MLSB- Part 6

This is the sixth Part of "ML:SB".
It was released on 10.04.2024.
== Plot ==
After successfully dealing with Andrew and helping Zachary put his undead father down, Max and his team continue the mission that they started a while ago. After delivering the goods to their intended destination, they return to the HQ to report their success, but find the entire place deserted. And the worst thing is, GA Hannah- their superior- is also gone.
Having no other choice, Max turns his attention to Major General Kaiden Kaos- the second person in this chain of command and a long-time acquaintance of his. The true location of Sage must be discovered and he is the only one who can decipher the hidden meaning behind the maps.
Will the heroes succeed in time? There is only one way to find out...
== Story ==
Max and Zachary arrive in the Sholai settlement. Once they go through the gates, everyone welcomes them with open arms. They take Zachary away to celebrate and offer for Max to join them, but he politely refuses and goes to visit his sister.
As it soon turns out, Abigail has managed to recover from her symptoms. Overjoyed to see that her brother is still alive and well, she jumps up from her bed and embraces him, despite the Sholai nurse's warning that her legs are still weak. Soon, she starts to feel weak again, and Max helps place her back on the bed.
"Oh, Max. I knew that something was up."- Abigail says and smiles- "I heard the joy. The laughter. You and your friends did something amazing, and the whole settlement's talking about it."
She sighs.
"I never dreamed of hearing news of you being a hero again. I thought that I was going to perish. My life was forfeit, it seemed."- She admits- "But those strange nurses, they have a knack in healing and modern medicine. They help their patients get better with special methods, and that managed to save my life."
Max turns to Yu-La and shakes her hand.
"Miss Yu-La. I... don't know how to thank you."- He says- "My sister was on the verge of a coma. She was going to be in that state for many years. And yet, you managed to bring her back to life before it happened. I don't know what you did, but I am very grateful."
Yu-La nods.
"I appreciate it, but your sister is the one who deserves the most gratitude."- She says- "This young maiden fought with all of her might. Her desire to live was far greater than some pathetic disease. And she never, ever stopped thinking about you. You should give her credit because she is a true warrior, even though she knows not how to fight."
Max wipes tears from his eyes. Hearing that his sister never gave up gives him a newfound sense of determination.
"At that time, we both fought for our lives. We both faced the jaws of evil. And, in the end, we both prevailed."- He says and hugs his sister- "Together, my dear Abi, we shall live to tell the tale. Our warriors will know what it means to fight until the end. We shall win this war against the darkness, together.
Once the festival begins, Max and his allies decide to take their leave. Cyrus, seeing an opportunity in helping a foreign race learn more about Nature, decides to stay behind and help them live better lives. Yu-La prepares Zachary, in the hopes of seeing him become the next leader of the Neo Sholai. All of them watch as their new friends prepare to finish their mission, satisfied with the fact that they stayed for a while.
Eventually, Max and his allies arrive at Fort Farside- their true destination. There, they witness the allied forces holding the walls, barely having the strength to fight against Sage's people. After Max and Ben deliver all of the supplies meant for them, they discover that the so-called "dangerous supplies" are just as powerful as they thought. Potions, wands, tools to repair the baricades, and even a mountable cannon to ward the enemies away. All of them are used against the unsuspecting enemies below. This immediately puts an end to this unexpected raid. 
Max and his allies watch as Sage's allies run away, like the cowards that they are. They stare at the corpses below, seeing just how important it was for them to deliver those supplies in time. Had they delayed for a day longer, and this fort would have easily fallen apart. And with that, the crucial delivery has been concluded for good.
After helping the warriors repair the barricades, Max is thanked by the fort's captain for his bravery. He is told that, should he return to the mainland, he shall be rewarded for his bravery with more than just a single medal. And with that, the three of them depart and take a boat back to the mainland.
Max, Ben and Abigail return to the HQ, expecting to see the happy faces of thousands of soldiers. They hope to hear their cheers, hear their appreciation. However, once they step through the giant steel doors, they see nothing more than a desolate wasteland. For some reason, sometime after the trio left, the HQ was completely abandoned. A major attack occured and everyone was forced to go separate ways to avoid the widespread destruction that was going to happen. Even GA Hannah- the person who is most frequently seen at the HQ- is no longer here. The only sounds that they hear are the dripping of water, the harsh wind outside, and... faint growling.
Wait a second. Faint growling? This doesn't seem right. Though there was a fight in here, nobody perished. So why is there growling coming from a nearby room.
Determined to find the source, Max starts to search the various rooms of the HQ. Even the smallest ones are not spared. Soon, he discovers a lone human in the planning room, a person whom he identifies as Major General Kaos- his superior.
Max immediately notices that his skin has turned pale- a common trait in most undead creatures. His sea blue eyes are still open, but their color is lighter than usual. Moreover, he seems to be quite a mess- his hair is unkempt (though this is not quite unusual, considering that he has been here for a while), and his clothes are torn, as if by a wild animal.
As Kaiden reaches for them, Ben pulls out his gun and prepares to put Kaiden down. Seeing his superior in this state makes him very heartbroken, and he does not want to leave him like this. However, before he can deliver a fatal injection, Max grabs his gun and pushes it away, causing him to hit the wall instead.
"Max! What in the world?!"- Ben yells- "We need to put Mr. Kaos down! Pronto!"
Max turns to his friend and shakes his head.
"Use your brain, Sherlock!"- He exclaims- "Mr. Kaos is not dead! Take a better look before you make a decision!"
Upon closer inspection, both of them come to the realization that Kaiden is still alive. Overjoyed to see a living person in this sea of despair, they help him stand up and give him some medicine to make him feel better. Kaiden takes a good look at them and smiles.
"Max? Ben? You came back to... help us out?"- He says and coughs- "Sorry to disappoint you, but it's already too late. Those fools waged the attack for a very short time. Our comrades, those poor cowards, fled the moment those freaks pulled out the big guns. It was a very... sorry sight, if I have to be honest."
Max sighs.
"How are you feeling, sir?"- He asks him- "What happened to you?"
Kaiden shakes his head.
"Enemy forces barged into the HQ. They attacked us by surprise, drove many good people away. It turns out that those poor folks were not quite as brave as we expected."- He says- "I tried to rally our remaining forces and attack those fools back, but I was shot in the chest. Though that shot didn't end my life, it caused a powerful infection. I've been suffering from it ever since, unable to warn anyone."
As Ben starts to treat his superior's wound, in the hopes of carefully removing the bullet in time, Kaiden turns to Max and smiles.
"Since you're here, this probably means that you did it."- He says- "Fort Farside received their fair share of supplies, I presume? Did they manage to drive the enemy away, unlike our humble little HQ?"
Max nods.
"With our help, those fiends were driven back into their precious caves."- He says- "The situation seemed to be very bad, but those warriors held their ground for weeks. From what their captain told me. they were short on supplies from the very start. It all seemed hopeless, but they continued to dream. And that's why they were so happy to see us."
Kaiden smiles.
"Heh. Hope and faith. Those two go well together."- He says- "It's nice to see that they were better than us. This means that we still have a chance in this wicked battle. Sage may be tricky to defeat, but he is not immortal."
Max sighs.
"Just like us."
Kaiden sees the sadness in his subordinate's eyes and shakes his head.
"I know that you still miss Leah, my boy. But... there are many bad things that have yet to happen."- He says- "Remember. You are not the only one who lost a loved one. Many of us did. However, we managed to move on and keep fighting in their names, even during the times when we despaired. This is the fire that keeps burning forever."
Max nods.
"Yes, sir. I understand."- He says- "I shall do my best to be a good soldier."
Kaiden sighs.
"Just try not to put the blame on you, kid. It's not your fault."- He says- "You tried to save her life. You did your best to fight for her. However, some things are meant to happen. Some things are not determined by us. And if we don't learn from those mistakes, they may happen again."
Max nods again.
"I understand."- He says- "But what happens if we allow our feelings of vengeance to overcome our sense of duty?"
Suddenly, Kaiden gets much more serious.
"Then we are no better than the ones who were responsible for them."
Max feels a chill inside of his heart. The words of his superior stuck home, and he cannot deny it. For a long time, he has dreamed of making the murderer who took his fiancee away pay for his crimes. But he never thought about the bigger picture. Is he truly doing this for someone who will never come back. Or is he doing it for the future of the world and the people living inside of it? That is a matter of the heart, and he knows it well.
"Vengeance is a powerful tool. However, this tool has two sides."- Kaiden adds- "If you don't know how to use it well, you will get hurt. Mark my words."
Max nods.
"Loud and clear, sir."- He says- "The road ahead is a long one, but nothing can be achieved with vengeance."
Kaiden nods.
"And that's why Zach was not right when he called for vengeance. He allowed the darkness of his heart to corrupt his purity. Thus, he became a vengeful lawcarver, bent on dispersing justice in a bloody way."- He says- "But you, you know exactly what vengeance means. You strive to bring Leah's killer to justice, but you don't dedicate everything to it. You still have a family, friends, and comrades. Even though you don't know, you're fighting for a far greater purpose. And, if you don't succeed, someone else shall take your place."
Max looks up.
"Will I be strong enough to become a Major General someday?"
Kaiden chuckles.
"That, my boy, depends on you."- He responds- "You're the only person who's capable of shaping their own future. You're strong enough to make those hard decisions. And, when those dark times become more dire, you continue to aim for the skies. So, maybe you are destined to be something great."
Max nods.
"Yes, sir. Understood."- He says- "I shall do my best. Scout's honor."
Somewhere inside of Max, Kaiden sees the same fire that he hopes to see inside of his children. That incredible determination and unbreakable spirit. The power to change the world, one step at a time. Perhaps taking him in as his apprentice was not a bad thing, after all.
At the same time, Ben manages to safely pull out the bullet and disinfect Kaiden's wound. He proudly tosses the wicked lead demon away and smiles.
"There we go! Ready to shine once again!"- He says and helps Kaiden stand up and sit on a nearby chair- "I know that you're our superior, sir, but please. Try to be more careful. You're still a young person and we don't want to lose you this early."
Kaiden smiles.
"I could say the same thing about both of you, Ben."- He says- "You're far better than you think."
As Ben ponders Kaiden's words, the man turns to Max and shakes his head.
"The statistics were right. Sage's group is far more dangerous than we imagined."- He says- "Right now, our entire world may be on fire. Cities might be burning, even as we speak. And, if we don't hurry up, we might only witness the ashes of hatred. The remains of those once-great pieces of civilization.
Max looks at him.
"But what can we do, sir?"- He asks- "Andrew is gone, but Sage doesn't seem to care. Is there something we must do to draw him out?"
Kaiden sighs.
"Only to find his greatest weakness."- He says- "Sage is powerful, but he's not undefeatable. If we manage to find the right way to force him out, then you will see just how much of a coward he truly is. His wits are strong, but his body is weak."
Abigail raises her eyebrow.
"With all due respect sir, but you're starting to sound like some kind of a philosopher."- She says- "Are you sure that you're feeling well?"
Kaiden turns serious again.
"This is not the time for jokes, Abigail."- He chastises her- "Our world is in grave danger once again. The lives of our families are on the line. How could you even think about something like this, fair maiden?"
Abigail looks down.
"I-I'm sorry, sir."- She says- "I'll try to be more serious next time."
Max turns to Kaiden.
"Anyway sir, we managed to find a bunch of scrolls and maps to various locations."- He says- "Maybe we'll be able to take the fight back to Sage, but we need your help."
Kaiden nods, understanding Max's request.
"Ah. Good thinking. Since those maps were written in a foreign dialect, I might be able to decode their true meanings."- He says- "Let's go outside and think about it. Then, once we have the time, we shall restore this place to its former glory."
Having said that, Kaiden eagerly jumps back to his feet. He grabs the maps and walks out of the HQ, feeling like a teenager once again. His allies, having no other choice, decide to join him on this brief journey.
Arriving at one of the HQ's secret hideouts, disguised as a simple house, the group is welcomed by two women. One of them- a beautiful red-haired maiden- approached Kaiden and gives him a big hug. At the same time, a younger blonde girl runs up to Max and jumps right into his arms, surpising Abigail and making her slightly jealous.
"Well, honey. I see that the bad ones didn't cause you too much pain."- The woman says to Kaiden- "How are you feeling, dears? Does my husband treat you well?"
Abigail smiles.
"Everything's a-okay, Mrs. Kaos!"
Kaiden turns to his wife and smiles.
"Honey, you remember them right? Those are the young people that I've been talking about."- He says- "Max, Ben and Abigail. Those three managed to save my life. I was feeling helpless and broken, and they pulled me up."
Samantha- Kaiden's wife- turns to the trio and smiles.
"Oh my, children. You really brought the thunder upon those fools."- She says- "For saving my husband and keeping the country safe, you have my utmost gratitude."
Meanwhile, Max carefully puts their daughter down. 
"Kira, I told you not to jump into my arms like that."- He says to her- "I might be strong, but I am not the strongest of them all."
Kira smiles and hugs him.
"You are to me, soldier boy."
Sam sighs and smiles.
"Oh come on, Max. Kira's just very happy to see you."- She says- "Girls can be very happy when they see their loved ones come back home. I know that I was, back when me and my husband were still teenagers. I always annoyed him, and he didn't mind."
Max raises his eyebrow.
"Am I a loved one now?"- He says- "Wow. What a twist of fate."
Sam continues to smile.
"You've always been a part of our humble family, honey."- She says- "You and your friends are always welcome, wherever and whenever."
Kira looks up at Max.
"Did you bring me the sword that I wanted?"
Max smiles.
"Of course I did."
Max presents a long, medieval style blade to Kira. She stares at it, awed by the fact that Max took the time to collect it from the blacksmith, and hugs him again. However, this is not what truly makes her happy. It is the fact that Max didn't forget about her.
"Thanks, Max!"- She exclaims- "You're the best!"
Max shrugs and smiles.
"Sure."- He says- "If you say so."
Kaiden hugs his wife one more time, then turns back to Max.
"According to the maps, we might be in for a gold dig. Maybe we can even find some diamonds along the way."- He says- "Are you ready, my boy?"
Max, still hugging Kira, nods.
"Yes, sir."- He says- "Let's bring another criminal to justice. With blood and tears."
Kaiden nods.
"Then let the hunt begin."
Leaving Sam and Kira behind, the four of them go further into the house. At first, it seemed like a simple home, made of stone and refined wood. However, once they go through the magical stairs to Valhalla, a whole new world opens up to them. They see halls leading to various rooms, self-sustaining food and water systems. And, in the center of them all, they witness the central- the planning room.
Once they go inside, Kaiden offers all of them tea. Ben and Abigail politely refuse, but Max gracefully accepts, knowing that it is polite to accept something that a superior gives you. They sit on the giant table and look at a giant screen. Kaiden picks up a special remote and turns on the innovative screen, moving his way through what looks like a presentation with little more than his hands. Images of various terrifying figures appear on the screen as Kaiden starts to explain what this is all about.
"As you can see, our world has been tormented for as long as it existed. Daemonic beings, aliens, even the human race itself. Those were the things that have hindered our progress since the Dawn of Time."- He says- "But we have always found new ways to deal with them. Enemies found new ways to annoy us, but we always had adequate responses to their crimes. And this situation is no different. Sooner or later, we shall find something new. Something that will throw those fiends back into the dark abyss from whence they came."
He moves on to the next slide.
"Our enemies are more than just forces of darkness that we need to stop. They point out the issues inside of our own hearts, the problems that attempt to bring us down. We are, more or less, our own enemies."- He says- "In order to fight back against those unnatural forces, we must let go of our fear and hatred. So, can we do so?"
Max, Ben and Abigail close their eyes and breathe slowly for around a minute. This convinces Kaiden that they are ready.
"Good to know."- He says and moves on to the third slide- "The maps that we received from Andrew, the poor fool who thought that he could take on the forces of light all by himself, have shown us that the enemy is preparing for more than just a single assault. In one day, they are planning to attack multiple places at once, sending the world into a state of total disarray. And, if we are to stop them, we must think like them. What could be the best possible solution to this problem? Any suggestions?"
Max raises his hand.
"Maybe we can rally our forces and spead them throughout the discovered locations."- He explains- "Resources come from all over the world, but Sage's army relies on those locations alone to keep everything in check. Once we strike at the walls and break them down, we can get deep into the core before they're repaired. And, by the time those freaks realize what is going on, it may be too late for them."
Kaiden smiles.
"A very interesting suggestion, my boy. One that I haven't considered myself."- He says- "If we spread our forces to regular intervals and put the warriors into a chokehold, we might be able to create a circle that will protect us from their reinforcements. Keeping them busy is a very effective way of keeping them apart. And, perhaps, win us the war before it even started."
Then, he looks back at the maps and nods. He marks the central parts of those locations with big red X marks, noting their most vulnerable positions. As he does so, his eyes retain the same powerful glow that he had as a child, indicating that the young and rebellious Kaiden Kaos is still somewhere in there.
"And once we plant the seeds of redemption, justice shall rain from above. Enemies shall be purged and the wicked lands shall be cleansed."- He says- "This is the fate of all who dare to disrupt the source of light within this world. Amen."
Max, Ben and Abigail bow their heads.
"Amen."
Kaiden closes the presentation and turns to his remaining comrades.
"Tomorrow at dawn, we shall make the most decisive move in this battle between good and evil. Sage will regret challenging us in such an open and foolish way."- He says- "Rest well, my friends. The road ahead is a long one, but we shall make sure that it is paved with good intentions."
Max and his allies stand up.
"Farewell, sir."
And so, they head into the cabin quarter, preparing for the next day.