Threads of the Soul

Chapter 451 - 451: Ressurection

Stepping out of the mall portal, Astra was immediately slapped in the face by a leaf. She grumbled to herself and quickly stepped out of the way, letting others through the breach in space and time. Her annoyance was quickly relieved by the fact that everyone else stepping through got smacked in the face too, by the same leaf gently blowing in the wind.The leaf belonged to a tall, green stalk with yellow buds growing out of it at various heights. This stalk was simply minding its own business, swaying in the wind alongside countless of its brethren. How could it know that a magic portal was going to open up next to it and that people were going to smack their faces against its leaves?

Dozens of crows sat upon the arms of the green stalks, not just the one that was smacking them but on all of the similar stalks that surrounded them like a forest. They cawed, as if they were laughing at the misfortune of the interdimensional travellers.

Eventually everyone was out of the portal, which quickly repaired itself behind them, leaving them stranded in a forest of green stalks. One look at the yellow buds that the stalks produced showed that they were corncobs. Glistening sweetly in the sun, just inviting you to bite into them and savour their sweet and juicy deliciousness.

One of the individuals gladly took that invitation, as if they didn't just spend the last hour shovelling to interdimensional nacho's into his mouth. His excuse was that his power was incredibly calorie consuming, but not even his own people believed that.

Pulling the cob off and opening it up more, he lifted to the cob to his salivating mouth. But before he could bit into it, something cold and metallic entered his mouth instead. It rested on his tongue, tasting of gold, as something clicked into place.

The gluttonous man opened his eyes and let out a soft whimper as the American stood next to him, revolver sitting in the mans open mouth, hammer cocked back and ready to fire.

"Give it to me, now. Give it gently."

Xander spoke slowly and softly, his voice barely a whisper. Everyone was watching him with confusion and betrayal in their eyes, but he was too focused on the corn in the mans hand. Astra couldn't help but notice the fear in his eyes as he looked at it, like he was dealing with a child waving around a gun.

Although in that example, perhaps sticking another gun in the child's mouth wasn't the best course of action.

Under the terrified eyes of all around, Xander gently took the corn from the man before letting out a relieved sigh. As soon as it was fully in his hand, he removed the gun from the man's mouth, who immediately started to shout.

"What the hell man! I'm starving! There's plenty to go around, so why are you trying to blow my head off just for some dumb corn!"

"Me? You're the one trying to blow your head off you clown. This is boom corn."

Xander held it up, very gently prying a kernel from the cob before throwing it onto the ground. As soon as the kernel touched the ground, it exploded with the boom of a gunshot. Just that single kernel carved a hole into the dirt the size of a mans head.

"We process this into gunpowder, and we do that very carefully. Boom corn is very impact sensitive. One bite, and you blow your head off."

The gluttonous man turned white as a sheet as his eyes drifted from the crater that should have been his head, up to the corn that would have killed him. Gulping nervously, he stepped away, instead taking snacks out from his bag and munching on those instead. He knew those were safe enough, except maybe on his cholesterol.

Xander shook his head at the man's gluttony, placing the corn gently into his transport bag, which would keep it safe from any jostling or accidents no matter what. That was the real gift of this gift.

"So does that mean we are in America?" Another voice from the crowd asked as many of the others around them started to carefully harvest the corn in 'secret'. Although they weren't being very secretive about it, you could practically feel their greed filling the air as the thought of magical guns entered their minds.

Xander sighed, letting them do what they wanted as he focused on the environment while answering, casting a few confused gazes at the crows that were flying above them, crying out.

"Yes... It seems so. We just need to figure out where in American exactly. I might be able to send out an eagle squad... But we might need to prepare for the worst."

The voice from the crowd spoke up again with a mocking tone,

"What's the matter? Some lands too wild for the cowboy to tame? Can't keep your own country under control?"

Xander clicked his tongue, his annoyance growing as he tried to focus on what he was doing, before he broke and spat out,

"Listen idiot, I am trying to save lives. I just saved that idiots life. Now I don't know where you come from, But I can bet I have more land in my backyard than your entire country. So why don't you just sit there and shut up unless you want to... die..."

His voice trailed off as he turned to the source of the voice, pointing an accusatory finger at the man in armour that was black as the night itself and who wore a cloak of billowing darkness. This man, who usually had his face covered, now proudly showed it to all that stood before him with a confident smirk plastered across his lips.

As Xander trailed off, the fear and confusion filling his eyes once again, Corvus raised his eyebrows expectantly.

"What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Corvus was leaning against an old scarecrow as if he didn't have a care in the world. More crows stood atop the outstretched arms of the scarecrow, while another stood atop its head and pecked idly at the straw filling its head. His sword, reduced down to just its hilt, rested in his hand as he idly played with it and gazed over the crowd.

All of them wore the same surprised expression, almost enough to make him laugh. When his eyes landed on Woe, he gave him a reassuring wink, before blowing Astra a kiss. Finally, his eyes landed on the Russian Captain.

His expression immediately darkened, his amusement turning more sinister as the playful look in his eyes became tinted with sadism and bloodlust, like he was wanting to 'play' by tearing off the man's limbs one by one.

The Russian glared back at the resurrected Corvus as he stood up straight, the wrinkles of The Captain's face quivering in anger. He clenched his fists tight, animosity and rage trailing off of him as the air started to pick up around them. Dark clouds formed over the cornfield and the strange crows that were littered about quickly took flight.

The murder of crows gathered in the skies, circling above like a black hurricane while the air sped up, forming a gently hurricane of its own.

Aura's flared to life, becoming thick enough that they were physically visible. A thick black air of death surrounded Corvus, while a tumultuous storm that made it hard to breathe surrounded the Captain. The Aura's clashed in-between them, their pressure combining and baring down on those around them.

Many fell to their knees, grasping at their throats, or felt their knees trembling as a cold hand gripped their back at their neck.

There was no announcement, no exchange of words or taunts. There was simply an explosion of movement as their staring contest ended, and the true combat begun. The air turned sharp as it was launched across the field with a wave of the Captain's hand.

It carved a furrow into the ground and sliced clean through the stick that held the scarecrow aloft, before carrying on and carving through the fields of Boom corn that Corvus stood in front of. The stalks fell, their contents exploding into a fiery, yet delicious, display.

But by the time the air slice had reached the scarecrow, Corvus had already moved. He became a black blur, darting to the side before launching himself forwards. He drove his shoulder into the Captain and clamped his arms around him, tackling him into the air before starting to rain punches directly onto his gut.

The Scarecrow left behind fell to the ground once it's support had been cut, but it's arms immediately thrust forwards to stop its fall. It pulled itself from the T shaped wooden stake, twisting its head up and quickly charged forwards on straw legs.

Sparks flew around Astra as she stepped forwards to join Corvus in the air, but just before she could take off a hand latched around her wrist. Even despite the unbearable pain he must have been in to hold her, until she turned off the sparks a moment later, Xander made sure not to let go.

Terror painted his face as Astra turned to face him, as he spoke with a quivering whisper.

"I know where we are... We're in Georgia."