A harsh voice jolts me awake. "General, wake up!"

I blink away sleep, wincing at the sudden sunlight. "What's happening? Enemy attack?"

"No, but you better get a look at this." Aveline gestures towards the distance, her voice laced with urgency.

I scramble to my feet, pulling on my armor as I follow her gaze. We crouch behind the safety of some wooden debris, peering out at the scene before us.

A colossal metal wall, unlike anything I've ever seen, rises in the distance. It resembles a giant, three-tiered cake forged from gleaming metal, plumes of smoke curling from its peak. The darkness of the previous night concealed it from our view, along with the exhaustion that settles upon us after our harrowing escape from the monstrous serpent.

But that's not all. A vast army of hulking green giant humanoids stands poised on the other side of the wall, their axes and swords glinting ominously in the morning light. Two human guards, clad in heavy brown armor and adorned with green capes and headbands, face them across a tense divide.

One of the guards brandishes a fearsome double-headed axe, its blades glinting with a deadly promise. My fist clenches instinctively. "Orcs," I mutter, the word a harsh rasp in my throat. "Are they here to attack the city?"

Aveline shrugs, her brow furrowed as she studies the scene. "Should we intervene?"

I shake my head. "Let's hold our ground for now. We don't know the city's situation, and it's best to let them handle it if they can."

"Breakfast is ready! Come and eat!" Ruby's cheerful voice cuts through the tension, beckoning us from a distance near our makeshift campsite. Rodger stands beside her, holding up a plate piled with steaming food from the supply that Rodger had prepared before.

Aveline and I exchange glances, then nod in unison. We make our way towards them, the delicious aroma of cooked meat already filling the air.

"Thank you, sweetheart," I murmur, taking a bite of the succulent meat. "This is amazing!"

Ruby beams, her face flushed with pride. "Glad you like it! I can't believe your method works, Aveline!"

Aveline smirks around a mouthful of food. "Hmph, for a first-timer, you're not half bad yourself."

A warmth spreads through me. Ruby is spending the morning learning to cook from Aveline while I sleep. They are both incredible women, each in their own way.

"General, we should observe the scene while we eat," Aveline suggests, already digging into her breakfast.

"Scene?" Ruby tilts her head, a spoonful of stew halfway to her mouth.

"There's a city over there," I explain, pointing towards the distant wall. "And a whole bunch of orcs in front of their main gate. We decided to see what plays out."

"Alright, just be careful, you two!" Ruby calls after us, a touch of worry lacing her voice.

"Don't worry, it's just a quick peek," I wave reassuringly, following Aveline as she leads the way each with our plates in our hands.

...

Reaching the debris pile again, the air vibrates with a cacophony of screams and jeering shouts.

"Looks like it's starting," Aveline murmurs beside me.

One of the human guards, wielding a fearsome double-headed axe in each hand, saunters towards a particularly boisterous orc, who raises his own massive axe in a mocking challenge. The other orcs form a half-circle around the pair, a silent audience to the unfolding duel.

Several tense seconds tick by before the orc charges, a bellowing roar escaping his throat.

"He's rushing to his death!" I blurt out, instinctively taking a step forward.

Aveline's hand clamps onto my back, halting my movement. "Wait, General! Look closer!"

Hesitantly, I meet her gaze, then shift my focus back to the scene.

My jaw drops. What in the world...?

The guard parries the orc's attack with nonchalant ease, crossing his axes in a defensive X. With a flick of his wrists, he deflects the blow and spins in a deadly blur. The orc is sent flying backward, the guard's right axe flashing in a lethal arc that severs the orc's head in a clean, sickening spray of blood.

Silence descends. I gape while choking on my food, speechless. Never had I imagined witnessing such effortless power against a ferocious orc, and from a mere guard at that! This city is clearly not to be trifled with. It's no wonder the Capital needs their help.

"That man is something else entirely," Aveline mutters, her voice tight with a mixture of awe and envy. "We barely managed one orc..."

Shame washes over me as I lower my gaze. "Damn it," I whisper, the sting of inadequacy sharp. "Am I still that weak?"

By the time we glance back, the orcs are scattering, jeering at their fallen comrade.

"Quite a show," Aveline sighs, turning to head back.

I nod silently, following her back to the campsite, the image of the guard's effortless brutality etched into my mind.

...

Ruby waves as we return. "You're back! So, what did you see?"

Shame burns in my throat. I stay silent, lowering my eyelids to avoid meeting her gaze.

"Honey, is everything alright?" she asks, concern lacing her voice as she waves a hand in front of my face.

"I'm fine, sweetheart," I mumble, forcing a smile as I reach for another piece of meat.

Her worried eyes flicker to Aveline, who shrugs helplessly at her. Ruby then approaches me, placing a gentle hand on my back. "What's wrong? You seem down."

The image of the guard's effortless display of power flashes in my mind. "I'm just..." I sigh, the words catching in my throat. "Not strong enough."

"We saw a fight between an orc and a guard," Aveline explains, forcing down another bite of food. "The guard... he killed the orc with barely any effort. It's frustrating."

Aveline lets out a heavy sigh beside me. "Looks like we've got a long road ahead of us."

Rodger frowns at both of us. "What's gotten into you two today? You look like you lost your day."

"I wish you could have seen it, Dad," I mutter, the memory of the guard's strength leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

...

Just a few minutes after finalizing our preparations, a few hours pass on the road, and we finally reach the imposing steel gate of the city. The two guards we saw facing the orc earlier stand watch, the headless orc still a gruesome reminder of their recent encounter. I gulp as I steal a glance at the corpse, then quickly shift my gaze to the guards.

Wait a second. A spark of recognition ignites in my mind. I know the guard on the left.

"Halt!" booms the guard on the right. "State your business and present your Matyr City Entry Permit!"

"I'm on a mission from the capital," I announce, offering the parchment we obtained. "This is an urgent message requesting warrior reinforcements to aid the city."

The other guard, however, scoffs. "There's nothing we can do for you. Go home."

"What?" I splutter, bewildered. "We've been traveling for days, faced a giant, monstrous serpent, and now you're telling us to turn back? Where's your sense of duty, Duke?"

The left guard, Duke, behind the other guard, widens his eyes in surprise. He steps forward, his face inches from mine.

"It's you! The troublesome dolt who couldn't even recognize a troll!" he barks with a humorless chuckle.

"Ugh..." I groan, the memory of our past encounter stinging.

Aveline bristles beside me. "General, Do you know him?" she asks through gritted teeth.

"Yes," I confirm. "He's Duke. We participated in the same trial a while back... Wait a minute."

It hits me. He wields two axes... could that be...?

"Hold on," I blurt out. "Were you the one who effortlessly killed the orc just an hour ago?"

Duke smirks. "So you were watching, huh? That's the situation, then." He folds his arms, his gaze unwavering. "We're on the brink of war with the orcs. Some of them wreaked havoc inside the city just a few days ago. According to the rules, the city is on lockdown for all orcs and outsiders, except..."

He reaches into his pouch and retrieves a metallic card with a diagonal blue and silver split, displaying writing on each side.

"[Entry Permit]," I read aloud, recognizing the format. "[Duke Craigred]... [Matyr City Guard]."

"This is our entry permit," he explains, holding up the card. "If you want to get in, you need to state your business and wait three whole days for approval. In other words, No permit, no entry. Sorry."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

He tucks the permit back into his pouch.

"Come on, Duke, cut us some slack, just this once," I plead. "For old comrade's sake?"

Duke frowns. "Usually, I wouldn't mind," he admits, a hint of amusement flickering across his face. "But..." He lets out a low chuckle, placing his hand over his mouth. "I don't think you've earned any favors considering your obvious weakness."

"Say WHAT!?" My blood boils. I surge forward, ready to unleash my fury. But Ruby anticipates my reaction, wrapping her arms tightly around my bicep.

"R-Rai... Calm down!" she pleads, her voice barely a whisper.

Yeah, right. Like that's going to happen easily.

...

Defeated, I deflate. "Fine..."

Aveline seizes the opportunity. "So, if we defeat you in a duel," she probes cautiously, "we gain entry without a wait?"

Duke gives a curt nod, keeping his arms folded.

A shared sigh escapes both Aveline and me. "We already know his strength," she murmurs, her voice laced with concern as she glances at me. "A duel would be pointless. You'd be throwing yourself away."

"Seems the woman understands," Duke smirks, a smug glint in his eyes. "Now scram, would you?"

Heat crawls up my neck, shame burning in my gut. "Shut up," I mutter, clenching my fists. "How can we know our limits if we don't try?"

Aveline whirls around, panic etched on her face. "G-General! Don't even think about—"

Her words are cut short by my own declaration. "I agree. Let's fight."

Shock registers on both Aveline and Ruby's faces. Even Rodger shakes his head in disapproval.

"You shouldn't be so hasty, kid," he warns, concern rumbling in his voice.

Duke, however, throws his head back and lets out a booming laugh. "Ha! That's the spirit! I'm curious to see your improvement after all this time." He levels a finger at me, his excitement palpable. "Duel. One on one. No interruptions."

A feral grin splits my face. "Sounds good to me."

Ruby's voice trembles. "R-Rai, sweetheart... are you absolutely certain about this?"

"Don't worry, Ruby," I assure her, my gaze fixed on Duke's arrogant smirk. "I'm going to shove that arrogance right back down his throat."

...

I instinctively reach for my weapon, my hand instinctively going for the familiar hilt of my Su Yari. But then, a cold dread washes over me.

My weapon. It's still trapped in the clutches of the monstrous serpent's silk.

"What are you trying to do?" Duke barks, a hint of amusement lacing his voice. "Lost your precious toy already?"

Shame burns in my cheeks. I glance away, mumbling, "Well, you see..."

Duke throws his head back and lets out a hearty, derisive laugh. "You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still a clueless dolt."

My eyebrow twitches. The nerve of this guy!

"Bruno, lend him your spear," Duke calls out, his amusement waning slightly.

"Aye, aye," Bruno, the guard on the right, responds. He hefts a long, heavy spear that resembles a long-handled axe with a sharp point - a [Pike].

"You know how to use one of those, right?" Duke asks, tossing the spear towards me with a casual flick of his wrist.

I catch the Pike easily, the familiar weight reassuring in my hands. "I have some experience with them," I reply curtly.

"Good," Duke grunts, hefting his double axes into a fighting stance. He spins them with practiced ease, the glint of metal catching the sunlight. "Let's see what you're made of then."

My gaze narrows. I level the tip of the Pike at him, mirroring his aggressive stance. "Everyone back," I call out, my voice firm. "Dad, Ruby, Aveline, stay out of this."

Aveline steps forward, her voice laced with worry. "But General, you know how strong he is..."

I cut her off with a shake of my head. "I know," I say, my voice tight. "But I just... I have to test him. I can't believe he could've gotten so much stronger in just a month."

Ruby leans into me, her voice barely a whisper. "Be careful, dear..."

"I will, sweetheart," I murmur, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. With a final reassuring squeeze of her hand, I step back, joining Aveline and Rodger.

"Remember," Duke calls out, his voice surprisingly serious, "this isn't a life-or-death duel like with the orc. Don't go pushing yourself too hard."

A fierce glint ignites in my eyes. "The same goes for you, Duke."

A tense silence hangs in the air, broken only by the rustle of the wind and the worried gasps of my companions.

With a battle cry, I charge toward Duke, the Pike held steady before me. He meets my charge with a feral grin, his double axes whirling in a deadly dance.

Clang!!

Steel meets steel in a deafening clang. Our weapons lock, sending a jolt through my arms. I seize the opportunity, spinning away and unleashing a roundhouse kick.

"[Spinning Cane!!]" I shout, channeling my energy into a powerful leg sweep.

Duke reacts with surprising agility, sidestepping my attack with a casual movement. He throws me a single, incredulous glance.

"Seriously?" he scoffs.

Undeterred, I shift my tactics. Lowering the spear to my side, I launch into a rising slash. "[Riselite Slash!!]"

The spear blade flashes upwards, but Duke effortlessly blocks it with one of his axes. He doesn't even break a sweat.

Knowing I can't overpower him, I transition into a series of swift thrusts. "[Gale Thrust!!]" The air itself seems to vibrate as I unleash a flurry of attacks, aiming for vital points.

Clang!! Clang!! Clang!!

But Duke's defense is impenetrable. He parries each blow with a single axe, displaying a mastery over his weapon that leaves me speechless.

A frustrated click escapes his tongue. "Disappointing," he mutters.

Then, with a terrifying speed, he turns the tables. He shoves both axes forward, the razor-sharp tips aimed for my shoulders.

Agony explodes through me as the steel pierces flesh and bone. A scream rips from my throat, choked by the searing pain. Before I can even react, he follows through with a brutal upward slash.

A crimson wave erupts as the axes tear through muscle and sinew. The world swims before my eyes, the metallic tang of blood filling my mouth.

"AAAAAARRRHHHHHH!!!!!"

"R-Rai!" Ruby's scream pierces my fading consciousness.

"General!" Aveline's voice echoes distantly.

The ground rushes up to meet me as I collapse, my body a broken shell. The pain is an unrelenting storm, threatening to consume me.

"I overestimated you," Duke sneers, the sound distorted by the haze of pain. "You truly are a weakling idiot." He spins his axes with a sickening flourish, tucking them back onto his waist.

Just as darkness threatens to engulf me, a surge of emerald light bathes my vision. Ruby kneels beside me, her staff held high, its tip glowing with vibrant energy.

"[Regeneration!!]" she chants, her voice laced with desperation.

...

Fury crackles in the air. "Impudent!" Aveline roars, her voice trembling as she clenches her fists. "I won't forgive you for this!"

"Aveline, stop!" Rodger rushes to restrain her, his grip firm but gentle. "We can't solve anything with violence right now!"

Aveline struggles against his hold. "Let me go! I'll kill him for what he did!"

"There's nothing we can do now!" Rodger shouts, his voice strained. "But Rai's alive, and that's what matters!"

"But—" Aveline's voice cracks with emotion.

"He's going to be alright, Aveline," Ruby soothes, stepping forward to show Aveline my healed wounds. "[Regeneration] did its work."

A frustrated growl escapes Aveline's throat. She throws a fist into the air, then rushes over to me and Ruby, her concern evident. "Are you okay, General? Please tell me you're alright!"

"I'm... I'm alright," I mumble, the throbbing pain a dull ache thanks to Ruby's magic. Shame and anger war within me, the taste of defeat bitter on my tongue.

The sight of Ruby's tear-streaked face cuts through my rage. "Forgive me," I rasp, the words heavy with regret.

Duke, meanwhile, observes the scene with a hint of amusement. "So, are we all settled now?" he inquires, folding his arms once more. He turns to Bruno, the other guard. "Tell the receptionist we need four more entry permits."

My head snaps up. "What!?"

"Names," Duke demands, his tone clipped. "I'll process your entry permits. You can all come back in three days to claim them."

"Wait, what's with that duel just now..." Aveline shouts in frustration.

"I'm just messing around with him," Duke give her a slight chuckles.

"This man..."

"That's... awfully generous of you," I stammer, surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

"Let's just say I'm... entertained by your little display," Duke smirks, his earlier arrogance softened by a flicker of something akin to respect. "Perhaps your talent lies elsewhere. After all, having two such loyal companions by your side is a strength in itself." He tries, and fails, to stifle a chuckle.

Ugh. Annoyance flares within me, but it's overshadowed by a wave of relief. We can enter the city. We can continue our mission.

“There is an inn located at the west of here,” He points at our left. “You can rest yourself there. Meet me again after three days. I will make sure you will get your permits.”

“Thank you, Duke…”

“There is no need to thank me, comrade.”

I chuckle a bit right after he called me ‘comrade’.

“Let’s go.”

“Can you walk…?” I can see Ruby trying her best not to cry.

“Yes, I am sorry to make you worried…”

“Ngg,” She shakes her head on my shoulder.

“Oh, and one more thing, Raiken.”

I turn my body at him.

“You may keep the spear. It will help you survive this desert,” Duke walks toward me and hands me the Pike. “Make sure not to lose it next time.”

I nod at him firmly without saying anything, and the four of us leave the front gate heading west.

#

End of Chapter 9.