From the circle near the campfire, we scatter into a loose formation to face him. Santiago takes the front. I stand in front of Rose, with Rose at the rear.
"My arrival is simple—just to retrieve the crystal. You know what I mean, don't you?" he says, raising his staff to chest height. The weapon is partly wrapped in straps—a swordstaff.
"SANTIAGO!"
—BOOM—BOOM.
Two bullets fly fast, but he reacts in time, cutting both into four pieces.
"HM?" Santiago freezes.
—SPLASH.
In a burst of speed, Albert closes the distance, slicing Santiago's arquebus clean in half.
"SANTIAGO, LOOK OU—"
SPLASH—Santiago is cut down across his body. "Ukh—" He collapses instantly.
"BARTRA, SHOOT HIM."
SWAK—SWAK—SWAK. Three sling shots fly, but each is split in two the moment they reach him.
"WHAT THE HELL." Bartra freezes. The rest of the crew does too.
"GRIZZ, GRUZZ, FALL BACK," Oliver shouts.
Albert begins sliding his swordstaff back into its sheath. "The only one I want is him." He points the staff straight at me.
"Anyone who stands in my way accepts the consequences."
SLSHH—Oliver draws his sword.
"Then face me," he challenges, blade raised straight at chest height.
"As you wish."
SLSHH—The man draws his blade and mirrors the stance.
Oliver charges, closes the distance, plants his footing, and swings.
"Don't waste my time."—SPLASH—Albert cleaves straight through Oliver's chest. "Argh—" One strike. Oliver falls instantly. His sword flies free and embeds itself in the ground. Albert resumes his slow walk toward me.
The crew can't rush him. It only takes Albert a few moments to cut through and pass them all, in an instant.
Grizz and Gruzz take their stances near him. The rest, along with Bartra, try to block the path.
I glance at Rose. She makes no move to stop him.
I smile.
"Please… let me have him. Don't interfere," I say.
Rose turns toward me slowly, confusion written all over her face.
—SPLASH—SPLASH. Two strikes. Two bodies fall.
Bartra's entire body shakes as the man approaches. I step toward Bartra too and pat his shoulder.
"Just let it happen. Please," I say.
SWASH—An arrow streaks past my side, aimed at the man.
I freeze and turn toward Rose.
SLASH—The arrow is cut in half right in front of him. He grabs one piece and hurls it back toward Rose.
"Rose—"
SWAK. The blunt half of the arrow slams hard into Rose's forehead.
Rose drops, collapsing instantly.
PLAK—Bartra falls beside me. I look up.
Albert stands right in front of me.
He smiles thinly.
"Will it really be this easy to kill you?"