The day of the competition arrived, the candidates were subdivided into groups under a superior commander. Takato was in the same group as Junta, with a serious face he walked around checking the candidates.
Kings and Queens were gathered for the special festival, they were all seated under a shade making bets for the sport.
Zetia standing under the shade said, "Today is the day where the best of the best will be recognised and crowned champions. In this battle life determines the winner and death determines the loser!"
The warriors except for Junta raised their armour with pride and joy, Takato was known amongst the army to be strong and cold. His armour was different from anyone else, on his back he carried a bow and an arrow. Junta took a sword as his weapon, during his training Henry always insisted he used a sword.
King Qin raised a red flag as an indication that the battle had started. The teams marched and stood at the foot of the mountain, inside the mountain Zetia planted the wrath corpses.
Takato looked at his team members and said, "Welcome to the depths of hell, try to stay together." Junta looked around the mountains, the stench was nerve wrecking…he vomited countless times before adjusting to the scent.
The corpses grew stronger and stronger as they walked deeper and deeper into the woods. Takato lost half his team, some succumbed to the wrath corpses others took their lives in fear. Takato was only left with Junta and Leo, they made a fire to camp for the night.
"How was your first experience in this shithole?" Leo warming his hands over the fire asked Takato who was perfectly calm. "Same as now, the feeling never changes." He glared at a Leo who was trembling in fear. Junta was perfectly calm cleaning his sword, Leo standing on his feet said, "I cant fucking take this, all those people ripped to pieces! How can they send us to our deaths! This is all your fault, fuck you and those who…" Junta knocked him out before he did someone horrible to himself.
"I might be composed but it breaks my heart to see all these people dying, tomorrow will be worse than today…it will be much better for you to insult me." Takato kept looking at Junta.
Taking a piece of meat from his bag and offering it to Takato he said, "Are you feeling alright? You used up half of your energy protecting us…rest first I shall keep watch." Takato felt his muscles numb and sore, when he closed his eyes he fell into a deep sleep.
Early in the morning Takato quickly dashed out of the cave to search for Junta who was missing. Takato followed the trail of corpses until he found Junta resting on a rock at the entrance, "Good morning, we should keep moving." Junta pulled his sword out of the skull of the corpse on his feet.
"Thank you for keeping watch, I owe you one. We are almost out…we should get moving before it gets dark." Takato took his sword, he was out of arrows. They arrived at a place where the fog was thick, suddenly a hand pulled Leo, "Something got my leg! Its claws are…", his screams faded as he was drag further and further into the fog.
Takato held Junta's hand, he said, "It is here…stay closer to…" "Get down!" Junta pushed Takato on the ground, his back was grazed by the sharp claws on the dragon. Junta said, "This isn't fog, they are fumes of a water dragon…this is Princess Eva."
Takato whispered, "We have to figure a way out of here…" "The only way to get past her is to kill her…you have to work with me on this one Commander." Junta could feel Takato's breath on his face. His heart escalated each second as they bodies were closely attached together.
Takato saw a glimpse of light, it was a way out, "Junta, if we run for it we can escape through that opening…I am ashamed as a commander to say this but my body has been strained enough." Junta noticed the wounds he sustained all the time he protected him from the monsters, his recklessness injured his superior.
Junta standing on his feet said, "You have to escape from here, the least I can do for a queen who raised me is give her daughter a proper funeral. Thank you for having my back till now." Junta vanished into the thick fog, Takato could hear the sword clicking and the dragon roaring.
Takato clenched his sword standing on the exit, he said, "What is wrong with me?" when he turned around there was total silence, he shouted, "Junta, say something!" The dragon was holding an injured Junta on his stomach with its sharp claws piercing his skin, he was slowly losing consciousness.
In the midst of his pain from his ribs being broken by the dragon, he saw a man dressed in black. With one swing from his sword he managed to tear the dragon in half, the man gently placed him on the ground. Junta fell unconscious before he could get a glimpse of the man who saved his life.
When the fog dispersed Takato ran over to Junta who was lying on the floor with a pool of blood underneath him. Takato with the last ounce of energy left in him managed to drag himself and Junta out of the mountains to ring the bell of victory.
Junta for two weeks was in a comma, miraculously his wounds healed much faster than an average human. Henry disguised himself as a doctor to look after his son, he made sure no one removed his mask.
Takato barely left his room, he sat on a corner monitoring his health even though he was a patient himself. Zetia was curious to see the man who finally killed one of her dragon.
Drinking her strong wine, with cold eyes she looked at King Qin, "Is he awake yet?" King Qin bowed his head and replied, "My Lord, the boy is still unconscious..." "All his efforts will be for nothing if he ends up dead, make sure it never happens. Xia…prepare my bath." Zetia walked into the bath with his maidens.
Takato looked closely at the doctor as he gave Junta medication, he could drink his tonic unconscious. He closed his book and said, "Leave us, tonight I shall administer his medication."
Takato cleared his throat and said, "Pardon me for doing this…" He slowly removed his mask, underneath he saw the most handsome person with flawless pale white skin. Takato slowly embraced his skin, it was smooth he swallowed a large gallop of saliva and said, "Why do you bury such a treasure behind this mask?"
When he fed Junta the medicine it just poured down his face, Takato rubbing his lips mumbled, "You can't get better if you cant take in this medicine." Takato drank a mouthful of the bitter tonic, he passionately kissed Junta as he transferred the medicine.
Henry was standing at the doorway, he sighed and said, "Lord Hwan is going to kill me."
Takato entered inside the bathroom, he masturbate whilst thinking of the warm soft lips of Junta. Looking at the semen on his hand he said, "I am in deep trouble…"
Junta managed to regain his consciousness, with no further delay Zetia summoned him to the royal court. Takato helped him to dress in his new uniform, his face was flushed red as he recalled the kiss and his handsome face.
Standing before the royals Junta bowed is head, he heard a soft voice calling, "My baby the seed of our love, I have finally found you." When he raised his head the entire royal court was empty, he looked around and said, "Will you continue to play games with me? Who are you?"
Junta's feet froze on the ground when he saw the man dressed in black robes drawing closer and closer to him. His eyes were gold with a soft glow of love, even if darkness hovered around him Junta felt safe and warm in this man's presence. As the man drew closer, the tune he was humming became louder and louder, "They shall pay for their sins!"
Takato gently shook his shoulder and he snapped back into reality, Zetia pointed his sword at him, "A man of your virtue and strength deserve a stand on my right hand. I invest the power in you of the first Commander-in-chief, the holder of the military seal!" Henry in shadows knew this was not a good idea, Junta immediately spotted his father.
After the meeting was dismissed Junta rushed to meet Queen Lea, "Greetings my Queen." Lea held his mask and said, "Thank you for setting my daughter free from the pain she was suffering…my apologies the tasks incurred you harm." Junta placed the necklace he took from Eva in her mother's hand.
Junta grabbed Henry and dragged him into a dark corner, "Father, answer me honestly…ever since I came here, I have been having weird realistic visions… and dreams about a man dressed in black? Who is that man?" Henry patted his head and replied, "When the time comes, all shall be reviewed. The lesser you know the better it is…take all that as bad dreams."
Junta saw Zetia standing at his window gazing at the stars, "Before I could make her my puppet Eva was a strong competitor, even as a corpse over the years all champions chose to run than face her. They all chose the victory of life than the honour of saving a maiden in anguish pain. So, tell me Junta how did you manage to kill my precious powerful dragon? Who are you?"
Junta's feet froze on the ground as Zetia's dark sword was inches away from slitting his throat.