Story Update
"The Black Swordsman"
The horde of slugs kept coming and coming without end, becoming more and more eager to feast on the group, but if nothing else, backup had come in the form of the group who had infiltrated the penitentiary, coming with a tall, imposing figure in black armor traveling with them. With the additional forces jumping into the fray to lend a helping hand, Guts placed his hands on the massive sword hanging from his back, lifting it up.
To some, it might have bore resemblance to a Greatsword or a Crypt Blacksword, but it was one of a kind. It was the Dragon Slayer.
Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. It was much too big to be called a sword. It was like a heap of raw iron.
WHOOSH!
Approaching the scene slowly, coolly, Guts swung his sword overhead, four hundred pounds worth of reinforced metal slamming onto the ground with a loud
clank sound, easily squashing a few of the slugs underneath its unbelievable weight. Then, keeping it on the ground, he dragged it to the side, sweeping up even more monsters with its length and finally completing his swing, slamming the monsters into the side of a nearby building at such force that its form essentially exploded on contact.
Curiously enough, it wasn't until Guts's appearance that it felt like the odds had been tipped in the group's favor, as it was then that a shrill shriek was heard in the air, not from any individual slug, but rather... just, in the air, like a floating voice.
"RRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!"
Still, it was difficult to ascertain the source of the shriek immediately, at least not until the amount of monsters suddenly began to lessen as everyone continued fighting, and the fight became easier over time, until they eventually subsided, leaving nothing but their remains in the form of a disgusting green goo, most likely their blood.
"..."
With the monsters finally gone, silently putting his massive sword back up without much word, Guts (almost humorously) casually walked over to the center where Lucatiel and Siegward were keeping care of the marked woman, who cowered behind them during the fight, continuing to make unintelligible groans and guttural sounds like a frightened animal or infant. Looking past them, Guts merely extended out his arm, but the marked woman only stared at him, still scared. This continued for a few more seconds while everyone else gathered their bearings, until Guts sighed, speaking again, this time in a far gentler tone than what those who freed him from the penitentiary might have been used to.
"Casca... Come on. We need to go," he said softly, still holding his hand out. With another infantile grunt, the marked woman, named Casca, slowly, reluctantly, took Guts's hand, walking with him as he then turned around, back to the front gate of the town where everyone had initially come from.
"U-Um, excuse me... You... Are you the... the one we've been looking for?" Miki piped up, calming down now that the slugs were finally dead, even if it took her a small while.
Guts stopped briefly, turning his head back to the little girl, letting out a breath.
"The Black Swordsman. You found him alright, but just call me Guts," he said curtly.
"Whoa... H-He's so cool, Mii-kun! I wonder how long it took him to make that prop?! I want a prop just like that! Ne ne, do you think I'd be able to get one just like that from the theater department?!"
"Let's talk about that later, Yuki-senpai..."
"We need to get out of here. I don't feel very inclined to be around when these people wake up, covered in slime and filth," Guts said, eager to leave.
"Whatever gets me away from all this!" Puck exclaimed, before looking toward every unfamiliar face, as in, everyone who didn't go to the penitentiary. Crossing his arms, the elf pursed his lips as he floated in place for a brief moment.
"I'm guessing you can all see me too... Name's Puck! Nice to meet you all! And that twerp over there is Isidro!"
"Who you callin' a twerp?! I'll swat you into the ground!!" Isidro, the boy from the market, exclaimed as Puck also introduced himself (in an unceremonious fashion) to everyone around.
While Isidro and Puck clashed together in the background, Constantine sighed, wiping his hands on his brown longcoat as he jogged toward Guts.
"Well, well, Black Swordsman. Looks like Skullie was right on the money, you're useful at least. But... one question. How were you able to ward off those ghastly buggers? The moment you started wailin' on 'em, there was that shriek outta nowhere, like... somethin' else was hurting. Reckon any idea on what it was?"
"His sword... I never imagined there would exist a weapon in this world that could sever my connection to my own minions!!"
Suddenly, a haggard voice was heard in the air, before yet another new face appeared before everyone. As in, literally, a floating head, transparent as though it were some sort of ghost or projection, floated from the sky and appeared before everyone, eyes practically caved into his own head as he looked particularly at Constantine.
"Constantine... So good of you to follow me across worlds just to see me. If I didn't know any better, I'd think that... you wanted something from me!"
Quickly, Constantine's usual relaxed demeanor was replaced by one of anger, as he gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes, glaring intensely at the floating head ghost.
"Quit playin' games, Faust! You weren't runnin' your laughing gear so easily the last time we met!"
"Ah, but now... Things have changed, haven't they? Oh, yes... Things have certainly changed... The odds are in my favor now!"
"What... What are you talking about?! Where's Za--?!"
"If you want to find me, then come get me! If you can, that is. I could be anywhere, of course. On the other side of the world, or closer than you think," the voice of the man called "Faust" cackled,
"Now that I know exactly just who I'm up against, I can have... the Master make preparations."
"Master...?! Who in the bloody hell are you talking about?!"
"Patience, dear Constantine. You'll see soon enough. You'll all see soon enough. IT IS YOUR FATE!" Faust cackled once again, before the projection of his disembodied head disappeared abruptly, his laugh ringing in the air and gradually fading out from there.
Clicking his tongue in frustration, Constantine buried his gloved hands in his face for a moment, a sign of exasperation, before pulling away, sighing and shaking his head, and then turning to face the group.
"... We should go," he said, not feeling up to elaborating on who he was speaking to, and what his deal was,
"The enemy -- my enemy, at least -- knows where we are. They'll be tracking us like bloody cat and mouse."
"I know a place. Or rather... of a place where we can go," Guts said after the exchange was complete,
"I don't know if it'll lead you people to this so-called greater evil that you're looking for, but it's where I'm headed. Follow if you want. I don't care."
"Friendly chap, ain't he? Wish we got a shining white knight instead of this bugger."
Clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention (assuming they'd been idling about), Constantine cleared his throat.
"Alright, lads! No time like the present! Let's hightail it outta here! Maybe the next town over will be friendlier next time, eh?" He said, before beginning to follow Guts and his crew, lighting a cigarette on his way.
And thus, there left the town, a completely desolate place where everyone was asleep.
A town where no one was awake.
As the sun set and the night came, it was agreed upon that the group ought to camp out once again for the night, and reach their next destination -- wherever Guts was leading them -- tomorrow. Constantine was reluctant to do so, seeming restless and reluctant to stay in one spot for a long time, but eventually, he relented, realizing he was rather tired as well.
And so, that was that.
The group was free to interact with each other or their so-called guides as they pleased as they relaxed for the night, in hopes of putting the horrific sights they faced earlier today behind them, and to be able to overcome whatever other monsters awaited them the next.
