The soldier stood alone at the the gate of the small annexe, occassionally yawning but otherwise looking bored. He didn't look particularly threatening, and even his sword was sheathed. It was clear he didn't expect any threats.
Because no one is crazy enough to break into Fermi Ja's palace
Zack sighed. He could have left this part to Pende, but he wanted to do it. Partly because he wanted experience on using his powers, but also because he didn't want more unnecessary blood to be shed.
Steeling himself, Zack stepped out of the bushes he was hiding in and started walking confidently towards the soldier. Initially it took some time for him to register what was happening, but the soldiers was immediately alert as he saw Zack approach.
"Halt and identify yourself." He barked out, one hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Ah, I am sorry. I seem to be lost." Zack said, smiling in a confused way. His hope was that the soldiers would drop his guard seeing that it was just some middle aged man who was approaching.
"Identify yourself." The soldier repeated obstinately, his hand tightening around the hilt.
Well that was a bust
"I am just a visiting merchant sir."
"Are you aware you are on the grounds of the Mayor?"
"No sir, I am lost. I am looking for the town market." Saying so, Zack took out a paper map from his pocket and waved it at the soldier, indicating he needed some help identifying his location.
The soldier was evidently still suspicious, but he did step forward. As he approached Zack, he unsheathed his sword, pointing it straight at him.
"Show me the map." He said, extending his hand while keeping the point of his sword directed at Zack.
Electricity does not travel through a lot of materials. To ensure that electricity moves through a material, it is necessary that the material be made of a good conductor. If a bad conductor, like sand for example, was used then the electricity won't travel at all through it.
Metal on the other hand was a great conductor of electricity.
As soon as the soldier brought the point of his sword close enough, Zack's arm shot out in a flash. He grabbed the sword and before the startled soldier could understand what was happening, he let loose a bolt of electricity through the sword. Lightning fast the electric current conducted through the sword and into the soldier through his armor.
Twitching and convulsing, the soldier fell down on the floor, unconscious.
"Not bad." Came Pende's voice as he stepped out of the bushes, looking impressed at Zack's handwork.
"If you maintained the current a little longer though, he would be dead." He continued.
"The point of me doing this than you was to prevent unnecessary casualties." Zack retorted, putting the map back in his pocket.
Pende laughed and then said, "I'm not sure you can avoid that once we go inside."
Zack wanted to avoid thinking about that as much as possible, so he tried to change the subject.
"Is Isadora ready?" He asked.
Pende nodded.
"She is just outside the main gate, waiting for our signal."
"Once we go in through the annexe, we will be directly in the courtyard of the main palace. How will you send her a signal then?"
"Don't worry." Pende said with his trademark wolfish smile. "I'll handle it."
Slowly Zack and Pende moved into the annexe. True to its name, the annexe was just a small room attached to the main palace. It seemed like a storage room for weapons to Zack, as there were multiple swords, shields and bows scattered across it. Pende took one of the swords and handed it to Zack.
"You may need it." He said.
Zack took the sword reluctantly and tied it with the buckle around his waist. The sword was quite heavy, and it took a bit of movement for him to get used to this giant weight hanging from his weight.
"First time huh?" Pende said, looked amusedly at him.
"We should start moving." Zack grumbled, moving towards the door.
Just as he had said, the annexe led into a wide, open courtyard. There were a lot more soldiers here, although none of them seemed alert. A few soldiers were playing cards some distance away from them, while some others were sparring half-heartedly in the open part of the courtyard. On one side, to their right was the main entrance to the outer region of the palace, and to the left was a corridor which Pende said led to the inner region. The main gate was guarded by two normal soldiers, but the corridor was guarded by a single soldier, in considerably more armor. He looked to be a general instead of a foot soldier.
"A General on guard duty?" Zack whispered.
"Tells you how crucial the inner region is doesn't it?" Pende answered grimly as he looked about. On a casual count there were about forty soldiers all together in the courtyard, and Zack was sure that there were many more that could be called up on reserve.
"Can Isadora really take care of all of them alone?" Zack wondered aloud.
"She won't be alone. I have called in Enea for support. And besides you forget. She is the vigilante Poison Bloom who has been terrorising these same soldiers. She is capable enough to dispatch these foot soldiers. No, the problem will be the General over there." Pende said nodding towards the one guarding the corridor.
"Me and you will have to handle him." He continued grimly.
Zack didn't relish the prospect of going up against the intimidating General but he didn't see any other alternative so he nodded.
"How will you give the signal to Isadora though?"
"I won't. She will." Pende looked skywards and raised his arm. Zack looked up to see Enea already on palace grounds in the sky. She was quite far enough for Zack to clearly make her out but he could see her form clearly.
And evidently so could she, for an instant after Pende's signal, she raced back over the wind out of the gates.
"Now we wait." Pende said, his eyes now fixed on the main gate.
They didn't have to wait long. Within five minutes there was a grunt from the main gate and the two soldiers guarding it fell over dead as a couple of snakes rose up from their bodies.
In through the door walked Poison Bloom, in her full green armor and black mask. Zack couldn't see her face, but he shivered at the thought of the maniacal smile that must be on her face as she almost joyfully walked forwards towards the soldiers.
"R-raise the alarm!!" Shouted one of the soldiers as he stood up and then shakily drew his sword. Before he could take a step forward though a gust of wind blew in his face and then with a horrifying crunch twisted his neck. With a look of surprise on his face, the soldiers fell down dead.
"Hey don't take my prey." Poison Bloom complained looking up.
"You snooze you loose." Enea said before laughing maniacally and again jumping down towards the other soldiers, who were already almost in a state of panic.
One of them however had reached the gong situated in the courtyard and within seconds the loud echoing soung of the gong boomed throughout the palace grounds.
"That is our cue." Pende said, immediately focused on the opposite side of the commotion towards the corridor and the General stationed there.
The General didn't seem to be in a panic yet. He calmly regarded the scene in front of him, and didn't make any move to go forward or help the soldiers who were still gathering up their weapons to defend themselves against this unexpected assault.
"His orders are clear. Defend the corridor, beyond everything else." Pende said grimly. Then motioning Zack to follow him, he burst out of the door of the annexe, heading straight for the corridor.
None of the other soldiers even gave them a second glance. They were too busy fighting off the dual assault from ground and air. The General however immediately locked into them. As they came closer to him, Zack saw that the General was closer to his age than he had thought, except much more well built and fit. His muscles bulged out beneath the armor and his face had a stern look about them. He had a long scar that stretched from his left ear up towards his right through his nose, which gave him the look of a bandit more than a General.
As they came closer, the General smiled, and pulled out his weapon. Zack noted that he didn't carry a sword, his weapon was a huge hammer that he carried behind his back.
Pende and Zack stopped short just in front of the General.
"So that's what is going on." The General said slowly, eyeing the two of them and sizing up the threat they posed.
Pende didn't answer. Immediately strengthening his feet, he leaped up in the air and in a twisting motion dived towards the General.
The General merely smiled and smashed his hammer upwards, ready to meet Pende's trajectory. At the instant before collision though, Pende changed his direction in midair, to go past the hammer and land directly next to the General from where he could land a direct blow on him.
Impossibly fast the hammer changed directions along with Pende, and Zack could almost see the look of surprise on his face as he was smashed by it backwards. As Pende crashed into the wall beside them, the General began laughing.
"No time for introductions eh young man? Fine I will introduce myself then. I am General Brunaulf, the lead General of the army of Mayor Fermi Ja.
And as long as I live, you won't step a foot inside this corridor."