*In the office of the warden. Byron had regained consciousness and slowly pulled himself up off the floor*
(Byron): Urgh~ my head.
*Byron returned to his feet and looked around the room to see that nobody was there. He saw the shattered pieces of the wine bottle on the floor and began to remember what happened*
(Byron): That bitch!
*He then heard the alarm on his computer go off and rushed over to it. He saw how the prison had gone into lockdown mode and saw the chaos his prison was in. The guards on levels 1-3 had restored order and rounded up all the prisoners. They were exhausted, tired and injured. A message showed up on his screen letting him know that lockdown was being disengaged. Byron then pulled up camera recordings from the previous hour where he saw the members of Shadow Eye make their way down the levels. He pulled up the cameras for level 5 where he saw them break into Howard’s prison. He then pulled up live footage to see that Howard was no longer there and in his place was a hole in the back wall*
(Byron): Fuck!
*Byron quickly sounded the alarm to alert the remaining guards of the situation*
***
*Outside of the prison. The residents of Werbend gathered around to witness the spectacle of the prison’s lockdown. They saw the members of Blood Sword trying to break through the magic shield only to fail miserably. Ever after Guzco had told them that trying to break in was pointless. They had to wait an hour for the lockdown to end. He and his men were arming themselves and stopping people from getting too close to the prison. When the shield finally went down, the members of Blood Sword rushed toward the prison while Guzco ordered his men to stay back for a few minutes to survey the situation*
(Guzco): Those guys really did a number on us. I knew they were planning something crazy, but this goes way beyond my expectations.
*As Guzco contemplated what was going on, he saw the members of Blood Sword come flying out of the prison by a gust of green wind*
(Guzco): Well give them credit. They’re at least confining it to a restricted area and not getting innocent bystanders involved.
*Sanada walked out of the prison with his sword in hand ready to fight any remaining Blood Sword or officers that approached him*
***
*In the prison’s backyard, a pillar of fire shot up from the ground. Once it was over a muffled scream can be heard coming from the snow. Pulling their head out of the snow was Ryuuji. He continued to scream as he pulled himself out of the snow. When he finally pulled himself out and let out a victorious scream into the night sky. A hand then appeared by his right foot. He grabbed the hand and pulled out the next person which happened to be Jin who was also screaming. Alita came following after him where she had a blank expression on her face. One by one everyone else came out, screaming and laughing as they did. Despite being covered in dirt and snow they had never felt more alive*
(Howard): Oh my god! Oh my god! I can’t believe that worked!
*Everyone continued cheering*
(Alita): Everyone, the ship. We’ve got to get to the ship before it’s too late.
*Everyone began to calm down and return to their senses*
(Raika): Foxx! We’ve got to save him.
*Hibana pulls out her phone and pulls up her drone’s camera*
(Hibana: He’s out front. Fighting against the officers and Blood Sword*
(Gael): Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go save him.
(Hibana): Wait, I’ve got an idea.
*Hibana makes her way over to the prison wall where she types in a code on a keypad and opens up a garage door*
(Jade): What are you doing?
(Hibana): Securing us a ride out of here.
*Once the garage door was fully opened everyone saw what Hibana was talking about and smiled*
***
*Back out in front of the prison, Sanada was holding his own against the officers and Blood Sword. However, they were slowly surrounding him and guards from the prison were beginning to come out as well. He was also exhausted after his battle with Barnt and the numbers were starting to catch up to him*
(Byron): Rush that masked freak and take him down. Alive. So I can torture him for questions.
*As everyone was getting ready to rush Sanada, the sound of a horn blaring in the night could be heard. All of a sudden high beams on a van shined on Byron’s back, he turned around and saw the van driving towards him. One of the guards pushed him out of the way and he landed on the snowy ground. Driving the car was Dust who continued to drive toward Sanada. From one of the passenger windows, Raika began shooting at the guards, officers, and Blood Sword members to scatter them. They all quickly ducked for cover as the van drove up to Sanada. Once he saw who was in it, he smiled. The door opposite of Raika opened and Sanada quickly got inside*
(Guzco): Look at these crazy bastards.
*The van got stuck in the snow for a few seconds before finally driving out of the front gate and into the town*
(Byron): All units after them! They have Howard Oswalt!
*Byron quickly rushed over to a snow car followed by Guzco. Byron entered the driver’s side along with Guzco on the passenger’s side*
(Guzco): This is reckless, Byron. We don’t know what they can do.
(Byron): You shut your mouth. I will not stand aside and let these mercenaries ruin this for me!
*Byron started the car up and quickly drove off after the group followed by other cars. The Shadow Eye made it out of the town safely but were being followed by the guards and officers of Werband who were firing at them*
(Raika): Hey, we’re out of the town now. We can take these guys out right?
(Morgan): Yes, we no longer have to worry about getting innocent people involved.
(Amarti): Good! I’ll make this quick.
*Amarti opens the sun visor on the roof of the car and sticks his head out. He nearly gets shot but pulls himself back in before getting hit. He then sticks his head out again and with his blade disc in hand and tosses it. His blade manages to slash through the tires of two cars and sends them steering off into ditches on the side of the road. Guards on snow speeders appeared to be gaining on them. Raika shot at the ones on the right. She managed to shot three of guards in the head and shot the other three motorcycles causing them to explode. While two of them went flying into the snow, one of them was launched backward and bounced off the windshield of Byron’s car cracking it in process*
(Byron): All units fan out. Don’t hold back, kill them out if you have them.
*Hearing Byron’s message, all cars sped up to the van. They continued to fire on the van attempting to immobilize it or hit anyone inside. Howard kept his head ducked low in order to avoid getting shot*
(Zia): They’re gaining on us. Can’t we go any faster?
(Dust): Not unless you want to tip over on turns or slide out of control. These vans aren’t exactly known for their speed.
(Ryuuji): Alright. I’ve got this.
*Ryuuji positions himself over the sun visor and pulls himself up to see six cars and four motorcycles closing in on them. Byron’s car was bringing up the rear and moving in*
(Ryuuji): Okay. Fire Grid Form 170: Orange Fox Inferno!
*Arching his left arm back, Ryuuji gathered magic particles into his hand which turned orange and created fire. He then launched it at the officers pursuing them. Guzco, seeing the inferno heading their way quickly reached over and grabbed the wheel from Byron to steer them out of the way to safety. But they crashed into a tree. The other cars weren’t lucky as they got caught in the attack and were too damaged to continue their pursuit or exploded*
(Byron): Fuck!
*More vehicles appeared from the rear and passed by Byron’s car and the other damages vehicles to continue their pursuit*
(Byron): Continue pursuing that van. I authorize the use of all lethal magic. Stop them and retrieve Howard Oswalt.
(Guzco): Enough! You saw the fire power of that mercenary. Continuing to go after them is a death sentence.
*Guzco grabs the radio’s mic and wrestles it away from Byron*
(Byron): Give that back! I order you!
*Byron attempts to wrestle the mic away from Guzco*
(Guzco): Whoever these guys are aren’t your run of the mill mercenaries. It’s over Byron. There’s nothing we can do.
(Byron): You’re just saying that in order to protect your friend.
(Guzco): It’s not like that Byron and you know it. Do you really want to send those men to their death?
(Byron): I have my orders. I intend to follow them. I have to!
(Guzco): Byron!
(Byron): Shut up!
(Guzco): No matter what you do or how many orders you follow. Your son is never coming back.
*Byron’s face then went pale as he remembers his son. Years ago, his son left for the capital of Hargus having been recruited to fight in a war. A month past and Byron received a visit from Hargus soldiers who delivered an urn with the ashes of his son who had died in battle. Byron’s wife took it harder than him. She fell into a deep depression and committed suicide. After remembering his son, Byron’s face regained color and he stared coldly at Guzco*
(Byron): Then you tell me what it is, I’m supposed to do? What you and I do, it isn’t just a profession, it’s our way of life. We weren’t good enough to be soldiers. We were tossed aside and forced to return home with our heads hanging low. An embarrassment to not only ourselves but our families. This is the only way we can prove our value to Hargus.
(Guzco): Byron.
*Guzco slowly reaches for his hip unbeknownst to Byron*
(Byron): There are times when we have to act and keep going no matter the cost. Those bastards took everything from me. They owe me! And I’ll make sure they give me what I want by dragging Howard’s dead body back to them.
*Guzco pulls out his gun and shoots Byron in the chest to kill him. He then grabs the radio mic*
(Guzco): To all available units. End pursuit and return to Werband. The mercenaries are carrying too much fire power for us to handle. Warden Byron has accepted responsibility and ended his life.
(Guard): Roger that. Ending pursuit now.
*Guzco turns off the radio and lets out a sigh before looking at the dead body of Byron*
(Guzco): That’s the problem with this kingdom. We’re too hung up on the kingdom trying to give us something we know they’ll never give us. You were a good comrade, Byron. I’m sorry it had to end this way. Say hi to your wife and son for me. Farewell, Howard. I hope you find a peaceful life outside of this.
***
*Back with Shadow Eye and the van*
(Gael): I don’t sense anymore auras.
(Alita): And I don’t see anymore cars pursuing us.
(Amarti): They’re giving up!
(Jade): Way to scare them off Ryuuji!
(Morgan): Now all we just need to do is land on the ship.
(Zia): Speaking of which.
*Zia points to the coast and everyone sees the ship*
(Dust): Right on time.
(Jin): I don’t see a place for them to dock.
(Dust): Who said anything about the ship docking?
(Jin): Than how do we get on the ship?
(Hibana): You might want to buckle up for this.
*As the van goes down a hill towards, Dust gives it more gas and begins to speed up. When the van reaches the cliff it goes airborne towards the ocean. Howard, Jin, and Gael scream as the van goes airborne while everyone remains calm. As the van begins to descend it lands directly on the deck of the ship and comes to a stop*
(Dust): Nailed it! Pay up!
*Morgan, Raika, Sanada, Amarti, Zia, and Hibana take out money and hand it over to Dust. Then everyone got out of the van as the sailors came out to see them*
(Dust): You might want to think about getting this baby detailed.
*As soon as Dust closes the door, the tires come off the van and it makes a hard thud on the deck for everyone to hear*
(Jin): I think we might have scratched it.
(Dust): Eh, it’s a rental. We’ll get the order to pay for it.
*The captain of the ship appears. He wore a grey coat over a red sweater with brown pants and black boots. His eyes were green and his beard was grey*
(Captain): Welcome aboard my ship. I take it this is Dr. Howard Oswalt?
(Howard): Yes. A pleasure to meet you captain-
(Captain): Garp. Garp Robertson. At your service.
*Howard and Garp shake*
(Howard): Based on your hospitality, I assume you’re with Brister?
(Garp): You assume correctly. While not one of our finer vessels, it’s perfect for covert operations and fooling other kingdoms. So how was your rescue?
(Howard): While not ideal, I am grateful for it.
*Howard smiled as he looks back at the members of Shadow Eye*
(Garp): Glad to hear it, let’s get you inside. We’ve got a warm meal with your name on it. That goes for the rest of you too.
*Everyone followed the captain down to the mess hall to eat and relax. When they arrived at the mess hall they were greeted by the members of Herbel Cloak. They snuck out of Werbend hours before the operation began and got on the ship at another location. Everyone sat down and began to eat as they exchange stories on what happened. After the meal, Dust noticed the people in the mess hall and decided to give everyone a treat and play some music for them. Before long, the mess hall was alive with the sounds of music, singing, and laughter as the ship sailed away safely on the open sea*
Author’s Note: And that’s the end of volume 5. I hoped you enjoyed this volume. This volumed was filled with a lot more mature and darker stories than the previous volumes as I wanted to tackle some more serious missions. We’ll be shifting gears in volume 6 as Jin, Alita, and Gael will be taking center stage as well as the young knights so look forward to the next volume. That volume is about 90% done and I’m hoping to release a preview in the winter. I’ve already got everything planned out for volume 7 and once the writing for 6 is wrapped up, I’ll be starting on that volume. Thanks for reading and supporting the novel. I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
