The realization that their lives were about to be destroyed left everyone in a state of shock and terror.
"What are you doing... Rhydian?" Makari said in disbelief.
Rhydian pulled his one leg back and his sword aimed directly at Draghar's face. He was prepared to strike and defend against any onslaught. A cynical smile etched on Draghar's lips.
Makari stood frozen, his eyes wide with fear.
"D... Don't be afraid... it's better to die fighting than to live under oppression." Soren spoke, and small smile crept on his face. "I will fight... no... we will all fight. Right, Makari?"
Makari saw the smile on Soren's face, but he knew it was nothing more than a mask that hiding his own fear. Makari clenched his hands.
Soren's was right, all this time, we have lived as wanderers, like refugees, always fearing the day Kaelar's army will come. But now, we will face that fear together. Even if half of us die, this is proof that we are not a people who will bow to this cruel system, and we will confront this fear united.
"Come, show me what you've got, inferior race." Draghar said in a mocking tone.
Suddenly, a young boy, about eight years old, burst out of the crowd and threw an object that struck Draghar's leg, all the while screaming;
"Oh, Eclipse, banish them and save us from this ugly demon!"
Everyone was shocked by the boy's actions, which were sure to provoke Draghar's wrath.
"This boy should not be in such a dangerous place – what is he doing?" Rhydian looked at the boy beside him, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Draghar looked down and picked up the object that the boy had thrown and it revealed to be a carved wooden with a circle symbolises the sun, with a crescent moon positioned next to it on the sun. His brow furrowed, and soon after, a burst of laughter slipped from Draghar's lips.
His laughter echoed through the place. Witnessing the scene left everyone dumbfounded.
"What kind of nonsense is this, Eclipse? A story of superstition and old wives' tales passed down by those before... I never thought anyone would still believe it to this day. Truly, it suits you; an inferior people, wandering like pathetic refugees."
He tightened his grip until the carved wood shattered, the fragments slipping from his hand and scattering across the ground.
"Wasting time." Draghar said.
He then took one of the sharp scales from his wing, and it transformed into dark–colored sword adorned with golden patterns.
He raised his sword high into the sky. The boy ran for cover behind Rhydian, his eyes shut tight, while Rhydian braced himself for the attack, sweat already forming on his brow. Makari and the others couldn't bear to watch, they knew the strike would kill them both.
Silence fell, as if even the world itself wished to witness what was about to unfold. Draghar swung his sword downward at incredible speed, the blade tearing through the air. A deafening clash of metal echoed across the surroundings. No one could see what had happened.
The boy slowly opened his eyes, wanting to look—
And what he saw…
A man stood there, blocking Draghar's attack with his sword. Draghar's eyes widened in shock. The boy thought it was Rhydian—
But Rhydian was right beside him. Standing behind that man. Rhydian's eyes were wide open, frozen in place.
"S... Saugrar?" His voice trembled.
At the mere mention of that name, the boy screamed, drawing everyone's attention. Standing before them was a man – Saugrar, whom they believed to be dead; holding back Draghar's attack. Saugrar looked at Draghar's shocked expression and spoke;
"How pathetic, you call yourself strong, yet you prey on a child who can't even fight back."
With a powerful upward push of his blade, Saugrar forced Draghar back.
Everyone who saw the figure of their leader immediately cheered in joy and relief, realizing that Saugrar was still alive. Makari, upon seeing this, was on the verge of tears, but he quickly wiped them away with the palm of his hand.
"Saugrar, you bastard, playing the hero... I thought you were dead, damn it!" Makari spoke in a relieved tone after knowing that Saugrar was alive.
"The Lone has arrived!" Someone shouted and immediately everyone erupted into cheers, shouting his nickname, their voices echoing far and wide.
Saugrar raised his hand, and for a moment, everyone stopped cheering his nickname.
"The Lone... huh?" Draghar whisper.
Saugrar glanced back, blood streaking down his forehead, yet he still managed a smile at Rhydian.
"Thank you. What you've done is truly remarkable decision. You are indeed worthy of leading, but for now, your roles ends here. From this moment forward, I will take over."
"S... Saugrar..."
Draghar take a step forward.
"The Lone Wolf... Saugrar, I never thought you'd be the one to take that position." He said.
"Draghar, Kaelar's lapdog... I didn't expect that after groveling at his feet, you'd sink even lower. And now you call yourself a messenger of revelation?"
"You've never changed, Saugrar, your tongue is as venomous as ever... but unfortunately, today is a very unfortunate day for you and this wretched tribe, because you will soon be erased from the face of the earth."
"Prove it. Talk is cheap." Saugrar said, his face showing zero fear against them.
"You–" Draghar snarled.
Suddenly someone shouted, and the atmosphere erupted into cheers, as if the spirit they had lost moments ago had returned with Saugrar's arrival.
"We will not submit... try to wiped us out, because we will fight until not a single one of us remains." Someone shouted.
The winged man standing to the right of Draghar's walked forward, trailing a line in his wake as he dragged his sword into the ground.
"Move aside, Draghar. I'll finish this man and crush all their hopes."
"Calm down, Caraxes, it will be difficult to fight this guy." Draghar said.
"Shut up, you don't have the right to command me." He said.
"Can we end this talk and start the war already?" Xurmag muttered.
"How impatient." Draghar said.
Makari walked forward and stopped beside Saugrar while holding a sword.
"We're all waiting for your command... Saugrar."
Saugrar tightened his grip on his sword. He ignored Makari and looked at the three noble-clad men instead.
"Come on, I'll take all three of you on at once... alone."
"Oh, how arrogant." Draghar said.
Makari's eyes wide open, and everyone was left stunned and dazed.
"Hey, what are doing, Saugrar? Alone?" Makari said, Astounded.
Saugrar spun around and showed himself to everyone, raising his sword while spoken;
"From this moment on, I will face everything myself... I command all of you to withdraw and leave me be. This is a command that must not be disobeyed."
"What?" Everyone was flabbergasted to hear that orders from their leader itself.
Makari grasped Saugrar's shoulder.
"What are you doing, Saugrar? Do you even realize how dangerous this is? You could be killed–"
"This is an order."
"B... but–"
"Have you forgotten who I am?"
Makari frozen in place.
"We accept your order, sir." Soren said.
"I appreciate it." Saugrar spoke.
"Transform and we will retreat!" Soren shouted.
"Hey... w... wait." Makari flustered.
In an instant, despite their hesitation, they cast their doubts and began to transform. Their claws lengthened and sharpened, grey fur burst through their flesh and spread across their bodies, and tails slowly emerged and extended behind them. Their fangs grew, and the young ones, unable to fully transform, clung to their parents' back.
In mere moment, they had all become wolves, and the sound of howls filled the entire area.
"They've already transformed." Xurmag said.
However, the small boy who had thrown the object approached Makari and clung tightly to his leg, trembling in fear. Saugrar met Makari's eyes.
"You have to transform too, Makari."
Makari clenched tightly his grip.
"Are you sure, Saugrar... that you'll fight this alone?" He said.
"I'm positive."
"If that's so..."
Makari turned his face.
"Makari... If I don't come back, you'll be the next 'The Lone.'"
Makari's eyes widened, his hand trembled and clenched his jaw.
"You better not die, dumbass."
Saugrar didn't reply. Makari lifted the boy onto his shoulders and ran in the opposite direction of Saugrar... In that moment, all the wolves took the opportunity to flee into the forest.
"Hey, they tried to escaped." Xurmag said in panicked.
"Damn it." Draghar snarled.
Caraxes didn't waste any time and surged forward, using his wings to chase them. A shadow leapt toward him; he glanced to the side and saw Saugrar's sword nearly at his neck. He jerked his head back and came to a stop, dragged slightly backward. Saugrar was already standing in front of the three of them.
Saugrar swing his sword.
"You all are my opponents... if you want them, you'll have to step over my dead body first."
"Fuck..." Caraxes snarled.
Makari had already put distance between himself and Saugrar, running into the forest. The boy let out a cry from atop his shoulder.
"The Lone will die..." The boy cried.
Makari lowered his head, the boy's shout ringing painfully in his ear. He tried to calm the boy down.
"Kid, what's your name?"
"Aidel."
"Aidel... huh, what a good name. Do you want to know something, Aidel?" Makari said. "Want to know what Saugrar was called before he became 'The Lone'?"
"What is it?"
"People called him Saugrar The Warrior... and that is why he could never be easily defeated."
"Is that true?" The boy asked.
"Of course."
Hearing that, the boy began to smile.
"Well, if that's so... I hope The Lone will kill that demon."
"Absolutely, he will." Makari said. "Hang on tight."
Makari transformed into a wolf, carried the boy on his back, and dashed away from the area.
Draghar walked slowly towards Saugrar. The wind blew fiercely, carrying dust and shards of earth swirling between them. The sky darkened, as if it too wanted to witness what was about to happen.
"What a coward step... they all stood before me like a warrior, but in the end they all ran away, leaving their leader alone. Pathetic." He said.
"Well, if we kill this guy now, we'll still have time to chase them." Xurmag said.
Saugrar lifted his sword and brought one leg back.
"Come on... Let's see who will be the first to fall."
Saugrar tightened his grip.
Old man, I finally understand what it means to carry the burden of being The Lone. But it seems I've realized it too late... for soon, we will probably meet again, even though I don't want to see your face yet.