Part 1 - The King Of Light (Chapter 4)

...

Lament: "Good Moooorning—!"

His voice cuts off.

Vael and Osk lay unconscious.

"...Ah, shit." His voice drops. "I— I was just messing around, I didn't—" He swallows hard, a lump forming in his throat.

He crouches next to them, his hands hover over their bodies. He wants to shake them, to tell them to get up, to yell at him for being annoying.

But they don't move.

"...Hey." His voice cracks. "This ain't funny."

He exhales sharply, forcing a laugh that doesn't belong here. "Come on, you guys are the tough ones, right? You— You don't just—"

His fingers curl into fists.

"I was supposed to be here." His eyes dart between them, searching for any sign of life. "I was supposed to— I don't know— do something. But I was running my mouth like always, and now—"

His breath shudders.

"...Sorry, I'm sorry.. I'm sorry.."

???: "One day, that light's gonna flicker out."

A green-haired guy comes out.

???: "Y'know, you guys are either really stupid or really stubborn."

"Stand up, lament."

Lament: "Vento? Please help them! Please!

Vento: "I'll take them to the base."

Lament: "I didn't mean for this to happen. I... I just—"

Vento: "You're not the one who needs protecting right now. You're lucky they're still breathing."

The wind intensifies

He propels everyone high up.

They propel to South West of Noctros.

.. Some Hours Later.

| Verge — Micronation |

They land.

Vento: "Alright! Okin, move these three to the infirmary. I need to treat them."

Okin: "On it!!"

Lament: "What is this place?"

Vento: "A micronation. This place is one of the only left to be able to sustain life in this world."

Lament: "Are my friends gonna be okay?"

Vento: "Yup."

— Infirmary

Vento: "I was trying to move the oxygen in the bloodstream to filter it out when we were on the way."

Lament: "Try anything!"

| Vento tries to extract the poison |

...

Vento: "Osk should be good. His star thingy saved him just then, I didnt know it could do that. But, Vael on the other hand.. he's in worse condition."

Lament: "What..?"

Vento: "Listen, these attacks aren't normal. The only reason he's alive is because the main user is dead. So, the spores within him are dead, but the damage is already done to him."

Lament: "What now?"

Vento: "Give it a few days—"

Lament: "I see someone."

Vento: "I sense someone."

"I'll go take a look."

Lament: "I'll stay with them this time."

...

— Shore of Verge

Vento: "Alright.. Who are you guys?"

???: "We. Are. Pirates!"

Vento: "Okay?"

???: "Our leader is SteelBone. His power is to control metals!"

Vento: "Never heard of you."

SteelBone: "You dont need to. Your little villagers on the other hand..."

Vento: "Blah blah and BLAH!! I'll give you 1 minute to fight me, if you end up winning.. ehh, you win."

SteelBone: "And if the timer hits 1 minute?"

Vento: "You die."

SteelBone: "76 fights, 0 losses, 76 kills."

Vento laughs: "Against villagers?"

"You're weak!"

A underling of SteelBone rushes towards Vento.

Vento: "I don't even know your name."

As the underling charges, Vento exhales sharply, flicking his fingers with casual precision.

A near-invisible ripple surges through the air—silent at first. But then—

FYOOOO—

The moment it reaches the pirate, his body locks up mid-strike. His eyes go wide, mouth opening in a silent scream before..

POP!

His eardrums rupture. Blood trickles from both ears as his balance shatters.

CRACK!

A snap tears through his forearms. The bones inside fracture like brittle twigs.

The underling collapses, spasming, hands grasping at his ears, his limbs trembling from the shock.

SteelBone: "You were a good one.. Actually mediocre at best."

0:07 has passed.

SteelBone flings the dead pirates sword at Vento.

A sudden pressure slams it down mid-flight

Vento: "Thats it?'

SteelBone, raising both arms throws alot of metal shards, twisting into jagged spears.

Vento sighs. FWOOOO—

A split-second gust. The air condenses.

The spears don't move. SteelBone doesn't move.

Blood spills from his mouth. His ribs shift unnaturally, pressed inward as if the air itself had collapsed around him.

0:15 has passed.

he forces the metal in his body outward—shards burst from his skin, his ribs snapping back into place as he regains control.

Vento tilts his head. "Better."

CLANG. His knuckles flex, the sound like swords clashing.

SteelBone: "I was saving this for someone stronger."

Vento smirks, tapping his wrist like he's checking the nonexistent time. "Still talking?

SteelBone rushes forward—shockingly fast for his size. Vento sidesteps, but—

BOOM!

A metal-clad knee crashes into his ribs, lifting him off the ground. A second blow—a fist like a wrecking ball—smashes into his shoulder, forcing him to kneel.

WHAM!

A metal-plated elbow crashes down onto Vento's back, forcing him to the ground. The moment his knee touches the dirt—

CLANG!

A steel-coated boot swings into his side, sending him skidding.

26 seconds have passed.

SteelBone: "Where's that confidence now?!"

Behind SteelBone, his massive pirate ship creaks.

WHOOSH

The entire ship flings forward out the water.

CRASH!

The ship slams into him like a battering ram, splintering on impact.

Vento flicks his wrist—BOOM!—and SteelBone's body launches, slamming through the wooden hull, crashing straight through to the other side.

Vento: "Watch your words."

34 seconds have passed.

SteelBone rises from the wreckage.

Then—SHNK!

More metal floods into his bloodstream. His skin hardens, his movements sharpen, and the dents in his body smooth out as the metal reinforces itself.

FWOOOM!

SteelBone vanishes in a blur of motion, reappearing mid-air. His fist flashes like a cannonball—

BOOM!

Vento is launched backward, his body skipping across the water like a stone before vanishing off-shore.

SteelBone cracks his neck, rolling his shoulders. He turns to the village, the people of Verge staring.

SteelBone laughs. "So this is the stupid village?"

CRACK!

His fist crushes through a house, tearing it like paper.

Screams all round.

"RUN!"

"He's destroying everything!"

"We're all gonna die!"

SteelBone tears through the village.

CRUNCH! He rips a support beam from a building.

A man is too slow—SLAM! His leg gets pinned beneath the wreckage. He screams, clawing at the dirt, trying to pull himself free.

SteelBone steps forward, his shadow over the man.

CRACK! A kick to the ribs sends the man tumbling, blood spilling from his mouth. He gasps for air.

SteelBone doesn't even look at him. He moves on.

A young girl trips in the street, her terrified eyes locking onto the pirate.

SteelBone raises his arm, metal shifting around it like a battering ram.

"HEY!"

A desperate swing of a wooden bat crashes against his side—useless. A villager, shaking, stands between him and the girl.

SteelBone sighs. BAM! A backhand sends the man flying into a wall, his body collapsing like a ragdoll.

59 seconds have passed.

Vento: "Enough."

Krrr...Krrr.. CRUNCH. POP.

SteelBone's head explodes.

Brain matter flies around,

Pirate: "Oh.. Oh my god." Pirate #2: "RUN! RUN! GET TO THE SHIPS!" He turns, shoving another crew member aside in desperation.

Pirate #3: "We're dead! We're all dead—"

Pirate #4: "Screw this! Get to the boats! NOW!"

Some pirates scramble for the docks, others hesitate, gripping their weapons with shaking hands. One, frozen in fear, looks up at Vento.

Pirate #5 (whispers): "...Monster."

A pirate tries to lunge—

FWOO—

His lower half vanishes. Blood splatters across the ground. He crumples, eyes blank.

Pirate #6: "NOOOO—"

FYIP—

Pirate 6 gets his torso imploded.

They turn around, sprinting toward the ships.

— On the water

The ships frantically unfurl their sails, some pirates jumping overboard in terror.

Captain of the Remaining Ship: "CUT THE ANCHORS! MOVE, MOVE—"

Then—

FOOOOO—

The wind roars. The air compresses.

CRACK—!

Screams turn into choked gasps.

All the ships get crushed, leaving a "Red Sea."

The fight ends.

6:00 AM.

Vento: "Im sorry I took so long.."

Okin: "MOVE! QUICK! WE NEED TO GET THEM INTO THE INFIRMARY NOW!"

All the patients get rushed into the infirmary.

— Infirmary.

Lament: "What the hell? What happened?"

Vento: "Mid class pirate attack. Everyone should be fine, some should take a month or a few for some to get better."

Okin pants: "If it weren't for my expertise."

Vento: "Get a load of this guy!"

Okin: "Im right though?"

Vento: "Yeah."

Lament: "I need to go back."

Vento: "Do whatever!"

— Aurelis.

Knock Knock.

Lament: "Mooooom..?"

"Daaad?"

The door opens.

Vael's mom: "Oh! Honey? You weren't home?"

Lament: "Yeah, I had a sleepover at a friend's."

Vael's dad: "Was it a girl?"

Lament laughs: "Nah. Someday maybe!"

Vael's mom: "You always say that!"

Vael's dad sighs, "You should've come home earlier. The Light King made a speech today."

Lament's breath catches. "Oh... Yeah? What'd he say?"

Vael's mom frowns slightly. "Something about intruders in the capital and that they're just bringing chaos."

Vael's dad: "He didn't say names, but he made it clear, someone dangerous is here. And he's watching." He exhales and shakes his head. "It's only a matter of time before they're caught."

Lament: "Okay..'

Vael's mom: "Honey, you should be careful out there. If something happens, just stay out of it, okay?"

Lament: "Okay mom!"

Vael's mom: "Love you."

Lament: "Love you too."

| Lament has made an image of Vael in his parent's heads. |

| CHAPTER 4, END. |