Bahukatsu Dojo, Sheng Mountains, Cheena, *** Everything was in a blur. He could not control the urge. He felt his stomach churn and sweat now bathing his body under his shirt. He turned his focus to his condition, not on his opponent. He tried to suppress whatever he got going but the impulse was strong enough that it would uncontrollably emanate outwardly. “Dreygo, are you ok?” Elaine said, her words muffled to Dreygo’s hearing. Unknowingly, he felt punches landing on every part of his body, his stomach, his face, his neck. They were fast enough but not that strong that he maintained his footing without shuddering back. The challenger was frustrated as Dreygo did not even defend himself until the black pitched eyes were now looking at him. The color of the harbinger's eyes gave a hint to the challenger that his opponent was not human. Nonetheless, he continued with his strikes briefly until a strong grip caught his throat. The demon elevated the challenger mid-air effortlessly an
Bahukatsu Dojo, Sheng Mountains, Cheena *** “When can I start training, master?” The demon asked. The impulsion of the probable knowledge that the Demon Lord of Pride could have commanded the wolves to attack them had driven him to hasten the beginning of training. “Today. If you are ready.” The master immediately answered. The master seemed prepared even for a Demon like him. “I am ready. I have a bad feeling about the wolves. Maybe some demonic forces might have been involved with their existence within the forest,” The harbinger's fists were clenched hard. “If so, I will fortify the Dojo for a possible attack. But your mind must not have a dual focus. Your focus should be on your training only,” the master suggested, “Jade can assist you.” “I thought you are going to train me, master?” Dreygo surprisingly asked. “For the last part of your training, yes. But for the 2nd and 1st level of your training will be Jade.” Dreygo conceded and asked, “What is your name again, master?”
Mental Chamber, Bahukatsu Dojo *** A beautiful figure stood right outside their shackled home. The downpour had been strong that the garden soil was soft enough to allow his sword to be effortlessly lodged through. But when he glanced back at his weapon, it was now turned into a shovel. He seemed to dig waterways in between garden plots. Suddenly, memories mixed with happiness and depression flooded his thoughts. “Don’t fight it!” His wife once again screamed at him, trying to overcome the loudness of the rain. “My wife, Maria!” Dreygo retorted without accurate comprehension of his wife’s words. He faintly heard the soft guffaws brought by his children playing inside the hut and his despair now turned to happiness and joy. The snorting and squealing of pigs were overheard as they find comfort in each other’s bodies' warmth as the rain had borne with the cold breeze. The trees swayed wildly and the overcast skies were dark brought by the rain. Everything seemed real and sad. The
Mental Chamber, Bahukatsu Dojo, Cheena *** The battle had almost ended. Dreygo noticed that their numbers were slowly dwindling. He was infuriated with the nearest country, Gattekat, which had not followed as agreed before the Southerns’ expected arrival - to contribute five hundred strong soldiers to come to their aid. Seemingly in this arena, the locals of Ingstad were left alone to be squandered upon the heathens. ‘Why? Are they not going to fight for their countrymen? Cowards!’ Dreygo forcibly cursed within himself. Instinctively, his mind drifted to his family. His wife Maria and his children. He must protect them at all costs. The only barrier needed to overcome was the opponent before him - the Commander of the Southern force. “I see cowardice in your face, maggot,” the Commander taunted. “The battle is not over yet,” he forced the statement even though he knew that it was otherwise. “Do not worry, worm. I will be quick with your death.” The heavy and large Commander swu
Mental Chamber, Bahukatsu Dojo, Mountain Sheng *** The odds were unfair. Ten against one and his family behind him. He could not escape. He should stand his ground to defend with all his wit. Nothing to defend with, only the walls of their shackle that served as a futile fence. The slightest chance of survival was beyond his comprehension. But even so, he had to try. Suddenly, he realized that everything was unreal. That he was sitting inside a room called the Mental Chamber back at the Bahukatsu Dojo. But his mind told him otherwise, or his feeling convinced him so. As if a higher power had granted him to relive the moments he most suffered, to cleanse the regrets, to cleanse his soul. ‘Could it be? Could there be a second chance to save my family?’ Dreygo thought. He spaced out momentarily. The soft sobs of his wife were muffled in his hearing. It was not real but it felt surreal. Doubts had loomed from the faintest corner of his memory but it was not important. What’s important
Mental Chamber, Bahukatsu Dojo *** Teetering, Dreygo felt immense aching on his left knee. It must have been due to the fall. He groaned and was forced to speed up his pacing toward his family. Until he succumbed to the pain and almost became numb. However, he ran as fast as he could. ‘Maria!’ His thoughts flooded with the safety of his family. “Damn you, heartless pigs!” Dreygo cursed under his breath. Finally, he reached a small clearing after the tree line. The clearing held wild yellow mountain flowers strewn loosely scattered along the grassy ground. The place was beautiful as strong sunlight shone upon it. However, it was defiled by a rueful sight. Three Southern warriors rustled to pin down the wife and his daughter. His son was gone. He had been sweating hard but this time, he felt an immense chill in his bones. His heart thumping strongly and his stomach churned with the possible gore they would inflict. He knew what would ensue, he knew the story, and he knew the endin
Bahukatsu Dojo, Mountain Sheng, Cheena *** Clap. Clap. Clap. A soft clap invaded the small mental chamber. It echoed on the walls. Dreygo stood up, wiped his tears trying to obscure from the source of the clap, and hauled himself up. He felt lighter as if he lost weight. It was Jade standing beside the large column, near the entrance door. “You passed!” Jade congratulated. “How do you know that I passed?” Dreygo asked. “If you fail, then you will probably be in a coma for a few days, or worse, you will be stripped from your insanity.” “Really? Maybe it won’t affect me because I am a demon. It only works on humans.” “I would not be sure about it. During your trance to another world, your body was continuously twitching, like you were having epilepsy. And your saliva is dripping down to your shirt. I thought you were losing the mental test.” Jade said as a long smile curved across her face. Dreygo was silent momentarily and inspected his wet shirt and confirmed that it was his s
North Degestan, Buratia. *** Private Andrei shivered faintly against the icy cold breeze that caressed his face as he stood on top of a 50 meters high guard tower. It was a full moon but its light could hardly illuminate the Buratia Central base that was blanketed with thick sheets of snow. The base was large enough that Andrei could hardly see the next tower adjacent to where he stood and the wind-carrying snow had hazed their visions. Even using his fog lamps had had little help with their visibility. “It’s shitty cold out here. I hate to be on tower duty,” he turned to his partner, Corporal Anatole, who napped on his seat with his both feet placed on a table. “As if you are not used to this cold,” Anatole responded, not opening his eyes. “I’m used to this weather but not this high. It is much colder when you are in this altitude,” Andrei complained, “There is nothing here to guard. Nobody would dare attack the largest military base of the Capital. And the attackers would not