Spirit Game

A fearsome-looking Hobgoblin, towering like a Goliath, growled in affirmation. His body was a canvas of scars, a testament to countless battles, and his head was encased in a helmet said to hide his disfigured face.

Leading a battalion of 1000 of his personal elite soldiers, Gnarlock marched south, determined to purge any threat that dared to challenge their dominion.

The ground trembled beneath their feet as they advanced, a relentless force ready to crush anything in their path.

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In the East, another group was fast approaching the Barren Wasteland from the sea. Friend or foe, no one knew.

"Are we there yet?" A strikingly handsome man with white hair and piercing eyes asked impatiently, his youthful appearance underscored by an air of arrogance. "Damn, this wasteland is really far. We\'ve been on this ship for a week now. And my territory is supposed to be the nearest?"

"My lord," a gorgeous elf with platinum blonde hair approached. Her alabaster skin sparkled under her black armor, exposed curves leaving little to the imagination. "We\'re about to reach our destination."

"Finally!" the man exclaimed in exasperation. He then addressed his fifty troops with a commanding presence. "Listen up! Our mission here is clear. Let\'s get this over with quickly and return home!"

"RaaAgGhH!"

The troops responded in unison, their voices echoing across the deck as they readied themselves for whatever awaited them in the desolate land.

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In the South, Izu was fervently convincing his father to send an army to the Barren Wasteland to search for the \'rebels\' who were \'plotting\' to overthrow his rule.

"Father, day by day, our subjects grow fewer and fewer. I suspect it\'s that player\'s fault. Ever since he came into town, we\'ve noticed that many of our citizens are going out and never returning. They might be plotting something. Let me be the fire to purge this rising rebellion."

Lord Izumi sat on his throne, a colossal figure whose aura seemed to engulf the entire room. Though weakened and sick, his strength was undeniable.

"Izu . . ."

Izu flinched; the deep, guttural voice of his father was enough to make his legs tremble.

Lord Izumi\'s eyes narrowed into slits. "This better not be one of your many antics."

"O-of course not, Father!" Izu stammered. "Ask Lyncon, he can tell you the truth!"

At the side, Lyncon never dared to raise his head. "L-lord Izumi, what Lord Izu says is the truth . . . The citizens are definitely plotting something. I guarantee it!"

Lord Izumi closed his eyes tightly before releasing a heavy breath, his breathing ragged. "Take 100 of our troops and put an end to it."

"J-just 100, Father? B-but we have over a thousand soldiers, right?"

Lord Izumi opened his eyes, and Izu immediately lowered his head, shaking.

"Don\'t make me repeat myself. Our soldiers have other duties. 100 is enough for these ruffians."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as Izu nodded, swallowing his protests. He would take the 100 troops and prove his worth . . . or so he hoped. He would take the 100 troops and get Hana back and kill everyone else.

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In the West, a mysterious woman stood shrouded in shadows, four dark figures lingering around her as she observed Rain and his companions.

"Mistress," one of the shadows spoke, "have you taken a liking to that boy? Shall I kidnap him for you?"

The woman waved her hand, and the speaker began to choke, clutching at its throat.

"I don\'t want him in a cage . . . ," she said icily. "How am I supposed to enjoy what he does next if you turn him into a puppet?"

"My apologies, Mistress," the shadow gasped.

She released her invisible grip, and the shadow fell silent. Her gaze remained fixed on Rain, a small, enigmatic smile curving her lips.

"What will you do next . . . I want to know . . .

little boy . . . ," she whispered, anticipation gleaming in her eyes.

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~AccChHoOo!~

Rain scratched his nose and shivered. Is someone thinking of me? He wondered, shifting his eyes left and right. In the dark, where the twin moons shone brightly over the sky, the place looked haunted.

Rain shivered again and moved closer to the fire. He was surprised to see just how many citizens of the port town had come to his territory seeking food and shelter in exchange for their labor.

There were at least fifty of them, not including his own troops. Food and water were barely enough, so Rain had designated Chi and Chick to go hunting instead of guarding their territory.

The Raklings\' meat, which had provided a week of food, was now consumed in only a day. Those beasts had grown smarter, avoiding this area where they had become prey. Instead, they ventured farther north into more dangerous territories, making it hard to pursue them.

However, the lack of a sustainable food supply would only sustain them for a limited time. A village with fifty inhabitants needed at least half a hectare of edible plants and livestock to maintain their food supply. The Port Town survived only due to trade, the fish, and the small farms surrounding it.

Most of these inhabitants, however, weren\'t fighters; they were mainly laborers. Only Druger was a skilled master builder, Rain noted.

Huddled close together around the fire there was no space for Rain to squeeze himself. He sighed and stepped outside to stargaze instead. There, he found Druger drinking while sitting on the roof of their shelter.

"You\'re drinking again?" Rain asked as soon as he sat beside Druger.

"This is a good tiredness killer, young lad. This right here will rejuvenate your body and soul."

Rain doubted that but didn\'t comment. He also didn\'t ask for any because, one, he didn\'t drink (he was a minor), and two, he knew Druger would never share his booze. He was stingy with it, like it was his last bottle or something.