MLTO C3, P13

This is the thirteenth Part of "MLIV:TO" 's third Chapter.
It was released on 21.01.2023.
== Plot ==
Having cleared out Dimon's main force and backed him down into a corner, Geralt and his allies team up once again to eradicate the evil centaur chieftain before it is too late for everyone.
But the creature expected Geralt to show his considerable skill in the conflict and has prepared accordingly for his response against this insulting provocation. Still filled with hatred for all humans, this beast deludes himself by thinking that he has lured the young hero into his lair and is close to achieving what he wants.
The final battle between Humans and Centaurs is very close. But how will it end?
== Story ==
As Geralt and his allies move toward their next destination, Aaron steps forward, apparently concerned about something.
"You know, Geralt. I have to admit it."- He says- "I... am afraid. Of what's going to happen out there."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"And why are you afraid?"- He asks- "You know that we will do well, right?"
Aaron nods.
"Umm, yeah! I do! We've always been successful in our adventures!"- He exclaims- "But... there's always this ominous feeling looming over me. This black cloud of anger and sadness. We're going to face people who know Redmark. I want to show mercy, but I know that they will not do the same."
He looks at Geralt.
"So, tell me."- He says- "Is it worth it to worry about those who don't deserve it?"
Geralt sighs.
"We fight for the good of everyone, even those who refuse to appreciate our kindness toward them. And evil people like those are often not appreciated. Misunderstood. Angry. Perhaps even desperate, at times."- He says- "All this time, I have tried to show those people that all it takes to forge a peaceful world is to be peaceful yourself. But did they take it? Did they listen to my pleas as they murdered my sister? My mother? No, they did not. They always thought about 'world domination' and tried to disrupt everything that generations of heroes have fought for."
He looks back.
"You want an answer to your question, though. I will not delay you further than I already have."- He says- "The villains of this world do not deserve our mercy. Only those who have minds of their own, only those who can tell between good and bad and try to correct their own mistakes have a place in our society. But the darkness always dwells deep inside this world and there are more mind slaves than people with free will. We cannot stop the merciless flow of time and thus, the cycle of despair continues with each passing generation."
Aaron raises his eyebrow.
"So, you mean that even our children will be forced to experience this uncertainty?"
Geralt nods.
"I am afraid that it will be this way."- He says- "And that is why we must advise them when that time comes."
He looks up.
"And not just them."
Aaron smiles.
"Right."- He says- "The whole world needs us, too."
Geralt nods.
"We shall win this battle, one way or another."
Having talked during the entire journey, Geralt and Aaron reach their destination last, uninformed by anyone about the beauty they are about to experience. Once there, they see why the centaurs chose this place as their central base.
"Wow!"- Aaron exclaims- "This is much better than what I expected!"
Geralt nods.
"The beauty of Mother Nature surprises us once again."- He says- "A sacred forest tainted by evil most foul, destined to be cleansed by the defenders of this world."
Aaron looks at him.
"You know, this place kind of reminds me of the base that I used to call my home."- He says- "When I was with Sector Beta, I travelled from forest to forest, always on some sort of a mission. And yet, I never came to appreciate those acts of beauty and was shocked to see them marked in blood soon after we arrived. It was an unfortunate sight that I hope to never experience again."
Geralt sighs.
"Unfortunately, seeing the signs of destruction is something that you are forced to accept. Trust me, I have always tried to ignore them, but they... they were always there. Always haunting me."- He says- "So, you must let go of those worries as soon as you can. Although not every forest can be healed or protected, the pleasant energy in the air remains for as long as they exist. And we must appreciate them, as they are Nature's gifts for the creatures of this planet."
Aaron sighs, as well.
"If only those centaurs appreciated Nature's gifts as much as we do."
Geralt shakes his head.
"There are humans in this world who use the forests as source of wood for whatever things they want to make for themselves. Selfish monsters, they are."- He says- "But the centaurs have harmed Nature more than we have. They have become a liability to everyone and thus, they must be stopped."
Aaron nods.
"And that's what leads to the eternal cycle."- He says- "Right?"
Geralt sighs.
"The cycle that never ends is always caused by events like those."- He says- "And heroes like us are always in the middle of it."
As Geralt and Aaron continue to talk, Donovan approaches them, clearly excited.
"There you are, Geralt. Late as always, I see."- He says- "But that's fine. At least you didn't manage to see the formation of the centaurs that we had to clear out."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"There are centaurs in there?"- He says- "So, this means that the gate force is gone?"
Donovan nods.
"It is."- He responds- "But I'm afraid that this is only the beginning. The worst of them are still somewhere in there, and we can't proceed without your wise guidance."
Geralt smiles sadly.
"Oh my."- He says- "Have I become that important?"
Donovan smiles.
"I'm afraid so."
Geralt sighs.
"This is the fate that I am supposed to face. The common future that I must fight for alongside my friends. My comrades."- He says- "I may not be one of the greatest leaders, but I guess that I am still respected by others. And I will not let them down, no matter what happens next."
Donovan nods.
"That's exactly what your father tried to teach you before he faded away."- He says- "Courage. Wisdom. Leadership. All those things, when combined, make a true hero whose loyalty toward the world's always unwavering and absolute."
He sighs.
"But your lessons have not been learned just yet."- He says- "And that's why we must continue helping each other, in the hopes of learning something new."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"But what can we learn from those creatures?"- He asks- "Those... centaurs?"
Donovan smiles.
"Well, you did learn something about those train robbers. And the rogue farmers, too."- He says- "So, do you think that this is the case with the centaurs, as well?"
Geralt sighs.
"I suppose so."
Donovan nods.
"As you might have learned earlier, those centaurs hold crucial information about your father's whereabouts. His travels, the good deeds that he did. It is as if they acted as spies for a greater entity, one that wants both you and him dead."- He says- "But there's a question that will always remain until we prove it otherwise- 'Is this supposed to be some sort of a clever trap, made by said entity to lure us into its lair?'. And I have the feeling that we shall know that soon."
Geralt nods.
"I think that I understand what you are talking about, Your Majesty."- He says- "This conflict is always like a puzzle to me. Every time we prevent a horrible event from happening, we always find a fragment of it. A sliver of hope, in our favor. And, I have to admit, it has been quite a big one. Sometimes, it seems like there is no ending."
He clenches his fists.
"But this is not what we must be worried about."- He says- "People out there are suffering, just like my sister once did. We have to help them as best as we can, even though we must risk our own well-being."
Donovan smiles.
"You're a very smart young man, Geralt. The way you consider everything to be part of some sort of a puzzle is truly outstanding when compared to an adult's mind."- He says- "It is as if you were forced to grow up way too early. That you never received any kindness, yet you always try to show it to others."
He bows his head.
"You, my boy, are a blessing to our world."- He adds- "Don't forget it."
Geralt sighs.
"Blessing or not, my mission... no, our mission, is completely clear."- He says- "If the centaurs are prepared for us and want to fight in one of the sacred forests, then so be it. But we must be careful- anything that happens in there will not be in our favor."
Donovan nods.
"And that's why we must stand together in this fight."- He says- "Carry on."
The team descends into the deeper parts of the forest, cutting their way through vicious thorns and malicious vines, until they finally see the silhouettes of their common enemies, staring at them from a distance.
"The heroes have arrived, sir."- He hears a centaur's voice- "Our plan has worked."
A single centaur, strong and confident, steps forward. Unlike the rest of his kind, he emits an aura of leadership, one that very few of those chaotic creatures can ever possess. It is truly a sight to see and a big problem for Geralt and his allies.
"Yes, that's perfect."- He says- "At long last, I can have my revenge."
An older centaur, wrinkled and scarred by the ravages of time, steps forward and stands next to his master. Apparently, he is some sort of a wiseman, chosen by the leader to act as his advisor. Or, so it would seem. It is hard to tell from the heroes' current vantage point.
"I am not one of those who stand for merciless violence, but I suspect that they're a danger to our humble society."- He says- "Still, I think that it would be best for us if we tried to negotiate with them, hopefully to achieve some sort of agreement between both of our races."
Geralt smiles.
"Finally!"- He exclaims- "Someone who is not a bloodthirsty criminal! An actual intellectual who understands our struggles!"
The centaur leader shakes his head.
"You're as wise as you've always been, Dillon, but I'm afraid that we have no choice in this matter."- He says- "Humans like those destroy our society. They trample our forests and kill our food, keeping it all for themselves."
He sighs.
"No. This is what must be done."- He adds- "We're doing this for more than just ourselves. Other creatures live in those forests and we must defy Nature if we want to set them free. And those humans, they're part of Nature itself, so they must be eradicated alongside it."
He glares at Geralt.
"Well? What are you waiting for?!"- He asks- "Show yourself, heroes!"
Geralt and his allies step forward.
"It is over, troublemaker."- Geralt says to him- "We have arrived."
The centaur smirks.
"Is this your entire resistance against us? A pathetic bunch of ragtag adventurers, sent by the human government to stop us?"- He says and laughs- "Sorry, but I just can't believe it. They didn't send an entire army to face us and that's really disrespectful."
Donovan glares at him.
"Watch your mouth, forest fiend!"- He exclaims- "We might not look like much, but we have defeated many villains who underestimated us. Villains like yourselves."
The wiseman nods.
"It's true, sir. I can tell that they're different from the humans that we've met so far."- He says to the leader- "Their aura of confidence is astounding. I can't determine whether we can win or not."
Geralt sighs.
"Once again, we are being treated as the secondary units . The replacement heroes who never receive any respect, any gratitude."- He says- "But I think that you should listen to the old man, my friend. A character's outer appearance does not define their inner self, and that is what we will show you in this fight."
The centaur shakes his head.
"Ugh! You're saying too much, human cretin!"- He yells- "We will fight and you know it!"
Geralt sighs again.
"I never denied the fact that we have to fight, but I always wished that you were wiser than this, being the mighty and revered leader that you are."- He says- "But tell me this, creature. Who are you? Who sent you here? Why do you want to rebel against the main sentient race in this world?"
The centaur glares at him.
"You're doing it again, human! That's not very nice of you!"- He exclaims- "Although... I guess that I owe you an explanation. Before we begin, that is."
He sighs.
"My name's Dimon. I am a part of the newer generation of centaurs who live in this world and I'm proud to be one, even though we weren't that important until now. I hail from this very forest. I've called it home for many decades and I came back because I missed its beauty. But your kind. Your barbarians, your raiders, they ruined it all with their actions."- He says- "I began this rebellion against Nature because I was angry at how you treated our homes. We were forced to watch as your people cut down our forests for firewood and new houses. We begged the human government to stop the lumberjacks, but they never listened to us. They didn't even send an envoy to hear us out! So, we were forced to protect our homeland. We emerged from the woods and killed your lumberjacks. That's when your kind finally understood our message- When you betray the laws of Nature, you will be attacked by its defenders."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"And yet, the same defenders that protected those forests... are the ones who are defiling it."
Dimon shakes his head.
"It wasn't meant to be this way, but your kind forced us to do this. You were the ones who started this conflict and that's why we hate you so much."- He says- "But tell me something, Mr. Geralt. Have you, in all your wisdom, realized what we're fighting for? Can you sympathize with us, or will you simply continue to slaughter our kind?"
Geralt sighs.
"I tried to sympathize with you. I tried to get on your level and understand how you felt when something dear to you was taken away. And yet, I cannot say that I feel the same as you."- He says- "Even though I am very sorry for what happened around the entire world, I think that slaughtering innocent people instead of parleying with them was a very unwise option. By doing that, you automatically put targets on your backs, and everyone started to hate you. We don't hold any kind of hatred for you, but everyone else will surely say otherwise."
He looks at him.
"And now, it is time for me to ask my question."- He says- "Can you, the centaurs, try to coexist with the race that you hate so much? Will you ever let your hatred go and try to understand what we humans have to do to survive in this harsh environment. I know that it must be hard for you to live out here, but trust me, it is always much worse for all of us."
Dimon sighs.
"Trust me, I've done my best to be like you. But I can't be, because our mindsets are completely different."- He says- "We're the centaurs. You're the humans. We protect the woodlands and you defy them. So, who is the true enemy of Nature now?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"I assure you that we will change our government, sooner or later. Any weak elements will be removed and everything will be better for all of us."- He says and sighs- "However, it does not seem like you will accept it either way. Blood was shed on your lands and you don't care about laws or peace. You just want to unleash your vengeance upon the world, even though it will cost you anything and everything. So, it will be unwise to try to convince you when you have already made up your mind."
Dimon sighs.
"You're much wiser than the others I've met."- He says- "It's a shame that you have to die in such a... how should I say it? Perhaps 'undignified way' is the right word."
Geralt nods.
"If this is how it has to be, then I will not try to make it otherwise. Things that are meant to happen must happen. The hands of Destiny must not be disrupted."- He says- "However, I would like to ask you to do something for me. Something very small, but very important."
Dimon smirks.
"You have a request to make?"- He asks- "Fine. Go ahead. I'm all ears."
Geralt takes a step forward.
"Recently, both of our races have been through a lot. Both of us have suffered because of this unnecessary bloodshed and we have been traumatized becaused it."- He says- "So, I ask you to release your forces. The most innocent and peaceful of them. I know that they have been dragged into something that they will regret for their entire lives and I want to help them avoid it, if possible."
The centaurs standing behind Dimon are clearly flattered that someone is thinking about them. They drop their weapons and stand ready, hoping that their leader will free them from the chains of fate.
Dimon starts to say something, perhaps to mock Geralt for how pathetic and helpful he is to his people. Then, he looks back at them and sees how hopeful they are. Those creatures have clearly been through a lot, and all they want now is to get back home, safe and sound.
Looking back, he sighs and looks at Geralt.
"Very well, young one. I shall abide to your request, but only in the name of my people."- He says- "My warriors will stay out of this fight. It'll only be between our two groups, but no one else."
He glares at him.
"And when I mean no one else, I say it for your group, too."
Geralt's allies are clearly shocked. They went all the way here to help him out, only to be sent away from the source of action. And yet, they are forced to accept it. Being away from this place is better that perishing miserably in the flames of vengeance.
Geralt nods.
"As you wish."- He says- "If it is a gang war that you want, it is a gang war that you will get."
He turns back and sighs.
"I am very sorry, everyone."- He says to them- "But please, do not worry about us. We will be fine, even without your help. Plus, I am sure that you have families out there, in the world. You are being given a chance to survive for another year, and I am sure that they will be thrilled to hear it!"
Donovan smiles.
"My warriors appreciate your kindness, Geralt."- He says- "Together with the centaurs, they shall flee the woodlands and find their way home, hopefully to return where they belong while we fight for their freedom."
And so, the warriors on both sides flee from the scene, hoping to go back to their families as soon as possible. They are eager to get away from this mess and are glad that they will not be a part of it anymore.
Meanwhile, Geralt and his allies prepare for battle. Now that his wish has been granted, he must prepare for the inevitable. And it will not be easy to get out of this one.
"So. You got what you wanted."- Dimon says- "I hope that you're happy, because that's the last thing you'll ever get."
Geralt nods.
"I could say the same for you, but I am not that kind of person."- He says- "So, let us just fight."
Dimon grins.
"Now that is what I want to see!"- He exclaims- "Battle! Bloodshed! The torture of human beings, brought to its maximum by our noble kind!"
He readies his spear.
"I hope that you're ready, human hero."- He says- "The hour of salvation has come. But you won't be the ones who will be saved!"
Geralt does not respond to Dimon's insult. He simply rushes forward, prompting his allies to do the same. 
The five of them engage Dimon's group in a vicious battle, each of them showing the full extent of their own abilities to scare off the other one. And yet, both forces seem to be tied. When it comes to skill and determination, our heroes are always on top, but the centaurs beg to differ, as their strength and rage are still forces to be reckoned with.
While the rest of his allies face the final two of Dimon's allies, Geralt fearlessly stands against their leader, sparking a bloody battle that leaves them exhausted and determined at the same time.
"I've heard many things about you. You're the one who brought Shura the Black Flame down, after he did so much to undermine all of you."- Dimon says- "And yet, you're not quite as good as I thought. You're powerful and true to your duties, that's for sure. But you lack one thing that we centaurs always have."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"And that is?"
Dimon smiles.
"The knowledge of the forest, of course!"
As Geralt tries to ponder the response to this obvious riddle, Dimon kicks him back into a pile of thorns. The sharp pieces of wood plunge their way into Geralt's back, but the boy refuses to scream in pain, knowing that his yell will only make his allies worried about him.
"What? You refuse to let the madness consume you?"- Dimon asks- "How unfortunate! Let's try again!"
Having said that, Dimon pushes Geralt further into the thorns, creating actual wounds in his back as he does so.
Tired of Dimon's charade, Geralt decides that it is finally time to take care of the vile centaur. As he continues to push him further, he pushes back, creating an aura of light that quickly throws him back.
"Ah. I see it now."- He says- "It's not the power in your muscles that helped you win those battles. It was the inner spirit. A hero's blood flows in your veins, true and untainted. And no matter what I say to your face, I'll never be able to break you."
Geralt nods.
"A true hero's spirit is always unbreakable."- He says- "My power may not be quite as prominent as yours, but I will always fight until my last breath. The flame in my heart is always burning, like a bright candle in the face of eternal darkness."
Dimon nods.
"And that's why you're the only one who's worthy enough to fight me."
He readies his spear again.
"But you won't win this fight!"- He yells- "I assure you!"
Geralt leaps to his feet.
"Bring it on, miasmal warrior!"
As the two of them engage in another vicious battle, Dimon can see that Geralt is finally getting tired. All of those adventures are taking a toll on him and even his incredible powers are not strong enough to hide his fatigue. Thus, his determination reaches new heights.
While Geralt continues to fight, Dimon continues to study his weaknesses. He remembers what he was being told by the mysterious entity, how perfectly he seemed to describe the young hero. And, in a moment of foolishness, he decides to let his defensive stance go.
With three blows from his spear, he is able to disorient Geralt. And when the hero tries to attack him back, he stabs him in the arm, forcing him to unknowingly plunge his sword into a nearby tree.
"It seems like you're the one who's being cornered, hero."- Dimon says- "It's a shame that it has to end this way. You shouldn't have accepted the mission. And yet, you're the person who brought this misfortune upon himself. You can't deny it, can you?"
Geralt sighs.
"I cannot deny anything."- He says- "But I can still deny you the joy of experiencing an actual victory."
As Geralt prepares to cast a spell, he does not realize that Dimon was prepared for this. Having anticipated his move from the very start, he lunges forward and stabs him in the foot, forcing him to stop chanting.
"Oh, I don't think that it'll be that easy for you, Mr. Geralt!"- Dimon exclaims- "I've gone too far to be defeated by the likes of you."
Geralt nods.
"I... could say the same thing right now."- He says- "And I will, because I have seen far more than you ever have."
Now bleeding profusely, Geralt casts a healing spell on himself. His wounds start to slowly seal themselves, giving him enough time to defend himself from Dimon.
"Before you start stabbing me again, I want to know something else."- He says- "Do you know anything about Adam Kaos? Was your comrade's letter just pure coincidence... or is there something that you are trying to hide from me?"
Dimon stares at him, thinking of some sort of a lie to retort with. However, he soon realizes that Geralt is being serious and decides to use truth, instead.
"So, you're not aware of it yet? Everyone knows what's going on, but you're still oblivious?"- He asks- "Your father's alive, kid. He made it out of that fire and fled, like the coward that he truly is. He made his way through the snowy wastelands to the west and made it into the Blackflame Mountains, probably to find a safe place to hide in until this conflict is over."
Geralt shakes his head.
"I understand that my father is alive, but I do not appreciate the way you talk about him."- He says- "My father is a true hero. He's always been pure of heart and soul, and his duty to the world is far from over. I know that he has been trying to help others on his way toward the mountain and I am confident that he is still doing so, in the hopes of seeing all of us again. And when we find him, we will tell him about how we defeated those who disrespected him. I bet that will cheer him up, a little bit."
Dimon sighs.
"You're dreaming big, little one."- He says- "But do you know how desperate you are? What if the man is not alive anymore? Don't you think that he might have succumbed to his eternal enemies, at long last?"
Geralt shakes his head.
"I refuse to believe something that comes from the mouth of a foul villain like yourself!"- He yells- "If you want to see the rigidity of the Kaos family, allow me to show you a good example of it."
Dimon nods.
"I'm waiting."
Despite the fact that he does not have a weapon anymore, Geralt still continues to fight. Even when his only weapons are his bare hands, he still continues to unleash his power upon his foolish enemy.
Dimon, still armed to the teeth, continues to strike Geralt with his spear, hoping to find another dent in his armor. However, he finds nothing else, so he is forced back into his defensive stance, waiting for the right chance to strike.
Meanwhile, Geralt is becoming more and more determined. With each blow that he deals, his blood continues to boil. His heart is racing like a fast car and his soul burns brighter than a thousand flames. Now that he finally received the battle that will push his abilities to the limit, he is eager to go all out, in the hopes that his enemy will do the same thing.
"My fire is still burning!"- He exclaims- "Is yours still there?"
Dimon grins.
"You bet!"
The battle between equals continues at a slower pace, until Dimon finally finds an opening. He forces Geralt to back down until his back reaches the same sword that he plunged into the tree earlier.
"It's said that the same allies who have helped you for so long... will be the ones to cause your demise."- He says as he pushes him further.
Geralt is barely able to stand away from the sharp blade. The effort that he makes is considerable, but Dimon's power is far greater. And the vile centaur does not stop. He is not satisfied with just subduing him. This makes Geralt think that he hates more than just humankind.
Being forced to use his considerable magical power, Geralt unleashes a barrage of fireballs that send Dimon flying away from him, slamming him into a nearby tree. This causes the centaur to experience severe pain in the back of the head, followed by a massive headache.
And yet, the centaur refuses to stand down, even when the odds are not in his favor anymore. He stands back on his feet, ready to fight Geralt until he cannot do so anymore.
But the centaur has tricks of his own. He is clearly capable of much more than what he has already shown. Thus, it is no surprise when he uses his magic to summon three fire spirits.
"Wait a second!"- Geralt exclaims- "You made those creatures?!"
Dimon smirks.
"Not quite."- He responds- "Those spirits bend to my will, but I've never managed to shape one myself. Until now."
He points at him.
"Go, my servants!"- He yells- "Extinguish the flame in his heart and bring me one step closer to victory!"
As the spirits of fire swoop forward, Geralt tries to leap away. Unfortunately, the creatures are way too fast for him and he is struck immediately. As he wonders what will happen to him, he feels a sharp pain in his mind. Falling to his knees, he experiences the vengeful thoughts of many fallen villains. Then, he hears their foul words and their desires for world domination and, sometimes, destruction. It is excruciatingly painful for him and there seems to be no way to avoid it.
Seeing that Geralt is close to breaking down, Dimon laughs. He is clearly amused by Geralt's attempts to survive, but does not make a move to help him or to prevent him from saving himself.
"You know, I've always hated your kind. I hated how you treated others. I hated how you acted."- He says- "But what I'm seeing right here? It's true art! I've never seen something so... wonderful!"
Geralt weakly looks up, glaring at Dimon.
"You... monster."- He mutters- "You... will not... get away with this!"
Dimon smiles.
"Oh, far from it! Once you and your allies are gone, I will stay here no longer!"- He exclaims- "My ride is already waiting for me at the other side of this forest. I will soon escape from the carnage and seek shelter elsewhere, in the hopes of never seeing your kind again."
He nods.
"But first."- He says, disappointed- "I must take care of you."
As Geralt continues to feel the rage of a thousand souls, Dimon raises his weapon. He is clearly ready to do his duty and eliminate Geralt Kaos once and for all. 
And yet, there is still some kind of uncertainty inside of him. The way this heroic stranger showed kindness to his people was truly a sight to see. Even though he clearly wants him dead, he can still feel something. Is it pity? Sympathy? Or maybe even signs of a new beginning? Either way, he stops in his tracks almost immediately, unable to finish his task.
"What... is happening to me?"- He says to himself, curious about what is going on inside of his body- "When those souls entered Geralt's heart, I started to feel the pain of those who were on his side. I saw what happened to them and I... I didn't like it. At all. But why? Why am I seeing this? Is this supposed to be some sort of... lesson I have to learn?"
He shakes his head.
"No. This must be some sort of a trick. A challenge that I have to endure."- He continues- "I'm very close to achieving victory for all of us. All I have to do is clear those uncertainties from my mind and strike f-- "
Suddenly, he feels a sharp pain in his heart, as if he was just stabbed by something incredibly sharp. He lets out a scream of pure agony, unleashing all of the emotions that he has kept under control for so many years.
"What the-- No!"- He exclaims- "It cannot be!"
As he looks back to see who struck him behind his back, he sees the face of a gorgeous young woman, perhaps in her fourties, perhaps not. She has a worried look on his face and she is clearly relieved that she was able to help Geralt out.
"You always stared at what's in front of you, but you never dared to look at what's behind you."- She says to Dimon- "Just like the truth that you refused to believe in, your foolish beliefs have crashed into you! Your fate... is sealed!"
As the woman magically pulls out the weapon that struck Dimon, a spear that is seemingly made of water, the vile centaur falls to his knees, his energy pouring out of his huge wound.
"I... admit it. I underestimated you."- He says- "I thought that you weren't as strong as you were back in your early years, but you've... managed to prove me wrong. Not bad, Water Guardian."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Water Guardian?"- He asks- "You mean that... that... "
The person standing in the shadows reveals herself to be Emela- Geralt's very own godmother. She travelled all the way here to save the young hero and it seems like she came at the right time, in the right place.
"Geralt, dear!"- Emela exclaims- "It's so good to see you again!"
The two of them embrace in front of the wounded Dimon, making him remember that he used to have this kind of a bond, as well. The bond with his mother, once so strong and unbreakable, now fallen into ruin alongside everything else in his miserable life.
"So, this is what it feels like to have a family of your own."- He mutters- "Heh. If only I knew that sooner... "
Geralt sighs.
"You brought this pain upon yourself. And now, you are paying for your own crimes."- He says- "Face it, Dimon. You never believed in those who truly believed in you. And now, your lack of faith was rewarded with a humiliating defeat."
Dimon grins.
"It's true. I've lost everything, including myself."- He says- "But I'll still be able to go out with a bang."
Suddenly, he pulls out something from his pocket. It is a small orb, filled with an immense amount of fire magic. The power that radiates from it is to the brim and it is almost as if it is leaking from the orb itself, ready to unleash its fiery energy upon the centaur's unsuspecting target.
It does not take long for Geralt and Emela to realize what is going on. The target for this orb is not meant to be Geralt. Dimon wants to set the entire forest around him on fire, just like Sector Beta's members once did to their own headquarters.
"He's going to burn us all down!"- Emela yells- "We must stop him, Geralt!"
Geralt rushes forward and pushes Dimon against the branch of a tree. His chest is pierced by the sharp piece of wood and Geralt wants to make sure that he has no power left to utilize his strategy.
Unfortunately, his efforts are in vain, as Dimon continues to smile. Using his last strength, the vile centaur drops the orb on the ground. Both him and Geralt watch as it shatters upon intact, unleashing the flames within itself upon the unsuspecting woodlands around it.
"Heh. Not... bad."- He mutters- "But let's see if you can stop... this."
Having said that, he closes his eyes, perishing a few seconds later.
Meanwhile, Geralt and Emela are forced to face a new problem. The entire forest is set on fire and they must either put it all out or escape as soon as possible.
"Miss Emela, this is very bad!"- Geralt exclaims- "What should we do?"
Emela looks around, hoping to find a way to solve this problem. Seeing that there is none to be found, she sighs.
"I'm afraid that we don't have another choice, dear. We must get out of here."- He says- "Your friends are already outside, waiting for us. Let's not keep them waiting."
Geralt sighs.
"Our mission here is done. The one who caused all of this chaos is already gone."- He says to himself- "And yet, it still feels like I am missing something. Is it some sort of a piece of the puzzle that I did not find. Or could it be... ?"
Suddenly, he hears a scream coming from nearby. Joined by a worried Emela, he goes to investigate.
A few steps further, they see Jett Norwood, standing next to a wounded centaur. He seems to have wounded the creature and is interrogating it, hoping to find out more about what he needs to know.
"I told you, man! I don't know anything!"- The centaur yells- "I'm just a normal soldier in our army! Nothing more!"
Jett shakes his head.
"You're telling me lies, even though you're not aware of them."- He says- "Your kind had a finger in my father's demise. Darkthrop hired you because he wanted to hide all the evidence. The Kaos family died because you helped the emperor."
He grabs him by the neck.
"But you won't get away with this!"- He yells- "I assure you!"
Geralt approaches him.
"Hey, Jett. There is no need to be so emotional."- He says- "Just let this man go. It is possible that might be guilty, but the flames will take care of him."
Emela nods.
"It's best to leave him be, dear."- She adds- "Criminal or not, his fate is already predetermined. Forcing information out of a soul whose flame has already been extinguished will prove to be fruitless. So, it's best to leave him be."
Jett shakes his head.
"No. I know that there's some kind of catch. I know that he is lying."- He says- "I just... need to take it out. Even if I have to do it with violence."
He draws his sword and points it at him.
"Well?!"- He yells- "How do you want it to end?!"
The centaur shakes his head.
"O-okay!"- He exclaims- "It's the Blackflame Mountains! That's where they took your mother's corpse!"
Jett gasps.
"I knew it!"- He exclaims- "Those wicked mountains are the only place for true villains to hide!"
He turns to Geralt.
"We need to get there immediately."
Geralt nods.
"We will."- He responds- "Once we get out of here."
He looks back at the wounded centaur.
"But what should we do with him?"- He asks- "I do not think that I can finish him off. I have already ended one life today. I do not want to take away another."
Emela sighs.
"I feel the same way."- She says- "Too much chaos has erupted in this place. Maybe we should just go?"
Jett shakes his head.
"No. Not yet."- He says- "This centaur hid information from me. I must make him pay for it."
He draws his sword again and points it at the centaur. Before the creature can say anything, he plunges the weapon into its skull, ending its life immediately.
"There we go."- He says- "Maybe now, they will respect us more than they did before."
Emela sighs.
"Wow."- She says- "That was cold."
Jett shakes his head.
"It doesn't matter."- He says- "The way out of here's still clear. We need to flee before the flames engulf us."
As the three of them prepare to flee, Geralt remembers what he has been missing until now. He turns around and runs toward a nearby tree.
"That's right!"- He exclaims- "My sword! My source of memories!"
Emela stares at him as he tries to pull out his sword.
"Geralt, dear!"- She exclaims- "What in the seventh star are you doing?!"
Geralt continues to struggle against the mighty tree.
"I am trying to take back my memories! My power!"- He exclaims- "I will not get away without them!"
Jett looks at him.
"But it's just a sword!"- He exclaims- "A human life is much more important than this!"
Emela sighs.
"Kid, you... don't understand how much this weapon means to him."- She says to Jett- "This sword was a gift from his father, given to him when he became a travelling hero. It has served him well during many fateful encounters and it's the only thing that helps him remember the man who saved his life so many years ago."
Jett nods.
"Just like my mother saved mine... "
He runs forward and grabs the sword with his own hands.
"Alright, Geralt! Let's go!"- He yells- "Pull as much as you can! I'm right here with you!"
Emela stands next to them and starts to pull, as well.
"And so am I!"- She exclaims- "We can do it! I know that we can!"
Geralt nods.
"Alright then! Here we go!"- He says- "One... two... "
"Three!"
Suddenly, the sword is ripped out of the trunk, finally free from its chains. Unfortunately, its resting place was also disturbed in the process. The entire tree breaks free from its roots, nearly falling on top of our heroes in the process.
"There we go! It's as good as new!"- Jett says- "Can we get out of here now? Please?"
Geralt nods.
"Of course."- He says- "There is nothing left for us here. We should go."
As the three of them flee the burning forest, Geralt looks back at Dimon's charred corpse, thinking about how he almost ended up like him.
"What a dramatic and painful ending."- He thinks to himself as he jumps out of the woodlands.
The three of them barely make it out of the burning woodlands, managing to reach the docks just as the flames start to reach for their feet.
"Alright, everyone! We're almost there!"- Emela exclaims- "Now jump! Jump, and don't look back!"
The trio make it into the boat, barely avoiding their own end. They let out three sighs of relief as the boat starts to row away from the scene.
"Well, that was new! At least for me!"- Emela says- "Being stuck in the middle of a burning forest was quite dangerous. But... we're still alive. And that's what matters to me."
Geralt sighs.
"I have been stuck in a burning forest twice in a row. Both times, I managed to get out alive, at the cost of losing something else."- He says- "I only wish that we could have prevented that."
Jett raises his eyebrow.
"Any signs of that advisor guy?"- He asks- "I managed to catch a glimpse of him early on, but I haven't seen him for quite a while."
Emela shakes her head.
"When the entire group left to reach the boats, he was there, waiting for them. He tried to cut off their only escape route, forcing me to come out of hiding and help them out."- She says- "He fled as soon as I struck back and I didn't have the chance to finish him off."
Jett sighs.
"Well, at least he won't be bothering us anymore."- He says- "Good riddance."
Geralt shakes his head.
"That is the least of our worries, my friend."
Jett looks at him.
"Why?"- He asks- "Is there something more dangerous?"
Geralt stares back.
"Didn't you see the malevolent, hooded spirit that tried to attack us? The fiery one that mocked our kind, thinking that he is better than all of us?"- He asks- "That creature clearly had some sort of a connection with the centaurs and Redmark's people. If this is truly the case, then all of us are in great danger."
Emela raises her eyebrow.
"A malevolent and hooded spirit with a desire to kill others?"- She says- "Dear, you must have met an Annunaki. This... is really bad. Really, really bad."
Geralt gasps.
"Really?!"- He asks- "Tell me everything! I want to know what it is!"
Emela looks up.
"An Annunaki is a creature that hails from outer space. Those beasts of the unknown have been at war with the humans on their planet and automatically treat us as their enemies, as well. And, trust me, they don't show any mercy toward our humble kind. And their leaders, they are some of the most skilled warriors in our universe, capable of destroying everything in their path until they're slain."- She says- "From the reports that I heard a while ago and the way you talk about this one, I figured out that it must be Gaspar- their Fire Governor."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"And what can we do to defeat him?"
Emela shrugs.
"That, I do not know."- She responds- "You don't expect me to know anything, do ya?"
Geralt sighs.
"Of course."- He says- "We have to find the answer ourselves. How peculiar."
Emela stares at something in the distance.
"But hey, at least the Annunaki isn't here! Cheer up, kids!"- She exclaims- "There's even land ahead of us. So come on, let's go there and rest as soon as possible. We all deserve it."