Chapter 10 War on the Green Plains

Almost an hour had passed since Miya and Chrys separated from the girls. A couple more minutes passed before Chrys began to move. He walked out of the room. Miya followed. They continued to walk until they reached the edge of the island. Their current location is on the eastern side.

"Chr-I mean Ajax, can I ask a question?" Miya asked.

"Yeah, what is it?" Chrys replied in a casual tone.

"Um, where did you get that weapon? It looks like the one where those guys attacked my village. " Miya continued.

Yeah, I met those guys. That is why I got captured and placed on the same train as you. They used those guns against me. I built this with their design in mind. " Chrys answered without looking at Miya.

"Um, okay." Miya nodded, somewhat satisfied with his answer.

Miya then hung her head low while they kept on walking around the edge.

When I saw him with that weapon, I thought he was with them. I lost myself to anger at the thought of how Chrys, the only person right now that I could somewhat rely on, might be working with them. '

Maybe he is lying to me about his real goal. If he could lie to Amber and Rose, what stops him from lying to me? '

These thoughts filled Miya's head as doubt began to fill her heart.

"Wait. This isn't how I normally think. Why would I doubt Chrys like that? All he has done is to make sure we both reach our goals. '

The reason he lied to Amber and Rose is because of me. I can't doubt the only person I can trust right now. '

Miya rejected the thoughts from before. She tried to reassure herself that Chrys was trustworthy.

But that feeling of hate that I felt at that time, it felt like it wasn't me. I feel disgusted. I feel disgusted at myself. '

"Not only did I doubt him even though he tried to help me, but I also felt hate for him." I'm such a bad person. '

These types of thoughts then invaded Miya's mind.

When Chrys saw Miya's expression, he said, "Hey, this is a good time to teach you." Do you see that man over there? He sells skewered food. Just order a normal one. " He pointed at a man in a food stall.

Miya snapped out of her depressing line of thought and nodded. Miya wondered if he knew what she was thinking. Chrys gave her his wallet. Miya walked to the man's storefront while still hanging her head low.

"Um, can I order one of these please?" Miya placed her order, pointing at the freshly cooked food.

"Sure, little miss, would you want some sauce in there as well?" We also got our limited-time promo: if you buy three, you get two more. Quite a deal, isn't it? " The man rambled.

"Uh... I'll just take... the um..." Miya tried to set her order, but the information from the man, who is still rambling on, is overwhelming.

Chrys, who was watching the situation, let out a deep sigh and walked over to them. "We'll just take a normal one," Chrys said to the man behind the stall.

"Okay, right away, sir!" The man grabbed one of the skewers and handed it to Miya. She paid it and walked away with Chrys.

"You are too naive, you know that?" Chrys said as they walked.

"That was a test." "This was a test of how you can deal with things on your own and you failed," Chrys added.

I failed. He placed his trust in me, that I could do it on my own, and failed. Now Miya feels worse than before.

"I know someone with the same problems." You can talk to her about it. " Chrys said as he looked off into the distance.

Miya opened her mouth and was about to say something, but a loud explosion suddenly shook the place.

"Hey, keep up with me." We are going to check it out. " Chrys ordered. Miya did as he said and followed him in silence.

The explosion happened on the south side of the island. When they got there, a huge smoke cloud was coming from the lower part of the island.

Chrys looked off the edge to see where it came from. Miya also looked off the edge and found a huge army of people. All of them are armed with the same weapons like the ones who attacked Miya's village.

They also have a large cannon-like weapon the size of two trucks placed on top of each other. One could guess that it was the cause of the huge explosion.

"Miya, we are getting off this island," Chrys stated coldly but calmly.

"Why? Are these people not connected to the ones who attacked my village? " Miya asked in an angry voice.

"They aren't the ones who did that. Look closer." Chrys said, in a cold voice.

Miya looked closer at the army. They aren't wearing the armor those guys wore. All of them are dressed in rags. They also have these beaten-up bodies that have these 'animalistic traits'.

"Y-you are right. They are animal people? "

"They aren't animal people, they are called Beastfolks, and they have got years of hate to unleash on this island," Chrys said, before sighing in a somewhat tired manner.

Years of hate? "What happened?"

"The ones who built this floating island caused them a lot of suffering."

"Aren't we going to do something about it?"

"No, there is no reason or benefit in doing so. It'd be more beneficial if we could get to the Beastfolks' good side. " Chrys replied as he began walking away.

Miya looked at him with a bewildered expression before yelling. "What?"

"If we... if YOU don't do something, people will die!" Miya yelled, clearly set off by Chrys' actions.

Chrys stopped walking, turned around, and said Okay, listen here. What do you think would happen if a wanted man like me helped Viridis, "

"I don't know... people wouldn't die."

"Haaaa..." Chrys let out a long sigh before he continued. "Listen, if I help Viridis now, other powers will believe I am working with them." "This will not only kill more people but also burden me more. Got that?"

"But wouldn't the whole island die if you didn't stop them?" Miya replied angrily.

"Yeah, probably, but that isn't my issue." People die all the time. Just think of it as karmic punishment for what they did to the Beastfolks and move on. " Chrys began to walk away again.

Miya simply can't understand his reasoning. "People would die like what happened back in my village!" she thought. She then ran in front of Chrys and blocked his path with her body.

I can't accept it! Why do people have to die? " Miya asked, with tears starting to form in her eyes.

"That is just how the world works." Now, move. " Chrys replied in a cold voice with an unyielding expression.

"No! We must help them. I'm not going to let something like this happen again. I couldn't do anything back in my village... something like this... no one deserves this. No matter how bad they are, they don't deserve this. " Miya said while tears rolled down her cheeks.

People don't get to choose what they deserve. Now, Move. Away. I won't ask again. "

Miya bit down on her lower lip and held her ground. As she continued with her unmoving determination, Chrys began moving his hands towards her face. Miya closed her eyes since she knew what was coming. 'Mother, Father, I'm sorry.'

As Chrys' hands almost reached her, he stopped his hand and scratched his head with the same hand that he extended towards Miya.

He then said, with a tired voice. "Fine, let's go with your plan." How do you propose we save them, and not get them killed because of me? "

Miya let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Chrys with grateful, teary eyes. While Chrys' eyes remained cold and lifeless, that odd glint was in his eyes.

As Miya was about to think of a plan, she saw two girls emerge from a pathway not too far from them. It was Amber and Rose.

He took one look at them before Chrys said. "Oh, this is great actually. It looks like we will be able to save everyone here without repercussions and also deal with the earlier problem at the same time. " Chrys said with a surprised expression, before letting out a grin, "That looks very malicious."

Rose and Amber also saw them and exchanged gazes with Chrys, with the evil smile still on his face. They talked for a second, but are now running towards Chrys and Miya, looking very reluctant.

"What are you guys doing here?" All residents and guests are being evacuated to the west station. " Rose asked them, looking very concerned. But one could see that she is also extremely wary of Chrysin in particular.

Chrys interrupted by saying "That doesn't matter right now. Now choose one: "Would you rather let Viridis get destroyed or forfeit your life?"

Smiling at Chrys, Rose asked with a surprised tone. "I don't understand. Why are you asking me this right now?"

"Hurry up, before that cannon down below can charge up again." What is your answer, Peacekeeper? " "Crys," he said, without the friendly tone he used earlier.

Rose's smile disappeared. She gave Chrys a determined and defiant glare before saying "Well, I'd rather die than let other people die because of me."

Amber pulled Rose backward before asking in a frustrated tone. "What are you saying?! Don't answer him! "

I'm not going to kill anyone else today. Now, you see that cannon, right? That is the only weapon that can threaten Viridis. If you can destroy it, it's over. " Chrys said, pointing at the giant cannon down below.

"Don't listen to him, Rose!" Amber shouted as she tried to pull Rose backward.

Ignoring Amber's attempt to stop her Rose walked to the edge, with Amber in tow. She took a good look at the cannon and the people down below.

"But, how can I destroy it?" Rose asked Chrys in a serious and almost robotic tone.

Throwing his gun towards Rose, he replied. "Here you have this. Its battery is weak, so it can't penetrate the armor around it. So, you have to shoot it right down the barrel. "

"Wait, this is crazy, Rose, you don't have to do this! We can wait 15 more minutes for the reinforcements to arrive! " Amber shouted, trying to convince Rose while taking glances at Chrys.

"In 15 minutes, Viridis and everyone on board have crashed to the ground," Rose replied in a resolute voice.

"Pointing at the calm Chrys," Amber said angrily. "Why do you trust him so much?! We don't know if he is lying about the cannon or not! "

"It's because even if Viridis crashes today, he now holds your life in his grasp." So, just trust me instead of him. I'll get you out of here alive, I promise. " Rose replied to her with a carefree smile.

When Amber saw this, she knew she couldn't do anything. Rose walked towards the edge, took off her jacket, and revealed a metal part attached to her upper back.

"Hold up, let me give you a little boost," Chrys said as he walked towards Rose and touched the metal attachment.

He then took his hand off her back. Rose opened her mouth to say something, but the holes in the metal attachment on her back released gold flames that pushed her off the side.

Miya and Amber looked off the edge and saw how Rose was flying unsteadily. They both breathed a sigh of relief.

"Now that she is gone, who else knows who I am?" Chrys began to talk behind them.

Amber tensed up as she realized the situation she was in and said, "N-no one but me and Rose."

"Good, let's wait until the situation down below is solved before continuing this conversation," Chrys said, in his usual cold voice.

The three of them then began to spectate the huge army down below.

Meanwhile, in Rose's mind, She regained her balance and was now flying down.

'Phew, okay, calm down Rose, you can do this. The start was a bit shaky, but you can do this. You only have to deal with that cannon and it will all be over. Everything will be back to normal. '

'Golden hands' will then appreciate my efforts and let Amber go alive. Yeah, that sounds extremely possible. ' Rose said to herself while forcibly smiling.

The Beastfolks on the ground seemed to already know of Rose's presence and began shooting at her.

'What are those guns? They charge up before shooting a blue orb toward me. I can barely dodge them. If it weren't for the fact I'm faster than my normal speed, I'd already be dead. ' Rose commented as she dodged the projectiles sent her way.

Once Rose was close enough, she saw the expressions the Beastfolks wore on their faces. Faces full of fear, anger, desperation, regret, guilt, satisfaction, bliss, and candles of expressions could be seen on their faces.

'No, focus, Rose, focus.' Rose said inwardly, shaking her head left and right. She got in front of the huge cannon and aimed down the barrel with the gun Chrys gave her.

Her eyes met with the people manning the cannon. Their eyes pleaded with the phrase "Please, don't do it."

Rose closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then uttered the phrase, "It will be fine" to herself. She slowly opened her eyes, now devoid of any emotion or life.

She pressed the trigger without any hesitation, and the gun began to draw air into the barrel. The huge cannon also began to charge up, sucking a lot of air into it. The cannon began to glow blue, and Rose's gun began to glow yellow.

Once ready, Rose's gun fired down the barrel before it could finish charging up, causing a massive golden explosion, killing everyone around it. Thankfully, Rose was far enough away.

Afterward, Rose, with the aid of her metal attachment, stared down onto the death-filled battlefield with cold, emotionless eyes.