Chapter 48

Pulling his chains to the point of breaking his arms, Bols tried to free himself by all means, including pulling his limbs and crawling to the exit. For him, no matter how much pain he feels, he will do what he can to make sure his family is well.

" I have to protect her! I will not abandon them! "

Suddenly he stopped when the door to his cell opened. Seeing Natsu enter, with Happy on his shoulder, the man roared.

" What do you want from me? "

" Hum? You seem more angry than usual! "

" Of course I am! You keep me from going to see my family while killers are in town! "

Then gritting his teeth, he cried.

" You want me to join the revolutionary army, right? In this case, can you see if my family is doing well? "

" Hein? "

" If you protect my family, I would fight by your side! promised the man! You have my word ! But I beg you…! "

Bowing to Natsu, he implored him.

" Save my family! "

Seeing him do so, Natsu then approached him and crouched down before taking an arm. Raising the arm, he approached Happy, who hastened to put a key in the handcuffs surrounding his wrists. A click was immediately heard, while Bols watched in amazement as the chain fell to the ground.

" That … ? "

" Your teigu is in the corridor! " Assured Happy.

" And there is a horse outside! adds Natsu! The others are in the middle of a strategic meeting! So run away in silence and join the capital! It is south of the base! "

" That … ? Why are you doing this ? We are enemies! "

" If someone is ready to risk his life for the good of his family, then I forbid myself to stop him! " Natsu told him! " However, there are conditions! First, you must not get in touch with any other Jaeger! Second, if possible, try to make sure no one recognizes you! Third, don't tell anyone the way to get here! And fourth, come back there, with your family! "

" That … ? "

" Najenda will be furious to learn that you have been released! " Affirmed Happy! " Nevertheless, she has a big heart! She will send your family to another base where they can be safe! "

" And in exchange, we just ask you to help us next, okay? " Asked Natsu.

Seeing that they really let him go, Bols' mask moistened as he sobbed.

" Thank you ! I don't know how to thank you! "

" Forget! Hurry up just before someone realizes you are missing! "

" Okay ! Thanks again ! "

Then leaving his cell, Bols caught Rubicante in the process, before running towards the exit. Seeing him do it, Happy asked, however.

" Do you think it's really good to let him go? "

" Do not worry ! Even if he decides to stay in town, I know he will never say where we are! And then, for me, he's a guy with only one word! "

Taking advantage of the fact that the meeting had just ended, Leone began to do a little jogging in the corridors of the base, while asserting.

" I have to get stronger! "

Then placing her hand on the place where Esdeath had managed to pierce her stomach, the young woman affirmed.

" I was completely useless during this fight! I only received blows! I must harden myself! Yes, let me become even stronger! "

Taking its animal form, it roars.

" I will become someone even stronger than Natsu! Let's go for an intense training! "

But, at that moment, his sense of smell perceived a suspicious odor.

"But ... that smell!" "

Turning her face towards a window, she saw Bols settle on a horse before running it, straight towards the direction of the capital.

" That … ? Bowls ...? "

Running immediately, she entered the meeting room, where the others were still.

" We have a problem ! Bols has escaped! "

" What? " Most of the people in the room wondered.

" Where is he ? " Wanted to know Najenda.

" He has just left on the back of a horse and seems to be heading towards the capital! "

" Grrr! Let everyone prepare, in this case! If he has just left, we can catch him! He must be stopped before he warns the rest of his team! "

" Yes ! " Said the others, activating immediately.

Remaining hidden in the corridor leading to the room, Natsu and Happy could hear the young woman's orders.

" Natsu! What do we do ? "

" We're following Bols! taught him his friend! We follow him and warn him of the danger! He must surely know a detour to follow to reach the capital without crossing the path of others! But you will have to join him in fourth gear! I count on you ! "

" Aye, sir ! " Said Happy, before the duo opened a window, before leaving the base.

Sprinting without stopping, Wendy and Seryu made the opposite path to return to the town church, where the smoke did indeed come.

" What happened ? We barely left twenty minutes! "

" What do I know? Let's just go ahead and help Father Mory put out the flames! "

However, finally arriving in front of the building, the two girls stopped in an instant. Then, Wendy clapped her hands in front of her face, while her complexion became paler. Beside her, Seryu stood frozen for a few moments before finally falling on her knees.

" Te… Tell me it's a nightmare! "

Before the two girls, the church was indeed going up in smoke. However, it was not the worst. Far from there.

Lying on the ground, the bodies of the children of the church were inert. Some were bathed in pools of blood, while others were completely undressed and showed signs of beatings all over their bodies. And then, just in front of the burning building, crucified on a wooden cross, Mory's body was there, while his body presented a good twenty wounds made with a sword.

" Father Mory! "

Raising his head slightly, the man could show his disfigured face, showing that he had been kicked. Trying to speak, all he did was spit blood.

" Father Mory! " Wendy horrified herself, immediately running towards him.

Frozen, for her part, Seryu could only tremble, while her brain was completely disconnecting.

" That … ? That … ? That … ? "

" Onee… san! "

Lowering his gaze, Seryu could see Natachy's body, right in front of her. The poor child, completely naked, with blue marks all over her body, as well as a torn arm, from which blood was still flowing. But the worst thing for Seryu was to find that her body had traces showing that she had just been raped.

" Na ... Natachy? "

Immediately taking the little girl's body in his arms, Seryu cried out.

" Hang on ! Wendy is here! We will treat you! I swear we will treat you! "

" Onee-san…! " Suddenly stopped the child.

Natachy then smiled at him, whispered.

_Thank you for being such a kind big sister!

Grinning then in pain, the girl spat a stream of blood, which splashed on Seryu's face before letting her head fall to the side. Still holding the child's body, Seryu remained watching him, with a devastated look, before a dark aura appeared around her.

" Justice… Justice… Justice… Justice… JUSTICE! "

Having put her hands on Mory's chest, Wendy began to treat him, while the man sobbed.

" Children…! I couldn't protect the children! "

" Stop talking ! " Wendy ordered him! " Let me take care of you! "

" They killed them all! One of these monsters even raped several of them! I ... I couldn't do anything! "

Bursting in tears, he roared.

" Why is the empire so rotten? A secret police? My ass! Wild Hunt ... I will ... I will make them pay for their crime! "

" Wild Hunt? " Wondered Wendy! " They are the ones who did this? "

" AHHHHHHHHHH! "

Then uttering an immense cry, Seryu began to smash his face against the ground, immediately opening his forehead.

" Children…! Caruma…! "

Gritting her teeth, she let her gaze darken while affirming.

" I will kill them! I'm going to kill them! "

Taken then by a violent migraine, she cried out in pain while the voices in her head reappeared.

" AHHHHHH ! Leave me alone ! I will ... I will kill you all! "

Then getting up, she walked towards the city while screaming.

" I will destroy this city and kill all the evil it entails! FOR THE JUSTICE ! "

Knowing full well that she was serious, Wendy immediately girded her.

" Seryu, stop right now! "

" Leave me! I will kill them all! "

" Calm yourself, damn it! "

" Out of the question ! They will pay for it! All of them! They will pay for it! "

Then suddenly a hand came to rest on his head. Still injured but able to move forward thanks to Wendy's care, Mory had put a hand on Seryu's head, while imploring him.

" Seryu! Please don't get horrible! The people of this city did nothing! "

Turning his face towards him, Seryu then saw him cry, while asserting.

" I am the only one to blame! I always criticized the state of the empire and that must be why these guys came! So please, if you want to pass your rage on someone, do it on me! Do not go to town to demolish everything and endanger the lives of innocent people! Seryu, that's not justice! And that's not what will bring children back to life! "

Ceasing to express only rage on his face, Seryu then saw him fall to his knees, while starting to mope.

" Everything is my fault ! If I hadn't said anything,… the children would still be alive! I am ... I am truly the idiot king! "

Seeing him continue to cry, Seryu fell near him, before hugging him.

" Father Mory… you have always been a real uncle for me! And a real father for all children! None of this is your fault! "

Sobbing in turn, she ends up asking.

" What must I do now ? I'm lost ! I do not know what to do ! My mind tells me to avenge children! My heart tells me to kill these monsters! My brain tells me to kill them! My justice tells me to make them disappear! "

Then turning to Wendy, she questioned him.

" Wendy… what should I do? "

Simply glancing at the bodies of the church children, Wendy said.

" Let's see Wild Hunt! "

Then suddenly the wind enveloped her body, while she let her hair change color.

" Seryu, I hate to do this but ... there is no question that we let these crimes go unpunished! Caruma, Niks, the poor, the children of this city… we will avenge them all! "

Then tempting her hand, she questioned him.

" Seryu, are you coming with me? "

Suddenly jumping on the child's shoulder, Koro pointed to the side he had just chosen, under the astonished gaze of his mistress.

" Wendy? Koro? "

Then clenching her fist, she said.

" Yes ! It seems more than normal to me! This time, I'm sure I'm not going after innocent people! For once, in my life, I will fight the real evil of this city! Come on, get rid of Wild Hunt! "

Running then, she rushed towards the city to find the trace of the disbelievers. Preparing to follow her, Wendy felt Mory grabbing her arm, while shouting.

" Wendy! This bastard from Syura is the Prime Minister's son! Going after him means betraying the whole empire! "

" I already know it ! This will not prevent me from settling his account! "

" No that's not it ! Just ..., after this battle, take Seryu with you! Leave as soon as possible and join Night Raid! "

" Night Raid…? But Seryu? "

" She is not the same anymore! " Assured him Mory! " I know that she will not attack them any more and, on the contrary, she will help you to fight the empire!

" And… What about you? Who will protect you? "

" Do not worry ! I am an adult! And someone has to give these kids the funeral they deserve! Come on, go on, Wendy! Go ahead and don't turn around! Don't worry, we'll see you when you win the war! "

Wavering, Wendy watched him show a confident smile on his face, before finally deciding.

" Father Mory… thank you for everything! We will win, I promise you! "

Then she left, leaving the old man behind her. The latter, having hidden a large wound on his back, continued to smile, despite the fact of feeling his strength diminish.

" Wendy…! I am sure ... you are an angel from heaven! Save what's left of this city! "

Collapsing, he then sank into unconsciousness, while wondering what would await him in the afterlife.

Grinding his teeth in rage, Wave watched a group of people, hanging by their feet, on a stage of public execution.

" What happened here? " The boy roared, noticing that they had been beaten to death.

" Students of the imperial fist! " Recognized them Run! " They were known for their power! Few people could have put them in this state! "

" They met Wild Hunt! " Kurome understood.

" Why ? " Wanted to know Wave! " Why are they doing this? "

" For them, it's the best way to bring Night Raid to them! " Run told him! " They completely underestimate them and think they will win without problem against them, in a head-on battle! These crimes are just bait! "

" They do this to attract… Night Raid? The… the bastards! "

" For the moment, Wild Hunt is mainly attacking groups of people to make as many murders as possible! " Kurome noticed! " Especially if they contain children and young women! "

" But now that they have made themselves known, no one dares to go out into town! noticed Run! Where are they going to go now? "

Reflecting on this question, Wave suddenly widened his gaze, exclaiming.

" Oh no ! "

" What? "

" There is a place in town! A place for a woman and a child! "

Looking at his two companions, he said.

" The Bols family! They always go to his grave at this hour! "