CHAPTER 1
"General!" Shrieked by one of the knights that had been pushed back by one of the ogres. He was thrown like a ragdoll and hit his body hard on the metal cell, which clanked with his armor. He fell on the floor with a loud thud.
Rizika slashed another ogre in front of her and retreated before it fell on where she stood. She snapped her head where the knight was sprawled. Another menacing, ugly creature was about to pound his head with the bat.
"System, requip!" She demanded, and a rope appeared in her hand, her sword gone. She twirled the rope over her head and projected it to the bat that was raised to hit the unconscious knight. She pulled the ogre's weapon with great strength. The troll lost his grip on it, and then she leapt to kick his face. Her kick made him groan, and he was pushed on the wall.
She glanced around. She can see the remaining standing knights can take over the few ogres and goblins left. Rizika crouched at the unconscious knight before her. "System, asses."
The male robotic voice of her system drawled in her head.
[System: Checking..]
The system was doing a full body checkup of the injuries. She can see on her head the severe damages in red spots.
[System: Two broken ribs, dislocated left shoulder, sprained wrist.]
He'll survive.
"General." One of the knights was already at her side. "Everything was clear."
She stood up, and the weapon in her hand vanished. Her default sword replaced the rope in her hand. She sheathed the sword casually to its scabbard at her left waist.
[System: Mission Accomplished. All the rewards were in the inventory, and the king received the news immediately.]
Rizika scanned her eyes to the surroundings before her. They were inside a cave that had a hidden dungeon. The king tasked them with killing the ogres and goblins that were bothering the nearby town outside the city. She volunteered to lead the team. Though she still had a few days off left, that was granted for her. It was the reward for winning a war against the monsters from the East. She was bored and could have taken a vacation, but it was never her thing to stay relaxed and slack around.
[System: Three knights died. The rest were wounded with nonfatal injuries.]
Fuck. It doesn't bode well on her that someone dies in her team, but it was unavoidable. Even in missions like this. She can't keep watch on everyone's back all the time.
"System, give everyone healing potions." She uttered under her breath.
[System: Inventory check.]
[System: Sent to the knights nearby.]
Healing potions were quite expensive and rare, but she had plenty enough in her storage. It was from the past rewards that had been saved. She rarely used them unless she got hurt, and that was on the brink of death. Which was mostly impossible in her fighting skills and prowess on the battlefield. She won't be the youngest and the first female general in the kingdom if she can't handle herself.
The knights murmured their 'thank yous' for the healing they received.
"Burn the corpses and let's head back to the city." She announced, and everyone started to move on their feet.
She went outside. The cave that they were in was at the top of the hill. When she got out, the sun was about to set. Its golden hue mixed with orange painted the sky.
[System: Body stamina: 95%]
"System, requip."
Her bloodstained clothes and armor changed into a standard military uniform. Only the sword in her waist remained.
She can see the vast expanse of the realm from where she was standing. The forest below the cliff, a nearby town after the trees, and the castle far ahead.
The realm of Albria consisted of only three kingdoms. All the Albrian people had their own system and functions differently. It varies upon the standing of an individual. Everyone is a warrior in their own. They had to, for the Albria Realm was a world full of monsters. Even children were taught to learn skills early so they could survive and grow up.
Her specialty was knowing how to use different weapons, and that was why she had a wide variety of them.
The smell of burnt flesh reached her nostrils. It was an unpleasant odor that she was used to. Most of the time they burn the bodies her team killed and sometimes bury them.
"General, we're ready to head back." One of the knights stood a few feet behind her.
"Good. Let's get home. Carry our dead knights and bring them back to their families." She stated, and the knight bowed his head before he went back to the men waiting.
"System. Release Blair."
[System: Preparing Blair for release.]
[System: Blair is ready.]
[System: Releasing Blair.]
Blair, the white stallion that Rizika owned as a pet and trusted companion during battles appeared right in front of her. The horse had a shiny white skin that almost glowed under the light. Blair was a strong, fast, and powerful horse. She caressed its head, and the horse purred. Then she hopped on its back and turned around to her men. They were all ready with their horses and a carriage for the dead bodies.
"Let's go, everyone. It's getting dark soon." She announced and led the way down the mountain.
Evening came and the king called for Rizika's presence in the palace. The guards standing at the entrance gate bowed their heads at her for greetings.
Blair sprinted to the entrance of the castle swiftly and she hopped off when she halted in front of the giant door that headed to the entrance hall of the castle. Another set of guards greeted her.
They opened the door and let her in. The inside of the castle was always glamourous and grand. Gold coated pillars and tapestries that matches the elegance of the place.
There was a gathering currently happening as the kingdom's important people were sitting at the sides. The king and queen were situated high above the grand staircase on their throne.
[System: Greet the king. Bow down on one knee.]
Her system reminded her.
She stopped before them and fall on one knee. "Greetings, your majesty."
"Congratulations, General Rizika. As always. Job well done. You never disappoint me." The king responded. "You may get on your feet."
She stood up instantly.
"The rewards had been delivered to your system." King Halar stated and automatically her system appeared.
[System: Reward received: 5,000,000 Gold]
[System: Please confirm to kept in chest.]
"System, confirm." She announced.
[System: Reward has been confirmed and saved in the chest.]
"I'll skip to the chase why I called you here. There's a mission that I would like for you to accomplish. This is a life changing mission or as big as that."