Chapter 26

A flashback dazzled the senses of sight. Taking a memory from Marc himself. The speed of light entered the event that was so imprinted in his memory. Until he saw an old house that was not inhabited. The chimney is made of worn wood, observed by two crows. A squawking sound came from the crow's mouth. Flap your wings to move to another place.

The young Marc still had a vague memory. He remembers well, Marc's parents decided to fight for a living. Precisely selling vegetables or farm animals with difficulty. He got a lot of crops at that time. Marc's father, who is a retired soldier, chose to work as a fruit seller. In a battered-painted truck, the three of them set off for the market. The road they took to the market was fifty kilometers. Marc's mother and father drive every day to the market. While conversing so that there are friends to chat with during the trip. Especially regarding activities or plans that will be carried out in the future. Meanwhile, Marc saw five goats chewing grass, which was ready to be sold in the market. Next to a goat, a variety of vegetables were tied into a sack. They don't want pets to eat the crops on the farm. Marc's parents hoped to be able to sell his luggage to the market at a reasonable price. And that's exactly what they thought. Five goats tried to eat vegetables beside Marc. But he pushed as hard as he could and kept his distance. Make sure they don't eat it. Trying to hold back the pungent smell. Goat dung fell from his ass hole. Marc knocked hard on the truck.

"Dad, why do we bring all the goats? You know that goats like to eat grass or vegetables?" Marc grumbled from outside.

But Marc's words were ignored by his parents. They are busy with conversation. As time went on, the voices of Marc's parents became less and less. That's when He began to realize. The place he lives in is not his village. Small cracks have started to enlarge, showing a deep black color. Mark opened his eyes. He was surprised that previously a child, returned to normal.

The figure of a human in tattered clothes resembling a tramp. The wooden stick he was holding was so strong. Change the order of the place into a garden of flowers, grass, and cool weather. Butterflies fly, a swarm of bees fly to pollinate each flower petal. Then enter the beehive. The sound of the music is so obvious, the flute and piano go hand in hand. Plus the pleasant sound of trumpets in the ears made Marc's eyes close.

"Marc!" shouted Ronald.

The almost bald man opened his eyelids. He woke up from his sleep. It looks like Ronald is still struggling with the thick-bearded creature. One of the tramps stood behind him. He laughed, and then fixed a gaze at Marc.

"You caused all this?"

"That's right! I am a Homunculus!"

"Homunculus you say?"

"You could say you guessed right to avoid gold and jewelry. Watch carefully," said the bum-clad Homunculus.

The gold turns brown. Then it changed to black again. Things started to melt into one piece of Homunculus. He absorbs everything in sight. Including the thick-bearded creature. He groaned for help at the man dressed in rags. His mace was swung from above. However, the man dressed in rags instead walked leisurely. Just ignored him. Marc and Ronald frowned. Making the thick-bearded creature growl. However, a pitch-black liquid stuck to his legs. The thick-bearded creature tugged at its two legs in turn. However, it didn't work.

"Inhale, my children!" she screamed.

Marc who woke up tried to get up while holding a sniper rifle. Focusing in the form of the left eye, attached to the ZF-41 optic. The left-arm tightly gripped the sniper rifle, while aiming at the head. His aim was at the thick-bearded creature's forehead. However, his aim was blocked by his giant mace. Ronald backed away. Watching his movements while turning the meter. He raised the temperature of the gas to its maximum.

"Ronald."

"I know, Marc. Without you saying anything, I got it."

Their expressions turned serious. The man dressed in rags clapped his palms together. Dozens of skeleton bodies were shown by him until the stench surrounded him. Unfortunately, Marc and Ronald recognized this stench. The pungent stench pierced the noses of the two New Germany soldiers. Similar to a rotting egg. Sucking the thick-bearded creature. Scream after scream echoed in the surrounding area. Right arm trying to lift. But nothing nobody helps. Marc and Ronald thought the liquid was very similar to quicksand. Not to mention, the pungent smell is everywhere

"There's no mistake it," Ronald remarked, wiping the bridge of his nose.

"That's right. It smells of Hydrogen Sulfide. The kind I hate the most."

Ronald and Marc were lucky to use gas masks. Even so, The smell continued to sting their nose as they walked. Two New German soldiers tried to restrain it. Surprisingly, men dressed in tattered black turned into a beautiful and beautiful garden. This made the two New Germany soldiers even warier of him. Plus, Marc moved to the left side. Followed by Ronald who was busy filling the tube into his Flamethrower. Pull the trigger from the right finger. The bullets shot signaling Marc intends to launch an attack action first.

The tattered clothed man clapped his palms quite hard. The beautiful garden is now covered with paralyzing and soothing magic. Marc and Ronald couldn't get close to him because the two magics were starting to spread throughout the area. The two New German soldiers retreated to the rear. Marc clicked his tongue, expressing irritation at the unfortunate situation.

"Ronald, forget for a moment helping me!"

"But—"

Unfortunately, the action of the man in tattered clothes chose to approach Ronald rather than Marc. The man beside him, wide-eyed in shock. Then, a kick was aimed at his stomach so that it bounced against the wall. To the extent, the tube that was brought leaked. His body fell to the ground.

"Ronald! Damn you!"

"It's useless," replied the man dressed in rags, stroking his chin.

He ran fast. Meanwhile, Marc pulled the trigger. Let the bullets hit him. Almost hit his right eye. However, he managed to avoid it. A hard kick from the boy in tattered clothes, aimed at Marc's waist and bounced against the wall. He groaned in pain. His sniper rifle pulled the bolt handle back. Pointed the sniper rifle at the man dressed in rags. However, Marc's sense of vision blurred. The blinking did not help. He was hit by dispelling magic. The man in tattered clothes came over to Marc who fell to the ground, kicking and hitting him multiple times. Right in the stomach. Marc experienced vomiting of saliva and blood at the same time. Then, the wand that the man in rags was holding swung at Marc's cheek. And he was thrown against the wall until he vomited blood. His body fell to the ground. Seeing a man dressed in rags was in front of him. Marc tried to get up. However, his right foot stepped on his back.

"Give up. I'll spare your life if you—" Before he finished speaking, Marc pointed a sniper rifle at him.

The bullet almost hit the man in rags. The lens glass on the gas mask has shattered. With a bruised face and blood dripping on the edge of his lips, the hairy man was starting to find it difficult to see from a distance. Men in tattered clothes were running towards here. The wooden stick he was carrying began to swing. However, Marc's expression gave a faint smile.

Suddenly, Ronald pulled the trigger. To be precise he was beside Marc. A burst of fire hit the man dressed in rags. Ronald used both palms from him to counterattack. The man dressed in rags chose to dodge. Unfortunately, the target was locked by Ronald's aim. His crooked smile made his brows furrow.

"Damn it!"

"I won't let you go, you bastard!" spit out Marc brandished his Rifle, and pulled the trigger.

The shot punctured the body of the man dressed in rags. His eyes widened. Couldn't believe what he was feeling. His wand fell. Staring at the two people. Marc and Ronald took turns attacking each other. Ronald put all his energy into spouting fire. Don't care if the gas cylinder is leaking. Screams from men dressed in rags. Asked for forgiveness because he would be defeated by the two soldiers of New Germany.

"Stop! Stop all of you! Please forgive me!" his scream received the attack given by Marc and Ronald.

They think if men dressed in rags were once humans, they could be forgiven. However, neither Marc nor Ronald regards him as fully human. Now, men dressed in rags turned into monsters. Seen both legs changed for a few seconds before returning to normal. Even so, Ronald and Marc did not want to stop attacking.

When he was about to attack again, a memory from Marc came back. He saw an old house that was not inhabited. The chimney is made of worn wood, observed by two crows. A squawking sound came from the crow's mouth. Flap your wings to move to another place.

"It's again. But somehow very different from before," he muttered.

The young Marc still had a vague memory. The only way to survive is to do exactly as before. Even though he looks reluctant, Marc wants to get back in the battle as soon as possible. Help Ronald to defeat the men dressed in rags. Until he came to a knock on the door from outside.

"Dad, why do we bring all the goats? You know that goats like to eat grass or vegetables?" Marc grumbled from outside.

"Because if you don't sell it, the goat is too old to sell and the meat isn't that good because it's too hard."

"But isn't it good if the meat is too tough, dad?" asked Mark again.

Marc's father and mother glanced at their son behind. His father pressed the brake pedal, then turned the gears in the truck. Then, he drove the goats away while taking some vegetables that had been packed. Marc looked at his face for the umpteenth time. White hair with a wrinkled face. So excited and full of sweat. Her mother carried her to move forward. The engine was turned on even though know a bit cramped inside. The truck resumed its journey to the market.

"You might ask why we sell meat that is soft rather than hard. Isn't that right?" asked Marc's father.

He nodded his head. Marc's father sighed. He took a knife, cut the neck of one of the goats. A bleating sound accompanied by a groan of pain after being killed. Marc glared sharply, turned his face away, and spit out his guts. Mother approached him while stroking his back.

"Calm down, calm down."

Marc glanced at his father who continued to slaughter a goat that was already lying stiff. Skin it until there is nothing left. The meat is cut into several pieces. Marc wondered later if it was too late to sell to the market. However, he saw happy expressions on their faces. Marc doesn't like ruining his parents' fun. He looked at the minced meat. When you see it, you can see the difference in the texture of the goat meat. Goat prengus pungent aroma pricked Marc's senses. until he had to cover his nostrils. The color of the goat meat is pink compared to the meat of a lamb. The fiber in the meat is smooth, the fat is hard and chewy, the color is yellowish. Marc poked the goat that had been cut off. Out of curiosity, he tried to chew it. However, Marc's hand action was pushed aside by his father.

"Don't eat it! Wait for it to be cooked first."

Marc obeyed his father's words, unable to hide the shock of being pushed away by his hand. Marc's mother suddenly hugged her son tightly. Rub your back and head so you don't cry. Luckily, his heart was strong as iron. Try not to cry. Marc looked back, watching his father continue to chop the meat and put it in the empty basket.

They continued their journey back to the market. Until on the way, there were several soldiers on guard. Marc saw them armed with guns. Ask about their identity. And Marc's father gave him the card and spelled his name. One of the soldiers matched the faces of the two. They let Marc's parents pass by. Marc's father pressed the gas pedal slowly. His sweat dripped down his cheeks. Arriving at the market, there was a crowd of people. Marc's father parked the car. Marc's father got out of the car and opened the car door. Then ask what happened to one of the passersby.

"What's the matter, ma'am?" asked Mark.

"Stay here, okay? I want to check first."

Marc got out of the car, covering his nose because he couldn't stand the smell. Finally he started to not take it anymore. He jumped from the truck, ignoring his parents' advice.

"Marc!" his parents shouted.

Marc slipped into the crowd of passersby. Arriving there, three New Germany soldiers were calming the local residents. Trying to find out the cause of death of the victim. Marc saw the victim covered with a white cloth. The smell is pungent until it enters the nostrils. Until Marc turned around, spewing the contents of his stomach.

"Oi, what's the matter with you, kid?" suddenly someone approached Marc who was vomiting.

Suddenly, Marc fell to the ground and his eyes slowly closed. He saw several people gathered around him. Suddenly, he woke up with his eyes wide open. His body half stood up. Seeing the flames have dwindled along with the walls filled with holes. At first, he thought there was a garden around him. It turned out to be just an illusion created by a man dressed in rags. Ronald held out his hands. Marc accepted a helping hand from him. Staring at the man dressed in rags slumped on the charred ground. Ronald intends to burn him to ashes. While Marc groaned in pain, pulling the trigger from his sniper rifle yes. Officially, the remaining ammo is up. Then, Marc thrust his gun into his back. Holds his head carefully.

"You killed him?"

Nod of head from Ronald. Marc only felt sorry for the man beside him. They both squatted while reaching something in the pockets of his pants and shirts. Even if it's burnt, at least there's something useful going forward. Until they find a gem with a black eagle symbol. Exactly with the New Germany symbol. Suddenly, Ronald opened his mouth. Wanted to ask Marc how he was after killing the man dressed in rags.

"Are you okay?" asked Ronald.

"I'm fine. Surely, that individual will never rise again, isn't it?"

"Why do you think so, Ronald?"

"Who knows. I've always thought, if it's something to do with magic, it's bound to end in tragedy. And I don't want to be like that," replied Ronald.

Marc threw away his gas mask. While Ronald continued to wear it. Marc could endure the pungent smell. He looked at the body of the man dressed in rags one last time. Rubbing his eyes because he was dizzy. Marc walked over the corpse muttering, "bedankt voor alles (thank you for everything)."