There was no monster coming at them from the hill. Balmar ordered the Prime Soldiers to go to the rear while the caravan climbed up.
The soldiers immediately sprinted ahead. They crashed onto the beast that got close to the caravan. It was the riskiest move he had ever made. When he ordered the Prime Soldiers to ignore the rear and flank, the caravan was vulnerable and could get destroyed.
Thankfully, they quickly pushed through the monsters and arrived at the hill. Now, they had to let the caravan climb high enough to avoid being crushed by the wave.
It was still a distance away. A few kilometers at most, but its speed would allow it to reach them in a few minutes.
"The caravan is too damn slow!" Goras said. "We need to push the wagon!"
"What about the carriages?"
"Leave them!"
The Prime Captains nodded and brought their men to push the wagon. The magic bulls had an easy time pulling the wagons with their help and their speed increased. Balmar nodded. He admired Goras' ability to think quick.
But they didn't expect the wave to arrive so soon.
It towered over them. Enveloped by the shade, The Prime Soldiers craned their necks as the wave smashed into them.
"Retreat!"
The wave came closer and closer from above and—
Bang!
The impact thundered the ground and washed the Prime Soldiers away. He didn't know how many were lost, but he hoped not too much.
The other Prime Soldiers sprinted atop the hill; the wave couldn't reach them. Some lucky ones survived the wave and came out of the water. Their armor cracked.
Balmar observed the surroundings. After he made sure that everyone was safe, he went atop the hill where the circular platform was. The platform was from the circular rock they saw from a distance. It was large enough for the caravan to stay.
He looked down towards the water. It went all around the hill, searching for ways to reach them.
It couldn't climb.
A few moments later, the blob of water sank to the ground and disappeared.
Balmar let out a breath of relief. He was tired. His men were tired. They're thirsty and hungry. Rest was very much needed.
He went to the caravan. His men leaned on the wheels of the wagons as they sat down. Chest went up and down. Some were wet. They lay on the rock. The Squires were tired too. Fell off their horse and went to sleep.
He went to the edge of the platform. Looking out over the moor. There was nothing in sight. Small bushes, boulders, and stunted trees dotted the ground. His nose was already numb from the acidic earth.
What were the cultivators looking for? What was his father looking for?
And did it truly exist or simply a delusion? His memories of his father became fuzzier as he got older. One time, he even forgot his name. What was it again? He couldn't remember. Hunting was the only thing he taught. And only memories of it were clear to him.
Goras strode to him. Standing beside him, he looked around. "So where is this thing that you are looking for."
"I don't know."
Goras nodded. "We've lost many men. And they don't even know why. Sooner or later they would ask me. After that, they would ask you."
He turned his eyes towards Balmar. His hazel eyes shone no more. It was filled with disappointment. Something told him that Goras would no longer stay on his side. How many years had it been? Their first meeting in the forest. Their first hunt. Making new friends, and going to different places.
Was it worth it to lose him? The very friend that he had to spend decades of his life with.
"I will have my answer when that time comes," Balmar said.
Goras stared at him, trying to see if this was the man he had always known. Or was it simply a facade. He walked away. His steps were lazy.
Balmar breathed out. The wind was still cold, and the moor was silent as always. With nothing to see, he turned and strode to the caravan.
BARMWICH
Hax disassembled the BC-79. His hands were quick and he knew where every part was. He was the one who made them so of course. After he put all the parts on the table, he assembled them again. Placing all the parts such as the spring, triggers, extractor pin, bolt, firing pin.
Adam leaned forward, staring intently at his hand. Ratha and Gorre sat on the plastic chairs, enjoying their stir-fried cloud chicken.
Hax finished assembling the weapon. "And I'm done."
"Wow!" Adam said. His thin fingers crept towards the gun. "This is awesome. I can't believe how much power could come out of this weapon. Are those statues with holes really caused by this thing?"
"What do you think?"
"I want to make something like this too."
"Learn the basics first," Hax said. "Have you studied the materials I gave you?"
Adam nodded. His awkward face beamed with excitement. "I studied them all, but nothing about it taught me how to make a gun."
"Yes, but you do understand how motion, force, and energy works."
"I don't know how that will help me in making guns. I just want to make big guns."
"Start small. Analyze the pistol that I made. With the knowledge that I gave you, I'm sure you will understand how it worked."
"I did. I already made a few pistols but I still don't know how to make big guns."
Hax was surprised. He didn't expect this man to learn that fast. Only a few days passed by since Adam was here, yet he made much more progress than Ratha and Gorre.
He looked at both of them eating on the table.
Gorre turned his black eyes towards him. His nose was red as always. "Why are you looking at me like I'm a useless, hopeless man that the only thing I'm good at is being a burden?"
"I'm not useless!" Ratha said, devouring a piece of chicken.
"Me too." Gorre ran a hand through his messy hair. He took a bullet out of his pocket. "This is my new creation."
"That looks exactly like mine," Hax said.
"Yes, but the materials are different. You see, your bullets are completely made out of copper, while this one is made out of starbark, flamedust, oracle silver, blaucium and edgeskin. I call it the Ravager.
Hax nodded. "I can see the combination could make a stronger bullet. The cost will be great, but the army can take it."
"I want to show something too," Ratha said. She went under the table and grabbed a piece of cloth that covered something. "Hehe. I want to surprise you guys, so I'm covering it."
She placed it on the table and pulled the cloth, revealing a round ball with a cotton rope coming out of the small hole on top.
"What is that?"
"It's an explosive ball!"