1622 Payne's Pain
Artemis gripped his armrest. Seeing such results was frightening.
Flabbergasted? Stunned? Blown away? Shocked silly?
As a prince, who has graced the battlefield on several occasions and fought against assassinations and uprisings, he didn't know how he would fight such an enemy if he stood on the opposite side.
'So this is the destructive power of the long nose vehicles?'
Artemis' mouth still hadn't closed to now, seeing the hellish horrors outside. Although he felt pity for anyone who faced such an opponent, it didn't mean he would turn soft and let the enemy go.
His Soma should have already experienced hell under the rule of these invaders. So what these Adonis people got, what they deserved!
Artemis took several deep breaths. "Impressive, brother... I have to admit your strength is far greater than I expected."
He thought they would fight with swords, arrows, and black powder. But the reality proved they could pack a heavy punch while still driving safely within these godly vehicles.
Soma felt a heavy stone drop in his heart, finally convinced he had brought a powerful force as helpers.
If before he had doubts, now he was 200% certain of their victory.
Payne and the other Giants felt the same, their faces going to shock to realization and excitement. But soon, Payne's smile stiffened.
"Fa... Father?"
He was far, far too late.
Payne's eyes moistened, seeing the few skeletal pieces linked high up on the front walls of a familiar sight.
The building was one of the 3 official buildings used by the city lord to address the common folk.
One could say the building was akin to a slender tower.
A massive roundabout surrounded the entire building, with ample space for many to crowd around.
There were 2 chains coated in old-dried-up blood, dangling from the highest points.
A prisoner had been hanged there, with his arms chained and his palms pinned.
Judging from what they saw, the victim should have also had his arms, belly, upper chest, thighs, knees, lower shins, and feet nailed firmly with long metal rods.
It's been months since the victim was nailed; this explains why 99% of his bones were missing. The only bone structure left was his skull.
Above the skill's pitiful being was a massive board carved with the victim's name and crime, as though mocking his death.
.
"FATHER!... FATHER!... FATHER!!!"
Payne shook violently, reaching for the vehicle doors. But everyone held him back, the atmosphere turning chilly.
"Father... "
Payne choked, tears continuously streaming down his flushed cheeks.
His chest rose and fell vigorously, and his eyes became ferocious, like an unhinged beast.
"Payne!"
Artemis yelled his name, but it seemed that Payne was in his own world, incapable of hearing.
"Payne! That's enough, you hear me? Snap out of it, or you won't get your chance of revenge!"
Revenge... Revenge...
Payne woke from his trance, closing his trembling eyes tightly. With his head lowered, he addressed Artemis.
"Your highness... I know it's not in my place to make any requests... But promise me you'll let me kill the bastard who did this."
"Artemis didn't immediately talk, turning his attention to Landon.
" Killing blow... That's all you'll get."
He was too weak to take on the top Adonis dogs. So how could Landon let him fight the Final Boss one on one? He was here to protect them and not have them die unexpectedly.
Finishing blow...
He will give the boy this much.
Payne bowed towards Landon and Artemis. "Many thanks. That's all I need."
He must watch the enemy struggle and feel what his father felt. He must watch the enemy take his last breath under his sword.
Payne wiped his tears, feeling like a withered rose.
'Father... This unfilial son has returned too late. Please, forgive me.'
He already expected his father to die. But to die in such a disgraceful manner was too much of an insult.
Landon observed Payne from the corner of his eyes, quickly sending word for someone to retrieve the skull and other bone pieces found.
"Thank you, your majesty Landon." With this, he can give his father a proper burial after the battle.
Everyone's mood was heavy, their fighting spirits ignited even more.
Artemis inwardly blamed himself for taking too long, cashing his people to go through so much suffering. And just then, they noticed the skies no longer being darkened.
The darkness had vanished, and the temperature had risen even more.
Hell!
If not for the cooling system, they would have been cooked, sweaty, and extremely dehydrated here. But this wasn't their biggest concern.
.
3, 2, 1...
Shwooooo~
Landon saw a small gathering of wind swirl, growing from dog-size to a monstrous tornado in under a minute.
So fast?
"Seat Belts!" One of the Baymardians reminded, and everyone doubled.
~Ju-Jhung!
The driver shifted gears, throwing his head behind his shoulders sternly. "Hold on tight... It's going to be a bumpy ride."
Vrmmmmmm!!!!
The vehicles took off like lightning, everyone on the edge of their seats.
moving
The fast and the furious?
Artemis recalled the movie he watched on the ship, feeling his heartbeat pumping loudly in his ears.
Oh, my Vine God! Are they going to pull those crazy stunts now? (°π°)
Artemis was thinking too much. They had already made such preparations with their vehicles during the Romain incident.
These many tornadoes were indeed troubling but weren't as powerful as the full-force tornado that appeared once in a while.
Though they were so tall that they went to the sky, these types were narrower and carried far less than a true giant tornado.
They could displace horses, uproot crops, and destroy fields, and homes with mud, sticks, and thatched roofs, carrying them some distance away.
But in most cases, those carried away survive, though injured by all sorts of unknown objects flying.
So they weren't like true tornadoes that were gigantic, with almost no one surviving when caught.
Against them, the enormous military tanks and the modified, heavy Military vehicles wouldn't be displayed and thrown high up if engulfed by one.
At most, the military trucks would spin on the spot, but the heat tornadoes won't be able to pick them up. And just in case they discounted, all military trucks had an anchoring system akin to spy technology, roping them to any targeted beam or pole.
Though they had protective measures against these tornadoes, it didn't mean they would sit duck and allow the tornadoes get to them. And besides… Mother nature was one well of an unpredictable lady.
Landon's pupil's dilated, seeing several unexpected tornadoes forming from a distance.
"Enough fiddling. All A1 units head to the City Lord's palace... It's time to end this."
