The next day, nine o'clock in the morning, when a light fog fell over a small newly built village, the sound of the ocean, a guard in a white-blue cuirass and a silver helmet with a feather attached to his helmet, walking with two companions holding wood with them, watched the ocean where the last mist was disappearing and with it the last questions that swirled in the head of the commander of the guards.
- well, put these boards here in an hour our people will start to assemble another of the warehouses and then we'll get down to paving. Said the commander constantly looking at the ocean.
The other soldiers did as their commander advised them, laid planks in front of the empty space of the newly built harbor and watched with him the ocean where the mist was dissipating with every moment.
- and how's the boss, you're still thinking about those three lunatics, there's nothing to worry about them, I guess. Said one of the commanding soldier's subordinates.
- I know, probably nothing to worry about them, on the other hand, pirates were seen there and if not them, then this desert, I wonder what made this man, wolf and this funny cat go there. said the captain, now watching the high cliff near the harbor and the dry riverbed through the dam that had been built.
- our king knows what he's doing, but they probably don't, the rest is none of our business at the moment. Said the subordinate and the rest of his companions dispersed around the newly built port in accordance with previous orders.
Even though it wasn't about any of their duties, the commander constantly wondered about one thing, if he let the three wanderers go alone, if it was a good idea, wouldn't it be better if he went with them, accompanied by his soldiers, guards, on the other side and he had his duties but he didn't know what was happening in the city, if he knew, if Puss or anyone else told him about the events in the city of Lunkhald, surely he and all his subordinate guards would have gone with the three wanderers without a second thought, but the current news from five days ago spread rather slowly and by order of the tyrant himself, for nothing was certain now, and his success as well as his failure were on a thin line.
- I know, they probably know what they're doing on the other side, well, it doesn't matter. Said the captain of the guards.
The commander was about to leave and leave the current internal dispute for later, when his subordinates suddenly shouted pointing at something in the sea.
- Captain, look. said the guard.
The commander looked warily into the water, instead he drew his weapon and shouted to his soldiers, everyone from the newly built port began to run, until twenty guards armed with swords, shields ran to observe a rather unusual sight, one of the guards even pulled his head off in shock his helmet, looking rather amused at the whole situation.
- what is it supposed to be. asked the commander, and the soldier accompanying him shrugged and spoke, observing something that was all too unusual.
- Someone must have had bad luck here. Said the soldier, looking at the approaching group of defeated pirates clinging to the wooden beams and cabin doors, some of them were still sleeping, floating with broken wooden parts glued together, just waking up and waving their arms to reach the port.
When the pirates saw a small harbor and the wooden guards standing in the harbor gasped heavily, and their commander sitting on the top, on the boatswain's belly, drifting on the remains of his ship, purred viciously, raised his hand to the sky and shouted piles of nasty words, aiming them mainly at the three wanderers.
- cyanide, hemlock and Herzegovina, let their cesspool flood. Said the captain in red, the one-eyed Captain Duncan raising his right fist high clenched with his left hand, holding on to a sticking plank, and the soldiers looking at the defeated pirate dripping and his men began to laugh because they never expected it, and one of the soldiers looked at his commander and shook his head.
- Well, now we have nothing to worry about, since the three of them defeated the pirates. Said the soldier taking off his helmet and revealing his white hair to the world.
- exactly, probably not, but remember, the Mirage desert has broken many, the desert is not a man, they can be defeated and outwitted, and the desert, no!, is something else. Said the commander as some of his troops began to pull out the defeated pirates and their commanders one [about another.
When the soldiers tied the hands of a band of overweight pirates, the commander looked again at the high cliffs, at the half-kilometre-high vertical walls and folded his arms wondering if such a place as a desert of mirages is really manageable, but on the other hand, when he looked at the defeated pirates, at the black-haired captain, his rage after the defeat he felt in his bones that it was impossible, it must have already happened, their defeat, the defeat of another ball and chain meant a lot.
- maybe they will manage to overcome the deserts, anyway, what they do there, I don't know, why, I don't know either, but I do know one thing, the king probably knows what he's doing. The commander whispered to himself and then shouted at the bound pirates and his soldiers who began to lead the bound two built warehouses, warehouses intended to store khan goods and today served as a place of detention.
Meanwhile, the desert mirages, three travelers were walking between the dunes, drinking water from canteens more and more often and hot and dry air in the basin, in this greatest depression it turned a long march into the worst hardship in my life, because there is nothing worse than a march through the hot dunes of the desert, maybe apart from that, what else awaited the wanderers led by Oneta by a compass in the hands of an orange striped cat.
The three wanderers were breathing heavily, their steps were getting heavier and heavier, each moment hitting their heads with greater force, Puss in Boots walking on the right took off his hat as well as his black cape and now, with a slightly unsteady step, Puss, waving his hat, walked ahead, but every movement of the hat made him only hit himself with hotter and hotter air, and the rising sun became unbearable to him.
The golden-haired man who accompanied him bunglers everything with his brown eyes, Martin was wiping sweat from his forehead every now and then, holding a black and yellow jacket in his hands, wearing only yellow trousers and more and more tanned skin on his back and chest, Martin was falling more and more with every step strength and his eyes were already playing tricks on him.
Walking from the other side, a silver wolf with a black cloak under his arm and his back exposed to the strong sun felt for the first time in his life the real unfavorable, malicious and even dangerous, because deadly conditions of the terrible desert, when 500 years ago he was here to hide the golden token here never he felt the deadly conditions, because as an immortal he was immune to it, but now, after losing the sickles, synonymous with his power, today he felt on his own skin all that was given to him again after all these years, and again after five hundred years he returned to this unfavorable place to fulfill one of the nightmares he had had the day he found the token and had visions, but now his pale eyes began to tremble slightly because he saw something that only mortals usually saw, and it was the first of the mirages, the greatest of the pitfalls of this place.
- What?, Keira, you're here. Death asked, looking at the running figure of a more confident hyena in a brown dress.
- Wait, Keira!. Death shouted before Puss tripped him.
Death thundered down on the hot sand of the desert and jumped up quickly, first looking across the deserts in hopes of finding the love he had lost long ago, and then channeling all his anger at the orange striped cat, drawing one of his swords.
- what did you do best, me, she was here, you!, what?. Said Death as he felt a slight prick on his face in front of him as Puss in Boots hit him once and twice in the face.
- get over it, she wasn't and isn't real!. shouted Puss in Boots right into the silver wolf's face and he squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip.
- I miss her so much, please do you really have to stand in my way. Death asked, and Puss spun around as he heard and saw his other companion, with a slight tan on his back, walking uncontrollably in the wrong and inconsistent direction.
- Martin!. Shouted Puss in Boots.
Martin didn't listen, instead he started to run seeing before him only the mirage of his beloved daughter of the king, it was Jessica, a red-haired young girl in a blue dress, Martin threw himself into her arms and as he did he felt only the impact of sand thrown by the cat which he was now brushing off his right paw and Martin jumped as if struck by hot earth.
- damn it, Puss, what are you doing, what are we doing here, I saw her!. Martin screamed as he suddenly sobered, took a small sip from his ever-empty canteen, and his fear reflected in his brown eyes.
- I don't know what's going on here, but I think we're experiencing what's most dangerous here, that's what this desert gets its name from, it's mirages, illusions, we can't let it defeat us, do you hear Perrito, Kitty?. Puss asked, releasing the compass from his left paw and looking at two familiar figures, black and white Kitty and light brown Perrito in a sock, who were now staring at him with great anger, anger in their eyes, walking away into the unknown, leaving alone the orange cat with ever larger green eyes eyes.
- no please, don't leave me, please. Shouted Puss as he suddenly got caught by Death himself, being lifted high and punched in the face by the man.
Puss suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at the one who hit him, Martin looked at his hand, not being happy about it, and Death, after a quick check of his companion, put the orange cat on the ground, closing his eyes for a moment because he knew what they had to fight with today.
- we can't let it defeat us, the mirages of this place are the biggest problem. Death said with his eyes closed.
- but how to overcome it, again I see, no!. Martin shouted closing his eyes as well but when the images disappeared oh horror the mirages started to grow whisper in their ears.
- how to fight it. Martin asked, putting his hands to his ears and his jacket before dieting.
- I once heard a story of a man who got lost on a glacier with his companions, he said that only talking about the most difficult topic helped to chase away nightmares, we have to talk about what we see. Puss said as his eyes suddenly widened, he grabbed his compass and tapped the legs of the silver wolf and the man in chewy pants.
- come on let's go and listen, I, I wasn't always what I am now, I was stupid, very stupid, I lost so many, many of my lives, but I know it was all for a reason, just like you, Death, when you were chasing me. He said Puss in Boots and his words had both Martin and Death wide-eyed and followed him listening to the words.
- what you said, I also did, led to your transformation. Said Death and his focus made another mirage of his beloved disappear for a while.
- yes, when I was running away, when I was heading for the only chance I understood then and with every step how many mistakes I made, I changed that day, also thanks to you, Death made me free from myself what I was before, today I understand how much can be lost in in one second, because life is so fragile, it's so short, and so now I wonder why the world is chasing after gold that is not given to it forever, why is it so afraid of lies and fear Greed, let it be cursed. Puss in Boots said, thinking more and more about everything until his thoughts and full anger directed at Greed disappeared for a moment because he felt the hand of a silver wolf on his right shoulder.
- you're right Puss, the world has gone blind, stupid, all because of Greed and his system, and now Gary Williams, everything must be done to stop them, their fear, the greatest force that rules the world, this system and its tyrant confidant with another world, and thank you, today I see so much too, I changed you, thank you for that, come on, there were times when I wanted to make a minced cutlet out of you, well, it doesn't matter. He said Death probably for the first time in his life after his transformation into what he was recently smiling at someone sincerely.
But it was also the moment when the viewers oil mirage going forward Martin suddenly shouted the most important words in his life.
- I love Jessica, and nothing will stop me when it's over!. Martin shouted, and the cat and the wolf looked at him and, walking on, listened impatiently to his words, passing the next dunes according to the directions of the compass.
- me so stupid, so stupid, enough of this, enough passive standing aside, no matter if I win and the Man in the Blue Suit grants my wish or if I lose, when all this is over, I will return to Lunkhald and ask Jessica for her hand and her parents won't stop us, I won't procrastinate anymore since life is so short. Said Martin clenching his hands tightly as he marched more and more across the desert, and the silver wolf and orange cat walking beside him were also full of their own determination going just as fast against the ever stronger heat into the desert place, further resisting the mirages, the illusion of a treacherous place.
- it's never worth waiting with anything, it's worth loving, forgiving, taking revenge?, one thing is certain, it's not worth postponing many things for later, as well as dreams, come with one dream, others come true, that's what a certain man told me once, a certain trader who said me something else. Puss said, gaining the attention of the others as he leads them all by himself guided by the compass in his left paw.
- What do you mean. Martin asked.
- if there was a way to prolong life, to rejuvenate people, and this would require making potions from other people, man would do a lot of bad things, because fear and lies will always be there, but if there were no such fear and lies, the world would have a choice, yes like our world is supposed to, but that doesn't mean it would be better, having a choice you can also do evil, and you know what I'm going to tell you now. Puss in Boots said, directing the full attention of the two companions to himself, silently for a moment.
- what do you mean, Puss, tell us. Death said.
- Come on, tell me what's on your mind. Martin asked, widening his eyes and wiping sweat from his forehead.
- and the fact that this trader was really him, the Man in the Blue Suit, made me realize one truth, that having a choice, you can also do bad things, hurt some for others, because a world where everyone is fed is a utopia, but possible because only a madman can do it, a madman!. shouted Puss in Boots telling about the last words of the trader who was really the Man in the Blue Suit and these questions began to bother everyone until suddenly Death shouted at the top of their voice to drive away their mirages.
- Keira!. Death grunted as he walked faster and faster towards the last dunes he had known, flashing back to the last day he was normal and left his beloved in search of a cure.
- I remember her to this day, even though so many years have passed, she was beautiful, beautiful, she was an extraordinary being who carried me in her arms, and I changed so much, but what happened that day left a deep scar on me, worse than the blow of a blade under the ribs. Said Death, breathing heavily, evident as his chest heaved rhythmically and his silver paws tightened on the black cloak held in his right paw.
- what actually happened, no, you don't have to tell. Martin said himself not wanting to face the nightmare because he was just as close to it, because his beloved Jessica almost died from the power of an unknown virus from another world.
- listen to me, what is difficult is behind you, but sometimes you have to face it, look at it with courage and understand. He said Puss in Boots but now he was afraid for Kitty and what might happen to her on the other side and anything bad could be possible now.
- you're right, I couldn't help her, Keira was leaving in my arms, and I couldn't help her in those ancient times when the world was very young, then I did something stupid, unnecessary because I shouldn't have left her, and when I came back holding I never found her again. Death said closing his eyes tightly from the great pain that hit him now as all the memories that had been blocked until that day came back.
Seeing and hearing the pitiful words of the silver wolf, they felt the same fight because either they were close to it or everything bad could just happen and now, but one more thing appeared in the eyes of the golden-haired man, and hearing and analyzing everything, Martin suddenly looked at the silver wolf and spoke, sharing his discovery.
- since you were an ordinary mortal in those days, it means only one thing, mortal processes have always been there, and without you everything will go on, unless you use magic, alchemy or this so-called technology and you reach immortality. Martin said and Death suddenly growled full of mixed anger and regret.
- don't blaspheme, without me this world would be a shadow of itself, and if it wasn't for Love and its power, I would suffer so much today and I wouldn't have to compete in the current race, everything would be different. Death said, taking his eyes off the two companions.
- but still, since without you everything continued and continues in its natural order, I guess. Martin said as he suddenly met the sharp gaze of the silver wolf and though his eyes were now pale they were a constantly terrifying image that had Martin averting his eyes from the rabid wolf, all anger and mixed emotions interrupted by Puss in Boots himself asking a simple yet difficult question.
- tell me one thing, do you regret that you loved her, you feel sorry for Love. asked Puss a Death until he stopped in place as his eyes quivered as did his jaw.
There was silence for a moment, interrupted by a strange hushed howl, until suddenly Death looked at the orange cat and its green eyes, still silent.
- you know, I don't regret it, even if I lose her, and I admit that I am afraid for Kitty, I am afraid for everyone, for Perrito, for her in particular, is it wrong to be afraid for someone you love, is it wrong, even when you suffer after the loss of a loved one, it is the natural order of things and probably nothing will change it. Puss in Boots said.
- if you suffer and feel sorry for Love, you really feel sorry for yourself because as you said, you didn't stay with her to the end. Martin said and his words knocked the silver wolf down to his knees and all the visions suddenly piled up in one place because what Martin said was true as well as what Puss said but now the guilty silver wolf had a chance to make amends mistakes and it was all too close.
Death suddenly took off running to the first of the great granite peaks, twenty meters high rock monoliths resembling carved statues, seeing a competitor running, Martin immediately gave chase, and despite the beating heat and newly formed mirages, everything was focused on only one truth, which was the circle of granite columns where in the very center rested the object of power, which was their main goal and a chance to defeat the great tyrant.
- oh, we all have so much in common and yet they fall into this stupid competition again, who is the Man in a Suit to us. Puss asked before he started to dash across the strangely chilled desert, as he crossed the last dune and approached the circle of six granite columns forming a great circle the size of a football field, Puss felt more and more as he ran, this change of conditions at one point he even looked back when he put on his black cape and hat and his two companions stopped in front of the circle itself where there was no more sand and instead there was a big granite disc forming a huge arena and the centerpiece where on a small podium rested a gold LV token.
- nothing has changed since then, it's as if time has stopped. Said Death, stepping slowly and warily into the circle of granite.
- this is where you left the token, but why, because you were afraid to use its power and send an immortal to us. Puss in Boots asked, looking warily at the podium where the gold token rested.
- exactly when a certain object fell from the sky and was never a star I experienced a vision, the vision showed me that this object will summon an immortal to our world and he will break everything, see for yourself, an immortal man!, that in itself breaks all the rules, it too much, it shouldn't be like that and now I have to use his power, it shouldn't be like that, I think this man has been playing with us from the beginning. Said Death, looking cautiously at the podium no more than at his two competitors.
- either way, today we have to decide. said Martin grabbing his sword but when he drew it the sword shattered into hundreds of pieces just like Puss and Death's weapons and the Man in the Blue Suit landed on one of the pillars looking at everyone with his gray eyes changing first to a reflection of space then back to gray Eyes.
- why I'm doing this you'll never understand, I'm more than the cosmos itself in that regard, if I told you this you wouldn't understand it anyway for this I'm Beyond It All, I'm That Beyond It All, and this is your arena, it's time to start a duel for a prize. Said The Beyond It All, The Man in the Blue Suit, spreading his hands and showing the golden token lying on the podium, they themselves materialized from nothingness a silver pistol loaded with ammunition, six bullets to be enough for each of the opponents, and with them came the necessary knowledge of how to use them.
Everyone, Puss in Boots, Death and Martin looked at each other and their weapons, understanding everything that was happening now, but would not agree to such a thing.
- why are you doing this to us, do we have to kill each other so that one of us can reach for the power of the token!, you are crazy!. Martin shouted, stretching his right hand up.
- I'm more than a madman, I'm beyond all this and you do your best because time is running out, your Jessica will hang in an hour, then. The Man in the Suit said, and Martin shuddered because that wasn't what he wanted to hear.
- no!, just not why you're doing this to us, why are you doing this to me!. shouted Martin, and his horror was met with a similar look from Puss and Death, for they too understood what the stranger, the Man in the Suit, was up to.
- as I said, you have even less time, he's coming, he's coming, Gary Williams, he's getting closer because he lost out there, they ran away but now you, you, must decide the fate of this world as it should be. Said the Man in the Suit and his voice was both imperious and empty now, as if to mix everything in it, power, superiority and at the same time emptiness and lack of any emotions, that is, the perfection and superiority of machines, but his present statement made Puss in Boots breathe deeply because he knew that his beloved is safe, but he did not know one thing.
- well, you don't want to see your beloved again Mr. Martin, you won't fight for your Death either, tell me today. Said the Man in the Suit calmly, but still his voice shook everything around the place and the columns.
- I gave you a chance to fight, I changed the conditions of this place, it's not so hot and steamy here anymore, go ahead, you can cover yourself with clothes again and then fight as I want, go ahead, hurry up, he's getting closer, come on. Said the Man in the Blue Suit, his voice turning from a scream to a whisper.
Death and Martin glanced at each other, put on a black coat and jacket, and then began to encircle the circle, standing with Puss between the podium where the gold token rested, and the ground beneath Puss in Boots trembled slightly, rising so that now the orange striped cat stood level with his opponents and the Man in the Suit started whistling tunes from a certain movie and the three opponents looked at each other, bringing their hands together and waiting for only one.
Meanwhile, on one of the highest mountains of the south, overlooking the great desert of mirages, a black hog in a white suit with gold chains around his neck, diamond rings was standing on top, his golden eyes seething with fury because his long built world seemed to break, but he could not but nothing was in his hands right now, and that was the worst thing today, because if it wasn't for the Man in the Suit, Greed would have played it differently, he would have personally gone after Love himself and destroyed the gold token, but the rules were what they were for what Greed could only watch the horizon furiously, and his eyes saw the impossible.
- who are you to make them do this, no, you're not crazy, that would be too easy, but who, the cosmos?, something more?, what's your point. Greed asked as his golden eyes trembled seeing the Man in the Blue Suit sitting on one of the granite columns, a man of incredible power, power, and today forcing friends, enemies, competitors to mortal combat.
For a moment, Greed began to tremble because his head, finishing the analysis, gave him one of many options, possibilities.
- are you a sadist, are you playing with worlds, do you want to destroy us all, or is it an attempt, destroy, and if not, impossible. Greed said to himself as he covered his face with his greasy hand, looking back at the steel spaceship and crystal cocoon holding the terrifying creature within.
- is it all set up to destroy us all, or is it even more ridiculous, do you want to strike the cycles of this world, something you already said, processes and so on, is that what you mean, tell me who you are , what do you mean. Greed asked until he shivered as the cry of the man in the Suit spread across the sky, demanding a fight, a duel, everything, something he had not expected, and after his call, another roar shook the sky and the earth.
Greed looked up at the sky and saw a man from another world rushing, it was Gary Williams regaining his full powers, now he was rushing to the circle of six granite columns to stop the inevitable, or rather the inevitable, for now the fate of all was in another hand, the hands of man and his ally but one Greed had never seen today, what the Man in the Blue Suit really gave, free true choice, and those terrible yellow eyes opening as the terrifying being trapped in a block of crystalline sandstone opened them watching everything around her, watching the one who used its venom to spread a pandemic throughout the kingdom.
It didn't change one thing, the decision because the whole world will fall on that day and with the end of one and the beginning of another, and even the paralysis and destruction of all cycles, and there will be no more after that.
L
Why does the Man in the Blue Suit force everyone to duel, why does he play with everyone like toys, really must have been the first time he got out of my control, my multiple personality, and that's how he talks.