Yacha is the winner of this spar.
Before Ursang could get it together,The council summoned him, leader of the last mission, to discuss a disturbing revelation about the jinns' bodies. The Akkadians had a sinister artifact capable of extracting information from the brains of the dead, explaining their relentless recovery of corpses after each battle. As Ursang absorbed the grim news, a chilling realization gripped him. Sigurd had known. He had willingly consumed the Black Death poison, a lethal substance that obliterated the brain, leaving no trace of memories. But the artifact's true power wasn't just extraction; it could control the living, forcing them to divulge their deepest secrets. Sigurd's sacrifice hadn't been in vain. Before his death, he had transmitted vital intel to Yacha through a secret method, ensuring that even the council would remain unaware of what Sigurd knew.
At the bustling headquarters, Ursang's thoughts were interrupted by a messenger, summoning him for another briefing. Yacha, Eline, and Speira were notably absent, leaving Ursang to meet the cold gaze of a tall soldier as they made their way to the hearing. A sharp-eyed woman began, "It's about Sigurd's body."
Ursang's brow furrowed. "What's wrong with it?"
she continued, her tone urgent. "The body was poisoned with Black Death. We're still investigating."
Ursang's frustration simmered as she pressed for more details, but Hadleigh's commanding voice cut through the tension from the shadows. "They followed orders. They weren't meant to know every detail of his life."
The woman's sharp gaze softened slightly but persisted. "We still need to know how he got that poison."
Ursang's patience was wearing thin. "We improvised to complete the mission," he said, his voice firm.
As she sighed and turned to the subject of spies, Ursang felt the weight of hidden knowledge pressing down on him.
Despite their efforts to extract information from the jinns, the identity of the infiltrators remained elusive. As the woman walked away, Ursang muttered to himself, "Guess we'll just have to keep quiet."
He couldn't risk revealing the full truth about what had really happened at soara brae, not yet.
In the dim light of the headquarters, Shino's voice cut through the room, steady and commanding. She called for Yacha, who stepped forward, eyes glinting with curiosity. "King Sargon is leading an attack on Ur," Shino began to explain, "and we've been tasked with a critical mission. The city is rebelling, and if their leader isn't stopped, Akkadia is in slight danger."
Yacha, fists clenched in resolve, leaned forward. "What do you need me to do?"
Shino's gaze was sharp. "We're not just soldiers; we're the unexpected variable."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "Their leader is a skilled orator and fighter, but the king will be with us."
Yacha's determination flared. "I won't let you down."
Shino nodded, the mission set. "Then let's end this rebellion."
YACHA POV.
Shino was notorious for her short temper, yet her demeanor was disarmingly youthful, betraying none of the fury that lay beneath. She approached me with a swift grace, lifting me by my armor as if I weighed nothing. The way she leaped to the top of the headquarters felt like flight, her ever-present smile radiating confidence.
"You broke the curse, Yacha. You know what I'm talking about," she declared.
"Commander Shino... you mean the memory curse?" I replied, my pulse quickening.
"Ha! So you're aware. But let me clarify: the curse is more of a seal. The longer it stays, the more it merges with your brain."
"I know that much," I countered.
"And that means you understand how you acquired your thunder attribute?"
"Yes, Commander."
"We'll discuss this later. For now, follow me to the palace. I've received permission to take you with me."
"Why? For what purpose?" I questioned, but she only waved her hand dismissively and leaped away, beckoning me to follow.
As we entered the palace, an unsettling silence fell around us. Even the guards avoided Shino, as if she bore a curse of her own. We approached the king's throne, where King Sargon awaited, flanked by three generals, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"The city of Ur is rising against the kingdom," the king announced, his voice tinged with frustration. "I called upon the Slayer of Nergal to choose worthy soldiers, yet she brings only one."
So that's why I'm here, the mission. The generals remained silent; none dared challenge Sargon the Great.
"My liege, this boy is the only one in the kingdom who can wield the thunder attribute," Shino replied, casting a glance my way.
The king scrutinized me for a heartbeat, then commanded, "General Enshakar, you and your soldiers will form the front line, supporting shino and this boy." He paused, his gaze piercing. "Speak your name, soldier."
"Yacha, my liege," I stated, my voice steady.
"You will support Shino and Yacha as they lead the first wave of attack." His orders flowed seamlessly. "General Lugalnir, gather your tanks; you'll shield the second wave. General Zababa, assemble your archers for ranged support."
The generals hurried away, leaving Shino and me alone with the king, who declared he would join us in the first wave, urging us to demonstrate our full potential.
Once outside the palace, my curiosity ignited. "By the way, what weapon do you use?" I asked Shino.
"Just my body," she replied with a smirk, leaving me momentarily stunned. She fought without a weapon? She promised I'd see for myself later that night.
As I walked alongside this unexpectedly intriguing commander, I collided with Ursang.
"We need to talk, Yacha," he insisted, urgency in his tone.
"For what? Can't you see I'm busy?" I shot back, irritation creeping in.
His expression darkened. "I've been summoned regarding the information we obtained from the jinns and Sigurd's bodies. It's crucial."
I turned, feeling emotionally detached. "Hand over the orihalcon sword," I demanded.
Shino's eyes sharpened at the mention of the weapon, her surprise evident. "How did a kid like you get hold of such a relic?" she questioned.
Ursang hesitated, but I stated plainly, "It was a gift from Sigurd." His refusal to comply fueled my resolve.
Suddenly, Shino unleashed her aura, flooding the hallway with a palpable tension. The air grew thick, chilling and scorching at once. Fear gripped me as I glanced at Ursang, paralyzed. Each of Shino's steps echoed like a drumbeat as she advanced.
"Hand it over," she commanded, her voice transformed into something dark and commanding.
Ursang's instincts kicked in; he relinquished the sword without protest. As the atmosphere returned to normal, Shino thanked him with a mocking smile, tossing the sword to me.
A strange mix of emotions swirled within me, part exhilaration, part uncertainty. "Yacha, never reveal that sword. And if you have any other weapons made of orihalcon, hide them," Shino warned, her tone grave.
"Tell me something first: you have two cores," I replied, praying she wouldn't probe deeper into the sword's origin.
She chuckled, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I knew you were an interesting one to keep an eye on. I will tell you everything after this, but for now, focus on the mission."
With that, the weight of unknowns settled upon my shoulders. There is more to this than I understand. So many things I have no clue about, and I knew the path ahead would test us all in ways we had yet to imagine.
AUTHOR POV
The city of Ur slumbered beneath a thick blanket of clouds, the stillness of the night broken only by the distant hum of insects and the soft rustle of the wind. Darkness stretched across the horizon, and not a soul within the city's fortified walls knew the storm that was about to befall them.
From the hills above, Yacha and Shino stood poised at the front of Akkadia's elite forces, their silhouettes cast long by the moonlight, cloaked in an eerie silence. Far behind them, the colossal figure of King Sargon loomed, his golden armor faintly glowing, while the soldiers of Akkadia stood ready for battle.
Shino, her dead eyes narrowing with anticipation, looked to Yacha. "We're the tip of the spear," she muttered. Yacha gripped his twin axes, feeling the weight of the battle ahead. His heart thundered in his chest, syncing with the power of his own magic.
A sudden gust of wind signaled the command to move. With a surge of thunderous energy, Yacha and Shino hurtled toward the city's gates, the first wave in an unstoppable assault. As they descended upon the city's outer defenses, Shino unleashed a torrent of blue fire, roaring like a beast as it swallowed the watchtowers whole. The flames flickered ominously, licking at the night sky. In a synchronized motion, Yacha called upon the earth beneath him, metal needles bursting from the ground, shredding through the rebel soldiers like a tidal wave of steel.