Chapter 82 - What Do You Want From Me?

Anticipating the arrival of the Oscorians, soldiers of Aeros along with the Plethoran arms stood side by side, scattered across the puzzle wood forest.

Kyle and Kristopher stayed at the front, and behind them was Diana. One other soldier of Pletora stood next to Kyle.

The Oscorian leader was tied to a rock next to them, groaning in anguish from days of being inflicted with pain. Christopher's men naturally attempted to get information out of him, but he was as hard as a rock, unwilling to tell their reason for wanting the young master of Aeros.

It did not take long for them to hear sounds of stomping feet against the graveled soil. From the sky, one Aeros soldier reported, "There are about forty of the Oscorians!"

Christopher hissed. If their purposes were only to make the exchange, there was no need to bring with them so many of their troops. He quickly warned his men to stay alert.

In the centermost part of the puzzle wood forest where a sufficient leveled land area could be found, the leader of the Oscorian group, Vasco, came walking confidently to the front of his pack.

Vasco was one of the most veteran leaders of Oscoria. He led many attacks to the nation of Aeros and was responsible for many deaths of Christopher's men. He was one of the foe's best and most ruthless warrior.

Like the Oscorians, he had red-orange skin, but Vasco had a near horn-like forming on his forehead. Vasco was taller, the tallest in their group, standing eight feet tall. His deviled face looking darker than most of his men.

He scanned the area and grinned, satisfied with what he saw. He silently confirmed how Plethora had taken their side. He said to Christopher, "Here is the healer that you seek."

Vasco raised his hand, and two of his men pushed forward the old healer named Basalt. The healer looked as though he had been tortured for a long time. He had many cuts on his body but now were healed.

What was apparent was how weak he had become? His body looked frail, his hair was all white, and he lost an incredible amount of weight. He only had a white overall to cover his body, but it had bloodstains everywhere.

Basalt had a sling bag with him, and in it were the crystals that he once used to put a seal on Christopher's abdomen.

"And here is your co-Oscorian," Christopher pointed out to their Oscorian leader while standing two meters away from Vasco.

Vasco laughed terribly. He walked towards the captured Oscorian and sneered. He said, "Pathetic."

"Haaah!" Without warning, Vasco reached for his sword and swung across the captured leader's throat. Blood gushed out of the red-skinned creature, spattering against Vasco.

The shock on Christopher's face was clear. Vasco and his troops came all the way to the puzzle wood forest just to kill his own.

He tried to reach for Basalt, but two Oscorian men wielded their sword against him.

"What is the meaning of this, Vasco!" Christopher asked in anger.

Seeing their young master in a ready stance, the rest of Aeros' soldiers prepared for a fight. They took out their swords... and so did the Plethoran arms.

Standing behind Christopher was Diana. Her eyes narrowed, eager to punish Christopher for betraying her.

"Isn't it obvious, young master of Aeros!" Vasco to a step closer with his eyes widened. "We are here to... capture you!"

Right at that very moment when Vasco raised his blade up in the air, many of Aeros' soldiers groaned in pain. This included Christopher.

"Aaaahhhhhh! Aaaahhh!" Christopher was tormented, feeling a blade cut against his wings. Diana struck her sword into his right-wing and it instantly broke.

Like many of his men, he watched in horror as Diana resumed her attack against his wings.

"Ahhh! Fuck!" It if wasn't enough to immobilize him, Vasco punched against his chest while he was still distracted. Vasco's large fist molded against Christopher's armor.

Kyle, on the other hand, managed to flee after the Plethoran soldier missed hitting on his wings.

"Kyle! Kyle! Warn father!" Ordered Christopher. Seeing that Plethora had gone against them, he knew they were bound to lose. "Leave Kyle! Leave!"

Christopher could no longer flee. The pain in his wings was too excruciating. Moreover, Diana and one other Plethoran soldier held firmly against his left-wing.

"Kyle! Leave!" Ordered Christopher.

From behind Christopher, more of Aero's soldier's had their wings injured. Some utterly cut off. More cries of pain were audible in the open space of the puzzle wood forest. It was due to Plethora's betrayal that Christopher and his group were caught off guard.

Eight more of his men managed to free themselves, still able to fly. Some were bruised badly and could manage to fly only a safe distance above.

When Kyle saw this, he found the courage to fight back. He said, "No! We will not leave you!"

"Men help your brothers!" Ordered Kyle.

Kyle and the other freed soldiers started with the less guarded Plethoran arms at the back of the group.

From those who were injured but could still fight without wings, they struck back with their blades regardless of the pain they felt.

At the same time, the Oscorian armies aided the Plethorans, rushing to pin down the injured flying men. For those who were unlucky, completely held down, blades struck through their vital parts, taking away their lives.

Christopher also tried to struggle himself free, trying to put back his broken wings to his back. However, as he attempted, he received punches left and right from Vasco that he coughed out blood.

Meanwhile, Kyle became at a loss. He saw, with his own eyes, men of Aeros take the fall, lifeless on the ground. Only then did he realize that he needed to save whoever was left alive and free.

"Retreat! Retreat!" Kyle ordered! He flew further up to the sky and counted nine of their man were still flying around, trying to help one of their own.

The soldiers of Aeros were conflicted. Their young master was in the hands of Vasco, but they recognized they were outnumbered. While the Plethorans suffered loses, the combined forces of the Oscorias and Plethora was far greater than theirs.

Vasco looked to the skies in anger. He hated how he could not reach the flying men with his blade. He looked down at Christopher who was completely down on the ground, being pinned down by one of his own while Diana pointed a sword at him.

With a loud voice, he said, "If your young master gives me what I want! I spare your lives!"

Struggling to breathe, Christopher lifted his head and asked with difficulty, "What - What do you want from me?"