Chapter 3: Back Into The Stronghold
I opened my eyes and glanced across the room.
Light from the outside Sun painted the room a bright orange color.
"Good evening, Bulwalks. I hope you won't mind taking on the traitor during the night." Edward's blood-thirsty smile told me he had something very important to say.
"A night fight, a good way of returning into the fronts. Oh, did you ever catch the name of the traitor?" I let out a loud yawn.
Edward started chuckling. His brown eyes fell on the small stash of weapons near the door of the room.
"Una Heviks, he struck a deal with a group of Savages. They claim to be the alphas of the region, but we both know running around like a headless chicken only brings you in the slaughterhouse."
"Is that all?" I slowly started getting up from the bed.
My body felt refreshed. As if I can fight off the entire invasion alone again.
"Tonight, Heviks will try to come back for whatever they can find useful. If you wait for them in the entrance to the stronghold, you'll perhaps be able to pick them off one by one. That or bring a friend. I'll be going now, good luck."
Edward formed a fist with his hand and knocked on his chest as hard as he could. It was him telling me to be strong.
Hours before the Calamity began, we talked about forming different gestures. And this is the only other gesture to make it past conversations and being formed into a practice DRT members use.
After Edward left the room, I didn't feel alone. Something in the room made me feel like I wasn't alone.
I scanned the room to find what did that.
From the mostly orange room, my eyes were glued on the weapon stash.
"Oh?"
I walked over and pulled out a decent sized sword from the crate. Its blade was covered with dust, preventing it from shining like the star it once was. The name "Stanis" was curved into the side.
I thought for a moment. Would I want to dedicate this hunt to Stanis? Every time someone falls in combat, a DRT soldier would grab their weapon and curve the fallen's name into the weapon.
After that, their weapon's future kills will be dedicated to that dead soldier.
"Stanis, huh? Excellent choice, I fought with him during the start of the stronghold. Honor them." Warmonger pulled me back up.
"Ever heard of knocking?" Warmonger's force nearly made me drop the weapon.
"Never cared about it. I heard you were going to hunt down that traitor. Can I come with you? In return, all I want is to keep Heviks alive. I can make an example out of them." Warmonger's battle starved eyes begged for me to accept.
I nodded and made the other gesture.
Using the edge of my sword, I tapped my lips. Telling her it was a moment for silent focus.
"See you at your former home." Warmonger closed her eyes and smiled in satisfaction, then walked out of the room.
***
The icy breeze rushed past my face as I ran back into the stronghold before night gets here.
In the distance, I could make out a figure looming on gates. We both looked directly at each other.
It was Warmonger. She waved at me and did the same gesture Edward did earlier. Then pointed out into the forest. Faint lights approached very slowly.
I quickly hid behind the gate's walls and prepared for what was about to happen.
Above me, Warmonger lowered her body enough so it would be difficult to spot her up there. Even with the silver and red armor she has on.
Each passing second, I could hear footsteps coming closer and closer. Until I heard them stepping through the gate.
I gripped my weapon and thought the name, "Stanis."
"DIE TRAITORS!" I launched myself on one of the Savages.
"IT WAS AN AMBUSH, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TRUSTED YOU!" One of the Savages yelled out.
Heviks was in the front, holding the torch. His face when he realized what was happening turned from confidence into terror.
I got off the Savage, my weapon was tainted red and so were my gauntlets.
"Heviks, just in time. Didn't want to keep me waiting, it seems." Warmonger dropped right behind Heviks.
Her skull shaped helmet made Heviks howl in terror. Enough to make them drop their torch and run.
My first thought was to stomp out the torch.
A Savage tried to get to it first. My sword's tip entered through their armor and through their arm. Before they could react, I punched them hard enough to snap their neck.
"Stay on these little guys, I'll track down Heviks." Warmonger took off like a Cheetah chasing their prey.
It was me, alone in the dark. Against four other Savages.
"Have a good night, everyone." I muttered under my breath.
I was getting too cocky. From behind me, one of the Savages tackled me to the floor.
Kicks and stabs followed me. I was in a dangerous position. At any moment, they could land a killing blow.
I caught a knife just before it entered my chest. Now that I have a clear target, it was time to fight back.
I violently tore the knife out of the poor Savage's hands and returned it from where it came from. The body that was above me suddenly went still.
I fought the body off of me and tried to avoid getting hit while trying to.
Another Savage tried to jump on me. Before they could get right on me, I rolled around and using my legs sent them flying to their buddy.
Before the third could react, I got up as swiftly as I could. Now we had locked eyes, there was something they didn't notice though. That being how pissed I was.
I made a fist and slammed it against their left arm, where they had their knife.
From behind me, I could hear footsteps running. I quickly ducked down. When I looked up again, the Savage had a knife sticking out of the side of their head.
The other Savage was in shock of what they just did. I took advantage and spun around, placing my foot where they were going to step. Causing them to trip and fall.
"Come on, it's you against me. Someone trying to survive against someone who wants to bring us back into the past." The final Savage prepared to fight me.
I jumped below them, reaching behind their knees and lifting them over me. They rolled off my back and onto the ground.
"Wait! Maybe we can work something out?"
"Strange last words."
I winded my sword and threw it full force onto the Savage.
"Nice kill. I'll remember that one. By the way look, who I caught!" Warmonger carried an unconscious Heviks in her arms.
While stepping over the bodies, Warmonger screamed like a Banshee and stomped on a body.
"What the hell was that for?!" I've seen everything about Warmonger, but this was something new.
It scared me, hearing the loud scream of a woman on the gates into an empty stronghold.
"Sorry, you just missed one!"
"I- uh… whatever. Let's just get back home and give new friend here, a proper welcome."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone