Chapter 209 - Talos Rises (2)

Not only did Aslan abandoned them, he even sold them out to the enemy? How low can a piece of crap fall to? As much as Josh would've liked to deliver some colourful words to his 'friend', now wasn't the time to do so. 

He double-checked the locks on the cupboard. After confirming that everything was in place, he took the nail gun and readied himself. Before he could put his plan into action, he heard the attackers laughing loudly.

"What did I tell you? These Blacks are nothing but cowards. Wetting themselves in the slightest face of danger... Pfft- pathetic fools."

Another man stepped in the conversation, "Are you certain there are people inside?"

"Yes, s-sir!" Aslan blurted out. 

"Well then, we don't have any use of you anymore. Do we?" Then they all started laughing like maniacs.

"N-NO! Y-You said you'll let me go if I lead you to the others!" Aslan started crying like a newborn. But none of his pleas was heard. 

"Yes, and we are letting you go... to hell! Rip him off!"

The next moment, the area was filled with screams. Josh didn't know what happened with him, but he knew Aslan was gone. Although he had betrayed him, Josh couldn't help but feel sad for Aslan. But he didn't have the time to mourn. He still needed to save Anna. 

"Let's go in and see if there are any survivors or not. According to the guy, there should be a girl too... Hehehe. If there's a girl inside, I'll have the go first."

"It ain't fair boss. You always go first and after you're done, there's nothing left!" One of the guy contested but he was soon silenced. Not by his boss or his comrades. But by a nail, which pierced through his skull, killing him in an instant. 

Before they could realise what happened, a man broke through the window next to them and rushed out of the small room. Randomly firing nails at them. 

"Puta Porra!!!" Their leader cursed in Portuguese while pulling the man nearest to him to act as a shield, "Get that bastard!" (Author's note: Ahem. 'Puta Porra' means... Fcking bitch in Portuguese. According to Google. Don't roast me if it's wrong. Lol.) 

Josh turned around and started sprinting in the opposite direction of the building. What he thought to be five men were actually seven, excluding Aslan and the guy Josh had just killed. 

While outside, he saw the mangled body of Aslan... His eyes were plucked out. His body slashed in half. His blood mixed with other bodily fluids. His abdomen had been opened for display like a corpse in a med school. No matter what he had done... No one should have to go like this.

'These monsters! How did they even manage to do all this in a matter of seconds...'

Despite all that, Josh knew he had to keep running. If he got caught, his fate would be worse than Aslan's. 

'Yes, follow me you basta*ds!' He thought and kept running while firing nails in their direction.

They were following him alright... But something was off... One man hadn't moved from near the entrance of the building. He was the one whom they referred to as the boss. 

'Shit!' Josh cursed himself, 'I can't let that guy go inside the building...'

There was no time to think. He needed to act immediately... And the only thing that came to his mind was... to get caught and hope they wouldn't go inside the building. But he wasn't just going to surrender. He will take at least a few with him. 

Without any further ado, he turned around and charged at his pursers. Rapidly firing nails at them. But the nails couldn't find their mark as they kept bouncing off their armours. The attackers were wary enough to protect their heads. As they got closer, Josh ran out of nails but was able to kill another careless guy before colliding with his enemies.

Even then he didn't stop. He took the sword of the fallen man and started swinging it as if it was a baseball bat. His posture wasn't even remotely perfect and he lacked technique, but his stamina proved to be troublesome for his enemies. They were being cautious while approaching him as he was acting like a feral dog.

"What happened jacka*ses? Can you only fight against unarmed and defenceless fellows?" Josh lashed out. Provoking them again and again. He knew it was suicidal, but he didn't care as long as Anna was safe, "And what about that coward 'boss' of yours? I see he's hiding his tail between his legs. HEY, A*SHOLE! MAN UP AND FIGHT ME WILL YA? OR ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP HIDING TILL I'M DONE KILLING YOUR MEN?"

The provocation seemed to have worked as the man slowly started walking towards them.

'Nice... Come after me, you c*nt.' He thought and kept swinging the sword all around him.

The attackers slowly started backing off. Josh thought everyone was retreating before him, thus he became more reckless. He swung the sword at the man in front of him completely forgetting about the warriors who were behind him. Waiting for him to do something stupid like he had done now.

Before Josh could even realise his mistake, someone kicked him. He was knocked off his feet and fell before his enemies, who were looking at him like a hungry pack of hyenas. At that moment, Josh realised his death wasn't going to be a painless one. But he was yet to fulfil his promise of taking down as many of his opponents as he could before it was his turn to die. 

The sword was still in his hands but before he could even get up and use it, an arm swung around his neck and pulled him off the ground. His feet dangled in the air. He clawed at the arm of his attacker with his free arm. Desperately trying to relieve the pressure on his throat. It was all fruitless.

Soon a man stepped in front of him. He held his sword upwards and licked Aslan's blood of the tip before aiming for Josh's eyes. Moments later, a scream resounded through the courtyard. It wasn't Josh who was screaming, but the man who was about to pluck his eyes out. Josh, as his last attempt, had rammed his sword through the man's throat before he could do anything.

'Guess this is it.'

Josh smiled as of the remaining men slashed off his fingers holding the sword. The sword slipped away and fell on the bloodied ground. Josh was feeling pain like never before, and sadly this was just the start. Soon the boss arrived at the location, picked up the dagger of his fallen ally and looked at Josh.

"One piece of sh*t... And he got my entire band cowering. You deserve to die by my hands and after that, I'll violate that girlfriend of yours you've been so desperately trying to protect."

The man the let out a feral cry and stabbed at Josh's chest. Despite the throbbing pain due to the loss of his fingers, Josh grabbed the man's wrist, stopping the dagger mid-thrust.

"One... More... Man..." Josh mumbled, redirecting the dagger towards the throat of the man who was holding him.

The boss couldn't handle this sudden manoeuvre and ended up sliting his ally's throat. The man immediately let go of Josh and grabbed his throat. Trying to stop the bleeding through the gaping hole... But couldn't. It was too late. They were shocked, but the shock soon turned into anger.

Josh on the other hand couldn't help but smile in what he knew were his last moments. The boss kicked him down before mounting on him, his dagger tightly held in his hand.

"Fcking twerp! You'll pay for what you did!" The boss roared and prepared to stab Josh in the stomach. Then a look of shock appeared on his face. His gaze fell at the gaping hole in his stomach. A black spear-like thing protruding from it. Silence covered the area. Even Josh couldn't process what was going on... Then they saw it. 

A black ogre was standing in front of them.

Numerous spears were stuck on its back. Before the remaining intruders could even think what the hell was going on. The ogre charged at them. Effortlessly killing them in an instant. By the time the ogre stopped, most of the men either looked like mashed potatoes or as porcupines. 

Josh thought it was his turn next. But to his surprise, the ogre stopped moving and slowly started melting away. Then out of the ogres remains rose a... Robot? 

The robot looked at him and the next thing Josh knew, the robot was tending to his fingerless right hand.

Curious by the stranger's behaviour, Josh asked, "Who are you?"

"The name's Talos. Now if you don't mind, I need to take you to a safe place." Talos replied in his emotionless electronic voice.