He recurs to where he commissions the metal shards. And to his surprise, they did prepare his order.

"Well, hey-hey-hey... I'm very proud of you my lovely blacksmiths." Akatosh implores smiling and giving the blacksmith another five gold coins.

"Errm... Isn't this too much?"

"Nah... you deserve it, oh and I need a wagon and a driver."

Once the wagon was outside hidden, Akatosh ordered the men to unload those thirty-plus barriers of metal shards. After they went ahead, he then put them all in his magic bag and headed towards the bridge.

"You want another bargain?" Amaragnum implores.

"Well, yes."

"Hmm... There's quite the place I want to visit. And it's a hassle for me to enter such very protected land. So yes, name your damn succor."

"I'm good with it, you good at necromancy, right? And making a person fly? Right?"

"What do you think I am? But if you're talking about flying then there are three things you can choose. One is morphing you to have wings, the other's using wind elementals, and the thirds is where I cast a flying spell into you enabling you to control your movements on the air. But the third one cost more energy and I do hope for a larger return."

"I pick the third one, after that, I need a party good for digging. Maybe a dozen or more. Oh, and if my powder failed to blow up the bridge. You know your master of calamity might be a good help."

"You what."

"Well, I have my doubts even to myself."

"Fine." Amaragnum replies in a fatigue tone.

As the armies of Endregar were closing in, the kingdom of Keshoval is under pressure. Some of the aristocrats turn their backs on their king. And what's more, the kingdom of Keshoval was still waiting for their dwarven allies.

Only three more days to come, Akatosh was busy planting the bombs under the bridge during the night. Hidden and with enough powder, Akatosh then again asks his partner a help.

"Write my markings on the fuse, and with a flick of a finger it will set on fire."

"Ugh... praise thee to you, my darling." Akatosh humorously said.

Now that the bridge is full of explosives. They then move towards the old road that connects Keshoval and the other end of the bridge. Bringing undead at night, digging an area of one meter in diameter and half meters deep. The undead assistant was able to dig up more than one hundred holes, down where the road flattens.

After the digging, Akatosh first plants the explosives at every hole. And with the help of the undead, they manage to deposits the metal shards quickly before dawn arrives. The second night came, Akatosh ponders his remaining explosive powder. And when he saw the rocky cliffs that had various cracks on them. He smiles, putting his remaining powder on the cracks of the cliffs. He then had to contemplate how to camouflage where the explosives are buried.

Akatosh can tell even a toddler would notice the hundreds of patches on the road.

"Well fuck it, guessed I'll go with the old way."

Using log barricades and spikes that were placed on the road. And plowing the soil, for the enemies not to distinguished the patches. Akatosh was now tired but somewhat anxious, not sure if the enemies could dance at the palm of his hand.

The time came, even the king was angry since the dwarves who promised their aid didn't appear. Even the kingdom of Aghraim didn't welcome their second beseech. The kingdom of Keshoval was now all alone, outnumbered, and outpowered. The king travels with his armies hoping he can have an amnesty with the armies of Endregar. Across the middle of the road, the king was suddenly stopped by a party on a horseback. Once close enough, the party begged on their knees it was Roland and his party taking the side with Keshoval.

When Akatosh was waiting for the Endregar’s army to come. At that time, Ferish the priestess of Endregar was confronting the king.

Even with his royal guard, Ferish didn't waver as she walks through the throne chamber.

Not before the priestess could take another step, the king's royal guards block her path.

"Ahh... do what business did you come here for?" The king coldly said.

"How disgusting, I failed myself for not realizing who you are... demon. Reveal yourself or I'll have to do it myself."

As Ferish said her words, the royal guards felt something from their backs. A burst of devilish laughter came out from the king.

Sigh, "It seems you were able to detect my presence for such a short time. No wonder--" Before the king continues, a large demonic hand came out of the king's mouth. And like a banana peel, it tore apart the king's flesh. Blood and flesh smeared on the throne and to their eyes, a hideous demon was now facing them. A face like a minotaur but with large horns and burning green eyes. The demon's throat was gleaming in fire, like a dragon ready to breathe fire. Large and intimidating, the royal guards switch their position.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

"Ahh... Finally, I can now stretch myself. They say you were once a powerful priestess of the gods. So let's see if those stories are true then."

Not giving the demon a time to attack, Ferish unleashes her spell. In an instant, the room was covered in pure white light. And then came a spectral woman behind Ferish. Buffing the royal guards with light magic, good for countering demons. Ferish's spectral pulls out a sword brimming in golden light.

"A planar prism, how--" Not giving him another word, Ferish's spectral smashed him. "I see, so you are one of the people that helps with the seal."

After being smashed, the demon was now a blob steaming like acid. And before they knew it, a dark patch of lava burst through where Ferish's standing. Thanks to the quick observation of the royal guards, they manage to pull Ferish saving her from injuries or worst death.

"Eye of the gods." Ferish implores, revealing the demon who was all along invisible.

"I need time to cast my spell. Can you keep it busy?" Ferish implores, connecting her thoughts towards the royal guards.

They all nod without batting an eye, and just as Ferish starts her spell. They all engaged towards the demon, with weapons smeared in holy energy. The demon was having a hard time dealing with them. While it did injure some of the guards, Ferish was now finished.

A beam of light hammers through the demon constraining its movements and power. Adding up, dozens of golden spikes puncture through to its body.

"Begone." Ferish implores, and at the same time, the beam of light gradually gets thinner. And as it gets thinner the demon was disappearing.

It was a victory, however before the demon was put to death, Ferish saw his sinister smile.

"King Reigal IV, if you would we would like to consolidate with you." Roland implores kneeling in front of the king.

"And to what reason?"

Roland didn't answer but brought out a parchment given to him by Ferish herself. After receiving the parchment, the king's ethereal was pulled to a different dimension. There he saw Ferish coming towards him, just a single touch of her finger revealed the true colors of king Reynfred II. It was vague convey, but enough to convince King Reigal to let Roland join his forces.

"Very well if that's what you wish then I shall grant it. However, your ranks are but the same as these soldiers here."

"I understand, and I appreciate you for allowing us to join your place."

"Hmm... tell me young ones, is this your first?" After Roland joins their marching.

Roland nods, but with a determination smeared in his eyes. Following Roland's acceptance, the soldier's spirit brightens up. For they knew a powerful person joins their side. But for someone, it was one man's responsibility.

Dress in a cloak, and use the mask that branded him a wanted man. He waited at the edge of the bridge to greet the soldiers of Endregar. Casting a 'wizard's eye spell', summoning an eyeball the size of a soccer ball. It then levitates high enough to see if the Endregar armies are closing in. It only took half an hour until the Endregar's soldiers were sighted.

Taking a closer look, one of the high-ranking commanders halts the marching when Amaragnum's wizard's eye faces him.

"Hello, can you hear me?"

"Speak, I can hear you." The commander implores in a confident voice.

"Well, if very much... kindly to those that don't want this bloodshed to happen. It would be better if you would turn around and live a peaceful life with your wife, children, and families, for fuck’s sake." Akatosh implores seeing there were five prestigious generals. Even by the look, he can tell they have potential and fought countless battles and wars. Three of them seem to be in their mid-forties and fifties, the two were younger.

Thereafter Akatosh's words, one of the young commanders. A handsome, and with grayish-long hair arrogantly laugh at his speech. With that, his colleagues and the soldiers who heard Akatosh's words laugh with him.

Short after their amusement, the man with grayish-long hair showed a predator-like expression before cutting the wizard's eye in half.

"Fine then." Akatosh implores before the wizard's eye disintegrates after being cut.

Then without a warning, a tremendous explosion shook the armies on both sides. It was a consecutive explosion, desolating the long bridge. And due to its crumbling structure, the bridge collapse as if it was just uncemented bricks. The only thing that remains was the columns.

A few seconds after the explosion, the generals of Endregar went silent before they rush towards the bridge.

To their surprise, they saw the man with a high bounty sitting on the edge before being teleported at the other end.

Switching places, he waited for the armies of Keshoval to arrive. But before they show up, Akatosh changed his mask into a balaclava. After only waiting for more than an hour king Reigal IV arrive galloping his horses together with his generals and the esteemed descendants of the great hero Roland with his powerful companions.

"You're late," Akatosh said chillingly sitting on the parapet.

The king couldn't believe his eyes, for the once majestic bridge was now but ruin. Not just the king, but everyone on both sides was in a state of shock. Stupored, the armies of Keshoval rushes in to see the broken bridge. As for Akatosh who didn't want to be interrogated by the king and his generals slip out from the crowd. Although, there was one soldier who manage to carefully observe him even when he was slipping out from the crowded army.

The king turns towards Akatosh but saw a letter warning him not to descend the steep old road. Follow up by a piece of advice to better wait for the enemies right where he was standing.

"Fuck, what a bitch life I had." Akatosh implores after sitting in a safe spot under the trees.

And while he prepares to make a meal, a soldier of Keshoval was right in front of him. More than five meters of a distance, he can hear the soldier's heavy breathing. Taking off the helmet, Akatosh was sudden when it was all along Freia.

"Bollokcs."

Hasting her step, Freia lifts her two-handed sword but is petrified to slash Akatosh. He didn't flinch only stares at her with a blank expression. What she didn't know, Akatosh was ready to pounce a kill if she did engage for a kill. After ten seconds of eye to eye, Freia relinquishes her sword but with a wave of anger in her eyes.

"Why did you do it." Freia engaged a word.

"Did what," Akatosh responds continuing his cooking.

"All of this, the bridge, manipulating my father and everyone."

Sigh, "As I said, I'm just fulfilling my responsibilities and saving your kingdom."

Freia didn't respond but curls up on the other side of the tree, not knowing what to do. Half an hour passed; Freia was alarmed by Akatosh who was offering her a plate of meal.

"I'm not a five-star chef, but I'm sure the food is good to your taste. And if you think the food is poisoned you can leave it." Akatosh said, placing the plate on her side and passively digging his meal.

Freia hesitates, but the sound of her stomach embarrassed her to the point even Akatosh was giggling. A bit frustrated, she grabs the plate and fills her empty stomach. To her surprise, the peculiar dish was even better than the food she ate at her castle.

At that time, it was the calm before the storm.