MTLNOVEL Chapter 9: Perfect Recall!
– Flashback –
That day, the sun was shining brightly, yet there was no wind breezing in the air, sweeping the rotten leaves on the ground. The bird who usually chirped melodiously was also gone, leaving the complex of the Kurata tribe in a peaceful silence. At that time, Hansa who just did his usual thing – stirring something in his cauldron for his potion – couldn't help but frown. Somehow, despite the peaceful atmosphere around here, he could feel trouble brewing in the air.
True enough, his peaceful afternoon was finally disturbed when some younglings from his tribe suddenly barged into his house rudely. "ELDER HANSA! Can you come with us?! We need your presence in the Eldra tribe's place! They are about to wreak havoc!"
All the muscles on his face wrinkled as Hansa furrowed his brows. Seventy years he had been living here and maintaining the peace in the west side of the Meteor City together with the Eldra tribe, never had Hansa found himself in serious trouble that threatened the harmony between two tribes. Curious, he jumped over the desk in front of him and rushed. "Come on, youngling! What are you waiting for?! Let's see what is going on here!"
The young man had his jaws dropped at how fast Hansa could move. Even though the old man had already passed 80 years old, he still could move faster than any of the Kurata warriors except for Shira. The young man didn't know whether it was a pure physical ability or enhanced by a fine control of wind magic, but nonetheless, he was impressed by what he had seen.
It didn't take a long walk before the peaceful atmosphere was gone. Even before Hansa entered the Eldra tribe's hamlet, he could hear the heated argument there. However, what made him frown was the weak pleas he heard from the infirmary, and by the sound of it, he could identify at least more than ten people were lying in the bed.
'What in the hell is happening here?!'
"BASTARD! I KNOW THAT THIS IS YOUR MEN's DOING! JUST ADMIT IT AND HAND THE CULPRIT TO ME, AND YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE OUR WRATH!" Hansa could hear the roar which he identified as coming from the Eldra tribe's leader.
"AND I TELL YOU WE DON'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT THIS! WHAT IS THERE TO ADMIT IF WE ARE NOT EVEN GUILTY?!" Now, that was the voice Hansa was familiar with. 'Still, what made Shira lose his calm like this?' For all Hansa knew, Shira was always a calm-headed man even when he was in his teenage years. So, for his successor to snap like this, there must be something big happening here.
When Hansa finally arrived, though, he was surprised that the leaders of the two tribes were already at each other's throats. Well… Not literally, of course. Instead, a spear was drawn by Shira while the Eldra tribe had his gauntlet in his hand already, both were ready to fight. The violent astral energy radiating from those two was enough to knock out everyone who was weak enough around there. Hansa narrowed his eyes toward those two before he hit them with the ladle he brought from his house.
"OUCH!"
"OW! WHO THE HELL DARE TO HIT ME?!"
"I dare, you buffoon!" Hansa snarled, hitting the big man from the Eldra tribe once again with his ladle. "I know you moron have always had trouble using your brain, but for once, think! Your men who are in the infirmary have already had trouble breathing, and you make it harder for them!"
Eldra tribe's leader – Kali – was so dumbfounded by Hansa's words that he himself forgot about the pain from the second hit. "What do you mean they have trouble breathing?" He asked, whispered. Horror could be seen in his face as he waited for Hansa's answer.
"That is what I am saying!" Hansa huffed in exasperation. "Their breath is getting weaker as you both are talking here! If we didn't do anything, they would lose their breath in a few minutes, and you can say goodbye to them!"
A pin-drop silence fell as Kali proceeded Hansa's words. When everything finally sunk into his head, the leader of the Eldra tribe jumped immediately and rushed to the infirmary without saying any other words. The magic he unconsciously used to boost his speed somehow managed to blast the ground there, creating a strong wind that would blow up some buildings if Hansa and Shira didn't redirect it.
'Man, what a temperamental boy.' Hansa sighed tiredly. Then, he turned at Shira who was still confused before barking, "What the hell are you waiting for here, you Brat?! Let's go and see the condition of his subordinates!"
"Yes, Sir!"
They rushed and followed Kali from behind, and when those three arrived at the infirmary, they were stunned by the sight in front of them.
"Urgh… Help…"
"Why is everything spinning like crazy…"
"I cannot hold it back anymore… Urgh!"
The scene in front of them was quite tragic. Twenty-two strong, proud warriors of the Eldra tribe could be seen with their faces pale and weak, lying in their beds. Their breaths were shallow, some gasped for air, while others coughed up blood into the straw. Hell, a few laid still, their eyes closed, no longer breathing.
Kali stared at his men blankly, not knowing how to react. His knuckles turned white as he clutched it too tightly, yet he didn't even notice that. His face was a mask of helplessness and anger as he had never seen anything like it. His tribe had no healers, and no knowledge of what ailed his men. He just knew his men were dying.
Then, suddenly, Kali did the unexpected. He turned around, facing the two men from the Kurata tribe with a blank face. Before those two could say anything, though, he roared and lunged at those two. First, he kicked Hansa with full force to throw the old man out of the infirmary, then before the two men from the Kurata tribe could react, Kali grabbed Shira's shoulder by force and shoved him against the rough, wooden wall of the infirmary.
BRAK!
"You! You did this, didn't you?" Kali's voice was a growl. "Poison! Only your cowardly clan would stoop to such a dishonorable trick!"
Shira gasped as he felt his lungs burn, couldn't breathe properly. Out of instinct, Shira grabbed Kali's massive arms and used them as a lever to lift up his body and used the momentum to launch a high kick straight to Kali's jaw. That alone shouldn't be a problem for Kali due to the massive difference in his weight compared to Shira's weight. However, Shira was clever enough to enhance his kick with the wind power, adding the burst to replicate the effect of an uppercut punch straight to the jaw. This resulted in Kali having to release his grip from Shira's shoulder, giving time for the leader of the Kurata tribe to breathe.
"I TELL YOU, KALI! *Cough!* THIS IS NOT OUR DOING! WHY WOULD WE DO THAT TO OUR ALLY?!" He roared in frustration.
Kali ignored him, his face contorted with grief and fury. "You wanted to weaken us, right?! To steal our land!" The gauntlet on his hand suddenly shone brightly as he gathered his astral energy for a big attack next. "My warriors are dying! And you, you treacherous dog, will pay!"