Struggle, But Not Alone

by rancorlover

"Maybe. Maybe you do got to struggle in life. But I sure as learned that going at it alone ain't the answer. It didn't work for me last time, and I'm telling you now. We ain't leaving this fight!" I said this, to the boy I seen grow up before me. The first person I saw from this world. And it was safe to say... We are gonna die. Not my first time though. (Cover Artist on X: NINE )

6. Chapter 6

Struggle, But not Alone

Chapter 6

Yield

Pov: Arthur Morgan

"Charge!"

We moved as a group running past the broken door and howled aloud in union, sending the defenders of the castle running in panic! A few of them dropped the weapons in their hands and split off from their allies.

"Fire!"

Behind us, some of the wall defenders tried shooting us from above. We were already out of their effective range and they didn't get far enough to hit anyone. Even then, they started to pursue us from the inner walkways above the roads of the castle. Us former outlaws attempted to scare them back with our own fire, but the numbers started increasing above!

Bill was quick to call out the command, "Quickly! Down this Alley!"

It was one facing the opposite direction of the incoming forces. Wide enough to allow only two people side by side, perfect for the enemy to ambush us at any given moment. Still, it was either we find ourselves pushed to a wall and die there, or run into unknown territory.

I led the way down, with Guts and the others not far behind me.

"Watch the corners!"

John called out that one just in time. As I moved forward, I miss-stepped at the warning, then a small soldier with an ax hurled his primary weapon down right where I was running to! He was soon hit with a small spread of pellets to his arm. A yell of pain was quickly silenced by another shot from me.

The others rushed past me as I reloaded, with Javier pointing up with his gun firing, "Above us!"

Nobody could react when a rock came down and slammed on one of the bowmen! A crack could be heard as he fell down lifeless, and nobody could do anything to save him as more started falling everywhere above us! Some big, many small. And we were pelted constantly by the small ones. I gazed up to see if I could spot our assailants, but the glare of the sun above blinded me as I looked.

"Keep moving! Go!"

I didn't know who called that out, as the sound of stone hitting rock and flesh drowned the path ahead and behind. Eventually, I had enough and started firing above us. A few screams and bodies fell to the ground as I kept at it. The other gang members picked up on this and started firing as we progressed. Further we went, the fewer piles were dropped, and the figures dropping them on us were no longer protected by the light of the sun. They looked very weak compared to most of the men we had fought, but we still shot them all the same.

In front, Guts called out, "Through the door!"

The sound of a door cracking was heard, followed by a womanly scream. Following the pack, we went through a home belonging to an elderly woman attending to a thin looking man lying on a bed. She was raving at us to leave, beating one of the boys on the head. We paid no mind as Guts found the way out as the place started becoming cramped. He bashed into the exit and we stormed out of the room as more commands were heard in front of us. Not from any of us, but from fearful voices.

"IT'S THE ENEMY!"

"How did they break through so fast!"

"Mommy!"

"Run, Sweetie!"

The crowd we ran into weren't all soldiers, rather the ones that we're, were keeping the citizens away from the fighting. In their panic, almost all the people ran from us while trampling over some of the guards in the back while slipping into nearby doorways. Older men and boys stayed to help with farm tools, such as pitchforks, shovels and whatever could be used to kill a man.

"Keep them back from the church!"

"Kill them!"

A war cry from behind got my attention as I turned around to face a farmer head on, he was about to bring a hammer down on me when I pulled the trigger of my revolver and held the barrel to his face. None of the people knew what was happening, and the confusion led to the entire street we found ourselves on turn into pure mayhem. Our small group tried staying together, holding back the force with our range. They still came close and started breaking us up, making it harder for us to pick them off with our guns. We had no choice but to switch up to close quarters.

I wielded my hatchet once more, blocking a sideways swing from a sword. The head of my little ax moved down to hook around the blade, and I pulled the double edged weapon out of his grip with enough force. Faster than he could react, my cold steel met his neck. Life was going from him as blood and my hatchet left him. Mouth agape and unable to speak, he fell in time for me to avoid another assault from a club. It was held by a young man and I quickly grabbed the stick from him, hitting him across the face out cold!

With no time to check if he was alive, I grabbed a spear that reached out to stab me. It was from one of ours!

"Watch it, boy!"

"Sorry, Sir!"

His voice made me pause, he was the one I had talked to before this started! Instinctively, I wanted to pull him out of this mess for some unknown reason aside from this not being a place for a child.

Before I could react to the reason, a cry escaped the lad! As well as spikes of metal spread apart through his abdomen, stained with blood!

"NOOO!"

I didn't wait to look out for myself when I rushed forward with my revolver now in my other hand! Leaning to the left, I aimed at the farmer piercing him in his back!

He dropped after the third shot to his chest. And so did the boy, with the fork still in him! I rush to catch the kid that fell in my arms, barely holding on to life.

"I got you! You're gonna be fine!"

Removing the weapon made him gasp in pain. The kid clutched his sides as I leaned him back to check the damage. It wasn't good. There was a chance it hit both his kidneys and more. I could already smell the waste around him. I did my best to comfort him,

"You just need to rest a bit! I'll get help!"

He didn't say anything, instead the cap he had on fell down from him loosening its buckle. Revealing short flowing dark brown hair. Her hair…

No…

Instead of a boy as I had thought, the soldier was instead a girl! Hair looked freshly cut, face smeared with dirt. She had a weak smile for a moment.

"Papa said a man would carry me one day…"

The teen closed her eyes at that moment as her breath left her forever. Strength fading from her being. Falling further to the ground.

"No!"

Nothing changed,

"No…"

Did I really pay for my past?

I placed her down as gently as I could. Thinking if we was never here, would she still be alive?

I sat up not feeling any better, seeing many of those who had surrounded us now falling back in all directions. Some of their friends laid dead across the road, so we're some of ours. Though the gang stood strong, but tired.

Williamson appeared to be in a daze and called out trying to catch his breath, "Let's push them back men!"

Javier exhausted his words, "Give us a minute… I got stabbed in my shoulder…"

I walked over to see that he had a good sized hole atop his right shoulder blade. The Mexican went on to explain, "Kid snuck up on me…"

"Did ya-?"

"What do you think happened, Imbécil?! He stabbed me! Not like I had a choice in this."

I pulled out a rag from my satchel and tried bandaging it up.

"Could have just thrown him off or something."

"Would you?"

I held back my argument, because truly, I didn't know. We were silent till after the survivors gathered together around us. Many were hurt, but holding on. Maybe one or two more fights left in them. Above them all, including me, was Guts. He didn't look as if he was anywhere near to being done. Made me wish I had his youthful energy.

Uncle hobbled up, "Did we win?"

Bill sighed as he leaned on his borrowed rifle, "Not even close. This is only a part of the Castle… hm, 'Castle.'"

Rod, now armed with a spear, was close to the man when he asked, "Sir?"

"Nothing. We are in the hornets nest and we are almost spent! Not so much a victory as an idiotic entry."

John defended the action, "We all rushed in. It was that or the cannons."

Dutch's voice cracked, "Speak of the Devil!"

We all looked down the road to what looked like a steeple, in its entry way was the "Devil" himself lighting one off right at us!

"Take cover!"

All of us dropped to the ground to avoid being hit. The round soared past us down the opposite end down the street. I was the first to jump up and call out to everyone, "Don't let them get another shot!"

With no real choice, I started running towards the cannon. It became hard to breathe, but that didn't stop me from closing the distance. Less than a minute later, I could make out the silhouettes of the Cannon team. The low amount of light inside the building hid their forms, but not enough that I couldn't see that the next attack was ready when it started aiming towards me. I dove behind a building as the ball tried to hit me. It flew right into the wood and stone, missing me by a foot.

With my back to my cover, I saw who else ran with me. Bill in the back, with Dutch, John, Guts, and Rod each of them had cover of their own, avoiding the line of fire like I did. A crack was heard back down the road with the others, followed by a terrified scream from the building. Javier was at least looking out for us.

All of us used this moment to move up to the Hold-Out. John was the first of us to do anything, he had a fire bottle in hand and threw it at the artillery piece. The crew that manned it ran back into the building. It cooked for some time before the gunpowder beside it blew up, taking the entrance away. Screams could be heard from inside. All of us held off moving in, instead we opted to check the surroundings.

We had found ourselves in an open square. It was quaint, with a few shops and empty stalls, and of course the church we had just attacked.

After taking notes, our forces had caught up. Our numbers were fewer than last time. Twenty kids in total left. Most of them ditched the bow for some random weapons from the dead. Javier and Uncle made their way to us.

Javier started looking around too as he asked,

"Are they dead?!"

"Nah, they got some people in there taking shelter. We should secure it in case more come back."

Dutch agreed, "Right! Arthur, Guts, and John, you three go on ahead! Any of them that run out we'll take care of!"

I put my revolver away and checked my shotgun before walking into the hole we made. With Guts and John at my sides, we looked around the small lobby. The room was bare with nothing but a burned body near the refuse, and a human sized totem in the center. It looked like a white bird with its wings outstretched, facing upward. At its base was a sphere that had two spheres spiraling around the image upwards.

Doing my best to ignore it, I pointed to the small staircase leading ahead. We crept up the old wooden boards, and came to a double door that was sealed shut. I motioned for Guts to take point with me as the pair of us launched a kick to where the doors met. As they whipped out, John held his pistol up while Guts pointed his sword forward with both of his hands on the handle. I raised my gun forward yelling to the entire room,

"Drop your weapons, and no one gets-!... Hurt."

As I read the room, my 'fangs' closed at the sight before us. Rows of beds laid across the room, each of them had a patient in them. All of them were men, looking like meatless skeletons. Skin hugged the bones we could see exposed from the sheets covering them. Clinging to life, and no acknowledgement that we were there in the room. And the rest of the people who were standing were huddled in the back of the room in fear. Women were hugging their children, along with the cry of a baby in the air. In front were some men and women of the cloth, praying. Almost acting like a wall in front of them. Their eyes were closed, fear present, yet endearing in some way.

I lowered my gun as I moved further into the room. Looking over the victims in the beds, I saw one open his eyes, looking at me with whatever emotion of discomfort he could give. His face was spirit alone, as a ghoul completely dried up. I felt pity, yet I remembered where I was.

I called out to the mass of people in the back with my hands outstretched, currently free of my weapon,

"We ain't here to kill you."

This did little to calm them. Even less as I came closer. This tension heightened as I reached down to an older nun kneeling and praying. I couldn't hear what she was saying with her mumbling, but the small tremors from her body told me what it was about.

John was looking around the bodies laid out everywhere when he saw me,

"Arthur? What are you doing?!"

"Stay back now. Let me handle this."

I gently brought the woman up, "It's alright, calm down."

She opened her eyes, and a line mark was found across them. Further inspection showed that her pupils healed up in the wrong way and had a thick scab across the iris's. The woman was blind, but stared as if she could see me. A hand reached out to me, to touch my face to see if I was real, or so I thought. A gasp escaped her, she pointed behind me.

"Up there!"

I turned to see a crossbow aimed right at me! No time to think, I dove away from the nun and aimed my double barrel up in the rafters!

He fired, hitting in between me and the woman. I was the better shot and blasted the man off the beam he was on! And he fell down with screams from the huddled group. As this happened, a couple of other soldiers rushed from behind some columns with swords. John blew the one near him away with a full magazine of his pistol, whereas Guts slammed his blade across the one charging him. Fool didn't know what hit him when his chest ripped open.

The crowd whimpered in fear before another jumped out from among them. Taking the Nun, of whom was questionably blind, hostage!

I sat up quickly taking aim at the man holding the dagger to the old woman's neck. In response, the dirt bag started walking away with the woman in tow, "Stay back, H-heathen! I'm leaving here alive!"

"That's fine! Let the woman go!"

He laughed, "Don't make me laugh! I've been the mayor of this town for years now, and for what?! To have the Empire take it away from me?! I could have escaped this place when you had attacked months ago, but that mercenary kept me from leaving! Turned my own people against me! For what?! Glory to Midland?! He blinded the General and starved many of our soldiers and me so we could 'Bide Time!' I've had it!"

Taking a better look at him, he seemed untrained compared to the other men that were here. He looked older and had some sagging skin on his face. Maybe he was more plump before this siege happened to them and had rationed food. But why starve these few of their men?

"Nobody is gonna steal from me anymore!"

The blade pressed more on the woman's neck, making her yelp in pain. he started moving away from everyone

I repeat my demand firmly, "Let the woman go! Or you're gonna earn a hole in the head!"

"You're lying!"

"Want to test me?"

John had his gun aimed as he tried scooting to the way we came in. Guts just had his sword put away, keeping his arms crossed.

The three of us moved closer, which made the mayor tighten his hold. But in a split moment, he threw the woman into a table that had some basin on it. It spilled everywhere on the floor and on the poor woman. Using the confusion, he ran to a side door and rushed in it.

Meanwhile I moved over to help up the nun covered in what smelled like broth of some sort. Shots echoed outside, making the woman grab me fiercely crying. I squelched at the semi warm liquid on my clothes, but they were already covered in mud and blood.

I padded her, "It's alright, I got you…"

The voice of Dutch entered the building,

"I'm coming in! Don't shoot!"

True to his word, he walked in with his auto pistol at the ready. He looked around, appalled by the condition of the men laying in bed. Then his gaze turned to Arthur and he holstered his pistol.

"Women can't seem to let you go, son."

I sighed at his attempt at a joke, but now the mass of people in the back moved from their positions in the back, but still wary of the lot of us.

Van Der Linde looked at the unarmed people,

"Uh.. I'm not one for this sort of thing, but is there anyone we can talk to about having your forces surrender?"

One of the religious affiliates came forward, he was bald and look about the same age as Dutch,

"A-are you not with the empire?"

"Well, we are."

Fear came back to them as the women held their little ones close.

Dutch held out a hand, "But not entirely, we are mercenaries hired for this attack."

This did little to comfort them, and the woman that held me didn't break from her grip yet. Why wasn't she afraid of us now?

"Look, we don't know much about the conflict between the two of your nations! We had just learned about them today."

This angered the priest, monk or whatever he was.

"And still you fought us?!"

"My people were lost, and we saw opportunity, and we told all the wrong things about this attack! We were told this was a fort, not a town! I'm not gonna lie and say this was a pleasure, but I need to know how to end this quick! So no one else needs to suffer from this."

"You-. You're lying, no mercenary cares about life."

The mustached man scratched the side of his face with his right hand a little, "Well, we aren't mercenaries by trade. At least not until today. Look, we can talk about this after the fighting is done, who do we need to talk to to make the army here surrender."

"The man that just ran out of here was one of them."

Dutch sucked in his breath through his gritted bare teeth, "He's been disposed of, anyone else?"

Baldy was silent, thinking of whether or not to believe what we say. To him, we were the empire they feared. But a frail voice from my side spoke, "You can trust them."

"A-are you sure?"

She looks up to me with her wounded eyes,

"Wings of Light, surround this one! It feeds them, father Gregory."

Her words baffled me, but that seemed to spark something in the man named Gregory, "Are you sure?!"

"The sight hasn't failed me."

He smiled almost a moment before facing Dutch, "What about this one, Sister Erika?"

She turned to stare at Dutch, like she did me. Only she trembled for a moment in awe.

"He is a torrent, wings of purple fire coming forth from his wings-..."

The sister looked as if she wanted to say more, but cut herself short, the priest didn't notice.

"But can we trust him?"

"Yes… He isn't deceiving us."

"Good. Good!"

He then bowed slightly to us, "Forgive me, Sister Erika has had a gift given to her after a tragic accident that gave her a sight to peer into the being of others. Light and shadows are all she can see normally. She has been a great help to the flock here, and can tell true intentions."

I wasn't one for superstition or 'sights' or what not, and neither were any of my friends. John looked away while Guts rolled his eyes.

Dutch went along with it, "Y-yeah, I suppose that's a good thing to have. Will you help us then?"

"If you truly want to stop this fight, you will need to work your way up the chain of command. You have already killed the Mayor. But even he had little authority these days. You need to seek General Bazuso if he's not dead, otherwise you will need to find that mercenary leader. Despite him being a commoner, he helped us make it this long. He would be more to see reason. That's all I know."

Just then, the voice of Uncle came into the building, "Dutch! We have some company!"

"Just a second!"

Dutch turned back to the unarmed group and told them, "Thank you for the information, stay here until this is over."

He then looked to me,

"Let's see who's coming!"

I nodded and looked down at the woman who still hung to me, "You'll be safe now."

She slowly let go and looked up and spoke a familiar line I never believed, "Thank you. You're a good man."

Nearly choked on my spit when she said it. Would have tipped my hat to her. Remembering I had none, I settled for a slight nod back as I rushed to the entrance of the building with the others.

All of our people were by the gaping hole, keeping their backs to the church as we rushed out. In the background, you could hear the fighting closer than ever, coming from all directions. The sound itself had us boxed in. Dutch started talking to Bill about the added part of the plan, I was trying my best to hear him over the sound of war inching closer.

"What was that about?"

Guts had broken my concentration,

"What?"

"Why bother with them in there? They're just in the way of the fight. Let's take the enemy head on."

"They didn't ask for this."

"And?"

I scoffed, "They're people. Same as yous."

"They are not like me…"

That's how he saw the world it seemed, fighting was all he knew. And no one probably gave a rat's ass about him. It's how we all were before we joined the gang.

Did my best to reason him, "Pretend they are for now. Besides, we don't know friend from enemy out there. We could face up against our own side and be turned traitors."

The teen said nothing, but looked on ahead. Arms crossed, waiting with all of us for either side to make themselves known.

Just then, a lone knight walked into the square from the west. A spear in hand looking around in a hurry, he saw us and called back down the road he had come from. More came around the corner in the same apparel as those we had fought, building in quick numbers.

They found us!

No order was needed as we readied ourselves for a stand. We had no more than a few bows left, and about half our ammo, remained. I settled for my cattleman pistols and aimed them down sight. The rest aimed their main guns, and we started firing our rifles first. John took down a man per a bullet, hitting center of mass. Bill, uncle, and Javier were close to the same kill count; only a couple took more. The fall of their men startled them for a bit, but they persisted forward. They made it about to the center of the square when Dutch and I entered the frenzy by firing into the mob of defenders at random. The rifle team had finished reloading when they were less than twenty yards out.

All together, a stream of all of our shots and arrows hit them to stop their advance for a moment. The fallen were passed by the more soldiers, yelling as they sped up to us in an attempt of intimidation. It worked pretty good on those trying to keep their composer.

Before they could strike us, being about Fifteen feet away, a shot of a cannon entered the mass of them further back. And from the south came the army so eloquently late to the party. We took advantage of the attack and fired another round, this time pushing them back from us.

Bill called out again to every one of us, "Move in!"

The remaining boys started forming a half circle around us ranged combatants. Guts took point and moved in to strike one that tripped over a fallen comrade. We laid it on them and advanced in a stride as one would walk down a path.

Then more of our side came in from the East, filling the town center with more combatants. Besides them came the noble all suited up on his regal horse with clean armor. A sight that made me cringe and almost thankful for.

We had made enough of a break in the crowd to make our way over as the enemy was pushed back further West. Met our employer from the side as we focused on the enemy, his horse was startled by the blasts we made. He tried calming the beast with little success and turned to Dutch, "You're alive?!"

Dutch laughed as he paused his fire to answer, "And Well, thank you for asking! You choose a good time to show up!"

"We had to make sure they couldn't secure the gate! How did you get in here?! We thought their cannons destroyed you?!"

"No! We destroyed them!"

A mix of fear and confusion came upon the man, "H-how?!"

The smile grew under Dutch's mustache,

"Let's just say we didn't show you all of our might!"

Up ahead, the enemy had the high ground from one of the buildings, and some men with crossbows started raining down on the forces below. Dutch turned to me and said, "Care to give a demonstration?!"

I smiled back, "With pleasure!"

With my revolvers holstered, I drew out my bow and took out the last explosive arrow I had made. Its fuse became lit by my lighter, and I drew it back in the bow. The flight was quick as it landed on the wooden balcony facing the street, hitting a support beam. Seconds later it destroyed the wooden beams holding that section up. Giving way to the entire structure, it sent the people to the ground. Pieces impaling some and the roof finishing the job in killing those that were standing proud above the dirt.

Looking back at the noble, he had a spread of more fear upon his face. Seeing the destruction of what an arrow could do was eye opening as he turned to look at Dutch,

"I-I see…"

He had no other words to describe what happened, but Dutch wasn't done talking, "Something else. We had talked with some of the good citizens here. They stated that the opposing army might surrender if we can find either the general or the mercenary leader of this establishment and persuade them to yield. Can we have your support to find him?"

He tried processing the request before responding,

"Uhh, Yes of course! Swift seizure of the base would be preferable!"

"Shall we move on then?"

XXXXXXX

The reprieve we had as we walked with the noble was much needed, especially for the remaining boys with us. The work was being done by a separate group of mercenaries (That's what the noble said to Dutch as part of small talk), they were well vetted. They had more experience than any of the teens that were with us, including more mass. They put down efficiently the remaining defenders that built up on the west side.

As we came to an archway down the road, a huge wooden door was shut in front of us. Quickly from the hired men, they called up a battering ram. Took twenty whacks at the wooden planks as we made our way up to the door. After the last impact, the entrance gave way to the pressure.

The noble drew his sword and pointed at the enemy panicking on the other side.

[Using the translation from the manga online, don't kill me.]

"Make your way through! Whoever brings me the General's head will get all the reward he wants!"

This elected a new found determination from the mercenaries as they ran into the fire of the bolts that rained from above. Some were graced to be missed and fought with the soldiers on the ground. Dutch turned and spoke to the leader with a firm concern, "I believe we agreed to talk with him?"

The shining knight chuckled under the gaze given him, "Well, it would be over anyways."

Van Der Linde didn't relent and simply said, "A noble would at least try to be civil."

Then he just walked ahead, leaving the man to ponder the claim. I went up to him, as did the rest of us. Before we said anything, he spoke to Bill,

"Tell your boys to hold back, they've done enough."

"Right."

"Rest of us, let's finish this."

We walked past the archway, leaving behind the Noble as we aimed our guns up to the rafters above. With precision unmatched by their archers, our weapons took out those above with many clutching their chests and sides as they fell.

Halfway into the open area, we paused at the destruction being done by one large man with an ax larger than any we had seen. He sliced through the ones before us and made a vicious horizontal swipe on the head of an unfortunate soul. The blunt blade cleaved right through the metal helmet, leaving the base of the skull and jaw. Triumphantly, the bulky figure moved over the corpse to face us.

A couple of grunts near us exclaimed loudly, "It's Bazuso!"

"The Gray Knight, Bazuso!"

Huh. He was easy to find.

Mumbling between the ranks spread like fire, "You mean the Bazuso that killed thirty men at once?!"

"I heard he killed a bear unarmed!"

The chatter grew fears in the hearts of soldiers for hire, though the giant's feats that were un-witnessed. Either way, it was enough so that it put that same sickness in the Commanding knight on the horse,

"Where are the archers?!"

"There outside the castle gate…"

The large hunk of metal laughed at their petty squabbling, "No one's gonna get past me! Anyone who wants their head smashed in, Step Right Up!"

Our leader became annoyed, "Argh! What are you waiting for?! Defeat him and make yourself famous!

"You call yourselves Knights?! Charge!"

His commands didn't motivate them in the slightest, "I'm just a Merc. Easy for him to say."

"Let him do it himself!"

Dutch walked forward at the same time as Guts tried. The boy was next to me as I held him back with an arm inches away in front of him.

He stopped and looked at me with an emotionless stare, I returned that same look and mouthed, "Just a minute, just one."

Guts said nothing, but stepped back, slightly pissed.

As our gang leader made his way to the front, the nerves of the noble calmed down considerably, "Ah, yes! What was I worried about? Sir Van Der Linde will take care of him."

"At least one noble is doing it."

"Yeah, this might be one sided with that weapon of his. Then again, Boszuo is bigger than anyone I've met."

The enemy General laughed, "A little old for the battlefield?!"

Dutch didn't laugh, instead he holstered his pistol, "General Bazuso? I assume?"

"Yes, that's right! Did you forget your armor, old man?! Or do you want me to put you out of your misery?"

Again, Dutch didn't laugh, "No, I'm calling you to surrender your forces, and cease this fighting."

Murmurs from both sides started, but I can make any of them out as the general answered.

"Old Fool! You think you have already won?!"

The outlaw held his hands around the area, "Is this not enough to sate you? Your backs are to a literal wall, your army is less than half its number. Your citizens are in great distress from the battle today. I'm asking in kindness, one noble to another."

Bazuso took one hand off from his ax and used it to clutch his chest, laughing harder than before,

"Noble?! You?! You make a terrible mercenary! Maybe a jester!"

Dutch sighed, "I'll take it as a 'No' then?"

His daughter died down and became serious, "You take me as an idiot?! You should know what the Empire will do to my citizens!"

"Enlighten me."

"They would have all soldiers executed, and they would make the weaker vessels slaves! And certain ones will be sold to the higher nobility to satisfy their fancies. Especially the children…"

This was news to all of us newcomers; In fact I felt we were fighting that kind of thing against this army. The cavalry didn't help with that.

My leader cleared his throat,

"Would you do the same?"

A sickening grin could be felt even through his helmet as he spoke, "Of course! But enough talk! Will you fight me?!"

Before answering, he turned to look at me as I nudged my head to the kid. The man checked with me again, a light tilt of his head to the side. I nudged again, and Dutch then shook his head like I was crazy.

"Well?!"

"I'm-. Well, as you said, I am under dressed for the occasion. Seeing as I wouldn't want to embarrass my name any further than being exposed like this, I will have another take my stead."

"Oh?! One of these weaklings?!"

I gave the Boy the signal to go ahead. He strode up with his weapon no longer strapped to his back, while the noble was upset by the downgrade of a sure win to chance. Somehow I knew that's how the kid liked it, and the men wasted no time to start yapping about him.

"Who is that?"

"Looks like a Merc."

"Pretty young… H-hey, look at that sword."

"Good grief, it's downright huge. Is that kid gonna swing that long thing around?"

Dutch smiled,

"This young man will fight you."

The knight on his high horse spoke up, "Truly!? This one will fight?"

"Have a little faith…"

Dutch then chuckled as he stepped back.

As he did, Guts took a moment to look over his shoulder at the horse rider,

"How much?"

"Wha-What?!"

I felt my lips curled up on its left side. Clearly this man forgets what mercenary means.

So the boy put it out for him, "I'm a Merc. Unlike you Knights, I can't live on glory. I get paid, got it?"

In the end of his demand, he held up the OK hand sign. Or at least I hope it was what it meant in this world.

He finally got the point, "V… Very well… In the event that you manage to kill him, I'll give you five pieces of gold."

"Ten!"

"Seven And not one more!"

"Ahhh, well… Bah."

That was the teen's begrudging acceptance to the fight. He made his way up to the brute.

"A green horn brat like you on the battlefield…"

Dutch wasn't done yet, deciding on a last gamble as he cut the man off mid dialogue.

"Well, General. How about we make a deal as well?!"

The giant gripped his ax, gripping for the fight, "And what is that?!"

The five of us, plus Guts, already had figured what he was going to ask.

"Seeing as you are so confident in yourself; How about if this 'Greenhorn' here defeats you, your entire army surrenders to us! Whether you Live or Die in defeat, no more bloodshed!"

"Hmm… And if I win?"

"Then you can have your last stand against us, a battle to the death!"

"It makes no difference… Fine! My people will accept their fate if I lose to a runt here! Sending him out here means your side is running out of proper soldiers, or are they cowards like you who hide in the shadow of children…?"

That was without a doubt the worst thing he could have said, because he sent the so-called child in a mad frenzy. Swiftly drawing the long blade in less than a moment, Guts was on the behemoth.

"Wha-?! What?!"

A strong strike across the pole of Bazuso's ax made the giant lean back. Giving no reprieve, the boy struck swiftly at the same speed. Again, then again, and again. He wasn't letting up anytime soon.

"So… So… Fast!"

"How can he strike that fast?!"

The general couldn't take the beating anymore as his legs gave way to shuffling behind him.

"L-look! Bazuso is being pushed back!"

I couldn't take it anymore and called out to the teen, "Come on Guts! Stick it to him!"

John laughed, "That Man's all fat and no muscle!"

The others joined in. Javier said something in Spanish, I think it was something about a dog?

I didn't know what it meant, but I knew where it was coming from. Bill was throwing a fist in the air while shouting for Guts to kill him.

Our cheers began a tidal wave of shouting from both sides.

"Bazuso! Don't let that child win!"

"Come on, kid! Knock him down!"

More howls like that echoed across the intersection.

Eventually, Uncle joined in,

"That Giant has nothing on you, boy!"

Dutch was quiet until then, he gave a call out to the big knight as he was pushed further back, "Care to call I quits, General?!"

"Hnnn, GAHHHHHHH!"

The man had enough and deflected the blow again but prepared for a heavy downward strike, hoping to cleave the boy in two. Guts was more on the uptake and drove his blade into that of the ax head. He proved that his sword was stronger than his steel, and dug deep into it. Cracks formed on the weapon, but the man pulled for another attack, same as the dark haired boy. This time each of them went for a horizontal swipe across each other. Neither blow was deflected by the other, and both landed on the other.

The general felt his side bleed, while I saw Gut's head go flying!

"GUTS!"

Of all the blasted things! He-!

The shock I felt at the kid's demise was replaced by a sudden wave of victory!

What was tossed aside was just his helmet. The ax head had given up on its host and flew with the remains of the head piece. Meanwhile, Gut's blade drew it deep in his thick side. Enough to where the fat man was on his knees.

He fell back from the pain and his opponent was soon over him with an overdrawn blade.

Bazuso weakly blurted out for mercy to the boy,

"Wa-... Wait!"

Though, knowing the kid, he had none to give.

The teen landed his sword down into the head of the man, making an eyeball pop out of its socket.

Silence fell through everyone. As they seen his brains and blood, they scarcely believed in what they saw. I wouldn't have, had I not seen what the kid could do beforehand.

Guts simply lifted his sword over his shoulder and gave a "whew."

Nobody knew what to do in that moment, except us six who bet on him. We alone hollered out to the winner!

"Alright, Guts!"

"Gave him the old one two!"

Van Der Linde looked to the opposing side who backed up in fear,

"So, will you agree to the deal?! Or do you want to face 'Guts, The Giant Slayer'?!"

End Chapter