"What?! War?!" Lars said in surprise. Oz had just returned from his meeting with the Judge Khan bearing dread news. News about war.
"We haven't even erected any walls, how the hell is a growing land like ours supposed to defend against a Kingdom of the West?" Donovan, a veteran warrior let out in anger. He was one of the oldest warriors on Oz's crew.
"All this wouldn't have happened if that price of shit had taken your advice in the first place!" the horny Shakan cried out angrily.
Before Shakan could spit out one more word, Oz had dashed towards him, grabbed him by his jaw, and began to slowly crush it. It was an extremely agonizing experience for Shakan as Oz's adamant grip caused his teeth to nearly tear off his tongue.
"Ummm! Ummm! Ummm!" Shakan kept making desperate muffled sounds while tapping on Oz's hands that tightly held unto his jaw. He frantically shifted his gaze towards the direction of his comrades hoping that they would help him but they simply stood still with their arms folded. Not one of them dared to go against Oz.
This disturbing scene went on for a few minutes before Lars decided to intervene. He walked up to the raging Oz who had a devil-like expression and placed his hands on top of his arms as he pleaded...
"Stop it, Oz."
This brief sentence was more than enough to snap the demon-possessed Oz back to reality. He loosened his grip and let go of Shakan, dropping him to the ground.
One could see the fear in his eyes as he stared at the grim expressions that his men wore and cursed at himself for losing control again.
It was obvious this wasn't a one-time incident. Oz had formed a habit of lashing out at his crew members anytime the Judge Khan got on his nerves. Refusing to apologize like any mane warrior would, Oz simply turned his back to his team as he let out these words...
"Dow is our ruler. I will not look the other way if any one of you speaks of him with disrespect. The war will be announced to all the warriors at the grand feast later on so be prepared beforehand."
Oz's crew's expression twisted as they watched their boss walk away while trying to hide his trembling hands. Their anger was directed at Dow the man who constantly pestered their boss.
Cherry, a slim tattooed mane warrior, who sailed under Oz walked up to Lars as he whispered in his ears...
"Isn't it that time of the year?" he said.
Lars remained silent for a while before uttering...
"The boss said to obey, so we obey but...I am not going to let him dig his own grave."
Cherry simply smiled in response.
....
The Grand Feast, a merry and joyous occasion where the manes gathered to celebrate the harvest and pillage of the year. They prayed and gave thanks to the Golden Calf, Hapi-ankh, a deity of the manes who serves as an intermediate between the gods of the different tribes.
Hapi-ankh, a deity who didn't receive as much worship as Gods like Helios or Hammon served as the primary object of worship of Oz's company and the source of legitimacy for their Judge Khan.
On this island, the Grand Feast had virtually turned into the Oz's feast as it was always held in the same week Oz's crew returned thereby making it the perfect day for Dow to announce the coming War.
Drinking and feasting with jolly music in the background, the star-filled atmosphere was a joyful one on the island as the warriors sincerely appreciated their God through prayers and rituals.
"Still don't fancy the 'Oz's feast' do we?" Little thunder, a captain under the company asked Oz who had been sitting silently in a corner.
He grabbed a stool and placed it beside the mute Oz who held a drink in his hand as he stared into the large burning fire illuminating the land.
"What do you sincerely think about the Judge Khan?" Little thunder asked.
"...." Oz took a sip of his drink ignoring his question.
Little thunder went on
"I think he is a good leader, the former Judge Khan was stuck in his ways but Ruler Dow integrates the culture of those Holy believers while still maintaining ours. Don't you find it amazing? About 6000 warriors have gone out and witnessed the ways of the believers yet not one has demanded for private land."
"....."
"...You know, a conversation only works when two people talk to each other." Little thunder finally let out a complaint.
Oz ignored him once more and took a sip of his drink.
"Sigh" Little thunder sighed giving up.
Just as Oz was once again about to take a sip of the famous Azori Empire's alcohol, a carefree mane kid who had not been paying attention to his surroundings bumped into him, spilling his drink all over his body.
"Fuckk, my good shirt!" Oz exclaimed.
"Pfft, so you do speak." Little thunder jested.
"I..am...so...rry...Oz." the child apologized stammering and trembling in fear of the intimidating warrior who stole his view.
"Don't worry about it, kid." Oz replied calmly completely disregarding the fearful image the little mane had in mind.
"Do you know this man here is the finest warrior of the tribe? The gallant mane, slayer of ten thousand men, Oz." Little thunder said trying to lighten up the kid's mood while roughing up his hair.
"Ooo! Does that make you greater than Dow, intermediary of the gods, Judge Khan IV, slayer of a thousand men?!" the child questioned Oz with bright eyes that shone with excitement fascinated by little thunder's words.
"...." Oz wore a sad expression as he stared at the boy with pitiful eyes that almost seemed to view him as a tragic hero. He placed his gold wine cup on the bare floor, got up from where he was seated, got on his knees, and placed both hands on the boy's little shoulders.
"Does the idea of slaying men fascinate you? Do you find it cool?"
Confused at his abrupt questions, the child couldn't find a response as he stood there with a flustered expression. Little thunder on the other hand seemed very interested in Oz's words as he went on saying..
"On a night like this, at a far faraway place, a rampaging battlefield with arrows and heads flying, swords clashing, blood spilling and hooves stomping the grounds. The enemy's forces were dwindling little by little as a result of the stupid commander's actions who kept having his men fire useless arrows at us who had our formidable veterans leading the vanguard. Killing and dying all over again, everyone had the same thought 'One more step, just one more step and we win."'
Oz kept rambling on and on while slowly increasing his grip strength on the boy's shoulders. He paid no attention to the child's muffled groans as he went on...
"Everybody thought it but suddenly, a boy your age ragged, battered, and holding a sword too heavy for his weight popped out of nowhere in the middle of the battlefield halting our troops. At the forefront of the charge stood I, Oz slayer of ten thousand men, unable to reach forward and trample on the boy. Confused and desperate for the win, my men stood uneasy as arrows flew over their heads causing multiple casualties."
"Fully aware of my duties, I made up every excuse I could come up with, grabbed the boy by the collar and slowly, painfully, gruesomely pierced the boy's heart with my arming sword. He spat out heavy thick blood as he muttered 'May the heavens receive me' and drove my sword even further down his heart. I watched the..."
Oz's excess rampant was cut short as little thunder had shoved him away from the boy causing him to fall to the ground. Oz's grip had gotten too much for the child to handle to the extent of him crying out in pain, unconscious of this Oz kept on rambling paying no need to little thunder who had been yelling out at him to let go.
The scared and hurt child ran away in tears from the duo.
Little thunder had a furious expression as walked up to Oz and violently held him up against a tree.
"Is this what the mighty Oz amounts to? A broken piece of shit?! What? Do you think you are a Vatican priest who can speak of peace and righteousness?!" Little thunder yelled straight at Oz's face.
"What God do you serve?" Oz questioned, completely disregarding Little thunder's rant.
Angered at his response, little thunder slammed him to the ground, spat on him, and walked away.
"Well, he finally left." Oz said.
"Should I kill him?" an unknown voice emanated from behind the tree that stood tall near Oz. It was Lars, he had been hidden there for a while watching the whole scene pan out.
"No, he is a competent warrior, we need him for the upcoming war." Oz replied calmly as he had been aware of Lar's presence from the beginning.
There was a brief silence between the two blood bound-brothers, friends, and subordinates before Lars broke it with his obvious question...
"Is that what you truly believe?"
"Don't worry Lars, I will kill. BE IT MAN, WOMAN, OR CHILD I WILL KILL FOR MY OWN."
.....
THE WAR BEGINS!!