The colossal, blindfolded giant was about to pierce that terrifying blade right through his father, and there was not a thing that he could do about it.
Kona stood there, eyes paler than ever, jaw clenched. He could feel the sweat drops dripping down his forehead, and his breathing was getting heavier. He had to act.
Then, as the blade's tip began closing the small gap separating it from Junas' neck, an uncontrollable avalanche of images erupted in Kona's head.
That time they went fishing together at the lake.
His 8th birthday, when he gifted him a wooden sword.
The first time he'd brought him in the forest...
In the mind of that fair child, the memories of his father stormed. Was there really nothing he could do? Was he really going to let another loved one die?
Without warning, the terrified expression vanished from Kona's face. His eyes narrowed, his brows frowned.
As the boy's rage grew ardent, he raised his right arm towards the giant, and his eyes began to glow.
His muscles tensed. Now, he knew what to do.
In an instant, an overwhelming pressure drowned the Flow's placid spirals. A tide erupted, so powerful the entire area of the square was affected, and the invisible smoke began gathering.
A dancing hurricane of energy surrounded the giant, as Kona's scream filled the air.
Burn him. I will burn him down. Gunn, Layla, watch me.
The raging swirls began tightening around the blindfolded monster, constricting him in a furious twirl. In Kona's mind, the image of fire was now clear. He'd seen it many times. How the flames behave, how they move, the way they interact.
He was not going to fail.
The emotions, the rage, the fear. This wasn't like the training, this was real.
Krulls' third eye was suddenly blinded. As the desperate cry rang in his ears, his sixth sense was completely flooded. He felt as if a raving wind had glutted his vision, as if he were in the middle of a storm.
His sword stopped mid air.
What is this?
He turned, facing the voice he'd heard, and immediately felt it. In that direction, hidden behind a smoke barrier his sense couldn't penetrate, was the source of that hurricane.
"Make that kid shut the hell up!"
Was a kid really the source of that phenomenon? How could a child possibly do such a thing? No one, not even the greatest warriors, had ever been able to touch that third eye.
Then how? What did he do?
Around Krulls, the air's temperature began to increase.
As the village watched, powerless, a few, exiguous flames started lighting up the Flow hurricane. Sparks rampaged around the colossus and, for an instant, the whole village looked up, shocked and confused.
Slap.
"Shut your damn mouth, filthy kid!"
And suddenly, the hurricane was gone.
Kona was now on the ground, his left ear whistling, and his head spinning.
Above him, a robust man, dressed in full black leather armor, was shouting something that he couldn't understand. The words resounded, muddy and confused, as if pronounced in a different tongue.
Around him, the square began twirling faster and faster, and the faces surrounding him slowly got blurrier.
As his mind faded into darkness, a pair of white, glowing eyes appeared in front of him; the last thing he saw was that weird white flash.
Krulls' vision returned. The astounded giant's third eye, little by little, regained focus: amongst the crowd, slumped on the ground, lay a boy, white hair and pale skin.
The giant observed Kona, frowning his brows to focus, and nodded towards the soldier that had slapped him.
"Hey, you. Bring me that kid."
The village watched as the giant grabbed Kona by the waist with a single hand, lifting him up with ease. He was studying the boy.
How could this scrawny child possibly do that? Was it really him?
Krulls, carefully inspecting the boy, realized something. Slowly, a satisfied grin appeared on his bandaged face.
"Hey Junas, do you recognize this little goblin here?"
Junas, barely able to move, was still on the ground. He fought to get up, somehow managing to stand on his knees. When the warrior's gaze met Kona, his face went pale, and terror filled his eyes. His voice was trembling in fear.
"Krulls. No Krulls, please. I was wrong, I know. You should kill me. You should kill me, not him. Please Krulls, please. I will give you whatever you want..."
The giant's grin rapidly turned into a twisted smile, cruel and heartless. Then, he laughed.
"Oh, Junas. I won't kill him. Why would I destroy a valuable asset? This kid has something special... I saw it."
Krulls shifted his sword, pointing it towards Junas.
"Here is what it's going to happen. I will take this boy with me, use him, and then, once I'm satisfied, throw him away. And you... You will be alive to witness it all."
The giant turned around, and began walking away.
"Come on, men! We're heading back, prepare the horses. You can't take any women this time."
Junas was petrified.
His boy was now resting on Krulls' shoulder: that giant was going to take him away, torture him, and the Gods know what else, and then just kill him. And there was nothing he could do about it.
The man, scrambling to find his sword, tried to get up.
The giant didn't even consider him as an issue, let alone a threat, but he had to go. He had to try.
He grabbed the blade, bolting towards that colossus. Amongst the brawl of people, Eve was screaming her lungs out, crying, desperately trying to reach her son.
"Don't you dare take another step, Junas Valent. I will not hesitate to slit your son's throat."
Krulls' tone was cold, glacial; he hadn't even turned to face him, and yet his words made Junas fall to his knees once again. As Eve went silent, her face pale and her forehead covered in sweat, the mass of people opened up, letting Krulls through.
Under the glowing sunset, the village was quiet. As the mercenaries dived into the forest, the only audible sound was the horses' gallop.