Episode 16 : Efficacy

Zawaq's body was slashed dozens of times by the enemy at high speed. Blood splattered everywhere. Zawaq parried two enemy slashes and then retaliated with dozens of punches to the enemy's body. Each punch was delivered with force and speed, ensuring deep impact on the enemy.

Quickly, Zawaq grabbed the back of the enemy's head with both hands. As fast as lightning, Zawaq pulled the enemy's head and struck the enemy's face with his right knee, producing a loud bang like a bursting pot.

Without wasting time, Zawaq continued to unleash all his punches with all the strength he had on the enemy's face. The enemy's iron-clad face began to crack and shatter, blood splattering everywhere.

One final punch from Zawaq smashed into the enemy's face. The enemy's head flew backward, scattering its contents and leaving behind a shattered head with iron shards embedded in its face and its twisted head facing the opposite direction.

The enemy fell to its knees in front of Zawaq, then collapsed, leaning on one of its knees. Zawaq stepped back, leaving the enemy's corpse sprawled out on the sandy ground.

Zawaq glanced into the compound. Chaos reigned as four invincible enemies killed the remaining Arab soldiers. Terrifying screams, silenced by death, echoed. Zawaq ran inside and leaped high into the air.

Zawaq landed on one of the enemies, kicking it after plummeting down. The enemy tumbled but stopped its body from flying by embedding sharp iron into the sand with its entire body.

Another enemy nearby rushed at Zawaq and kicked him with its left leg full of sharp blade-like iron. Zawaq blocked the enemy's kick with his two arms. Zawaq's arms bled profusely as they were slashed and cut by the enemy's sharp leg.

Zawaq's two hands dripped blood onto the ground. His arms were soaked in his own blood. The enemy swung its right leg towards Zawaq's head. Zawaq dodged quickly and stepped back a few steps.

Another enemy attacked Zawaq from behind with a thrust. Zawaq dodged the thrust from behind and drew a sharp knife from the sheath hanging on his side. Quickly, Zawaq stabbed the enemy's abdomen three times. The scavenged knife successfully pierced the enemy's ironclad body.

Without wasting time, Zawaq tore open the enemy's abdomen. The enemy's stomach opened wide, exposing a lot of blood and intestines. Zawaq put away his knife and then stabbed the enemy's stomach with his bare hands before lifting it high into the air.

Two enemies nearby approached Zawaq and relentlessly slashed their two hands on Zawaq's front and back without stopping. Zawaq screamed in pain as he used all his strength to pull the enemy's body on top of him as much as possible.

The two enemies switched their attacks to stabbing his neck repeatedly. Zawaq screamed in agony as his neck was stabbed incessantly. The enemy in Zawaq's hands was chopped into two parts, upper and lower body. The enemy's stomach organs, along with the blood gushing out, fell onto Zawaq's head and face.

Zawaq's eyes glowed. They changed from pitch black to shining red. Despite numerous deep stab wounds on Zawaq's neck, they instantly healed. Zawaq locked the two enemy arms in front of him with each of his hands.

Crack! Zawaq broke the two enemy arms. Zawaq kicked the enemy in front of him as hard as he could while pulling the two broken arms of the enemy. The enemy fell backward, rolling. Its two arms separated at the elbows.

Zawaq grabbed the two hands of the enemy with long sword-like iron blades and used them as weapons to slash at the enemy behind him. Zawaq slashed the front of the enemy, causing blood to gush out like rain.

The long sword blades on the enemy's severed hands used by Zawaq cracked and shattered. Zawaq dashed to the left and grabbed two panzerfaust bombs. Zawaq returned to the enemy rushing towards him with injuries on its front slowly healing.

Zawaq immediately stabbed the next enemy's body with two panzerfaust heads, causing the enemy's body to recoil backward, then detonated the two panzerfaust bombs in his hands.

The enemy flew far, spinning in the air, then fell back to the ground, rolling. The enemy slowly got up. It knelt on the sandy ground. Its front body was wide open, exposed due to the shattered iron blades that protected it from the explosion of the panzerfaust bombs.

Zawaq returned to the enemy, but this time Zawaq was in the air, diving onto the enemy. Two more panzerfaust bombs were slammed onto the enemy's head. The enemy exploded along with Zawaq in the bomb blast. The Arab soldiers watched in horror and fear. Nearby tents tore and some began to burn from the explosion.

The night wind blew, dispersing the thick black smoke from the explosion, leaving Zawaq standing alone in front of the scattered remains of the enemy's body parts around.Zawaq looked back, surveying his surroundings where the surviving Arab soldiers looked at him in amazement.

One enemy crawled as its lower body was severed by Zawaq. It crawled away, its intestines trailing on the sandy ground.

Zawaq quickly pulled the intestine, making it taut, causing the enemy to fall forward. Zawaq immediately stepped on the enemy's head, crushing it bone by bone for the first time. The second step made the enemy's head burst, spewing out all its blood and brains.

All the soldiers withdrew after seeing Zawaq easily kill the last enemy. Zawaq looked around. The Arab soldiers looked fearful. Then, Zawaq's gaze shifted to his hands, covered in blood.

Zawaq looked at the frightened boy hiding behind one of the standing Arab soldiers. Zawaq ran off and leaped high into the air, leaving the compound.

The soldiers watched Zawaq flee. They looked at each other in astonishment. Zawaq ran as fast as the wind. His gaze flickered. The wind buffeted his body as he ran at tremendous speed. Gradually, Zawaq's steps slowed, and he fell to his knees on the sandy ground.

Zawaq's shining red eyes began to blink intermittently with pitch-black. His eyes turned black, no longer emitting red light.

"Where did Zawaq go?" one Arab soldier asked.

"Don't know. What's with him?" another soldier asked.

"He thinks he scared us," Zaqwan said, looking in the direction where Zawaq disappeared.

The next morning, Zawaq returned in human form. No longer in the green entity form.

"Where did you go? We were all worried," one Arab soldier guarding the entrance to the compound asked.

Zawaq seemed incredulous to hear the Arab soldier's words.

"Come on in, we're having breakfast," another Arab soldier invited Zawaq.

Zawaq entered the compound. He arrived under the tent where many Arab soldiers were having breakfast, all of them raising their glasses towards Zawaq. Their gesture made Zawaq smile shyly.

"Don't worry, Zawaq. Forget about our soldiers you couldn't save. Celebrate those who are still alive now," said one Arab soldier standing behind him.

Some soldiers placed food containers and served food for Zawaq. A few of them patted Zawaq's back and shoulders.After eating, Zawaq and the Arab soldiers rested together while sharing stories of their past experiences before operating in Palestine.

After the meal, they continued to dig graves for the soldiers killed by the five ironclad enemies. Zawaq also helped dig the graves. Zawaq's strength and speed made the digging process easier. After finishing burying the bodies of the Arab soldiers, Zawaq stood watching the mound of soil on the graves.

"How do you feel?" Zaqwan, who walked over and stood next to Zawaq, asked.

"I hope I'm stronger so I can protect more people," Zawaq replied.

"Me too. Even though I'm a doctor and a soldier, many people around me died. I've tried my best, but sometimes my comrades die even though they weren't shot by the enemy on the battlefield. Strange, but death is in God's hands," Zaqwan expressed.

"Died of heart attack. What can we do," Zawaq replied.

"Yes, not everyone is fit for war, but what can we do, nowadays war becomes a source of livelihood," Zaqwan replied.

"Seeking a living by killing each other," Zawaq said.

"That's why I'm grateful to be a soldier for the Arabs. We oppose Israel. Israel, cursed, kills Palestinian people. Regardless of race and religion. We should eradicate Israel, but it's not easy," Zaqwan said.

"I understand," Zawaq replied.

"How long do you think this war will last?" Zaqwan asked Zawaq.

"As long as there's no winner," Zawaq replied.

"What if the war ends when both sides choose peace?" Zaqwan asked.

"I don't think it will happen," Zawaq replied.

"If the war ends, where will you live?" Zaqwan asked Zawaq.

"You have many questions," Zawaq replied.

"I need to ask. I just want to know your answer," Zaqwan replied.

Zaqwan paused for a moment, then answered.

"I will continue to protect Palestine forever," Zawaq replied.

"Why?" Zaqwan asked.

"I don't think the war will just end like that. I don't trust Israel to choose peace through a ceasefire," Zawaq answered.

"You're right. With the current situation, many invincible humans created by Israel. The war won't end," Zaqwan agreed with Zawaq's answer.