章節 5: CHAPTER 4: PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
CHAPTER 4: PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Raygaard was outside once again training with the Galagan. News was circulating around the Galagan army that Raygaard had defeated some of them. The other Galagans didn't believe it so they were hoping to test Raygaard's strength but as usual, he let himself get beaten up while pretending to be weak. Gilgamesh watched from a distance, disgusted with Raygaard's weakness. Raygaard smirked when he saw the disappointment in his father's eyes. He really enjoyed seeing that look on Gilgamesh's face. Gilgamesh scoffed and walked away. Raygaard stood up and dusted himself.
"Your training is over for today" Gilgamesh said as he glared at Raygaard from the corner of his eyes.
"Hmmph! Don't think anything will change. I'll never let you use me for your dirty work" Raygaard thought and left the scene.
He waited in his room for the opportune moment to sneak into town. He and Wedam had made plans. They had secretly been duelling each other for the past week and today was the time for another showdown. Raygaard waited till the time came for the guards to change shifts. At that opportune moment, he snuck out of the castle.
Soon, he was wandering around Helios with his hood over his head. Wedam had invited him to the Morticon Clan's secret hideout. Since the lord of the Morticon, Raeioun Morticon had been exiled to the human realm, the Morticon had been treated as outcasts and many of them bore grudges against Gilgamesh. Wedam had asked Raygaard to meet him at the city's Southern Gate. Raygaard wasted no time in hurrying there as fast as he could. When he arrived within view of the gate, he saw Wedam standing impatiently with his staff in hand.
"What took you so long?" Wedam complained.
"What d'ya think?" Raygaard scoffed.
He hated even having to think of his father.
"I can imagine. Come on, let's go. We have no time to waste" Wedam said.
So the two boys left Helios through the Southern Gate and headed towards the Treacherous Mountains. But first, they would have to cross the Hated Forest and pass through the Malicious Valley.
"So how come every major landmark of nature has an evil name?" Raygaard asked Wedam.
"Well who do you think named 'em eh?!" Wedam muttered in an impatient tone.
"My father eh? Sheesh, everything about him except for his love for beauty are hateful" Raygaard scoffed.
"Actually, most of them were named by the Galagan lord, Swordmaster Abaddon. Gilgamesh didn't even bother to change the names! Man, he really makes me mad! I wish Wizard Alpheon were on the throne instead, no offense Ray" Wedam said.
"None taken, I wish my dad weren't on the throne. He doesn't care about anything. Not the people, not this world, not even me. His lust for power had made him quite avaricious" Raygaard said.
"I wish you were on the throne instead. It certainly would make a difference" Wedam said.
"That's quite a treasonous thought. Let's forget about Gilgamesh for now. Our rematch is today right?" Raygaard tried to change the subject.
"YEAH! I CAN'T WAIT TO KICK YOUR TAIL TO EARTH!" Wedam declared.
"And we're having this duel in your hideout?" Raygaard asked.
"Yep! My clan can't wait to meet you! We now call ourselves the GHC! Ain't that cool?!" Wedam said excitedly.
"Lemme guess, it stands for Gilgamesh Haters' Club right?" Raygaard tried to sound sarcastic.
"Actually yes. How did you guess it so easily?" Wedam asked.
"It's so painfully obvious. More importantly, doesn't your clan hate me because of my father?" Raygaard asked.
"Not really. Everyone knows how much you help the people. We all secretly harbour hopes that you will become the next king of Endregen. Besides, they all freaked when they found out that the son of Gilgamesh was the ultimate GH!" Wedam laughed.
The Morticon Clan lived in the Treacherous Mountains. Raygaard and Wedam had finally reached the mountains.
"I'm gonna warn you Ray, this duel is going to be unlike anything you've ever experienced. Are you ready?" Wedam said with an evil sparkle in his eye.
"Nothing beats fighting thousand Galagans every single day for ten whole years" Raygaard said.
"Maybe" Wedam sighed as they approached a cavern within one of the mountains.
"We're here" Wedam said as he led Raygaard into the cavern.
Raygaard frowned. It's pitch black in here. I can't see a damn thing!" he complained.
When they were deep in the cavern, numerous torches suddenly lit up the cavern and Raygaard found himself surrounded by many warriors, most of them were clothed in Gorillagan skin and they even wore Gorillagan masks.
"Who is this trespasser?!" one of the warriors roared.
Another warrior pushed him aside and quickly took his place.
"Punkie-de Shanky Doo?! Please don't speak! You'll disgrace our clan even further!" everyone roared at once.
"Mm-mm!" Punkie cleared his throat. "Whoo-eeee-iii-aa-ooo-iii-be-iii!" were the only sounds that came from this fellow's mouth but by the depressed looks on everyone's faces, Raygaard could tell that he had just said some really nasty things.
"What did he just say?!" Raygaard roared.
"You don't want to know" Wedam shook his head regretfully.
"You're damn right I want to know! That's why I'm asking!" Raygaard roared.
Wedam sighed. "Raygaard, please don't ask" he pleaded.
Raygaard glared at Wedam.
"Fine then, Punkie-De Shanky Doo here just said and I quote… 'Who be-eth this twerpacious trespassing brat who dares to intrude into the sanctimonious sanctuary of the Morticon! Who thinketh he to barge into our solitude like the maggotic being that he is! If he isn't satisfied with his life, let this fool whose freakish hairstyle is way out of fashion prove that he is not a pseudopodic being from an alternate galaxy! And why does this friggin' brat think that the sanctimonious V.I.P hall of the Morticon can accommodate the likes of a maggotic it that resembles a certain someone who tried-eth to destroyeth the world two centuries ago! I tell ya, ya ain't no hottie cos ya stink like a prat!" Wedam was saying when Raygaard suddenly hooked him by the collar and lifted him into the air.
"And you're just translating?!" Raygaard glared at Wedam.
"Don't look at me like that, I'm not the one that said it!" Wedam pleaded.
"For someone who is just translating, you seem to be enjoying this a lot and you know, the leader of the Morticon must take full responsibility for the actions of his subordinates don'tcha think?" Raygaard said with a diabolic sparkle in his eyes and I tell you Wedam received such a beating that would deter him from ever allowing Punkie-De Shanky Doo to ever speak in Raygaard's presence ever again.
After dealing with Wedam, Raygaard looked at the others.
"Does anyone else have anything to say?" he asked with a wicked smile.
All the others had to do was look at Wedam's swollen face and they already knew the answer.
"So this is what you boys have been up to since the last time I saw you. Is that right? Wedam, you really should think twice before translating such ridiculous insults. Most of it was gibberish and didn't even make sense. I see you like playing with Endreginian words" a familiar voice said.
Wedam stood up.
"That voice…could it be? Oh no! It's June! I can't let her see me like this!" Wedam cowered and hid behind his clansmen.
June approached them calmly. Her armour, rattling like the clashing of swords. Raygaard stepped aside as she got closer because he didn't like arguing with June. Punkie Doo suddenly appeared before June.
"You got something to say to my face smart alec?" June glared at him.
"HWAA-AA-OO-EE-II-OO!!" Punkie was saying when suddenly, he flew through the crowd and crashed into the wall.
"TCH! Gorillas, so damn vulgar!" June scoffed.
"Where is Wedam?" June asked.
Everyone parted to reveal Wedam trying to hide his face. June approached him.
"Don't look at me! Thanks to Raygaard, I look like a Galagan!" Wedam pleaded.
June walked towards him and slapped him.
"Ouch!" Wedam screamed.
"How does it feel now? Does it feel better?" she asked him.
"How was that supposed to make me feel better? You slap someone when you're angry with them for goodness sake!" Wedam complained.
"Really, I was under the impression that it was a common expression of affection amongst couples" June said.
"HAAAAAAAAAAH?!!" Raygaard and everyone else didn't seem to comprehend what this girl was saying.
Wedam seemed happy though.
"The Amazon Princess strikes again" Raygaard muttered.
June ignored him.
"Let me try something else…" June said but she suddenly froze and seemed embarrassed to try or say anything else.
"You don't need to do anything. I understand that you care for me. I'm happy with that" Wedam said.
June smiled.
"I'm sorry I can't do anything about your wounds. All I'm good at is fighting" June apologized.
"You tell me" Raygaard muttered under his breath.
"Don't apologize. If you can still like me after seeing me look this awful then you've got a really good heart" Wedam praised June.
Shockingly enough, June actually blushed. There were loud cheers from the Morticon clansmen.
"Why do I always end up in the background? Rather, why do my actions always put Wedam in the spotlight?" Raygaard slapped his forehead.
"That's what friends are for, right buddy?!" Wedam tried to cheer him up.
"You opportunistic scumbag! Are you trying to tell me that friends are there to make themselves look stupid just so you can come out on top?!" Raygaard roared.
"More or less" Wedam laughed.
"Selfish jerk" Raygaard muttered jealously.
"Don't worry buddy, I'm sure out there somewhere, the perfect girl is waiting for you" Wedam teased Raygaard.
"Ha! With my luck she'll probably be human!" Raygaard joked.
Wedam and June couldn't help laughing at him.
"Raygaard, you do realize that you've knocked me out of shape don't you? Well then you'll have to make that up to me by fighting twice as hard, I'll be watching you" Wedam said.
"I hear you, let's get this show started" Raygaard said.
"I'll take your place" June offered to take Wedam's place.
"Okay, avenge me then" Wedam requested and by the end of the show, Raygaard regretted hitting Wedam because he had to deal not only with June but with her contemptuous Cerberus.
Raygaard was just as injured as Wedam by the time the fight was over. His match with June had ended quickly with June as the victor. Raygaard's excuse for losing was that he couldn't bring himself to fight a girl at full strength.
"Hey, you two, have you really thought about what you want to do in the future?" Raygaard suddenly asked.
"I already told you, I'm going to become a strong Diibagura like my dad was" Wedam said.
"I've also always wanted to become a Diibagura" June said.
"What? Aren't you one already?" Wedam asked.
"No, I'm still undergoing training. Besides, you can only become a Diibagura when you're at least sixteen years old. That means, I've got two more years before I can become a Diibagura" June said.
"It's not that easy. First you have to pass the Test Of Awakening" Raygaard said.
"June and I can awaken already so it's no biggie" Wedam said.
"Your awakening is reserved only for the elite class of Endreginians. What I'm talking about is much more fundamental. You have to awaken your Amooma" Raygaard explained.
"You call that fundamental?! I've tried and tried and up until now, I've had no luck awakening or bonding with my Amooma" June complained.
"It's much harsher than awakening yourself" Wedam agreed.
"And someone here hasn't been able to do both!" June scoffed.
"TCH! Get off my case already January Darkhorn!" Raygaard retorted.
"Don't make fun of my name weakling! It's not my fault I was named after a month of the year is it?!" June roared.
"I think your name is beautiful June. It means 'young' doesn't it?" Wedam asked.
By then, the three friends were enjoying the warmth of a fire in a lonely part of the cavern.
"Yes, you really took your time to find that out? I'm sorry but I don't know the meaning of your name" June said sadly.
"Don't worry. You wouldn't know it even if you tried to find it out on your own. My name is a human name. It means, 'The Power Of God'" Wedam explained.
"Wow, that's amazing. You have a really strong name" June praised Wedam.
Raygaard suddenly stood up.
"I'm going home" he suddenly said and walked away hurriedly.
June stared at Wedam inquiringly. Then the two rushed after Raygaard. They found him outside the cavern looking depressed.
"You didn't tell us the meaning of your name" June tried to cheer him up but only managed to make him feel more depressed.
"You guys have great names. My name's just horrible. It means 'what better way to temper great power than to fill it with fear'" Raygaard explained.
Only then did June and Wedam realize why he felt so depressed.
"I don't think you're a coward Raygaard. I was only teasing you" June apologized.
"I know but only now when I managed to say aloud the meaning of my name do I realize what a coward I've been. Just to spite my dad, I allowed myself to be beaten by the Galagans for ten years. In a sense I was hiding from him. I've decided, from now on…I'll never make myself lose! I'll prove my name wrong and become a strong Diibagura. One who even surpasses Sword Master Abaddon! I'll become the king Endregen deserves and…I'll…" Raygaard couldn't help shedding tears.
"You really are strong. To have endured your father's hatred and still have a kind heart. Even I don't think I can endure something like that" June said.
"Why don't we make a promise to become Diibaguras together? To watch one others' backs and to one day see our children as friends? How does that sound?" Wedam suggested.
"I promise!" the three friends swore together.
"These tears are the last tears I shed as a weakling. The next time I cry will be…when I'm truly strong!" Raygaard declared.
The sun had set by then.
Raygaard returned to the castle late in the night and snuck into his bedroom as usual. He shut his eyes.
"Tomorrow dad, I'll show you the real me!" he declared as he shut his eyes.
THE FOLLOWING DAY…
Raygaard stood in the midst of thousands of Galagans.
"Are you ready?! As usual, this training will last for thirty minutes. This is your deadline to either beat the Galagans or be beaten by them" Gilgamesh explained.
"Hmmph! It will be over in three minutes!" Raygaard said with a determined look in his eyes.
He unsheathed his swords.
"Ready?! Begin!" Gilgamesh ordered.
Raygaard suddenly disappeared. He coursed through the Galagan army, sending them flying in all directions. More of them charged towards him trying to enclose him in a tight circle. Raygaard sheathed his swords.
"What are you doing?! The fight is not over yet. Not unless you…?!" Gilgamesh suddenly looked shocked.
"Yes, I learnt it dad! Sword Master Abaddon's ultrasonic sword technique! Prepare yourselves Galagans! I've embedded ten years of rage within my sword. Take this!" Raygaard roared as he suddenly unsheathed his swords with monstrous speed.
There was a blinding flash of Silver Light!
"RISING STAR STRIKE!!!" Raygaard roared and as fast as his swords came out, they were sheathed.
Raygaard turned around and walked away. All the Galagans collapsed to the ground along with the castle walls. Gilgamesh stared in awe and horror.
"What was that? I must have imagined it! Did he just use Sword Master Abaddon's…my father's…no it was an inverted strike in comparison with Sword Master Abaddon's. To think my son was…this strong. How excellent!" Gilgamesh's shock suddenly turned into happiness.
"All hail the Dark Star! Prince Of Endregen!" Gilgamesh roared and the Galagans began to shout their chants of approval. "Hail Prince Raygaard! Hail Prince Raygaard!"
Raygaard paused in his tracks.
"You may praise me however…from now on I will be known as The Silver Star and not The Dark Star!" Raygaard said as he glared at Gilgamesh.
That glare was one so intense it actually sent shivers down Gilgamesh's spine.
"He has…my father's eyes" Gilgamesh noticed.
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