Chapter 5- Farewell

-’Maira”, I called her.

-”Yeah?”, responded Maira in a gloomy tone.

-”Do E soldiers have unlimited stamina? They can regenerate really fast, but once they ‘die’ again, do they revive right away? Can they recover from stress too?”, I started to question her.

-”Boy....you..”, Slowly said the Wolf flustered.

-”Well, if you were immortal, why not take on Enkidu’s swords and just claw him to death? You could easily just get rid of him that way. With Maira, it seems there are times her kicks did a number on you, because although you are a bit faster, you did not block and counter right away. Why? the stress on the body? Does your regeneration take care of that or it just builds up until your body breaks a bit and then regenerates?”, I confess my finding on his abnormal powers.

-”Hmm, quite the eye! You are completely right. E soldiers are not immortal, they can die, they just regenerate really fast. There may be some E soldiers whose songs awaken them to replenish stamina but....so far that seems to be quite a difficult song. Stress in the body, I am not sure.”, replied Maira, changing her tone a bit from gloomy to a bit more motivated, with my assertions she seems to find some hope. E soldiers get tired too. They can regenerate incredibly fast, but how fast and how much depends on the E soldier so it seems wounds that would have killed quickly or instantly, their regeneration does go so far. The Wolf tries to brandish his regeneration to submit us with fear, as someone who can take any damage and not die. Of course this goes as well to us...we can die and run off stamina.

-”Rahahayayarahaha! I see so you think you have one over me, is that not right bizarre pup? You think this old man is gonna get tired before you and then you can strike him down. I guess I have been underestimated, it's time to be serious”, that Wolf proclaimed as we just told him a really bad joke that he heard long time ago.

-”Be ready guys, we are in more we can chew but together we will be getting materials for a blanket for Alcestis tonight!”, I jokingly exclaimed, my companions just looked at me really weird and made wry smiles. Oh well, at least that boosted morale.

-”Roarr!”, roar the Wolf loudly, enough to send shivers to my spine, and sprinted to us like a wolf hunting down rabbits. Enkidu our tanky friend intercepted grabbing both of his swords unsheathing them back and pulling them both above and horizontally to his right shoulder, and side step to intercept Mister Wolf’s sprint, while at the same time slicing in diagonally his way with his right arm and changing the way he holds his left sword to stab.

-” Thunder shockwave, sending judgment upon the earth!”, he screamed as he unleashed this technique, which the stabbing sword was about to be blocked by his claw, but decide to take some damage with his arm and close in and take the slashing sword with his jaws since Enkidu has not released his slash yet. I see this technique was meant to pressure the opponent to block or to dodge the ‘thunder’, and then get hit by the ‘shockwave’, but it seems the Wolf has quite the experience fighting. But that did not surprise me but...Enkidu....you....name your special attacks like some character from a comic!? Do people do that!? I mean...when I attack...I just attack...since it takes breathing time and well time to speak....is it to psych yourself up!? Is it to make your image of your attack easier to act upon!? You thought it was cool? Is what I was gonna say to him when the Wolf decided to kick him in that instant, it would have been bad since with his jaws, he would have taken one of Enkidu’s swords.

-”Humm!”, let out a stressful breath when Maira kicked mister Wolf in the face which he blocked with his right arm. He seemed to planned to quickly grab her foot, but then decided to let go of the sword from his jaw and quickly jump northeast from his position and roll like in a ball shape and quickly get away as he was about to kick the ground and turn west from his direction before all of this because he felt Enkidu was going to risk it, and decided to cut his throat and maybe his whole head. But at least Maira dislocated one of his hands when he decided to escape, since she decide to at the moment of hesitation that he took to whether grab her feet or not use both her feet like it was a lock on his wrist and then as she was falling into the ground push herself up and spin and since he decided to slip in the opposite direction of the side that she spins, a weird but low, ‘Thwock’, was heard.

Eh? No special name for that? Maybe she is embarrassed because when Enkidu screams his, she actually thought it did not sound as cool as you think it is in your head. Come on! You can break the pace like that! Now I feel like doing it but it will seem out of order now that you skip it! What gives!? Or maybe, she could not do it since that small breath she let out was all she could do at the moment? Well if so, you are forgiven since I think you kind of have to practice that. I wonder how many times Enkidu practices ‘Thunder shockwave, sending judgment upon the earth!’?

-”Ehehehehe”, I give a low snicker since the wind was blowing east from the jump of the werewolf, or in a way south from the way he was facing?

-”Eh?”, replied the werewolf's surprise since a jacket just blew into his face. Well, the moment I saw Enkidu’s ‘Thunder shockwave, sending judgment upon the earth!’, I semi-predicted the course of their actions with the exception of Maira dislocating the wrist of Mister Wolf, since it's quite risky, he could have used his claws to rip her feet apart but then again he would have fallen prey to Enkidu’s gamble, which maybe why she took such a risk? The moment I saw that technique and the Wolf risking going forward towards Enkidu, I thought he may be jumping west from his position to get behind him and be away from Maira, and not be near, and have one person to strike. It seems I was correct and since the wind was blowing east from his initial position, I thought why not cover his vision? At the same time a threw a pebble at his left side which he jump right and using his right knee as a ladder step, I jump and spin 180 degrees and grab his right shoulder and left ear, and knee him in his right eye as he was trying to take the jacket off which some super glue on which put on, since well, fur and super glue? I thought it was a great combination. Immediately I grab some dirt and pebbles I put on my pocket and slap it really hard on his right ear. His right hand may get healed but for your right ear to be okay you are going to dig manually! Unless your regeneration is so freaking fast that it will reject the foreign objects and pull them out like when some immortal gets shot in the movies and the bullets fall off their bodies?

I Use my left left leg to jump and throw a backward punch. I use another ruler as a javelin to put some distance once it breaks. Did not receive a punch but I am still sent flying to a nearby tree, I grab one of its branches and pull a gymnastics move and come back close to where the Wolf is, who is going crazy clawing away like he was some tornado or something. The throws were so powerful you could see some of the hits the ground took, claw marks like the land of the park was made of paper, easily shred.

“Rharg! Eeee! Ooomph!”, as he was making noises, finally taking the jacket off and throwing powerful blows in all directions in case someone would like to be cut in half. It seems like I did, but I am pretty flexible and agile, and he is protecting his thorax and up body more than lower, but that is alright, my next attack is lower.

-”Baaaaaalllllll...Bussssssssssstttterrrrr!”, I roar with all my lung capacity as I throw a kick to score a goal with the set of balls I see in the field. I am about to connect, hit has been received but not at full power. He throws a claw down low. If I would not have hesitated, he would have been on the floor right now but at the same time, I will be bleeding to death for having a leg slice off.

-”Why!?” Screamed Enkidu.

-”Oh!Is that...the thing Alcestis was telling me about?” replied Maira with curiosity while putting her right index finger in her mouth and tilting her head while her bunny ears were twitching. Uwa! So cute!

“Hyumm”, the Wolf let a small puny dog cry but with his face full of rage. Damn! After I screamed a special move and it did not fully connect! It's so embarrassing! Please Enkidu, and Maira....do not look at me! But it's alright, I know he is not pretending, after all that technique no matter what you are, if you are a male...you are doomed to receive high damage! It was very clear to me especially since my crimson teacher reminded me of it.

~

-”Alright Enkidu why not practice with some people that came to look at the club, they might want to see the club’s sparring with experience”, said the coach of the fencing team a week ago, not only that Enkidu is super popular so he wanted some people to come in just to raise the clubs popularity with his ace.

-”Kyaaa! Enkidu! I want to volunteer!,” exclaimed a lot of many fangirls.

-”No! I am going to!”, said another fangirl.

-”I...I might want to see his techniques firsthand”, said one of his fanboys.

-”Can I be the one!?”, said a beautiful girl, with a body that makes men lunatics and howl at the moon. Her hair was so red like the dawn itself, and her eyes so beautiful like emeralds.

-”Miss Witch!?”, I was quite surprised after all...Enkidu say she was annoying after she pulled one of her pranks, he said, ‘You are beautiful, but quite annoying to deal with, why pull such boorish pranks?’, and he left after saying that.

-” Ah? W-eell...hmm...*gulp*, yeah, of course!”, said the coach, unable to keep hidden how much of a fanboy he was of hers. Enkidu let out a short sigh. So the coach pulled the fencing uniform for Miss With, another reason for these mock matches, so new people would try them on. Enkidu would take it easy on them, and they might get hooked on it. After the match began, Miss Witch ran girlish towards him. All the boys and girls were fawning how cute she was.

-”Oopsie”, she slipped her practice sword a bit which Enkidu easily just blocked it out of the way, and with no weapon, she went running for it. “Hey!”, she said cutely as she was instead launching herself at Enkidu. He blushed a bit, but at the same time looked displeased.

-” A feint!? Enkidu...you lucky bastard! Is this the power of a popular guy!?”, screech a salty guy and quite perhaps... an unpopular guy. As she was about to reach Enkidu and he did not decide to dodge her or else she would have hit herself on the floor with her face, and even so he thought she was annoying, as any other guy that met this crimson little devil, he was charmed alright. But then.....as she was reaching him....she dash jumped with one of her feet, grab his hips with both hands like she needed something to hold onto because she was about to do something hardcore.

-”Criiiiimsommm Baalll Buster!!!!!”, she echoed her voice through the fencing club as she kneed him in his balls.....

-”What!?”, the crowd went wild.

-”Is that.....the legendary ’crimson ball buster’, a renowned technique in China!?”, excited exclaimed Alcestis.

“Ah!?”, I exclaimed, surprised...I mean...Miss Witch does not look Chinese....I am pretty sure you are not either...and I do not think there is such a technique...what kind of books are you reading!?

-”Woah!”, the crowd went wild again. Wait...is it a real thing!?

-”A...oo...aghh..”, let Enkidu some air out with a lot of saliva, as he was arching in the shape of the knee that had just ‘crimson ball buster’ him.

“You....itch”, said Enkidu slowly, and lowly while letting some tears away. I think he might have said ‘Witch’.....maybe. And then with a ‘thunk’ he fell on the floor and went out cold. All the guys kinda rub their lower ends with a painful look, feeling some empathy pain.

-”Fweeh? Am I not supposed to do that? I am sorry I do not know the rules of this game very well. Te-hehehe”, she went acting like some oblivious bimbo while tilting her head right and lightly knocking with a right fist on her head.

-”Hmmmmmm...yeah..ha...yeah you are right...maybe we need to re-clarify the rules again before starting again, hey guys get Enkidu to the infirmary and....some ice....”, the coach went easy on her for obvious reasons that a fanboy does. Some fencing members went and I did too.

-”Reeee! Stupid popular guys! I too want to get ‘crimson ball buster’ by the crimson beauty!”, screech that same unpopular guy. Girls and guys just looked at him with...confusion and decided to ignore him. I just thought it would be best to hurry to the infirmary and get some ice...for Enkidu’s sake.

~

I have failed my crimson master! Because I am an amateur at this legendary technique, I did not go with the ‘crimson ball buster’ but with a normal ‘ball buster’, yet I brought her shame. I am so embarrassed! But it's alright, one more kick to end it all. Wolf, you mess with the wrong bride, because I bet you didn't know...that I used to play soccer!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR. BALLS. ARE. MINE.

-“AAAAAAAAA!”, I run at full speed to the Wolf ready to get a goal. It's alright, there is no goalkeeper, it's a vacant area ready to be scored at. The Wolf is still kind of covering his balls since it still stings. His face shows anguish. My friends seem to get my next move so they attack accordingly. With his left sword, my best friend attacks with a diagonal slash which the Wolf blocks with his right claw. Bunny girl, makes a spin while in such motion she launches her right leg, bending it towards herself and when facing the Wolf, like a projectile been launched by a cannon releases her leg towards the werewolf's face.

-” Grand roar of the thunder beast echoing in the mountains!”, is what she screams as the Wolf blocks with his left arm. He is pretty tough and sturdy but you can hear a clean break like if someone gave the last axe launch at a tree and finally fell off or like thunderstruck that tree down. I mentioned thunder because sparks came off her hit, and his arm was not severed from his body but his radius and ulna seem to be broken in two since it just limps off like a broken toy. At the same time, it seems like he was able to misdirect the kick to not kick him in the face, although at the cost of his left arm. But more importantly, I’m very happy...Maira joined us! I thought since she has not called any special moves, she thought we were a pair of dorks, but she did it too! I quickly glance at my friends while in mid-run. Enkidu is smiling and Maira is blushing and I am ready to kick so hard my leg might break!

-”BAAAAAALLLLLL.....BUSTTTT-”, I was interrupted as an intimidating roar stopped us right in our tracks. That roar sounded like an omen of a bell in the 11th hour. Not the sound of a bell, but the feeling that we are so screwed. It seems this schemeful Wolf was saving up this trick. Although he is stronger and has super regeneration, we are still somehow building the hope of defeating him, plus he is getting tired, so he needed to use his trump card. I do not know how we forgot about it. He just used it a while ago, the moment we met, when he let a roar that paralyze us into place, he was far away from us, and we could still feel the terror, and wave of sound asking gravity to force us to put our knees in the ground. But it seems that was a much lower quality howl, this was the real deal and in close range no less. I remember when he did, he took a lot of time doing it, so he seems also to not be able to attack right away. But intimidating your opponent while making their reflexes slow, is sure a good side effect to have in such agile opponents. No matter how agile are bunnies, if they freeze into place they get eaten. Such a bad miscalculation, forgetting that ability. As he was smiling his face turned into surprise, and a bit of anguish when once again a nail landed in his eye.

-” Hrrrrggggh!”, let the Wolf a low growl, as I go under him, stand and stretch out my arms to grab my friends from whatever I could grab onto, as I jump while dodging his claw, which I use as a step, and spin and while doing that throw in consequent order, first Enkidu to the right and Maira to the left. The Wolf throws a kick my way and I use his left leg with my left leg to use it as a spring and jump far straight away from him. I land while covering my mouth with my left hand. This is bad. I did something very stupid but it beats being dead. There was some distance between us that could have been marked in line if we used the little droplets from his side to my mouth. I bit my own tongue, good thing I did not bite it off, but right now is so swollen, and it hurts.

“Hahahahahaha! Mukajajajaja! Bawawawahahahahah!”, scrambled the Wolf in merry annoying laughter, like someone just said a really unexpected joke. “ I cannot believe you just bit your own tongue!? Great judgement to evade certain death, not so much in the long run. Have you gone through something similar? Trying to null the paralysis of fear through pain? You could not hurt anywhere else, because you need to grab your friends who cannot move at the moment, so as you fall, you bite your tongue and grab your friends in one swift motion. Well....mukajajaja...Bawawawahahaha! I guess is difficult to tell me when your tongue is injured!” He laughed in a mocking tone. Oh, great he is monologuing right now. I do not blame him, he has the advantage now. My tongue is really bothering me right now and my friends are barely coming out of the paralysis. We are in real trouble, because--” You guys are just great!”, interrupted the Wolf my thoughts as I barely was thinking them. “The boy is a great dual swordsman and has killed before. But unfortunately blocking my attacks has gotten his arms really tired. A swordsman that cannot swing his swords is just a moving target! The bunny girl is a very skillful warrior! I bet she is one of the highest skillful warriors of her tribe, but unfortunately, those kicks are very powerful, so she takes some damage as well, too bad I have super regeneration. Plus, she has gotten some damage from me. And you boy, that loves taking my eyes out and moves not like a beast or a human! Who are you!? I have seen those types of moves are not moves you only specialized on but there are moves you improvised on and adapt to the opponent. How can I say this? It's not like experience in the field, like a soldier or mercenary, nor practice like a martial artist....it's really weird... it's like you have a lot of experience in long 1 on 1 battle....your techniques are not meant to kill on the first try, but to keep attacking until your opponent...hmmm its weird.....but your improvised techniques, although incredible, are the types if not practice daily or more like devoting training the whole day, for the rest of your life...no...not even that, those techniques will put too much stress in the body, I bet your body is screaming right now in pain. Also, why do such techniques? Those eat stamina very quickly, yet you attack like you expect a drawn-out fight?”, in different tones, with admiration, mocking and confusion said the Wolf like he just won and was just remembering how great it was.

But to answer your last question, it's very simple. Forget super regeneration, you are already very strong. Your hyde is really thick, your claws could dismember a limb from my body apart and you are really fast! So I have to come up at you with something you do not have over me and that I clearly am better at, agility. That and be as bizarre as possible. You are older and seem well-versed in many battlefields, but I doubt you have fought as much as me. Fighting so many different opponents that are equal or better than you. You seem the type that barely ever fights opponents as strong as you....but even so...it seems that is not going to help since, well...all he has said is true. We finally have gotten him tired but.....the same is true for us, and unlike him, we do not have super regeneration. We are close to our last legs, and it's bad.

-”Huh!? Why am I...wait..guys are you okay!?, screamed Alcetis at us, as we were all shocked in surprised...except the Wolf.

-” Finally,'' complain the Wolf exasperated like he just expected a delivery that has been overdue.

-” Al-ces-tis.....Why!?”, I let out a screech which made Alcestis a bit perplexed and sheepish. But at the same time...damn does it hurt.

-” I really tried to escape....but...but that fog, it has grasped us and we have fallen prey as rabbits running around an enclosed space with a hungry wolf!”, slowly and exasperated exclaimed Alcestis.

                                                                                  ~

-”Ah....ah...well...I did not intend to interfere but it seems I indirectly did. I am so sorry Icaros, who knew it was the same guy I sold that defective product to, it was more of a prank product, so it was not supposed to have worked this well....”, said in whispers an incredibly beautiful crimson witch from her observatory spot where no one had not noticed her yet.

                                                                                    ~

-” Gragagagagaga!”, laugh like a jerkish drunk old man the wolf that he did in Jolly. “I came well prepared you see, rabbits can be quite fast and make holes but nonetheless even if I was hunting birds, just restrict the space they are allowed to move, and is just a matter for my jaws to reach you”, in a triumphant merry raspy voice he growl. I did not understand why, but my guess from what Alcetis and the Wolf lines...the fog is magical or something?

-` That type of fog fools your sense of perception, even if you know the trick, it keeps making you believe you went one way when you are actually going back, plus is so foggy you cannot really see but fog. But that type of magic or a magic item is really difficult, only someone that spends hours in the real of researching illusion magic, environment-changing magic, and brain physiology could pull that off...no mere study could be sufficient...who sold it to you!?”, says Alcetis, while Maira was nodding as well. So this misplaces your sense of direction, orientation, and perception of your senses....is it by scent? You inhale it and confuse the thalamus and send the wrong information to the parietal lobe? Nah, that sounds way too easy, and there are so many feedbacks and regulators are not that simple. Why smell? Well, you see I thought fog, and what best concealment of what has been done to you do the actual thing itself, it disturbs your vision, and so you forget that your vision is not the one you should watch for. The wolf smiled, so he bought it from somewhere.

-” Truth to be told, I had my doubts but she was such a red beauty I happened to buy it from.” said shamefully the old wolf as I made a scowl. I do not know how but I had a person in mind. Doubts? That means she was suspicious. Suspicious, beautiful, redhead.....even if my assumption is wrong it can only mean one person that I can think of.....

-” Did...she...had...a....weird...witch...like...hat...”, I said slowly and coldly, all while making weird reverberating sounds because of my wounded tongue. But for some reason as I did, even the wolf were taken aback as if I was about to judge them for heinous crimes they committed and had no way to escape.

-”Ah...*gulp*...yes”, said that wolf-like a reprimanded child, and in such case I was the one taken aback..... by the contrast of my current expression.

-” YOU....FREAKING COSPLAYER!”, I screamed with all my might while some blood came out of my mouth.

                                                                                       ~

-” That stupid wolf! He is so old yet he rats out on trades he has made!” said a crimson beautiful one with a whimper, she should have been a bit angry at how easily the wolf disclosed business but was whimpering because even she felt a bit off when Icaros asked his question. “Also...you idiot...I thought you liked my hat”, she said blushing in a low demeanor all, unlike quite the usual unfazed crimson researcher.

                                                                                          ~

It was awkward and silent but soon the wolf laugh like an old drunkard in jolly growling, “Gragagagagaga, oh boy, that sure was just quite puzzling for me shaking like a pup, but even so lad who cares who was it? Your situation just got worsened”, the wolf changes the tone into a cold ultimatum, as he approaches to Alcetis. I did too....well, I tried too, but this is what happens when you try to pull such dangerous moves when not training for such a long time. Tell a gymnast to perform or a marathonist to run after they have not done so for a long time, they will surely give you a funny look. Luckily, Maira and Enkidu close in. Maira change her Muy thai like stance into a ballerina of some sort, which such art is so lost to me, but she was dancing like a swan than a bunny and then pulling some weird moves while rotating with her hand on the floor, her kicks sounded like revolver shots, truly lightning-like speed causing such a sound. My dear friend joined her with sheathed stances, unleashing his sword, unflexing his arms straight in a short V-like manner from each other between the gaps of space where the kicks were not landing, then jumping backward while lifting his arms in a strong slash upwards, changing them back, jumping side to side and repeat where there was a gap to close in the beast to those revolvers like kicks could shoot at him. But then with a barrage of claws, rending the floor like paper and Enkidu blocking and Maira dodging, it seems that got to them to their last legs. Everybody is tired, including the old wolf but unlike him, our bodies still have wounds that still need to heal. Maira and Enkidu drop to the floor on their knees. The Wolf silently closes on Maira. She seems unsure. If she runs she would just come back to the Wolf because of the fog field, also we might die while buying time. If she stays she dies and we are left alone, and I can tell right away what she will do. No, that is wrong it's not just me, everyone. Everyone knows including Wolfy over here, he has only met us today but he can feel what kind of person is Alcetis, and so he prepares his arm as if it was a lance. Putting upwards, his arm horizontal to his shoulder and his forearm pointing north while having his hand in an open flat shape and having his fingers stuck to each other. He puts his right leg forward bending it a little, twisting his hips a bit towards his right side, putting his left leg backward bending a tiny bit while preparing his left arm, as he breathes.

-” Do not worry, I will make it fast and painless,'' said the Wolf in a very cold, deep, and mature way but at the same time reassuring. He inhales.

-” Thank you kind Wolf”, said Alcetis smiling and with overflowing tears in his eyes. He exhales.

-” F-for a w-wolf, you are quite honest....it was not p-painful at all”, I slowly and dizzily said as I slowly dropped to the floor. As I slumber into darkness, everything is really quiet. Maybe not having a heart beating in you can be quite silent but I am not talking about that, everybody is quiet and bewildered, like they expected something else and got something different, like you hear raining outside, get out and it's incredibly hot and dry outside. Or like someone won in a contest that was not even participating. Alcetis is trying to say something but she is too shocked for words. She dropped to her knees and slowly tried to move in a position toward me. She is trying to reach me while still in shock. The Wolf is shocked too. Well if you killed the wrong person when your target is in front of you, and the person you hit was not near you, you might be shocked too. Maira and Enkidu are silently crying, unable to comprehend what just happened.

                                                                               ~

“Ah....he used it...I thought he would never.....I told him it was a lucky charm. I never taught him what it does with the exception of breaking it and thinking of a person dear to you. It was an auto teleportation spell. I should have maybe told him that beforehand and he could have given it to Alcetis.” Said Miss Witch silently and was really sad. She found this weird. It was not sad as a member of the audience of a story she is observing, but more like someone important just died.

                                                                               ~

-”Ah....ah...ah....”, Alcetis comes to me, wheezing, bawling her eyes out while just letting out small cries. She picks me up and looks at me, tears fell on my face. I do not like this. I like your beaming sun smile better, that sun that disperse my never-ending grief that I called rain. Now the rain has been brought back to me. How ironic it was her smile that made me want to continue living in the middle of the rain as my entire life had fallen apart, and now I have brought rain to her as I die. This is not what I wanted to do. This is not what I wanted! Why....why......WHY! Damn.....everything has fallen to darkness, I can barely hear her too. I feel so cold, so cold... I feel so exhausted, and I am so very weary and it's so cold, especially that hole in my chest, it's so cold. I do not want to die yet, but I am so weary and it's so cold and the darkness is telling me it's time to go. Like the guy that I am named after, I am drowning in the darkness. I bet the sea was quite dark as he exasperated little by little as he drowns.