Chapter 43: Nothing More
As the initial frenzy subsided, the two gorillas lay on the ground, their massive bodies filled with wounds and their roars reduced to whimpers. They were broken giants, victims of Arthur's insidious manipulation.
The remaining primates huddled together in the village square. They looked up at Arthur, their eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and dawning horror. Whoever it was to them, it was a monster.
A cold vehemence burned in Arthur's eyes. He wasn't done yet.
He raised his hand to perform a technique: 'Sage art: surface slice...'
Water, enhanced with sage chakra, formed in his palm. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the linear line of water soaring towards the village's central tree.
The impact was immense. Water caused flames to erupt, quickly engulfing the oak. Panicked screams filled the air as the primates scrambled for escape routes.
Arthur watched with darkened eyes.
The fire would act as a barrier, forcing them out into the open, into his waiting grasp. He would purge them one by one.
While others might have seen this act as cruel, it was truly a sense of justice. He was like a virus, cleansing the host and weeding out the weak to protect what was necessary—himself.
As the first terrified primate burst out of the burning village, he noticed someone coming. It was Nala, her face expressing terror and despair.
In her arms, she clutched a whimpering baby chimp. No matter how he looked at her, she was an enemy, a danger to his plans.