CHAPTER 8

“If you have another way to escape, that would be better. This gate? It can't be broken. I know the metal it was made from”. Apphathorus, who was hiding near the gates, told Tydeus.

“Oh really? Which metal?” Tydeus asked as if he was about to receive lectures from a physics teacher.

Apphathorus moved towards the gate, feeling it with hands and said to Tydeus “It's bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. I think we should just find another route to escape.”

“Old man, are you going to help me bring down this gate?” Tydeus asked with a weird smile on his face. 

“Uhmm, no”

“Then keep quiet!” Tydeus shouted at Apphathorus who was flexing his science muscles.

When it comes to breaking down a giant gate, flexing physical muscles would help faster than scientific muscles.

“We don't have much time!” Rakeh screamed out of nowhere as he kept on battling with the other pirates.

Tydeus, looking at the giant gate again, took a deep breath as he cracked his knuckles.

Gryza, who was about to attack Rakeh, took his attention to Tydeus.

“What does this bastard think he is about to do?” he mumbled to himself with a villainous smile.

“You're not doing what I think you want to do”. Apphathorus said to Tydeus again. He might only be trying to save Tydeus from killing himself. This heavy gate could kill him if he tries to carry it. 

“How did they say I killed Apophis again?” Tydeus asked Apphathorus with a confident smile on his face. 

“Uhmm, with your bare hands?” Apphathorus replied wondering what Tydeus was thinking.

“Good!” Tydeus replied to Apphathorus as he bent down to carry the giant gate from below.

Galdashkeh from where he was hiding with his bodyguards, was afraid and at the same time happy. Carrying such a heavy metal gate could be his enemy trying to kill himself willingly.

The rest of the pirates surrounded Rakeh. This should be the best time for him and Tydeus to fight together as a team but Tydeus seems to be doing a more dangerous task.

“Get him!” Gryza commanded the other pirates as they stormed at Rakeh.

Gryza, realizing Tydeus and Rakeh have been fighting to save an old man, walks towards Apphathorus, positioning his sword for a perfect kill.

As he was about to strike Apphathorus who was facing the other side watching Tydeus trying to lift the big gate, Rakeh threw his axe towards him, hitting his head and sending him to the ground.

Apphathorus, who didn't realize someone just saved his life, continued watching Tydeus.

“Graaaaaaa!!!!!” Tydeus groaned as he used his entire strength, trying to lift the gate.

Apphathorus was frozen in shock as he watched Tydeus lift the gate gently.

Tydeus continued groaning as he tried to lift the gate; his feet had started to make cracks on the concrete floor. Killing Apophis made him famous, destroying a gigantic gate could also add to his legend.

“You better be done with that brother”. Rakeh said as he struggled with three pirates at the same time.

Galdashkeh, seeing his pirates were about to finish Rakeh and Tydeus was about to kill himself, began smiling. The night could later end up in his favour.

Not until Tydeus groaned harder and pushed the giant gates. The gate broke from its holds and began going down gently.

Apphathorus stood up slowly as he opened his mouth. He couldn't believe his eyes. Did this big dude just break down the gates?

*BANG!!!!!*

The gates fell and shattered into pieces to the outside. The rest of the pirates, including their boss, Galdashkeh, opened their mouths in great shock. Did Tydeus just break down the giant gate of Iron Fortress?

Some of the pirates who were already about to finish Rakeh left him and ran back into the Fortress in fear. If Tydeus could break such a heavy gate, how much more are their bones? 

Rakeh immediately ran, picked up his axe and held Apphathorus in his other hand as he ran outside the Fortress.

“Good job bro! Now let go,” He said, smiling at Tydeus.

“Not now bro, I have some unfinished business to attend to”. Tydeus said as he cracked his knuckles walking towards Galdashkeh.

“Get him!” Galdashkeh commanded the other pirates who were still there.

As the other pirates heard their boss's commands, they all ran for their lives, leaving Galdashkeh to carry his cross.

As Galdashkeh saw this, he became more afraid. He looked at his two bodyguards in front of him and ordered them to attack Tydeus.

As they ran towards Tydeus to fight, Tydeus held their heads and slammed them together, sending them both to the ground.

Galdashkeh pulled out his sword, shaking like a chicken with his fat body as Tydeus kept walking towards him gently.

“You know, I wanted to spare your life but I just heard something shocking that I didn't even believe…”

“So you and your maggots were the ones that attacked and destroyed Malja 15 years ago?”. Tydeus asked with a straight face as he walked slowly towards Galdashkeh, who was already peeing on his body.

“Malja? Where is Malja? I don't know what you're talking about. Please spare me, I apologize for everything I have done”. Galdashkeh said as he continued begging for his life.

“So you were the ones that made me lose my father? You maggots ruined my village and left me hopeless?” Tydeus said, this time, his face filled with anger as he continued walking towards Galdashkeh, who started shuddering.

“It's… it's not… It's not like that my pirates went against my orders and attacked Malja instead of another village”. Galdashkeh said as he fell on his groins from walking backwards.

Gryza, who was unconscious on the floor, woke up and shook his head, wondering what hit him. He looked up and saw his boss, Galdashkeh, crying out loud. 

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhrrrgggg!!!!”