Primitive Man

Garnt was worried that Telvi might have hit her head, but he couldn't even take his eyes off Kalina for a few seconds because of how fast her movements were.

One thing he quickly started to realize was that she was not fighting like any humans that he used to know. Her movements and her speed, everything she did, started to resemble more and more of a wild animal rather than a human.

[Garnt, look at the back of her neck! Do you see that black-coloured tattoo-like thing? Do you remember who else had this?]

Eva asked making sure she didn't bother him.

'Isn't that what that muscular woman had? I also noticed the same thing on Moga's body. Don't tell me-"

He slowly began to realize what Eva was trying to tell him. Before he could engage in further conversation with her, Kalina jumped, clinging to Garnt's back, and attempted to bite his neck.

"Ugh~ this woman!" He quickly grabbed her hand and threw her back to where she was, but he saw some blood on her mouth showing she was able to take a good bite off his shoulder.

"Tastes awful! As expected from the blood of a dirty man like you. This is why the professor should stay with me. I won't kill you, but until I find how to manifest the professor into this world, you're going to be my prisoner. I took Telvi as a prisoner, thinking you were talented enough to do that, but it looks like I have to do everything by myself."

Shouting those words, she again took a pose that Garnt found familiar. He had obviously fought with animals that had the same pose, and it reminded him of wild Saber-tooth cats that he fought in the forest.

Garnt wiped off the blood that oozed from his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he observed Kalina. The wild intensity in her gaze mirrored that of a predator, and the black tattoo on the back of her neck only heightened the feral image she portrayed.

"Guess I'll have to handle this like dealing with a wild beast," Garnt muttered to himself, adopting a defensive stance and making sure Telvi was his main goal. Eva's warning about the others with similar markings echoed in his mind, but he pushed it aside, focusing on the immediate threat before him.

Kalina lunged forward, moving with an uncanny speed that Garnt found difficult to anticipate. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding her razor-sharp nails aimed at his head. "Not gonna be that easy, huh?" he grunted, realizing that fighting her like a human was a futile endeavour.

Channelling his instincts, Garnt shifted his approach, treating Kalina more like a creature from the wilderness than a person. He dodged and weaved, relying on his agility to match her wild attacks. "Kalina! Eva never thought you were talented. She thought you were a nuisance that always kept getting in her way and compared to that Eva truly loves me and she already confirmed that she doesn't care whatever happens to you." he taunted, trying to goad her into a reckless move.

Just like he expected Kalina, circled him like a hungry predator eyeing its prey, her eyes looking more and more angry. With another lightning-fast charge, she attempted to pounce on him again, nails extended towards his head. Garnt, adapting to the animalistic nature of the encounter, swiftly ducked and countered.

"Got it!" His movements became fluid, drawing inspiration from past encounters with formidable creatures. As Kalina lunged, he sidestepped and delivered a powerful kick to her side. The impact sent her sprawling, but she recovered with the agility of a true predator.

"Gaaaarnt! Do you think you can escape from me? As soon as I capture you, I will keep you in prison and torture you every day." Kalina growled, bloodlust in her eyes.

Undeterred, Garnt circled her, analyzing her movements, searching for a weakness. He needed to end this before she could land another bite, but he saw her starting to cough blood and realized that she was shot with an arrow from behind.

The tip of the arrow had already pierced her chest, and Garnt knew it might be over for her since it looked fatal.

"Wha...what is this?" She managed to squeeze out her last words before collapsing on the floor, and Garnt quickly relaxed his body and looked around. What was that arrow supposed to be?

"..."

For a moment, he was flabbergasted by what happened, but then he noticed a rather large number of people standing on the walls, looking at them. Leading them was none other than Arya, who looked rather graceful.

[How did they come here so fast? I only gave the message through hologram using it only a few hours ago. But looking at how sweaty they are I can guess they didn't even think about resting at all.]

Eva muttered showing it was her work to send a message to Gundo telling her that Garnt needed help.

"Garnt! Are you okay? Wait for me, I am coming!" Ayra shouted and she came down with all the other worried villagers, and she quickly hugged him without even bothering about how bloody or sweaty they were. "I am glad you're safe."

Garnt returned the hug, but he knew it wasn't the time to relax, so he quickly looked at them and asked them to help Telvi, while getting on Huta's back.

"Ayra, I am going to see what is happening in front of the entrance, so take care of Telvi for me," Leaving those words, Garnt tried to gallop his horse, but before that Ayra quickly got onto Huta and held Garnt.

"You're not going alone. I will come with you, so let's go also don't worry, Rona, Unami is already there to support Baktou. We should be able to reach there in time.

Garnt nodded appreciatively at Ayra's determination and the support from the villagers. Together, they rode towards the entrance of the village, the urgency of the situation apparent in their expressions.

On their way, Arya kept licking Garnt's wound to ensure it wouldn't clot too much with blood. Although Garnt asked her not to do that, she continued, demonstrating that she wasn't even bothered to lick the dirtiest places on Garnt's body.

As they approached, the sounds of battle grew louder. They could see Baktou engaged in a fearsome battle that looked rather dangerous considering it was just a single man they were battling against.

Moga, with his primal instincts, roared and charged at them, disregarding the pain from his numerous wounds. His attacks were wild and unpredictable, making it challenging for the trio to land a decisive blow. Moga missed a hand and his whole back area was looking like a skeleton because of how burned it was, but he still managed to stay strong despite all this.

Garnt and Ayra joined the fray, coordinating their moves with Rona and Unami.

"We need a plan! He's too strong!" Baktou yelled, narrowly avoiding a swipe from Moga, and he was truly amazed by how much damage Moga managed to absorb considering he had already cut off so many parts of his body.

"Rona, keep distracting him. Unami, make sure Rona is safe!" Garnt commanded, observing Moga's movements and he looked at Baktou. "We will make sure he is in the attack area, so take the ballista and blow off his head."

He also didn't forget to inquire about Telvi's well-being, knowing that the assurance of her safety would ease Baktou's mind. Upon hearing that Telvi was fine, Baktou sighed, feeling relaxed. Without hesitation, he swiftly made his way toward the ballista, determined to take charge and ensure the accuracy of his attack.

'If I miss this it could possibly hit my own people, so this is-'

Baktou's hands trembled as he approached the massive ballista, a weapon capable of deciding the fate of their entire battle. The creaking of its wooden frame echoed in the chaotic battlefield, where clashes between steel and roars of agony created a symphony of war.

Garnt, still engaged in the skirmish with Moga, shouted over all the noises hoping he would be able to distract Moga and attract his attention. "Moga, can you identify me? It's me Garnt. Aren't you glad to see me after all this time? So come! Let's get to know each other."

Rona and Unami were hoping they would be able to act according to Garnt's orders and harm Moga. However, before they could do that, Moga started to go berserk as soon as he heard Garnt's voice. For the first time, he spoke words instead of releasing just growls.

"Gaaaa....Gaaaa....Garnt! Garnt! Kill Garnt!"

The battlefield seemed to freeze for a moment as everyone turned their attention to the unfolding scene.

Garnt, maintaining his composure, continued to taunt Moga. "Ah, Moga, you look even more ugly than before. No wonder no female wanted to be close to your face that only a mother could love,"

Moga's response was a violent swing of his massive claws towards Garnt, who agilely dodged the attack. Baktou, now stationed at the ballista, took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands.

"Rona, Unami, now!" Garnt shouted, dodging another swipe from Moga. Rona, a skilled archer, unleashed a volley of arrows towards Moga's leg, while Unami, a swift and agile warrior, darted in to create openings for Baktou's critical shot.

Moga fell to his knees for a few seconds, and he was about to get up, but the wheels of fate were already moving at an unbelievable speed.

Baktou took a deep breath, inhaling the charged air around him. The distant sounds of clashing swords and battling warriors seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the pulse of his own heartbeat.

In his mind's eye, Baktou replayed the countless hours spent honing his craft. The relentless drills, and the early morning practices, all lead up to this defining moment. His hands, once trembling, now held a serenity born from purpose.

As the arrowhead gleamed in the sunlight, Baktou whispered to himself, "This is it. The shot that changes everything." He felt the eyes of his comrades and brother upon him, their hopes and fears reflected in that single, weighted arrow.

"I will be the right hand of my brother, anyone who dares to harm him will have to face my wrath first," With those final words, Baktou released the tension on the ballista.