Forged Together Chapter 4

Marco surveyed the land ahead, he had the idea to pull a pair of binoculars from his house using a portal. Sadly since Marco can only open said portals to places he's been before, or at the very least visualize in his head, he couldn't just pull through a 50. cal sniper rifle and just pick bandits off Sniper Elite style; despite having no firearms training Marco felt certain he could have done it.

"Let's see, 8,9, 10...15" Marco whispered as he counted bandits. "Man, these guys aren't playing around."

The creature that Marco had been riding, galloped next to him. It opened it's long crocodilian snout and panted. Marco reached into the sack hanging from the saddle and pulled out a canteen filled with water; he poured it into it's mouth.

"Good girl Janna, drink up," Marco said as he patted her head, it took him a while to decide on a name for it, but for some reason the name Janna seemed just right.  This will also be the only time Marco will ever mount anything named Janna for as long as he lives.

Afterward he returned to the task at hand, in his mind he was trying to formulate a plan. His first thought was to do as before and go in loud and fast, but then he worried they might hurt or kill Hekapoo in retaliation if he didn't find her fast enough. His second option was of course stealth as he doubt's these guys are willing to negotiate. However that itself presents it's own problems as Marco risks being caught or perhaps guards finding a body; Marco has a hunch he will have to resort to violence again, and even though he doesn't like killing, in the sixteen years Marco spent here he learned the hard way that sometimes a fatal blow to the skull is the only way to get through to some people.

Marco kept scanning the fortress with his binoculars until finally, something caught his attention. On the eastern part of the fortress; there appeared to be a series of bricks sticking out of the wall, which theoretically Marco could use as footholds and climb up, to the roof and then leap onto a nearby balcony. There was a guard standing nearby but he had his back turned to it.

"Well, best idea I've gotten so far". Marco thought to himself. The problem with this is that he still has no idea how many bandits are inside, but going in blind will have to do. Marco tried to open a portal to the wall but it kept fizzling out.

"Huh, that's never happened before," Marco said looking at his scissors. "Hpoo wouldn't give me some Chinese knock-off would she?"

Marco tried a few more times, but for whatever reason, no portal would stay open that would take him closer to the castle.

"Guess I'm walking."

Marco ordered Janna to stay put as he began to make his way to his target. Bandits were positioned on the bridge leading into the fortress and in the dried up ravine below that lead up to Marco's point of entry. Marco headed down the grassy field until he reached the beach area. Along here Marco crouched walked his way to his target, using the sand dunes as cover. Parallel to him the path curved upwards leading to the guarded bridge. Marco can only wonder what this place used to be way back when.

"I hate beach duty. Fucking birds shitting all over the place." A voice said up ahead. Marco stopped walking and peaked over the sand dune.

A guard had walked onto the beach down from the ravine. He let out a loud yawn that could be heard through the helmet he was wearing. Marco knew this would be easy, and let out a loud whistle.

"Huh? Who's there?" The guard asked as he slowly made his way to the sand dune where the noise came from. He drew his sword as he walked around it, and came face to face with...nothing.

"Witch must be making me lose my sanity." He told himself. As he headed to back in the direction he came, a pair of hands reached out from the sand and yanked the guard into the dune. He didn't even have time to scream. Marco came out of the dune like a zombie rising from the grave. He shook all the sand off him and from between his abs and continued on his way.

Marco easily made the climb up the ravine and was now near the eastern wall. Before he could climb, he snuck up on the guard that was patrolling the area and put him in a choke hold. The guard tried to break free but Marco's tree trunk size biceps would not allow it.

"Shhhhhh don't fight it, just let it happen,"  Marco whispered into the guard's ear as he passed out.

Marco tossed the sleeping guards body down in the ravine that he came up from, and then returned his attention to the wall. Marco removed the objects he had tied to his belt; the iron gauntlets he got back at the trading outpost and put them on. Stepping on the protruding bricks, in conjuncture with the gauntlets as a makeshift climbing ax Marco made his way up the wall and from there onto the balcony.

"So far so goo-" The door leading to the balcony opened before Marco could breathe a sigh of relief. A bandit looked at Marco in disbelief that someone could get up here without somebody noticing.

"SOUND THE ALA!!" was all the guy could say before Marco acted on instinct. He grabbed the bandit by the face and crushed his skull using his gauntlet's enhanced strength, which in turn sprayed blood everywhere. Marco sighed and threw the body over the railing.

"Too close Marco gotta stay focused."

Marco entered the building, and despite the crumbling exteriors the inside looked much better maintained, the hallway Marco was standing in even had a chocolate fountain.

"Not bad, haven't been to a place this posh since the day Star got us kicked out of the olive garden. Least I think it was the olive garden." Marco mused.

He didn't have time to look for something to dip in chocolate as more bandits were approaching Marco's location. He jumped up and plunged his gauntlets into the ceiling, making sure he kept his body leveled so his feet would not dangle down,  he waited for the guards to pass. Two guards entered the hallway, they seemed to stop every few steps to look around; as long as they didn't look up Marco would be ok.

"Want to check outside?" One bandit asked the other.

"Nah, Moresby has this floor. I'm sure he's already checked, let's just get some chocolate and go back to the lower levels. You marked the way back right?" The other replied.

"Yes, and for the record I hate this place. I got lost looking for a bathroom."

Hearing this gave Marco an idea. As one bandit dipped his finger into the chocolate fountain, Marco dropped down behind him. He then dunked the bandits head into the fountain, and held him there. His buddy drew his sword and swung at Marco who ducked causing the bandit's sword to get lodged into the fountain's top. Marco let go of the one he was drowning in chocolate and kicked his bandit buddy in chest, this caused him to fall back onto the cement floor. The other bandit who's body had slumped to the ground after Marco let go of him, shakily stood up. His face was drenched in melted chocolate, almost as if he was victim of a mass Hershey bar bukkake. He swung a few times with his fists in Maro's general direction but he could barely see. Marco took him out with a spin kick making the bandit fall on his ass.

Marco returned his attention to the other bandit wo had started to get up. Marco grabbed him by the neck and pinned him to the wall.

"Talk. If you know what's good for you! Where is the girl?!!" Marco sneered.

"I don't know. I'll ask your mother next time I see her."

"That's funny, guess I fucked your mom jokes transcends all worlds." Marco answered with a laugh.

"You know what's also HILARIOUS where I'm from? Getting punched in the kidneys!"

Marco punched the bandit eight times on his side, each time harder the last. And with the gauntlets on, more so; he covered the bandit's mouth so he couldn't scream in agony. Marco soon let go of him and the bandit crumpled to the floor.

"North wing, fourth floor..master bedroom" The guy mumbled as he spat out blood. "You'll never get her out of there."

"I once infiltrated a castle filled with robotic guards and started an uprising all while wearing a dress. This is nothing compared to that hellhole." Marco told him.

"Ha...gay." The bandit said with a painful laugh and then passed out.