediately afterwards.

‘‘ARNOLD, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?’’

Said Ema, worried about Arnold.

The explosion sent Arnold off into the ground.

Not so shook by the pain that felt like a mere pinch right now, not wasting time he dashed to the enemy.

Though his attention was not towards Arnold, but the one who called for him.

Dodging Arnold’s bold move he propelled himself towards Ema.

The blonde girl who Arnold was aiming to protect.

Seeing where he is is headed, Arnold quickly fired at him with speeds of a machine gun.

Explosions so frequent, you wouldn’t be able to fully hear the first one since the second one has already started.

It was clear that the foe wouldn’t take his time to dodge, instead he went higher up and fired his gun.

Following the glowing red line Arnold’s legs crumbled as it hit Ema in the arm.

She coughed up blood and dropped down on the ground until Arnold couldn’t see her anymore.

Rage and despair rushed to his mind.

Not able to handle any more he threw his gun and rushed for the enemy.

‘‘YOU DAMN PIG! I’LL SLAUGHTER YOU EVEN IF IT TAKES MY LIFE!’’

With these words his body was engulfed in fire.

He wasn’t able to make out what emotion he was exactly feeling at the time. Was it anger or sadness?

Either way he was not giving up until he kills the murderer of one of the two things he could call friends.

Reaching the enemy he made a decision to give up his own life for the sake of others. Or that’s at least what he covered up his true intentions with.

Revenge was what he yearned. Revenge is what he sought.

There could’ve been another solution, but his own mind wouldn’t allow him to pursue it. He couldn’t allow himself to live on. A dumb selfish move.

‘‘I must do it for her!’’

Upon contact with him, Arnold let out all of his energy, all he had, in a single burst resulting in a huge explosion.

One powerful enough to send trees in a 10km radius flying, it knocked everyone down on the ground and stuck them to it. It disrupted the flow of the mighty river and most importantly: it tore Arnold and the foe to shreds.

He was yet again in a black void.

Upon opening his eyes he heard clapping, only one person clapping.

‘‘Good job! You put on quite the show haha.’’

‘‘WHY YOU! Who was that guy?!’’

‘‘Easy there. I decided you were getting too bored with all your power, all alone, so I sent him as a gift. And then you decide to immediately kill him, you are so immature. You could’ve at least thanked me for the gift before tearing it to shreds haha!’’

‘‘…’’

‘‘What is it? Are you not able to speak, did a cat catch your tongue?’’

‘‘…’’

‘‘Did I push you too far? Naah. Aaanyways. You will now be revived in another nation, one you mightn’t have thought about. Good luck!’’

Exiting the black void he felt coldness, colder than the river.

It was white snow piled up around him.

He could see his breath when exhaling.

Broken he decided to stay in the snow.

His heart was shattered. He couldn’t move, not that it would make any difference if he could.

He was consumed in the frostiness of the dark night…