Desert Company: Retrospective

The twenty-first day in the month of Tav. The final evaluation had already passed. All fighters had passed the qualifications, sufficient sahar levels and saharic mastery. Physical abilities were top-notch, thanks to Kwazhak and L. Their health was checked, standing on weight scales and medical examinations were conducted. On that day, a feast was held, and it was all Buhang cuisine. When L tasted the sour soup of sinigang, one of the national dishes of Buhanggilog, it seemed to move him to tears. White rice was served, the most expensive type that grew in the Tansag Steppe.

It was to the last grand feast they had together, all unity for a cause: To end the Dineh Kazaàd.

Now the wing was empty. Every room had been cleaned up. No one was in the stadium or in the verandas. Three months in a confined living area had come to an end. All that remained was the vermillion petals of the sarilang flowers that scattered throughout.

The ocean breeze touched the harbor as the waves splattered onto the pier. With the salty wind, churned the beige coastal windmills that powered the Azu entrepôt. A large Fuchuan class Z̆ongren ship was docked, boasting a spacious deck and a tall stern. On the sides of the ship above the hull, ‘Al-Wa’ was written in bold. A vertical windmill mounted the top of the main mast, turning rapidly with the sails. The roar of the sea lifted the vessel up, and down, in an endless loop.

Soldiers walked through and back the gangplank, as the fighters were waiting on the silent wharf. L and Kwazhak stood near the edge of the wooden pier, staring into the distance of the only sea in the world. Approaching the elliptic orbital month Zurgaa, the shores were beginning to retreat and the sun’s heat intensified.

Thiệu walked towards the landing, with two guards escorting him. At once his employees stopped what they were doing and kneeled down. However, L and the rebels remained standing. The CEO stopped and looked at Kwazhak and L standing in front.

“Did you forget the rules?”

“We remember them clearl as the day,” Kwazhak gestured, “However, this day is a rebellion!”

“Dihu Ryoubun!” L raised his hands, as everyone was surrounded in an engulfing darkness. The world became black. They were in a realm created by sahar.

“Bravo, bravo,” Thiệu clapped his hands slowly. “Did you learn that from me? I was wondering when your insolent schism will take place. The Dineh Kazaàd will never end.”

“Yes, Mr. Thiệu, I did learn that spell from you. Even if all will fail, there will always be retribution,” L responded, as Jun Hyun-woo took at a device. It was hand-held, with a small apparatus and a glowing blue lens. It was a hologram recorder. It would transcript the environment it saw and translate it into a physical image, placing it in its internal data storage.

“It would be a nuisance if footage of one’s words were revealed to the public,” Kwazhak stepped forward. “We will take you down without fail.”

“Hoh? And if you really think you do, then how about you do it already! Subdue them,” Thiệu fasted his tie, turning around as two Al-Wa guards raised their rifles.

 

Suruj stared at the soldier on the left. It wasn’t a normal grunt. His chest became heavy, as sweat came down his face. He had seen him before.

“All of this happened because of you, Suruj Zundui. You caused more damage to your home ward than we did. Your family died because of you.”

The emotion of fright became anger. The captain that ordered the killing. The one that killed his mother and little brother. Suruj tightened his fist as his heart rate began to slow. He couldn’t allow himself to behave impulsively. But still… He should be the first one to attack. Since they were in a separate domain, sahar was abundant. Suruj took a deep breath, as the ground ruptured. He appeared in front of the man. Suruj’s right fist shone brightly as he started a punch. The captain immediately dodged, saying his calculations.

“Missing fingers on the left. If I rid you of your right arm, you will be useless. Mahou Ka- Mahou Tate!”

“Alam Minjie: Flowing Snake.”

The soldier was interrupted. A flurry of slashes came at him from all directions. He created a sahar barrier at that moment. It was shattered in the next second. Suruj felt his body loop around the enemy and away, as Saya carried him back. Ever slightly, he heard the sound of a stringed instrument strike multiple times. She was so fast that Suruj didn’t process himself being lifted to safety. Saya carefully set him down, as Suruj was embarrassed.

“Suruj!” Hosyi ran over to him, “Why did you rush there all of a sudden?”

“Don’t jump in without testing their ability,” Saya sheathed her sword.

“I know who he is. He knew how to fight me back in Dyak-ar-salaam,” Suruj responded, exasperated. He stood up and wiped his lip.

A wave of projectiles came flying at them. L threw his hand out. Multiple shields were created to negate the onslaught. The collision filled the area with dust.

“Guys! Thiệu is destroying this realm by absorbing all the saharic particles! I’ll try to prevent it, but if he succeeds then this battleground will be gone and he can kill us!” L shouted, holding both of his arms to the ground. “Your lives are on the line! If you wish to survive then go! Don’t hold back!”

“You heard the officer,” Kwazhak summoned a blade to his hand. “The wait is over!”

Once the smoke cleared, Kwazhak, Suruj, Saya, all of them burst out from the fog. The battle for their freedom. To be set free.

The soldiers reloaded and crackled their weapons. Suruj clapped his hands and walls of dirt erected before him. Jose and Shunji ran up the slanted mounts up into the air.

“Mahou Suiryok!”

“Mahou Jiguang!”

Shunji pointed and Jose aimed his fists. An energy beam and gauntlets launched toward the soldiers. The captain quickly used a counter.

“Dihu Quxiao,” He absorbed the laser, preparing for the spell’s counterattack. Suruj knew what Quxiao could do.

“Mouka!” Suruj called for her as she appeared from her invisibility cloak.

“Two can play double counter,” Her eyes grew neon green. “Alam Quxiao!”

The counter burst out as Mouka deflected it back. The beam exploded on contact. A blue bullet flew towards her from the dust.

“Alam Daigdig!” Suruj’s fist shone white as he punched the bullet away. There were so many saharic particles where he could use his high-costing spell an infinite amount of times.

“Mahou Kamisori.”

A blade of air brushed past them, only to be flicked away by Saya’s scimitar. Behind her was Ashojan, wielding a thin fencing sword. With light feet they dashed toward the two guards. Parrying a multitude of gunfire and spells, they were in reach.

 

Saya lifted her sword for a downward slash. The barrel of the soldier’s gun flew off with a twang. She exchanged blows as the grunt used his rifle as a blunt. Saya avoided the various spells that flew around them. Her feet thundered like drums as she sidestepped him and waved the blade at his neck, matching the beat of the taiko and the fluttering Guoren flute. He ducked as they looped in circles, orbiting each other. The riffs of the shamisen strummed in a three-four beat. Eventually she noticed her chance, and she called out to him.

Ding.

“Two o’clock!”

Ashojan fell from above and whacked the soldier in the neck. A metal screech brought the man down. As he was about to drive a hole into his head, Saya reached out.

“Don’t kill him. They don’t deserve it. Although that other one looks troublesome,” She looked at Mouka and the others fighting the other guard.

 

“Mahou Jiguang!” Shunji pointed with his forefinger out. A beam of light shot out towards the captain. “He’s too fast!”

The captain loaded his gun as Shunji was preparing another spell. He was hit. His sahar laser flew to the left. Mouka appeared behind the guard. She chanted.

“Alam Tusgal!” Her right hand absorbed Shunji’s beam, and aimed her other hand towards the soldier. The burst of sahar came out through her left. The captain swiftly used a counter, the energy bursting back towards her. Kwazhak stepped in and undulated his sword in a circle, the burst sliding off his blade.

“There’s no time to waste. We must stop Thiệu,” He urged, holding the sword with one arm.

“He’s right,” Suruj agreed, helping the disabled Shunji up. “The more sahar he absorbs the less likely we can kill him.”

“Suruj, just go… We’ll stall for time while you go after him,” Shunji jolted in a seizure-like state, the side effect of the bullet Suruj had been shot with in the past. Hosyi held Shunji’s other shoulder.

“Whatcha waiting for? The couple of us should stay, while another bunch go for Thiệu,” Mouka proposed, crossing her arms.

It was a unanimous decision. They nodded as Kwazhak and Suruj turned to go, but he hesitated. Suruj clenched his left hand as memories of the man who mutilated his fingers resurfaced. Could they really do it? This was the only chance they had. If they lost, it would cost their life. Kwazhak looked back to see Suruj stop. Just then, Hosyi placed a hand on Suruj’s shoulder. His eyes widened as her hand glowed.

“I don’t know what hatred you’ve had ever since we came here,” She said, smiling, “But I want to support you, because you have helped me. Dihu, Hosyi!”

Everything around him illuminated into a silver light, like the birth of a star, before fading away. Hosyi pushed him forward, “Now go!”

Suruj touched his shoulder gently, and remembered his purpose of this world. A grin appeared on his face. His fists began to light up. He remembered all the memories he had made with his mother and brother. Helping out the business, playing tag near the river bed, or a fun game of dyak en poy. A mix of hope and anger embodied him.

“Hosyi, I am always in your debt,” He chuckled as saharic particles clustered around his body, as dirt and debris levitated around him. Suruj was prepared to enter that state he’d never been in since he was little. Particle Fusion. When enough saharic particles clump together, they would collide with each other, releasing raw kinetic energy around the area. Back then it would level an entire cliff, but since they were in a separate dimension…

“Alam Daigdig… Mountain Dance.”