Godblast

THE guard paused instinctively and glanced at Felis before turning back to look at the Narvach, who didn't say a word. Instead, he fixated his absurdly large, owl-like eyes on the guard. The guard turned back immediately and made his way towards Ash.

Ash's arm was wrapped around Glit, and both of them were hugging each other so tightly that they had to squeeze their eyes shut. It was a day of horror for the gray-haired boy; his nightmares were finally coming true right in front of him. His heart was racing faster than he ever thought it could, and for the first time in a while, he cherished every moment he could still hold on to Glit. He felt the shadow of the guard reaching for them, but a loud bang shook him from Glit's grip.

He opened his eyes and glanced at the guard who was right in front of them. He watched as the guard's eyes rolled back into his sockets and blood oozed from a hole in the side of his head. The guard dropped to the ground, dead. Glit let out a terrified shriek, and Ash immediately clasped his hand over her mouth.

Beside the dead body of the guard stood Captain Felis, blowing smoke from the muzzle of the gun in his hand. Apparently, he had jumped from his crouching position, removed the guard's gun from its holster, and shot him dead. Ash glanced from the body, his mouth wide open in surprise, to the captain, then to the Narvach.

"Ooh," Felis exclaimed with a smile. "I have always wanted to try one of these guns out. I mean, I have handled d-bit twenty-nines, but an a-bit thirty? This is just amazing," he snickered, glancing at the Narvach, who stood there in shock.

"What did you do?" The second guard, who hadn't uttered a word, spoke in a low growl.

Felis stood there, smiling like a maniac, Ash saw his disposition before he flashed a glance at the second guard. "An eye for a head, a tooth for a heart. He who harms me will reap the rewards tenfold," he muttered as if it was some part of a mantra.

Ash didn't know why, but the words he spoke were familiar as if he'd heard someone recite them before but currently, his brain could barely process what was happening, so he didn't give it much thought. He was in shock, confusion and most of all fear. He couldn't understand why the captain was acting this rashly.

"Tell me he didn't just kill a guard of the Narvach, tell me he didn't just commit treason against the god King," Glit's voice trembled behind him but he couldn't even hear her. His entire head was floating on his neck like a weightless polythene and he felt as if he was suffocating under the weight of his own breath.

The second guard rushed forward even without the order of his Narvach, a burning fury moved with him as he dashed towards Felis. The captain, however, stood with unflinching confidence. Ash instinctively stepped away with Glit as the guard removed his bullet and released multiple shots towards their captain. His body shook in response to the shots as the bullets rapidly buried themselves in his skin.

Ash's breath seized, thinking this was the end of their captain. The man however stood still, as bullets dropped from his body onto the ground in a clattering resonance. The guard halted in his steps as he saw this, before he could react, Felis pulled the trigger and downed him.

He dropped the gun on the ground and set his sights straight at the Narvach as the man glanced at their captain with fear written across his face. Ash gazed at the captain as he stood with burning fury, he blinked once and the captain vanished from his view. He glanced around confused only to find the captain right in front of the Narvach, preparing a punch towards the man's face but his hand halted in midair.

A shield of air appeared to have formed right in front of the Narvach, serving as a barrier. Helios stepped backwards and then flicked his finger and like a thin sheet of paper, the captain was flung against the ship's mast. "You know, I really thought highly of you," the Narvach began. "I felt our friendship could have lasted for two more years before I certainly would have to kill you," he nodded. "Butz, you have hastened your own death," he shook his head.

Helios began to work slowly towards the captain and his body began to undergo a physiological change that stiffened everyone. His bloated tummy reduced in size slowly as the fleshy and bloated arm began to shrink. Ash could hear bones cracking and skin shifting and before the man would reach their captain, he'd already transformed into a well built young man with fine features and the golden hair that signified royal blood.

"You really thought you could kill me that easily?" Helios began. "I told you earlier that I am a force of nature, I have no true form, no true shape, I am as I want to be. I am ever changing, ever growing, a man blessed with the constant transcendence of a god! I am infinite and eternal!" he exhaled.

Felis however stood up from the ground and made a chuckling sound. "You are just a Hazard like me," he said. "I see you assimilate the Sapphire," he nodded, analyzing his assailant.

"You still speak back?" Helios replied in disbelief.

Felis however was done talking, he raised his right fist up and closed his eyes, the Narvach stepped back in shock. "I know that stance," he muttered in a trembling tone.

Ash could feel the air on the entire ship go still, a torrid atmosphere began to settle around him. Everything went still silent, it seemed as if even the waves had stopped moving. He glanced up at the Captain and he could see his right arm emanating a faint pulsing glow.

The Narvach shifted backwards immediately, almost skidding over as he hastily rushed back towards the bridge of his ship. "Shed your cloaks! He is Godblast!"