In a church, in the middle of a forest…
The old wizard was sweating profusely while sitting cross-legged in front of the glowing white circle. The moonlight was shining straight on top of the white circle. The circle was shining brightly as if the moon was giving its' light to the white circle. The wizard was chanting some intelligible words ever since the white circle starts glowing.
The old wizard chants this word over and over. The chant seems to have an effect because the circle was getting brighter by the minute. It seems the chanting also has an effect on the wizard because the wizard's complexion was getting paler and paler.
.............................................….
Outside the church…
*GRAAHH!*
"HAAHHH!" (Sir Knight)
The knight that was previously talking with the old wizard in the church before was plunging his sword deep into the head of a humanoid creature. The creature's body is black in color, red light for the eyes, and protruding spike on its back. The black humanoid creature also seems to have sharp white razor teeth that were stained with black saliva.
After the knight plunges his sword into the creature's head, the creature stops moving and freezes in place. The creature's body starts to turn white as stone starting from the head and spreading towards the whole body. After that, the creature's body starts to crumble into dust.
"Hugh…Hugh…Hugh" (Sir Knight)
The knight stares toward the white dust tiringly. The knight raises his sword and moves it downward. He stopped his movement abruptly and the dust from the humanoid creature that was stuck on his sword started to fall off.
Sir Knight turns his body toward the forest around the church. He looks towards the forest and there he saw red lights blinking all around the forest. A knight started to walk toward Sir Knight and stands behind him.
"….." (Sir Knight)
"…Commander Maxim" (???)
Sir Knight turns his head towards the voice and realises the knight that was standing behind him. He was standing straight with his left hand at his side and his right hand was in a fist. The knight moves his right fist toward his left chest. The top of the fists make contact with the chest. This was a common salute of the knight towards their superiors and each other.
The knight seems to be in his late 40s and wearing almost the same attire as the Sir Knight except for a few differences. His inner body cloth was dark blue. There is a dark blue escutcheon-shaped shield worn on his left hand. On the shield were symbols of a snake's face colored in light blue and nothing else. Sir Knight or known as Commander Maxim among his subordinate starts to twirl his sword in a circle and put the sword back in its' sheathe at his left waist in one swift move. Maxim turns his body towards the knight and replies to the salute with the same gesture calmly.
"What's the situation vice commander Lias?" (Maxim)
"The Pacak attacked when Sir Wizard started the ritual an hour ago and in those one hour we've been attacked by the Pacak relentlessly from time to time, Commander. The guys are unable to rest and regain their energy fully. Due to this, some of our men are unable to keep up with the wave, Commander. The Pacak started to stop attacking for now and we have a few minutes of respite and get ready for the next wave." (Lias)
"They are clever. Due to us defending the ritual in the church, the Pacak are trying to wear us down and destroy us slowly" (Maxim)
Maxim started to worry about their situation.
" How about our men? What are their conditions?" (Maxim)
"We have lost 10 people, Commander. 16 people are still able to fight, 4 people are lightly injured while another 3 are in critical conditions commander" (Lias)
"Dammit!" (Maxim)
Sir Knight punches his right hand into his left palm in frustration.
"How about the potion? Can't we give it to the badly injured one?" (Maxim)
"The potions have already been used up, commander. During our travel from the kingdom to this church, we have already used a lot of the potions. The previous hour, we've already used most of the supplied potions " (Lias)
"Sigh….We are in a bind right now." (Lias)
Maxim looks towards the church worriedly. He can see the moonlight shining brightly into the church.
"Sir Wizard still needs more time to complete the ritual. We had to defend this church so that the ritual will succeed no matter what." (Maxim)
"What is the Old Wizard doing for the ritual sir? Why is it important? Most confusingly, why are the Pacak eagerly trying to stop this ritual?" (Lias)
"...." (Lias)
Maxim was completely silent towards Lias's questions.
"…Is it because Sir Wizard is trying to ask for a weapon to defeat the demons from the almighty Biru" (Lias)
"…It's confidential… But, let's just say that you're close." (Maxim)
Lias's eyes started to open wide in surprise.
"Then that explains the Pacak's behavior and the more reason for us to make sure the Pacak don't disturb the ritual"
Maxim nodded solemnly.
"Our world's futures are riding on tonight's ritual, Vice Commander. Today will mark the day of humanity's step towards destroying the Pacak."
The vice commander looks toward Sir Knight and clenches his fist tightly.
"I understand Commander and your people already prepared themselves to make sure the mission tonight is a success, even if we had to die trying"
Maxim can see the determinations in Lias's eyes. Maxim smiles calmly.
"…Thank you vice commander, but I am not going to let all my men die tonight... Send the badly injured back home with the teleportation scroll"
When Lias heard the orders, he starts to look toward the ground in frustration.
"….." (Lias)
Maxim was confused by his vice commander's silence.
"Don't you hear what I say Lias" (Maxim)
The vice commander seems reluctant to speak.
"I've said to those three that I will ask the commander's permission to send the home, but…The three injured men said to me personally that they want to stay here and complete the mission, commander." (Lias)
Sir Knight seems to contemplate and think deeply.
"Sigh…I understand… bring me to them" (Maxim)
Lias nodded and bring Maxim towards the church. When they reach the church, near the walls they saw three badly injured knights lying down groaning. The three knights seem to be in the age of middle to late 20s.
"These are the three out of five of the recruits that were qualified to join our squad due to their excellent records in their academy and superb skills. They are the ones who were injured badly." (Lias)
"What about the other two recruits?" (Maxim)
"Over there, sir" (Lias)
Lias pointed a few distances away towards the corner of the church. 10 bodies were covered with a white cloth on top of their body. Maxim looks at those bodies solemnly and nodded.
"…Understood, may Biru guide their souls" (Maxim)
"May Biru guide their souls" (Lias)
Next, Lias introduces the badly injured knights to the commander. The knight on the left has stab wounds in his stomach and was unconscious. His name was Masdo.
The knight in the middle was missing his left leg and his right hand was put in a sling. His name was Amore.
Lastly, the knight on the right which had an injury on the head and lost his left hand was named Milami. The two conscious knights started to try to stand up and salute Maxim.
"Stop, you don' have to move. Sit back down and be at ease"
The two knights sit in upright and look up towards Maxim. Maxim looks down towards the three knights happily.
"I admire the three of you. For your courage, your determinations and your selflessness to complete this mission"
The two knights started to exchange glances with each other. The knight with broken hand and a missing leg started to reply to Sir Knight's compliment.
"No, Commander. We don't deserve these kind words from you. The fallen ones deserved it more than us. They have proved themselves while we are the opposite." (Amore)
The knight with an injured head started to add more.
" The mission is not finish yet Commander and we are already lying back here. We are ashamed with our fallen brothers. We want to complete this mission no matter what the outcome is, Commander" (Milami)
"…I understand " (Maxim)
Maxim closes his eyes and nodded calmly. The two knights started to smile towards Maxim.
"But… I am not going to allow it" (Maxim)
The two knights were shock with Maxim's rejection.
"What?" (Amore)
"Commander, why?" (Milami)
"….You guys have done enough. I need you to go back and recover yourself with the potions back at home."
"But commander-" (Milami)
"No but! I am the commander and that is my order!" (Maxim)
"Then, we'll defy your order! Commander!" (Amore)
Maxim looks towards the two knights sternly.
"Did you know what will happen if you defy your superior's order" (Maxim)
"Yes sir, our titles as knight will be revoked and we will be put on trial in military court " (Milami)
" The punishment will put in jail for a few years, depend on the cases or execution. (Amore)
"Then… you are ready to face this when we get back to the kingdom?"
Amore exchange glances with Milami. They both look towards Maxim confidently and nodded at the same time. Maxim looks towards the two knights in defeat.
"Sigh… I am sorry, but don't take this the wrong way… You guys...are a liability right now" (Maxim)
"….."(Amore)
"...." (Lias)
"You guys can stand up properly and how can I trust you to fight. You'll be a nuisance for your fellow knights. They can't trust you to watch their backs when you even can't watch your own. You'll drag your brothers down because they have to look after you and also defend the church. This will jeopardize the mission. " (Maxim)
The two knight's expression was scrunched up in frustration.
"DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!" (Amore)
Amore start to punch the ground in protest with his left hand. Milami take a deep breath and put his right hand on Amore's left shoulder. Amore stops his anger tantrum and looks toward Milami.
"Commander is right. Let's obey the commander's order" (Milami)
Amore grit his teeth.
"Sigh…alright" (Amore)
Amore and Milami turned to look towards Maxim.
"We'll return home now commander and we'll await your arrival home with the others with victory" (Milami)
Amore stared angrily towards the commander.
"...You better not die, Commander! And that goes for all of you!" (Amore)
Amore pointed to the other knights that were looking at the scene. Maxim just smiles towards Amore. Lias gives a teleportation scrolls towards Milami. Milami receives the scroll with his right hand. Amore picks up Masdo's hands and hold it with his left hand. Milami bit the upper part of the scroll and put his right hand on Amore's shoulder. Amore then bit the lower half of the scroll.
"Guli Kingdom" (Milami)
Amore and Milami move towards the opposite directions and tear the scroll in half. After the scrolls completely tear apart, the three knights suddenly vanish in thin air.
"….." (Maxim)
Maxim look towards the spot where the three knights vanished.
"…Commander" (Lias)
"!?? Sorry…" (Maxim)
"You did the right thing commander" (Lias)
"…Thank you, Lias"
The surroundings suddenly started to get bright. Maxim look towards the church and notices a pillar of light forming in the middle of the church.
*DUM!* *DUM!* *DUM!*
"GROAHHH!!!"
Hordes of Pacak started to rush out of the forest, towards the church.
"PROTECT THE CHURCH!!"
...............................................
In a world of white….
Akuto starts to sink deeper and deeper into a deep and endless white void. His body was falling slowly as if there was no gravity. While his body was falling, Akuto was already in a state of deep slumber. After Akuto completely sinks into the floor, he was immediately put in a state of unconscious.
After a few minutes of falling down, Akuto's body suddenly stop. Akuto is floating in this white space, without any ground, without any sky and without any walls around him. Suddenly a blue light started to manifest beside Akuto. The blue light started to shine brightly and out of that blue light a woman started to appear and float down beside Akuto.