MLTO C2, P1

This is the first Part of "MLIV:TO" 's second Chapter.
It was released on 24.10.2022.
== Plot ==
Having willingly allowed himself to be captured by the people he swore to destroy, Geralt must come face to face with their leader- the merciless and ruthless Marcus Redmark. He knows that his chance of survival is not very high, but decides that it is for the best that he harms him as much as possible before the inevitable.
Meanwhile, his family prepares a full assault on the encampment where he is being held as a prisoner. All of them are a little hesitant to enter, because they might get Geralt hurt if they go to fast. But Kaiden is determined to rescue his little brother- the only solace left in his life.
And there's one person that he wishes to make pay the most.
== Story ==
Geralt opens his eyes and immediately realizes that he has been transported elsewhere.
"So those are the infamous Sector Beta's headquarters."- He says- "Hmph. I should have expected that they would live in spartan conditions."
For most of his life, Geralt has lived in near-luxury. After his parents bought the new Kaos household, he and his siblings never experienced anything this miserable. Thus, it is no surprise that he would feel ashamed of being in a place like this.
And yet, he is right. What he sees before him is no surprise. No show of grandeur or glory. Just a small, flimsy tent, placed in the middle of nowhere where nothing (and nobody) could hear him.
"I know that people like them always seclude themselves and stay away from society, but this is ridiculous."- He says to himself as he looks at the entrance ahead- "I hope that the residents here are more hospitable than the rest of the fools that we met out there, at the very least."
When his eyes finally clear, he realizes that two of Redmark's soldiers have joined him in the room.
"Alright, prisoner. Stand up."- One of them says- "You've got the privilege to meet our mighty leader. Don't waste it."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"Your... leader?"- He asks- "Emperor Redmark?"
The soldiers look back as another man joins them in the tent. He is a tall man, possibly in his 50s, with fiery red hair and a fair complexion. His hand is on his sword, but he never dares to draw it. He tries to seem like a good host, but Geralt knows better.
This is Emperor Redmark. The man who caused all of the pain and suffering for the Kaos family. The one who is directly responsible for the demise of Geralt's dear sister a few years ago.
"Oh no."
Marcus smiles.
"Oh yes."- He replies.
Geralt glares at him.
"I wasn't expecting you to be the prosecutor of this meaningless trial."- He mumbles- "So this means that you work in different places?"
Marcus nods.
"Very perceptive, kid."- He says- "But I am much more than that. I shall act as your judge. Jury. And executioner."
Geralt continues to glare at him.
"I suppose that you might want to see me hanged on a wall for whatever crimes I may have committed."- He says- "But tell me, emperor. Why would you go at such great lengths to hunt down a family that never did anything bad to you? Why would you try to tarnish your own reputation even further, just to see us suffer?"
Marcus clenches his fists.
"When I was a young boy, I wanted to have my own empire. Glorious, flawless, perfect in every way."- He says- "That's why I had to take care of the previous emperor. He was a worthless fool who was getting various resources for the empire, yet never managed to make its interests the first thing in his list."
Geralt raises his eyebrow.
"And you think that you are better than him?"
Marcus nods.
"I'm the most perfect thing those lands have ever seen!"
Geralt sighs.
"Oh."- He responds- "How very original of you."
He looks at him.
"I suppose that you would say that my family was a huge obstacle in your way. That you wanted to get rid of us, so you could make that... what is it called... "perfect" empire."- He says- "Well? Did you achieve that dream of yours? Or do you still want to spill more pure blood to achieve your dirty goal?"
Marcus is enraged by Geralt's words. He leans forward to slap him, but a strange force holds him back. 
Resigned, he sighs and shakes his head.
"I just wanted to make a safe haven for those who were willing to make a change. Those who wanted to be free of the current state of the world."
Geralt sighs.
"And yet, you slaughter everyone who dares to oppose your rule."- He says to him- "Even those with the slightest amount of mistrust for you are not spared from your blades of judgement."
Marcus nods.
"My command shall not be questioned by anyone or anything."- He says- "I didn't form this perfect empire, just to watch it crumble before my own eyes."
Geralt shakes his head.
"Marcus Redmark, emperor of darkness. Even though we have just met face to face for the first time, I have always known how much of a fool you've always been. You exploited others and forced them to do your dirty work. You collected the taxes and kept them all for yourself. You have visions of something that most people would consider fanaticism."- He says- "I am not aware of what other sane people think about you, but I assume that they feel the same way. And I think that I have a justifiable answer for what you are in my eyes- you are a tyrant. A corrupt official who wants to take and keep on taking, until there is nothing left to loot. Your lust for power and glory has always been your greatest virtue, but it shall also be your greatest undoing. Mark my words."
Suddenly, Marcus becomes even more enraged than usual. His clenched fists start to burn bright. Small, crimson flames form around them, growing in intensity with each passing second, resonating his own anger as he speaks with Geralt.
Even the young hero is left surprised. Such power is normally controlled by its holder. But Marcus is a wild man. He does not care about control. All that he wants is to destroy everything that doesn't fit in his empire. And he seems to be very good at it.
"Hmm."- Geralt says- "It seems like there is a side of you that I have never seen before."
Marcus glares at Geralt, his eyes glowing in the same crimson color that illuminates his burning fists.
"You think that you're some kind of Robin Hood to those people? You think that you can steal from me and give them what they want?!"- He yells- "Well, your crimes have been noticed!"
He approaches Geralt, unfazed by the protective aura around him. Then, he grabs him by the neck and holds him next to the tent.
"Do you still think that you're the hero?!"- He yells at him- "Do you think that you still have a chance?!"
Geralt glares back at him.
"Well, how is this for an answer?!"
Without a warning, he leans forward and bites Marcus on the nose. Using his sharp teeth, he nearly rips it off, causing the mighty emperor to scream out in pain.
"Agh! You insolent brat!"- He yells- "How dare you oppose me?!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"The only one who is doing something bad is you!"- He yells- "Face it, Redmark! You're the faulty gear in the machine! You halt the cycle of this world with your actions and you're foolish enough to blame others for your own misfortunes! And let me tell you something else- you are pathetic!"
Thinking that Geralt finally crossed the line, Marcus draws his sword and points it at him. The weapon's blade starts to glow crimson red almost immediately, making Geralt think that the strange energy coming from the tyrannical emperor is coming from his very soul.
"I hate you!"- He yells- "You are your family!"
Geralt shakes his head.
"All that you are doing is proving my point!"- He yells back- "You are no different than all of the bad people out there!"
Marcus screams and charges. He wants to murder Geralt on the spot and be done with it. However, the strange aura around the boy soon expands, throwing the emperor back once again.
"Agh!"- Marcus exclaims as he stands up- "You won't escape from me!"
He charges again, only to be met with the same response. He blindly swings his sword at the air, thinking that he is hitting something. But his efforts are in vain, as the force that is pushing him away from Geralt is not corporeal.
Suddenly, the crystal rose in Geralt's pocket starts to shine, surprising both the boy and the emperor that is trying to kill him. The spirit of a young, beautiful woman stands between them and pushes Marcus back into the tent, using most of her energy to hold him still, preventing him from doing anything.
"You went too far, Redmark!"- She yells- "I won't let you harm my children anymore!"
Geralt looks up and realizes that the spirit is, in fact, his beloved mother.
"Mom."- He mutters- "You came to help me."
Aalia looks back and smiles serenely.
"I would do anything for the people I love so much."- She responds- "And you're my dearest creation."
She turns back to Marcus, who is still struggling to regain control.
"Do you hear that, you mindless wretch?!"- She yells- "Even when my physical body is no longer existent, I am still clinging to this world! As long as my spirit still burns bright, you shall never win! Do you understand that?!"
Redmark's guards rush into the battle, trying to save their master from this unknown force of nature. Aalia sees this and raises her hand, making their entire bodies erupt in flames as they approach her.
Their leader is left horrified after the two of them burn down into little more than big piles of ashes that shall soon be blown away by the wind.
Having eliminated the immediate threats to her mission, Aalia glares at Marcus. Her eyes betray an unnerving amount of hatred, much more than she had in life.
"I understand that it's quite dangerous to mess around with you here. All of your guards shall turn against us and my son will experience a painful demise. Thus, I shall let you live... for now."- She continues- "However, I want you to understand that Geralt's words shall become a reality. Sooner or later, everything that you did to the good people out there shall return back to you, like a boomerang that suddenly emerges from the sky."
Aalia raises her eyebrow.
"And this leads me to my very last question."- She adds- "Will you be able to take it? Or will you still try to hide in your crumbling sanctuary, like the coward that you are?"
Marcus clenches his fists. He tries to fight back, but soon hears the sound fighting.
Three guards stumble their way into the tent, bloodied and tired.
"Sir! Sir!"- One of them says- "A horde of undead's attacking our camp! We're surrounded!"
Marcus turns toward him, surprised.
"What happened while I was gone?"- He asks- "Speak, warrior! I don't have all day!"
The soldier shakes his head.
"Some members of Sector Beta stumbled out for a pee break. They went out into the nearby forest, thinking that there was nothing but weak wildlife. But then, a small group of undead attacked them. And then another. And another."- He says- "Most of them were killed in the initial attack, but one of them survived. He ran over here to warn us of the impending battle, but he instead brought the vile creatures with him. And now, we... we don't know what to do! They're everywhere!"
Geralt and his mother stare at each other.
"Well, I am surprised."- He whispers to her- "I imagined that Redmark's army would be disorganized and incompetent, but I did not know that it could be this bad at its job."
Aalia sighs.
"To be honest, even Darkthrop's lackeys were more competent than this bunch of rabble."- She whispers back- "I almost feel bad about having to fight them."
Geralt nods.
"Me too."
Marcus clenches his fists. Although he is less angry now, they still continue to burn.
"Fine!"- He yells- "You need guidance! You'll get it! Lead the way!"
The soldier salutes him.
"Yes, sir!"
Marcus turns back and glares at Geralt.
"You haven't seen the last of me, kid. Far from it."- He says- "Watch your back. I've got more surprises for you."
Having said that he stares into his eyes for a few seconds, sighs and leaves him alone with the two guards that came to apprehend him.
While being tied up by them, Geralt glares at the emperor himself. He knows well that this man is responsible for the demise of most of his loved ones and it is clear that he will not let himself be defeated by him so easily.
"That is right, Redmark. Run away from me, like the thoughtless coward that you are."- He says to himself- "But remember my warning- once a hunter locks his eyes on his prey, he never lets go of it. Like a wild, hungry dog, he clinges to the price until he has it in his hands."
----While Geralt stays in Redmark's encampment, far away from society itself, his family is back in their hometown. Endangered by the rest of the emperor's forces, they attempt to devise a plan that will allow them to rescue Geralt from the clutches of their enemies and cause some serious, irreversible damage to them.
"I still can't believe that we allowed those goons to take my brother."- Kaiden says- "How were we so blind?"
Linus shakes his head.
"Calm down, young volcano. It's not over yet."- He says to him- "Geralt may be at their mercy, but he is a resilient one. He won't allow himself to be pestered, let alone harmed by them."
Akira looks down.
"But they got what they wanted, Lin."- She says- "Kaiden's right. It's our fault."
Linus sighs.
"Maybe it's true. Maybe we made a mistake that led to something worse than we had anticipated."- He says- "But this nothing more than a minor setback. Our family may not be at its best, but that doesn't mean that we should just sit back and watch the inevitable."
Jared looks at him.
"Do you really want to be a part of this, my boy?"- He asks him- "I mean, it's one thing to plan an assault on their headquarters. But to be one of the warriors who attacks them is not the best decision."
Linus sighs.
"Forgive me for saying this dad, but you've gone quite lenient in the past few years."- He says to him- "Redmark and his people should not be underestimated. Such a powerful and widely known organization always means trouble for the entire world. Trust me, I know it myself. I was part of one when Adam found me and I barely got away from it."
He looks back at his papers.
"But now, we finally have the chance to act."- He adds- "And I would love to have the word with the man who made a fool out of our nephew."
Then, he looks up at Kaiden.
"So, Kaiden. I heard that you found something interesting while travelling to this place."- He says to him- "We would love to hear about it, if it's not a problem for you."
Kaiden stares back.
"On my way to our hometown, I saw a small encampment in the middle of the wilderness. To a regular explorer's eyes, it would look like a bunch of normal people who are trying to survive, but I was not fooled."- He says- "At that time, I was being chased by a very large group of undead. I was seeking refuge from the storm, still unaware of what I had found. But then, the creatures set their sights on the small settlement. After a few of their warriors came out on a break... well.... let's just say that what happened out there."
Linus gasps.
"You allowed the undead to invade the camp, even though Geralt might be in there?!"
Kaiden sighs.
"I didn't have a choice!"- He exclaims- "It was a battle for survival! And I was on the losing side!"
Akira shakes her head.
"That doesn't matter. I'm sure that Geralt can fend off those fiends by himself... if he was not rendered helpless, of course."- She says- "Do you know the exact spot where the camp is located?"
Kaiden thinks about this for a few seconds.
"Well, I didn't see very much of it. I was busy running away."- He says- "However, if you're willing to step into the flames yourselves, I'll mark it for you."
He approaches the nearby large map, grabs a red marker and draws a red cross on the woodlands to the right of their hometown.
"So this is where they've been all the time."- Linus says and nods- "Clever vagabonds. Hiding in the spot where we won't even look has been the smartest thing they've ever done."
Akira raises her eyebrow.
"But doesn't Sector Beta hide their prisoners in a place where they won't be found by anyone?"
Linus shakes his head.
"Not necessarily."- He responds- "You see, the sector's plan was to eliminate Geralt in the most efficient and silent way possible. The forest has many trees, so any screams that our nephew would produce would've drowned in them."
He smiles.
"Of course, Kaiden's arrival at their encampment was a sudden, yet very welcome stroke of luck."- He says- "Had he never tried to run in that direction, we never would have found where Geralt was taken."
Jared sighs.
"And to think that they have always been this close to us... "- He mutters.
Linus approches the map and points his finger at the red cross that Kaiden just made. Then, he circles around the forest, making the impression that he has a plan.
"Our mission is to rescue Geralt from the clutches of those fools, but we must make sure that neither the undead, nor the survivors try to harm him."- He says- "We have hundreds of soldiers under our command, but it's not wise to send a large portion of them to invade the woodlands. Or, at least, not in this particular scenario. However, we'll make sure that the woods are surrounded, gunning down any hostiles that would be foolish enough to make their way out of that mess and clearing the place for more woodland creatures to thrive."
He looks at his allies.
"Everyone, this is a mission of mercy. It's our priority to save all the good people who are trapped in there and defeat the invaders who try to take away what is rightfully ours."- He says- "So. Who is with me?"
Akira nods.
"I once made a promise to my brother that I would keep his children alive and well."- She says- "I didn't give up back then, so I won't give up now."
Jared smiles.
"It is always a good thing to make some villains pay for their crimes."- He says- "But saving my grandson will be my utmost priority. I will not rest until he is back in our holy lands."
Kaiden clenches his fists.
"I'm ready to crush anyone who dared to mess with my brother!"- He exclaims- "I shall rescue him at all costs!"
Linus nods.
"Then the stage is set."- He says- "The only thing left are the actors. This is where we shall go in, so get ready."