Out of one hundred and three warriors who went out that day, only forty came back home. Including Princess Chu Hua, Dishi, and Daiyu.
Many came back injured, while a few of the mermaids came back home safe and sound without sustaining any injury.
" Sit here for the meantime," Princess Chu Hua said to Dishi who was seriously bleeding on his leg.
Immediately they came back home, Queen Andarta was summoned. On sighting the injured victims, she took pity on them because they were seriously passing through pain. Only they could explain how hurtful it is.
" What happened? And where are the remaining warriors?" queen Andarta inquired in anxiety.
" We got attacked by a gigantic plant which claimed the life of many. Thereafter, we also got attacked by an unknown ocean monster, which brought this misfortune." Daiyu explained as she bowed before Queen Andarta.
" An unknown ocean monster? How come? Is there any type of monster living in this ocean that we aren't aware of?" Queen Andarta was lost.
" Well, this is the first time any of us had seen such a thing."
As Queen Andarta was trying to get further information about what happened, the noisy groaning of the injured victims left her restless.
Touching every one with the tip of her staff, she recites an incantation until all of them get healed instantly. This isn't the first time healing such victims, but what she couldn't do is raise the dead to life. It wasn't in her capacity.
After being healed, Dishi stood up and said to Queen Andarta," we are just starting and a quarter of our army has been wiped out. Don't you think we should send the princess back to her people to inform them about this? By doing so, the young man who was assigned to handle this sword might come and take his rightful place."
He suggested. And on hearing it, princess Chu Hua was happy deep down because she has missed her people a lot. She wished she could be free from this place. It was like a cage to her. Everyone must have been worried and wondering about her whereabouts, especially her father.
" No! She isn't going anywhere…" Queen Andarta boldly announced, and Princess Chu Hua's smile disappeared.
What Princess Chu Hua has forgotten about is that mermaids can read minds. Although Dishi knew that Princess Chu Hua wanted to escape, he also believes that the young man who was assigned the sword won't sit back and fold his arms after hearing what had happened and what was about to happen.
' I don't think he would be afraid to face anything if he were truly chosen to carry the assignment of fighting Cthulhu.'
That's Dishi's belief.
" But please remember that this has to do with the entire universe and not only our kingdom. Do you think he won't arise and fight for his people after hearing what is coming ahead of him?" Dishi asked Queen Andarta once more.
" Dishi, I wonder why you're insisting on her living in this kingdom. Don't you see that she won't return after leaving this kingdom? Why are you having compassion for her? The love she has for that young man is the reason she's here.
So, do you think she would want to come back to face these scary creatures when she had finally seen her loved ones? No. Alright, to cure your curiosity, the young man is definitely coming to her rescue. " Queen Andarta retorted, and Dishi was short of words.
" How do you know about that?" Princess Chu Hua curiously asked with a slight smile.
" I know it. You don't have to ask me, rather than wait for the day he would arrive." Queen Andarta snapped and added," To everyone hearing the sound of my voice, you aren't stopping going out there for the protection of this great kingdom. You must fight and conquer whatever stands in your way." she ordered.
" What?"! Princess Chu Hua froze.
~~~
Looking up to the sky, the setting sun had completely been replaced with the glow of the moon as the Azanda's army wandered in the forest.
" Commander, what should we do? Should we keep on moving? Or camp here tonight?" commander Yufei who was on a horse inquired from commander Lucifer.
" Camping here tonight is the best option for the benefit of those that are exhausted." commander Lucifer responded as he looked around to see the movement of his army.
" As you wish," commander Yufei spoke as he stopped and ordered the troop to stop and have some rest until the next morning before they move on.
They were in the middle of the thick forest, which was strange to so many of the people. The reason was that they have never been to such a place before.
Prince Junfeng who was taken along while in chains came over to commander Lucifer under the guard of some warriors and asked.
" I have been on this chain since day one. Now we're out for a battle, and you never both to free my hands. How do you expect me to fight when we're attacked?"
" It's not yet time for you to be freed from that chain. You must wait until I decide to ask my men to do that." commander Lucifer responded.
" But why?"
" Take him out of my sight before I pour my anger on you." commander Lucifer commanded the guards who were looking after Prince Junfeng.
Without delaying a second, they took Prince Junfeng out of commander Lucifer's sight and chained him on a three.
Everyone settled down as some men went to fetch firewood to set up a fire to receive some warmth.
" Help…"
One of the men who went out to get the firewood called out for help as he got bitten by a snake. Everyone got up as they brought out their weapons, thinking something had come to attack them.
" Why are you all leaving me here alone? This is unlawful…" Prince Junfeng cried out as everyone rushed to see what happened to their fellow men.
Everyone was relieved after realizing that it was a snake. At least it wasn't something they should have struggled with before killing it. A sword can do just that without stress.
As everyone came closer, the snake which hid in a bushy place attempted to strike another person, but its life was taken by a sword. One of the men killed it.
However, as soon as the snake was killed, the man who was bitten earlier died instantly. It wasn't up to a minute when he got bitten before giving up the ghost.
" Tomorrow is too far, is the name of the snake," someone among the warriors said after noticing that their colleague was dead.
" How can a snake's name be that long?" someone asked.
" Well, I can't tell. But my grandma once told me that no one has ever survived its poison. Once it bites you, it only takes seconds and the poison inserted in you circulates fast, and you give up the ghost. For this reason, it was given that name." the man explained.
" And again the snake is long, that's why it has a longer name than any other snake," someone jokingly spoke, and they all engaged in a fist of laughter even when one of them was lying dead.
Death was part of them… They believed that everyone must die and crying for a warrior who went out to fight for his people is a waste of time.
The question is… WHO IS NEXT?