User blog:KB025/Gareth the Warrior - Chapter 2

Month 2, Day 21 

''It’s a miracle I woke up early, despite me staying up late at night. The wall guards told me that there were only low amounts of monsters attacking in comparison to the last few days. Curious. ''

''I will have to maintain vigilant if I have any hope of getting paid. ''

''After waking up at about an hour after sunrise, I took another healthy breakfast of meat, bread and water. I set out on my way to the outer wall to guard the town. It seems that there were more monsters than last night, but it will be easy to drive them off. I hope so. I am now currently at the wall after our lunch. I think now is a good time to stop writing for today. ''

I closed my diary and slung it on my belt. Fortunately, it was the size of my hand so it’s no bother even when I’m fighting. I stood from the chair and went outside the tower of the wall, covering my eyes from the sun’s harsh glare. After getting accustomed to it, I finally removed my hand and looked ahead to see if there are any more monsters that will dare attack while I’m on duty.

(Un)Luckily, there were more. It seems that word has spread that my magnificent self is here at this town and they have tried to gather more of their kind to rush in. It looks like this will be a fun hour.

“Monster wave! Take your positions men!” The sergeant shouted. At his command, the men nearby started to move even faster than before and were gathering bows and arrows and assorted weapons to try and drive them off. Meanwhile, I am still looking for a particular someone or something in the wave.

There.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">A floating beauty, flying above the wave. Purple fur covers her body, while beautiful, glittering scales flutter down onto the wave of monsters. It seems like a Mothman has found a husband among the wall guards and is spurring the wave into a frenzy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“I’m going down there to face them,” I said to the sergeant, “Once I give the signal, shoot. You’ll know it when you hear it.”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">The man nodded and told the wall guards to hurry up. Meanwhile, I just jumped off the thirty-foot wall and landed like it was another step to me. The land cracked upon my landing, dirt and grass flying everywhere. I remained mysteriously clean though. Must be another one of Chief God’s blessings to heroes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Inhale, exhale. I closed my eyes. I need to focus in order to manifest my Blessing. There was no other person in the world except me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I opened my eyes. A large amount of monsters, a town that I need to protect, and the only thing between them is me. Looks like that the conditions are met.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“Manifest: Gray Tiger Armor!” I shouted, the space around my body distorting. It felt painful, but I was used to it now. My bones felt like they’re being broken and remade into something else. My skin is being torn off and replaced with steel. My nerves are being replaced with newer ones, causing extreme pain. I endured this process for half a second straight, but it felt infinitely longer. And after that, my body was now completely different.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">A full set of armor, including gauntlets, chest plate, leggings and shin guards now covers me. I flexed my hands, feeling the power that I borrowed from the armor. After all this time, it still surprises me how powerful my armors truly are.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">But this is no time to be narcissistic, so I looked ahead and saw that there are much more monsters that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I guess the spirit energy that I emitted attracted another wave of monsters. No matter, I shall do what needs to be done.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">(POV switch)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">After learning that monsters are unwelcome from this town, I tried to find another way to get in, to no avail. There were some holes in the wall, but as soon as I found them, the Hidden Blade appeared and stationed more guards to the darn place.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“My luck is conspiring against me,” <span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> I thought. The town was in the middle of a darn plain, so I had to crawl to hide from the watchers that are manning the wall.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Night fell soon, and another wave of monsters came from the forest near the village. The wall archers rained upon the monsters, yet the monsters continued, lust clear in their eyes. I have no intention of joining them because I know that they will fail, but I can’t help looking at Him in battle. Smooth, precise, untouchable. Those were three words that suited him in that time. Dancing between the monsters, he takes them down one by one. His daggers reach them, yet it leaves no wounds. Leaving a pile of corpses in his wake, the monsters start to target him. He remains unfazed, but his style started to become less and less graceful. It started becoming erratic, unpredictable, and his face was contorted into a terrifying grin. He cuts them down one by one, and yet they cannot grab onto him for long and do damage to him.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">A few minutes later and there were no more left standing. The grin was no longer on his face, but he is breathing heavily in the middle of the plain. I wanted to challenge him right now, but I want to face him at his peak condition.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">And then he looked directly at me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">My eyes widened on their own accord, and my heartbeat and blood pressure rocketed. How did he notice me? When did he notice me? What will he do now? My blood ran cold, and my instincts are telling me to run, but my body won’t move. He was approaching me when the guards all ran out and tried to burn the bodies of the monsters. He turned back, saying that he will take care of it, and the guards ran back. I slipped away into the forest when he turned away from me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I ran and ran, deep into the forest where he possibly couldn’t see me. My heart was still racing, even though he is already gone. My hand touched where my heart is located, feeling it beat so fast. I can remember what happened ago so clearly, his predatory eyes gazing through me, seemingly knowing everything that I am. My body flushed, thinking on how Alpha my husband is-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“He is not my husband!” <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> I shouted to myself as I shook my head in disagreement. I don’t know what came over me to think that, I only wanted to beat him to prove that I am the better swordsman. That’s all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“But are you sure you can beat him?” <span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> a dark part of me said, ''“You saw what he did to all those monsters. Are you sure that your skills are up to par with him?”''

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“I can beat him, and I will!” I growled to myself. A few moments later and there were no more sounds that I could hear. I slumped on the tree behind me, the fear from earlier wearing off. I sighed, thinking of ways to beat him, but nothing seems to come to mind. Irritated, I stood up to gather some branches for firewood when I suddenly heard some rustling.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I took cover behind the trunk of the tree and looked behind. My heart skipped a beat and my blood ran cold. It was Him. It doesn’t appear like he has any companions with him, so what’s he doing here? Is he looking for me?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">My heart beat faster and faster. What is he going to do to me? Will he kill me like he killed those monsters? Feelings of anger rose through me. I was about to confront him when suddenly a white light came from him. I instinctively covered my eyes with my arms, partly because of the bright light…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">and partly because of its holy properties.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I can feel some of the scales on my body disappearing. My monster physiology is rejecting the holy energy that is emanating from him. It’s making me lose who I was and who I am.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I hated it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I waited a couple more seconds to see what he was doing. Suddenly, a lot of monster corpses are now occupying the forest floor- wait, no. They’re not corpses, they’re breathing!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">''<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“What does this mean? I saw those daggers go right through their bodies. And yet, they’re still alive! How?” ''<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"">The questions keep coming, and yet there are still no answers. I can only get them if I ask him, but not right now. It seems that I still haven’t had dinner yet. We both went our separate ways that night, one towards the town, one deep into the forest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">(Timeskip to tomorrow)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I woke up feeling quite shitty, to be honest. I guess sleeping on the forest floor with only your cloak can do that to you. My small bonfire ran out of fuel while I was sleeping, so only cinders remain. I hunted some small game last night, so my stomach is full, but my “hunger” is not yet dealt with. I have been attacking some men here and there, making sure that I keep myself stocked for long journeys, but what happened last night must’ve drained me of my demonic energy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I am young for a monster, but I have already seen a fair amount of heroes here and there, but none of them have actually come close to what he can do last night. It would take a group of four heroes just to do what he does, which is surprising. Is he more blessed than other heroes? Or is it just pure, unadulterated skill?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Anyways, I won’t beat him if I keep thinking to myself, which is why I’m going to be joining the monsters in their charge against the town. It’s the only way that I can meet him on this battleground. At least, the only way I can think of this moment.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">I heard the next wave even before I saw it. I shook the sleepiness out of my body and stretched out to get the blood flowing. It was a peaceful five seconds, only the rumbling in the background disturbing the quiet.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">And that’s when the monsters came.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">So many of them came from different species that I don’t even know. I just have to keep up with them in order to reach my own goal. A cold hearted way of doing things, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. As we keep on running, I saw a Mantis girl coming up beside me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“You’re not from around here,” she said, “Are you also looking for a husband by any chance?” When she asked me that, my heart skipped a beat. I saw his face, looking at me with a predatory gaze that only hunters give to their victims. I immediately thought about him, towering over me with a large erection, ready to penetrate my weak, masochistic pus-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“No!” I shook my head clear of those thoughts. I am a Lizardman! I am the one who should be ordering him around, not the other way around!-

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“Wait a second, he’s not even my husband, why am I treating him as such?!” <span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“I am not looking for a husband at the moment, but I am looking for someone in that town. That’s why I’m going with you guys,” I replied.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“But you’re lying.” My eyes widened, “You’re also looking for a husband. Why else would your face be flushed?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“I-I am not lying!” Curse me for stuttering! “I was just thinking of someone important, that’s all!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“Ah, so you already have a husband. Pardon me for assuming that you don’t already have one. Is he in that village?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“I told you I don’t have a husband yet!” I shouted embarrassedly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“If you say so.” The remainder of the travel was pretty quiet even though we are basically stampeding.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Soon after that we are already at the plains, looking at the thirty-something foot wall that’s keeping me from my quarry. I need to get there, my husband is in there!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">The realization that my husband is in the town that they are invading gave me a stronger reason to go with the mob of monsters that are also attacking the town. But I will not draw my sword. I will not draw it unless it’s a fight against my husband.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">There! I can see him on the wall! What is he doing?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">Wait… he jumped off the wall?!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">He landed perfectly on his feet, somehow miraculously not getting any dirt on him. It must be one of those blessings that heroes have.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">But you can’t be too sure, so I’ll just examine him to see if there really is no problem with his body. Yes~! A close-up examination from me, your wife~! Just the anticipation of our reunion is filling me with such happiness~!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"">“Manifest: Gray Tiger Armor!”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt; font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif""> That's when everything happened all at once.