Valor: Brave Souls

Chapter 1: Tyranny

Chapter 1: Tyranny

Fires are everywhere, burning our houses into ashes. The agonizing screams of my townsmen filled the whole village. Despair and misery are evident on their faces as they tried to save those important to them from the raging fire. I clenched my hands as tears slowly rolled down on my face. My teeth were gritting nonstop. They took everything from us and tainted our land with filth and greediness. We have suffered enough. I will end the root of evil tonight. I promise, tonight will be that cruel king’s demise. 

I run towards the villagers who survived the fire holocaust. I lead them to the hidden route I have discovered going to the mountain and instructed them to wait for me there, in a small shack that serves as my hideout. I studied the ways of an assassin and dress myself up every night with a black clothe to eliminate those who made us suffer; those people under the greedy king’s command. 

“Maria, were you the assassin who killed the king’s people?” the chieftain asked me. He looked at me directly in the eyes. I can’t hide it anymore. 

“Yes, chieftain. I’m sorry. This happened because I messed with that filthy ruler. He ordered to burn our village because I killed his people and he figured out that one of the villagers did all the killings. I just can’t afford seeing how they claimed lives of innocent villagers just because they opposed the king’s dirty governance. Everyone, please for－”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Maria. We knew it already but we remained silent because we know you are doing it for the sake of everyone,” one villager said that startled me. 

“We thank you for fighting for us. We are the one who need to say sorry to you because we don’t have that courage to fight the injustices we are experiencing. You are our hero,” he added. Everyone agreed to him, nodding their heads. I tried my best not to cry in front of them. 

“Thank you. I am aware that killing is a sin but I won’t mind committing a sin over and over again if it’s for the sake of those people I treasure.” They all fell into silence. But they snapped back into their senses when I urged them to move already just before the king’s people could find us. 

“Hurry, go now. We don’t have time to talk anymore. Go and save your lives,” I told them. 

“But how about you? Aren’t you coming with us?” the chieftain asked again with full of concern in his voice. 

“I still have something to do. I will end the root of evil tonight. I will kill the king and the rest of his people,” I answered him with burning determination in my eyes. “Please, don’t think about me. Go now,” I uttered and it feels like more than begging them. 

I was stunned when a child held my hand. “Please promise to get back to us safe and sound, Big Sis. Can you promise it?” Her cute little voice melted my heart. I sat to have myself the same level as her height. I beamed a smile on her, drying her tears.

“I promise, baby. Your big sis will make you safe,” I replied to her. We aren’t blood related but every child in this village used to call me ‘Big Sis’ and it’s a music to my ears every time they call me that way.  

“Eh? But, Big Sis, it’s not what I want you to promise－” I carried her, cutting her off in the middle of her words and gave her to our chief. 

“Please take Connie and go now.” I bowed and turned my back on them. Connie is still calling my name but I don’t bother myself to take a glance at her anymore. I wiped my tears just before they get in my sight. There’s no turning back. I can’t promise to get back to them safe and alive but I promise to make them safe and end everyone’s suffering tonight. 

My train of thoughts fell short and looked beside me as I realized I wasn’t the only one running. I stopped and frowned at him. “Leonardo? What are you doing?” I gushed out. 

“Let me join you, Maria. You opened my eyes and I feel ashamed of myself. I am a man and yet… a woman like you has the courage to do things alone, suffering in secret,” he told me.

I heaved a deep sigh before responding to him. “Okay, seems like I could not do anything on you anymore. Just don’t get in my way ‘cause I’ll be in a killing spree tonight,” I uttered with all seriousness in my voice. 

“I’ll support you. Don’t think about me. Just do what you ought to do.” I smirked upon hearing his words. I handed him one of my blades to protect himself from the enemies. We, then, ran again and looked for that evil king. 

We came into halt when a loud gunshot reverberated in the air. My heart throb for a second as if I can sense someone’s life is in danger. The sound of the gunshot came from the northern part of the village. Without uttering any word or bothering myself to look at Leonardo, I rushed towards a small hallway in the midst of burning houses and have my way out going to the north. I got burns along the way but they are not that detrimental. I need to hurry just before another blood of a villager spilled on our own land. 

I suspended my right foot on the ground, making me stop from running, as I saw a young boy crying over his dead parents hugging him. It seems like they were protecting their child until the last minute of their lives. I clenched my jaws when I raised my head and found out who did the deed. He didn’t notice my presence or my arrival because he’s too fixed on the young boy. He bent back his gun and set it for firing.  

“You, worthless rats, don’t deserve to live. You are all pain in the ass. How dare you trample the lives of my people. I will annihilate all of you in retribution of killing them. And besides… I can have the full ownership of this land if all of you will vanish,” the filthy king blurted out, laughing like a devil. 

He pulled the trigger of his gun, aiming at the young boy, and a loud sound of a gunshot reverberated again in the whole surroundings. 

“Ack,” I grunted as a sudden strong pang of pain pierced through my stomach. I bit my lower lip to endure the pain. I drew my sword from its bamboo sheath, creating a slight scrape sharp sound as the blade brushed against its container. 

“Maria!” Leonardo called me from behind and there’s a hint of nervousness and worry in his voice. 

“Stay out of this, Leonardo. Let me handle this. Take the child with you and escape,” I seriously ordered him with full authority. 

“But－”

“No buts anymore, Leonardo. Get the child and go. Save him. Don’t worry about me. I can handle this,” I cut him off without taking a glance on him. My eyes are fixed on the devil in front of me. I sensed Leonardo running towards my direction and took the child just behind me. 

“Go now,” I reiterated. 

“Please be safe. Return to us at all cost,” he said in low voice and I heard his footsteps leaving the place quickly. 

“Now, it’s only the two of us. I won’t hold back so prepare yourself, the great King Gideon of filth, greediness and tyranny,” I uttered with all the sarcasm in my voice. His eyes widened as he aimed his gun at me with his hands shaking nonstop. 

“Why are you staggering, King Gideon? Afraid to face your death?” I mocked him, beaming a playful smile. 

“Don’t go near me or I will shoot you.” I laughed as I saw how nervous he is to cock his gun. I moved my one foot forward, taunting him. I walked again and this time, he pulled the trigger of his weapon but I manage to deflect the incoming bullet with my sword, creating a sharp clashing sound. 

“Why? Why you don’t just give up and die already?” he asked me as his one hand took another gun from his side. It’s a revolver that allows him to shoot multiple times until having to reload it. He both aimed them at me and fired them simultaneously. 

He didn’t stop shooting at me until his revolver runs out of load. I managed to deflect some bullets using my blade but there were still some that managed to penetrate my skin and pierce through my body. I jabbed my sword on the ground and grabbed it tightly to prevent myself from stumbling down. My breath started to become deeper. Blood oozed out from my mouth as I tried to regain my composure. 

He laughed evilly and it’s disgusting. I pulled my sword and still have the strength to move forward. No, I can’t die. Not until I kill him. 

He repeatedly clicked the trigger of his gun but it has no bullet left anymore. He grabbed his hair out of frustration and shouted at me. 

“Why don’t you just die? Why don’t you just give up this land and vanish?” he uttered, losing his sanity. 

“I don’t die easily, evil king. I still have the will to live. And I can’t die not until I accomplish my objective, which is to kill you. We can’t give up this land because this is where we sprouted, grew up, and made happy memories together. This is precious to us,” I firmly replied as I walked slowly towards him.  

“Then, you came. It is you who trampled our lives first. It is you who killed our dreams, who put us into a cage of sorrows and despair. We have suffered enough. Tonight, your tyranny will end and we will be free from your iron hands. This is…” I stopped for a moment as I felt sudden tormenting pain coming from my injuries. Out of control, I vomited blood but that didn’t falter me. I mustered all my courage to stand straight.  

“...goodbye,” I finished. I didn’t hold back anymore and in just a span of seconds, his head fell off to the ground as his blood splattered all over my face. 

“Mission accomplished,” I whispered to myself and let the excruciating pain toppled me. 

I firmly closed my eyes and their faces, smiles and laughter, flashed in my head. I heard the villagers’ chuckles when we were gathered together for a feast. Maybe, this is the end for me too. I maybe die sooner or later but those memories will remain in me forever. 

“Report: Memory analysis complete. Memories of this life has been stored successfully and will be retained in the next life. Special skill, Omnicognition has been acquired.” A monotone male voice suddenly echoed in my mind and I couldn’t totally understand what it was saying. 

Nonetheless, I didn’t bother myself to give attention to it as the pain coursing through my body is unbearable. 

“Report: Survival skill, Pain Nullification has been acquired.” And now there are like images playing in my mind; there are symbols and letters I couldn’t understand the meaning. 

I heaved a deep breath and tried my best to stay awake a little longer. But my strength gradually decreases as cold rain pours on my body. Then, the lightning strikes and the thunders roar in the gloomy night sky as if the weather was sympathizing with me… with us for having such a horrible fate in the hands of a tyrant ruler. But I’m glad the cruelty has already came into its end. I am going to face my retribution for all the sins I have committed but I don’t regret anything. I guess, this is the end for me. How I wish these were all just a bad dream…

My train of thoughts were cut off when the monotone voice resonated in my head again. I don’t know what’s with this voice or where does it come from but it gives me comfort somehow.  

“Report: Special skill, Enhanced Strength has been acquired.

Special Skill: Thermal Manipulation has been acquired.

Unique Skill, Atmokinesis has been acquired.

Unique skill, Nightmare Phantasm has been acquired. 

Ultimate skill, Ruler has been partially acquired. 

The preparations for the rebirth of the soul are all set. The operation will start in 3… 2… 1.” 

After all the unfathomable things I heard in my mind, I felt numb then my body finally gave in to death. Darkness consumed me. Then after a while, too many images started to bombard my head again, making me experience extreme dizziness. I cried, shouted and moaned because of the pulsating pang of pain in my head. But few minutes later, the seizure had stopped. I thought I was already a goner but I was totally shocked the moment I opened my eyes. I am alive. 

I was about to rejoice but I noticed my surroundings had changed. I am not in the village anymore. Where am I? Is this afterlife?