After we left Marseille and her companions at their lodge, we arrived at a two-storied log house. Raja and Zeki were staying with us for the time being. The first floor had a living room, a dining and kitchen area, a chimney, and stairs leading to the second floor. The decors were like any typical hunting lodge found from outdoor movies; furs, trophy heads, and wood carvings.
“We’ll send you something to eat in an hour,” Joseph said. “Our guildhall is that big one in the middle.”
After he left, we went to the second floor. It had two bedrooms, with each having six beds and a bathroom. Therefore, one room would be for the boys, and the other was for the girls.
We were unpacking our bags in our room when Katie burst in. “They got showers and flushable toilets. And hot water too.”
“Huh, I thought they have something of an outhouse here,” Wilt commented. “Guess we don’t have to go business behind the bush anymore.” That was also what we did for the past t
“W-we’re Wilt Wallace’s party, actually. My leader is….” I pointed at Wilt, not wanting to perceive the guilds here that I was the leader since people kept saying that we were the Raid Breaker Party. “He’s right,” Wilt said. “I’m the one who founded our party, though we will be temporarily calling by that name from now on.” He crossed his arms as he glanced at the leaders and representatives. “Judging from the guilds in this hall, I’m guessing the number of raiders has increased. And you were all driven out of your homes, am I correct?” “Indeed, sir,” the Grendel Representative replied. He was wearing knight armor and had shoulder-length brown hair styled like from a medieval era. “Aside from the Equatorian monsters, there was a second wave of outlaws. The Sleeping King is now festering with them. From here in the northeast, to Sweet Haven, and the southwest.” “I see, and you are…?” “Ah, pardon for my late introduction,” he introduced himself. “I am J
The next day, it was mid-afternoon. The counter-raiding party was now raised to eighty-one braves, which included my entire party. Most of us were from Green Bits and Grendels. It was decided that Sir Chandos would be the leader while the two Green Bit chiefs agreed to be his temporary commanders. To everyone’s relief, Marseille, her companions, Zeki, and Raja were also joining. Once the town’s gate opened, we began our fifty-kilometer journey to Hammerhorn. Of course, we were outnumbered, and they got a mountain brave on their side. There were risks if we faced them head-on, but doing nothing and waiting for them was not an option for us either. That was why everyone in the hall yesterday agreed we launched a surprise attack. Right now, our journey through the night-like forest was fast yet silent and secretive. We needed to get to Hammerhorn until nightfall. Any delay for a day or two, the enemies might grow in numbers. The Green Bits took the lead as our guides an
As he kept growing, the ground under his enormous feet started to sink. The rumbling caused the battle to stop. Immediately, everyone noticed the living mountain. “Sam, phase four!” Wilt cried, which meant that I had to deal with Mount Fort by myself. “Retreat! Retreat!” He and the others scurried toward the broken gate. The raiders were also evacuated as if they were running for their lives. I understood why because as the mountain brave continued to grow, a quarter of the hill collapsed under his weight, bringing down a quarter of the fort as well. I leaped away to avoid the quakes. Once Mount Fort stopped growing, he was twice the hill’s height. His face resembled a crudely carved rock sculptor; hollow eyes, flat nose, thick brows, and bulging lips. At first, the mountain brave was glancing at me. Upon shifting toward Raja and Wilt’s group, they were at the gate. He locked onto Sir Chandos’s group. They were about to reach the hilltop until they tilted the
After several strikes from the magical hammer, Mount Fort still wouldn’t go down. The mountain brave regenerated the damage and his missing fingers. He began his counterattack by shooting a barrage of rocks out of his hands. Marseille threw thunderbolts to intercept. It was an epic battle. The land shook while the night sky crackled with thunder. My mouth hung open for the entire five minutes. “What’s the point of me fighting him?” Well, I was a bit relieved about that, but very much disappointed. I was looking forward to our epic showdown. “Why didn’t everyone just ask her from the start?” “Because Lady Marseille is from a big shot guild,” Zeki explained. “Asking her is like asking a favor from Dragonheart. In this world, not everything is free to give, Mr. Roche.” My shoulder sank from that statement. “But, for her and Mister Raja to offer their help without any compensation proves that heroes are still alive and well.” That brighten
Hammerhorn was ours. We all stood at its peak and watched the raiders scattered throughout the forest. That mysterious voice must’ve gotten away too. It was a miracle that all the members of the counter-raiding party survived, especially from that earthquake attack caused by Mount Fort. Afterward, we rested through the remainder of the night. By morning, we discussed what to do with Hammerhorn. It still had a strategic value to be left alone. The big shots or the raiders might return to take it back, but neither of those who were on their guild’s behalf wanted one of them to claim it as their territory. Marseille stepped in and proposed that all of them could rule jointly. It would be like a mini-Sweet Haven. Everyone agreed. Zeki’s guild also got a shared ownership since he participated in the battle. Raja declined the offer since he was a nonmember now. What about our party? We still hadn’t yet established a guild or even a flag. We waited for Wilt to speak
We’d arrived just in time for sunset. The entire residents of Rockflower poured out from the gate to meet us. They were anxiously waiting for the outcome of our quest, seeing we were fewer than the time we left. The answer they got was our smiles. “Victory party!” the one who shouted was the same person as before. Everyone burst into cheers. “To the cellar!” Mr. Smith cried, and we all rushed back inside. As night fell, tables were gathered around the three long tables in front of the guildhall’s main door. That was where the hosts and honored guests would be seated. Of course, my party was included. I was sitting next to the Smiths on my right while my friends were on my left. Raja, Zeki, Marseille, her companions, the two Green Bit chiefs, and one remaining Grendel Representative were sitting at the other long tables. “All done.” A Mayflower healer named Argo bandaged my sprained foot with strange scented herbs. “You’ll be alright in a day o
“I have to do it,” Brock said. “You sure?” Katie asked. He nodded. “I need to know if I am worthy.” My friends and I were staring at Marseille’s hammer lying on a stump. We were in a clearing inside the forest, not far from town. After two days, my sprained foot had healed. Mr. Smith finally started to teach us how to survive in the Yellow Zone. Raja, Zeki, and the Dragonhearts were also helping out. Raja decided that he would be staying here for a vacation. As for Marseille and her companions, they hadn’t yet told us their reason. They left the clearing with Mr. Smith to prepare something for us. However, for some reason, Marseille left her hammer behind. “Let me get this straight,” Li began. “Only a worthy can lift this hammer, right?” “Pretty much,” Wilt replied. We gave the Shaolin a brief knowledge of what we knew about Thor, from movies, cartoons, and comics. “Okay.” Li paused a bit. “Worthy of what?” “Worthy to w
Raja got to me first. While he swung his maces, I skipped backward to keep myself a distance away from their reach. I managed to catch a glimpse at Li leaping from my left. I tucked my knees and rolled toward Raja, avoiding Li’s kick and the swinging maces. After getting close to Raja’s legs, I sprang to my feet and tossed him toward Li, though he evaded the former commander from crashing on top of him. That was a moment for me to give the Shaolin a flying kick, but he evaded. Spinning himself in the air, Li was about to strike me with his glaive. “Stop! Stop!” Mr. Smith yelled. “Time out!” We all stopped in our tracks. He ran toward the crate, pulling out a wooden staff. “Here,” he exchanged Li’s glaive with it, “we don’t want to see Sam getting accidentally cut.” “Gee, thanks,” I grumbled in a sardonic tone. “Ouch, ow, ow…!” Li’s strikes with the staff were faster than his glaive. I had to block the hits with my forearms, bearing all the stinging pain. Raja