Chapter 273: The Shadow Bombardment
"GO ON, YOU CURSED INSECTS, HALT!" Karkadann’s voice boomed, causing the canyon’s stone walls to vibrate within the night’s gloom. "HOW DARE YOU TRESPASS UPON MY DOMAIN AND INSULT ME IN SUCH A MANNER?!"
The response to its bellow was no spoken word, but an explosion.
BOOOOM!
The blast made the colossus jerk its head in confusion. The night was dark, and it could barely discern an orange flash in the distance atop the ridge before a sharp metallic whistle sliced through the air, ringing inside its ears.
"What is...?"
BOOOOM!
Like a slap of steel and fire, the Garnis cannon projectile struck square against the side of its maw, twisting it and spilling a torrent of dark blood. A roar of agony and disbelief shook the mountain range.
Yet that was merely the opening salvo. The tribal contingent’s answer was a tide of direct impacts raining down upon its giant face. One after another, the shells unleashed their fury, causing the colossal rocky mass to stagger.
The turtle had no grasp of what was transpiring or where such punishment originated; terror seized it, and panic-stricken, it attempted to turn around to flee.
Noticing the titan’s movement, Kellar raised his hand and thundered across the mental link:
"AT THE LEG! FIRE AT THE FORELEG!"
Without needing a second command, the gunners along the ridge readjusted the sights of all fifteen Garnis cannons in seconds and opened fire simultaneously. The concentrated barrage struck the beast’s foreleg dead-center, shattering the outer rock layer and muscle.
Crippled, the turtle lost its balance and collapsed face-first onto the canyon floor. The colossus’s fall triggered an earthquake and a shockwave so massive that the mere gust of wind and debris launched Kellar and Little Green flying dozens of meters through the air before crashing against the terrain.
Kellar pushed himself up with effort through the cloud of dust, shaking the dirt from his body before raising his hand toward the mountain ridge.
"Cease! Cease fire!" commanded he across the mental link, halting the artillery’s second volley.
The shaman gestured toward his elemental mount.
"Follow me, Little Green."
Both walked with steady strides toward the fallen colossus. Standing just meters away, the turtle’s head appeared so monumental that Little Green’s body, despite its forty-meter wingspan, looked like nothing more than a tiny fly perched beside it.
"Cursed insects!" bellowed Karkadann, spitting blood and stone splinters while attempting to focus its gaze. "How dare you strike me?! You will pay dearly for this!"
"Now, now, Mr. Giant Turtle..." said Kellar with a smirk, resting the Overlord Club against his shoulder. "How about we talk a bit?"
"Talk?!" roared the colossus in fury. "I will annihilate every last one of you!"
The giant turtle attempted to heave itself up, pressing its massive legs into the earth. Sensing the movement, Brak did not await orders and gave the signal from the heights. A fresh volley of fifteen Garnis cannon shells tore through the gloom, slamming dead-center into its head and causing the colossus to collapse back against the ground with a thud.
"Do you understand your place now, turtle?" spoke Kellar, taking a step forward as the gun smoke cleared. "You may be colossal, but you are far too slow. Before you can even attempt to flee, your body will be bombarded time and again until nothing remains of you."
The turtle fell silent, breathing heavily as it locked its eyes dripping with rage and helplessness upon the shaman.
"You are bold, human..." rasped the ancestral beast in a voice. "We have protected this valley for countless years. We allowed your people to dwell in this realm, we guarded them from the accursed beasts deep within the forest... and this is how you repay us?!"
Kellar raised an eyebrow and turned his face toward the bird beside him.
"Accursed beasts?" asked he under his breath.
"I do not know, Master," answered Little Green mentally, shaking its head. "There is nothing regarding that within the former Eagle King’s memories."
Karkadann released a snort that kicked up a cloud of dust before them.
"I see... So you are his subject, eagle brat," noted the turtle, eyeing the elemental bird. "You speak of your former king? He was a bit haughty, yet formidable. However, he has no true grasp; your kind lives but a few fleeting breaths compared to me, who has existed for more years than I can recall."
Kellar took a couple more paces, scrutinizing the ancient colossus’s stone armor.
"Tell me, Great Turtle... In your wisdom, you must clearly comprehend the predicament you find yourself in right now, correct?"
"A swarm of insects corners me and endeavors to force my submission..." replied Karkadann bitterly. "You may keep dreaming, human. My ancient bones are tougher than the mountains... To submit me requires far more than brute force; you must prove that you are... worthy."
Kellar came to a halt, crossing his arms as he looked the ancient colossus square in the eyes.
"And how can I prove to you that I am worthy?"
Karkadann exhaled a sigh that shook the dust accumulated upon its stone snout.
"My species was exterminated because we never submitted," spoke the turtle with a voice as ancient as the earth itself. "Even to this day, I live as I please and do as I please. The old Behemoth cannot slay me, and the Great Dragon cares not enough to attack me, thus I have never submitted to anyone. You are the first to corner me in such a manner... You are correct about one thing: I am slow and old, yet that does not imply I cannot escape; simply... you caught me by surprise."
Kellar listened in silence, adjusting his stance. He held no desire to further insult the old colossus; after all, it proved to be a civilized and reasonable being. Should there exist an opportunity to forge an accord without slaughtering a creature so monumental and magnificent, it was worth taking.
"I understand," replied Kellar composedly. "You will not submit through force. Then test me... I shall prove that I am worthy."
The giant turtle narrowed its magma eyes, scrutinizing the shaman with respect and intrigue.
"Proud and brave... I find that agreeable," uttered Karkadann, letting out a rumble that reverberated along the canyon walls. "I shall state it plain and direct: I will only bow my head before a ruler who possesses what it takes to govern. I shall pose a series of questions to you, and you shall answer. Do not attempt to lie to me... I can see through all the truth of the world."