The Wraith King, Rev 2.0.

Chapter 8

The Sea Goblin’s Final Invasion II

“Lady, things are about to get very dangerous. I suggest we leave now.” The bodyguard that shadowed Lady Aysha said.

“What are you talking about, Gio?” Aysha said. Her attention suddenly shifted to her bodyguard. She had long learned to trust her disgraced Huntevar bodyguard in matters concerning her safety.

“Just one of those feelings, milady.” Gio said.

Aysha looked at Calex, she saw the young prince gripping the pommel of his cane sword. A ritual that Calex used to do when he’s nervous.

“Then we have to help them, ready your bow.”

The tall body guard sighed. “Yes, milady.”

The pair went off and didn’t finish watching the mock battle.

However, soon enough, the mock battle was over. Milo’s group had won. Those who didn’t feel the impending danger, rejoiced at their victory, while those who felt it, anxiety poured over them.

The prince had guessed they have only a day or two before the unknown enemy will arrive. For a moment, he weighed the decisions whether to retreat or to hold their ground. But, in the end he decided they will have to hold the beach.

But the prince wasn’t foolish enough to face the enemy alone. At the middle of the day, a crow had just landed on his shoulder.

“Caaaw… cheapskate….caaaaww” The crow chirped.

“Good to see you too, Cray.” The prince said, then handed the crow a half-eaten apple.

The crow said “Cheapskate” one more time before pecking the apple.

The prince took out a small amulet that shaped like a small necklace and tied it to the crow’s feet. “Go!” The prince said, then the crow flew westward.

The mock battle was quick but it had taken everyone’s energy. The prince knew his men wasn’t really a hundred percent ready. However, he also knows the value of a good rest. After all, from the improvement his men had shown him, the prince decided they all deserved a good, long rest.

The fourth squad didn’t waste time though in completing the workshop. The prince had to personally order them to have a rest. The prince saw the look of worry shadowed by a gleeful smile of the fourth squad leader.

“We are going to stay and fight, aren’t we?” Spiel said to the prince when they were alone.

The prince looked at the fourth squad leader’s eyes and saw a strong sense of self-preservation. If the prince saw it on others, he would think of it as cowardice. But when he saw it on the fourth squad leader, he only saw a survivor willing to do everything to survive.

“Yes.” The prince simply said, knowing there was no point in lying. “Rest up. I have a feeling we will need every ounce of strength we got to pull through.’

Digby had been riding hard heading back to Calis ever since he had received the amulet tied on the prince’s crow. The amulet was a coded message that meant the prince needed backup, as soon as possible.

When Digby arrived to Calis, he didn’t waste time and rushed towards king. But as luck would have it, Prince Calius was with the king. DIgby had no choice but to report to the king.

“What is it, Master Digby?” The king said. There were only three people in the king chambers right now. Prince Calius looked at the old man elegantly trying to hide that he was out of air.

“Prince Calex needs some help, your grace. And he needs it fast.” Digby said.

The king was old, but there was still an air of command around him. But before he could speak, Prince Calius intercepted him.

“Father, send me. It is also my duty as his older brother.” Prince Calius said.

But the king and Digby knows the truth. It was not helping for the sake of truly helping but merely a political move. However, the two of them can’t deny the fact that Prince Calius always gets the jobs done.

“Fine.” The king said.

Prince Calius didn’t waste time and blurted out of the king’s chamber. Digby remained and reported everything to the king that had happened to the third prince. As far as Digby and the king knows, the prince wasn’t actually in danger. Not yet, anyway.

Back in Sitio Village, the prince had explained to the villagers the impending danger that they were about to face. He had given the villagers a choice whether to flee or fight. Ben, the village chief, asked the prince on what he was going to do? The prince replied that they will try to hold the beach as long as they can until the reinforcements came.

The villagers were silent for a minute. After a while, Ben stood up and said. “I’ll fight beside you, my prince. All this time we have been running away from them. But you” Ben pointed at the prince. “You have given us the ability to fight, and I’ll be damned if I’ll run with my tail between my legs again.”

Vinny and Ker stood as well. “We’ll fight as well.”

Then the rest of the villagers stood up, and everyone cheered in unison. Some sort of morale-boosting cheer that was also heard by the prince’s men. By this time, almost everyone felt the killing intent directed towards them. The last two battles against the sea goblins had somehow sharpened their senses.

After hearing the cheers, the men knew they will stay and fight.

During the night, the sense of uneasiness and anxiety spread to the prince’s men like a plague. But Lt. Brax urged everyone to take a rest, saying that it might be the last, long rest they’ll going to have for a while.

That didn’t help to increase the morale of the recruits, but it had forced them to sleep, whether their mind or body liked it or not.

The assassin didn’t have any trouble sleeping. She knew it was pointless to think about things that didn’t happen yet. She’d rather be well-rested than worry endlessly.

But Musk was different. He thought of the things he hasn’t done yet, and thought of what his friend said.

“We could leave if you want.” Spiel said.

“And go where?”

“Averin, you always wanted to go there remember? And see the city of the builders.” Spiel said.

“I've thought about it. But there is this feeling that I just can’t leave them knowing what they are about to face.” Musk said.

“I know. It’s a bond.” Spiel said. “The kind you share on someone when you face numerous hardships and dangers together.”

“Spiel, we can’t leave. I can’t help them that much, but you can.” Musk said.

“Fine, Musky, we’ll stay.” Spiel said.

The next morning, the prince said what’s on everyone’s mind. The prince had told them they’ll have to hold until reinforcements from Calis arrived. When the prince said this, everyone’s eyes changed. For the first time, they felt hope.

Originally, everyone thought their mission was to terminate every enemy that might come deep below the sea. But now that they only have to hold their ground. Even the sound of the word “reinforcements” had a massive effect on their morale.

The prince estimated that the enemy was only one or two days away. Whereas, reinforcements might came a bit too late. Though, he didn’t say that. Instead, practicing battle formations all day long had occupied everyone’s mind.

Every meal, though, everyone had to suffer. Lady Aysha concocted a different potion and asked the prince to force everyone to drink it. Compared last time, the potion this time looked very decent. However, it was only a disguise, for it tasted every bit as the first potion should tastes like.

Lady Aysha didn’t have enough time to alter the potions taste. She just knew the prince’s men needed it. The potion was supposed to increase everyone’s strength for a period of time, and would also give them an extra amount of energy if they needed it.

Though the price for it was, It tasted like shit. But Lt. Brax eyed everyone with malicious intent to those who dared not to drink it.

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“Thank you, lieutenant.” Aysha said. She knew the lieutenant was sort of an enforcer.

“It’s nothing much, milady. They just didn’t know the value of your potion yet, but I assure once they feel it, they’ll keep on coming back for it.” Lt. Brax said. It was probably the longest sentence he had uttered since.

“I certainly hope so, lieutenant.” Aysha said.

The lieutenant almost frowned knowing what the lady alchemist actually meant. It is true, as always in every war, that there is this chance of not coming back again.

The villagers prepared a feast, and everyone tried to enjoy it. The prince took the time in telling his men to always remember their training and always watched each others back.

“Hear, Hear.” Was his recruit’s response.

A pig was roasted and everyone ate like it was the last meal they’ll going to have. To some of them, it might be.

That night, with their belly full. Everyone slept peacefully.

And morning quickly came.

Everything from pits to wooden fortifications was ready. The recruits stood proud facing the sea. While the villagers was instructed by the prince to hold the wooden fortifications.

“They’re coming!” Lt. Brax shouted.

Multiple fins spotted across the sea. It didn’t take very long for those fins to arrive at the surface. But by then, the recruits had already charged ahead and started cutting every sea goblins that emerged.

Lt. Brax roared as he waited for more goblins, but none came. Fifty goblins laid dead in the beach, and the prince’s group was still warming up.

Everyone stopped as soon as they ran out of sea goblins to slay. Everyone cheered, but deep in their hearts they know it was only starting The prince guessed the enemy was only testing them, and that the second wave would be more lethal.

It took only a couple of minutes before dozens and dozens of fins started to appear and swam towards them.

Musk gulped down. He estimated it was more than twice than the number of the sea goblins they have faced before. Probably more.

The rest of the recruits started to step back gradually.

“Hold your ground!” The prince shouted as he stepped forward, followed by Milo and Lt. Brax. The three of them stood proudly facing the incoming sea goblins. Then, one by one, squad leaders stepped forward as well, and stood at the prince side by side.

“I have a confession to make.” The prince said, aloud. Everyone turned to look at him. “Quite frankly, first time I saw you guys, I saw a youngsters who have made poor choices in their life and end up joining me. But not today. Today, I see men who still made those poor choices but are now ready to own it. Ready to seize the world by its balls. Ready to show to everyone that we are more than a mistake.

“Today, I’ll ask you to hold. Give everything you’ve got for this would be our greatest trial yet. When this is over, and when we are old, you will tell these stories to your kid and you will them this was the beginning of everything. The beginning of the grandest adventures the world will ever know. So stand proud, my men! For today is the greatest day of our life! Hear-Raah”

“Heeeaaar – Raaaaah!!!” Shouts echoed throughout the village. Sword hilts clanking on chain mails, and stomping of foot added to the din.

The assassin couldn’t help but nod. All this time, he thought the prince was making a huge mistake by staying and fight whatever is out there. But now, she wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain to her, and that is she will not die here.

When the first of the sea goblin emerged in the sea. The prince was the first person to rushed towards it and cut off its head. This made the prince’s men livelier and started to charge as well towards the incoming goblins.

Sea goblins bodies started to drop one by one. Some of them doesn’t even managed to step on the sand. For a while things went well. The recruits could feel they have an unlimited energy inside them. They still didn’t feel tired at all, even after cutting a hundred of sea goblins.

Cadet Pole had just killed his sixth goblins. He looked at the prince cutting off another head of a sea goblin. This was the prince’s twelfth goblins he had masterfully slain. As the prince’s own squad, one of Cadet Pole’s many tasks was to watch the prince’s back.

But as he saw the prince just killed his thirteenth goblin, he knew the prince didn’t need anyone watching him. As Cadet Pole just slew his seventh goblins by a stab in the neck. An explosion-like sound battered his ears. As he turned to look at the source of it. He only saw a tall goblin-like creature which has uncanny similarity to a sea goblin but it was scarier, and bigger. And it was heading towards him.

Cadet Pole saw the weapon of the giant goblin that looked like a spinal column of a giant sea monster, and also saw that it was coming straight at his head. This was it, Cadet Pole thought. The creature was fast for its size. Probably because it can take giant strides compare to the normal sea goblins.

The green giant stood close to four meters. But its body was lean, with scales patterned like that of a fish. Pole stood frozen in fear as the spine-like weapon about to crash to its head. Pole thought of his aging parents and his younger sister. His younger sister was smart, and would probably go very far in life, if given the chance.

And Pole swore that he’ll be the one to give her that chance. His life had been full of regrets. Regret that his emotions got the better of him and assaulted a noble. He could have been hanged, luckily the judge that handled his case was a commoner just like him. The judge offered him a chance. The mine or the Army. Both were poor choices at that time.

But compared to death, it was salvation. Having chosen the army, Pole expected he’ll wind up being abused by the nobles or worse to a sadistic officer. And somehow his expectations were true. The prince had made them run, dig and battle goblins after goblins.

But somehow, he was glad he had met the prince. He was different, of that he was certain. He had enjoyed his time with the prince and his men. He get to eat delicious foods, meet interesting people, and most of all, serve the most righteous noble he had ever met.

As Pole about to raise his sword as his final act of defiance. A sharp pain exploded in his right rib, and he came crashing to the sand.

The men who had witnessed it couldn’t help but feel relieved to Pole and at the same time terrified. They saw in the last moment that the prince had kicked Pole and managed switched with his place. When the dusts of sand started to recede. They saw the prince standing in front of the green giant, unscathed.

The spine-like weapon hit the sand and made a sizable crater in it. Everyone felt their blood boiling at the scene.

But it was only for moment because the green giant raised the weapon from the sand then aimed at the prince. The prince dodged it. Then stepped forward and stabbed the giant goblin in the stomach.

Horrors filled the eyes of the recruits as they witnessed the prince’s cane sword didn’t do any damage. The prince was shocked as well because he was a step too late to dodge the arm swipe of the giant.

The prince was thrown several meters away from his position and hit several goblins along the way.

Everyone’s heart sank. Their commander was just sent flying and they couldn’t do anything about it because several sea goblins stood between them.

| |  | |  | | END OF CHAPTER 8 | |  | |  | |

Hi guys, as for the comments. I’ve thought hard about the things that you guys said, and I started to do some revisions. This chapter, as you have probably noticed, was different. I had to cut the chapter short, because to be honest, this chapter was sort of an experimental run.

So please tell me your input about it, and sorry about the quality of the previous chapter.

And also, thank you for your honest opinions. As always, I welcomed them. After all, it was for the benefit of all, right? Anyways, don’t be afraid to give out such criticisms if you think it will certainly help me.

As for the grammatical errors, I’m deeply ashamed of it. Before I post, I always read the chapters several times to spot errors. It just that as the writer, it’s really hard to spot the little ones. Again, if you spot one, feel free to tell me.

Thank you and enjoy.