INTRUDER

Neferty great war has been over for more than fifteen years. The Nepheel which was the main battlefield at that time became a sea of ​​blood. Not only the blood of the King's proud soldiers, but also the blood of the rebel legions who tried to replace the throne by force.

Old stories that only live in a few memories. Generations continue to change, hope is fading. Now Nepheel is not a beautiful city full of blessings, but a fortress ruled by darkness. There are no pure-hearted people, or good creatures that inhabit that place. There are only thousands of orcs, ogres guarding every gate, black knights riding dragons, and various races that once fought under one banner to oppose Lord Aaron's power.

The Ironfoot is the most surprising of them all. They were just a bunch of ape-men, wide-legged and thick as freshly hacked iron. This troop crawled from the loyal servants of the Lord to the servants of Tarnath.

Their status had not changed, at all, even though the new Nepheel leader had promised many empty hopes. The ironfoot is nothing but a tool to tear apart justice. They are the ones who took part in deposing the Lord of Nefertyland, together with Tarnath, to kill Lord Aaron from behind.

Although it failed, at least Tarnath's plan was half successful. The Nepheel was taken over, the good wizards were defeated until they escaped from there. Some of the conscious races being manipulated tried to fight back, but they succumbed under the threat of the Gorgon's lock.

The ultimate weapon that is capable of destroying the entire kingdom of Neferty. Some other races offer an oath of allegiance, working in the name of darkness, one of which is the stupid ironfoot who don't even realize they are being fooled.

"There's an intruder, Sir."

"Who?"

"A wizard in a black cloak, alone."

"Bring him to me!"

"Allright."

The figure who just gave the order was called Hegoss, an ironfoot. Its fur is blackish brown, fangs and sharp teeth, tall and big like a gorilla (the lithe one walks on two legs). Hegoss is the only ironfoot that Tarnath kept his promise.

Instead of being a pawn with a cheap life, he was promoted to become the trusted figure of the King and the supreme commander of the Nepheel now. The ape-man was leading a reconnaissance mission in the valley of two rivers. The Nepheel were ordered to subjugate the dwarven kingdom of Ouros once again.

However, an orc came to him, bringing bad news. Apparently a flock of intruders is being infiltrated by another party. And, fortunately, this one intruder's skills are worse than theirs, so he was caught easily.

Hegoss came out of the layover tent, welcoming the intruder surrounded by dozens of orcs. The pointy-eared group of hideous creatures snarled like dogs, complete with frothy saliva and sharp teeth. The orc thrusting a dagger into the intruder's back forced him to kneel in front of Hegoss. The man's face was still covered by his hood.

"You have one minute. Make me feel pity for you," said Hegoss.

"Have pity on yourself," the intruder said, making the orcs howl with emotion.

Hegoss just smiled wryly. "Interesting intruder."

"I'm not an intruder."

"Then?"

"A traveler who is lucky to pass by." The man's answer made Hegoss laugh.

"Lucky traveler, try to tell me how coincidence can take you to a place you shouldn't be? It's stupid!"

"I know you," said the intruder, silencing Hegoss. "Your name is Arkus, sweeper of the Lords' hall. You used to be low, but now ... your race is as low as you!"

Hegoss was instantly angry. His fangs slipped from his black lips, as if he wanted to tear the scalp of the person who did not know good manners in front of him. However, the ironfoot realized that this humble job was no longer for him. The sweeper's arc is over. There is only Hegoss, the Nepheel commander of Tarnath's faith.

"Kill him!"

"Wait!" snapped the intruder, stopping the orc who was about to stab him. "I'm looking for information about Julius Ordich. You must know him."

Hegoss' steps stopped. He turned back to look at the kneeling prisoner. The difference is, this time the look includes shock, wonder, doubt, even suspicion.

"Who you really are?"

The intruder then jerked his head until the hood of his cloak opened. Hegoss's yellow-rimmed eyes widened, his eyebrows raised higher than usual. Face with narrow eyes and pointed nose looked familiar. Especially the bushy eyebrows with a pointed tip, plus the curve of thin pink lips. This guy has a past with Hegoss.

"You're one of them. The royal aides who did Dianom. But it's impossible! Only Ordich escaped, the rest we killed and ... left." The ape was shocked. "Tell me, who brought you back from the dead?!"

"It's secret," he said curtly, then quickly turned around and knocked the orc behind him to unconscious.

The camp was suddenly chaotic. The orcs who did not accept suddenly attacked him. About seventy Kauros, the lowest race of orcs, but troublesome enough to handle alone. They came with daggers and machetes, while their opponents held nothing. However, a quick whistling from his tongue could bring about something more dangerous than the edges of a knife.

A giant raven flew through the forest trees, swooping down on the orcs and scattering them like bowling pins. A startled Hegoss tried to run away, but the intruder had blocked him first. They engaged in an impromptu duel, while the giant raven was busy toying with the orcs.

The ironfoot pulled out a gold-hilted sword from its sheath. Thin and sharp, easy moving in the air. The mysterious intruder threw his cloak. Look at the iron armor that is polished black, so it fits on his slender yellow body.

"Before I cut your head off, may I know the name of the person I'm looking at?" said Hegoss as he prepared his position.

"Hector. You can remember that name as your grim reaper." The intruder—Hector—pulled a long knife from his hip.

Without further replying satirically, Hegoss attacked the opponent with a shiny sword strike. Hector greeted with his knife, the clang of metal over the screams of the orcs being struck by the great bird. They fight so much. Every slash of Hegoss always hit the edge of Hector's weapon, which even when attacked Hegoss was also able to dodge well.

Until the swing of the golden hilt sword maneuvered to the left, ready to be stopped by Hector for the umpteenth time, but as fast as lightning Hegoss teleported to the right side and hit Hector's stomach. The black-haired man staggered to the side, still managed to stab the knife until it scratched the opponent's left cheek.

They were a few feet apart. Hector panted, Hegoss had just wiped blood from his wound. This fight seems to have not found a middle ground. Both were attacked, both still survived.

"Where did you learn teleportation magic from?" Hector smiled lightly.

"You only see a splash of water from the vast ocean." Hegoss growled, then vanished and appeared behind his enemy.

Hector spontaneously turned around, a glance of his knife to parry, but Hegoss disappeared again. Not even a second later, the ironfoot was at his side, ready to draw his sword. Hector quickly brought his knife as a shield, but again he lost Hegoss. His opponent this time moved very nimbly. Disappear, appear, disappear, appear again. Like the wind blowing in the middle of the night. So real, but untouchable.

Hector is always prompt. His knife was gripped tightly, his eyes darting here and there. More than half of the seventy Kauros had fallen, leaving a few more running around. Hector thought that was good news. Only, he was caught off guard when he saw the last orc being grabbed by the large raven's feet, until Hegoss appeared and launched a sword thrust.

"Helarctos!" shouted Hector.

Before the point of Hegoss's sword could pierce his skin, a pair of black hands (like a shadow) shot up from the ground to hold the sword. Hegoss was shocked and took a step back. Something was clearly not right for him after seeing the devil's hand being called at will by random people.

"Helarctos?" Hegoss winced. "Mysterious intruder, lucky traveler, Hector, black armor bearer, what else is your name?"

"You think you're the only one with black magic?" Hector laughed. "Teleportation magic takes a lot of energy. Doing it twenty times in a row is clearly not natural magic. You're a black magic user, just like me."

"And why are we on opposite sides?" Hegoss questioned. "Serve Tarnath. Your black armor will impress him."

"I'm not interested," rejected Hector. "The only one I want to meet is Julius Ordich. We have unfinished business."

"Ordich is also my enemy, if you're curious. I can help you hunt him down, then be part of us." Hegoss continued to persuade.

"What information do you have?"

"There is no information, until we agree."

A giant raven landed at Hector's side, his black hair fluttering in the wind. Then, its size shrunk to the size of a normal raven and reached its master's left shoulder. "Looks like your army's death hasn't taught you any lessons," Hector said.

"Helarctos bearer, you're the one who hasn't learned anything." Hegoss smirked.

A tall bush behind him was torn apart by a herd of jaguar-riding orcs. A ferocious tiger whose size was much larger than the jaguar of the non-magical world. Almost as tall as a bison, with fangs resembling sword blades. Twelve riders came in turns, surrounding Hector who stood alone.

The clumps of bushes to their left also rustled. Hegoss was of course surprised, because his last team gathered here. There were no more orcs left. Hector watched suspiciously, as did the jaguar riders. Less than a minute later, the dwarfs came out with hammers, axes, maces, and other iron tools. Their clothes are thick, animal skin jackets, and their hair is colorful.

"COME ON!"

"ATTACK!"

"Don't let them escape!"

The group of six people attacked the jaguar riders. They swung their axes back and forth, forcing the enemy forces to temporarily retreat. Hector also moved from the location, hiding in the shadows of the forest.

Realizing for a moment that what ambushed them was just a group of young dwarves, the jaguar riders suddenly turned around and attacked them. Appearing from the bushes, an arrow slid into the forehead of one of the orcs. He immediately collapsed lifeless. The dwarves cheered.

"Good, Halmdir!" exclaimed the purple haired dwarf.

The orcs are going crazy. They drove the jaguar to attack the brave little creature. However, these little dwarfs are not afraid, they fight back. One of the dwarves threw a small ax at the orc's head until blood spurted, followed by a cheer of victory.

There was another dwarf who pressed the leg of one of the jaguars with a spiked mace, then an arrow killed the rider. They are very compact and agile. Really difficult to eradicate.

"Clovy, take it!" The orange-haired dwarf threw a long-handled hacksaw at the yellow-haired dwarf, then the yellow-haired dwarf used the hacksaw to hit the head of the jaguar that was about to pounce on him.

Not far from there, there was a green-haired dwarf with the smallest body, standing scared in the middle of the ambush of two jaguars. Front and back, there is no way out. However, just as the two jaguars were about to pounce on him, the green one quickly ducked until the two jaguars' heads collided and the rider fell.

"Good, Eoryl!" praise the red haired dwarf. He then threw the axe at the fallen riders. "Re-size: Enlarge!".

The axe grew in size before hitting the two orcs until they passed out. There were only a few riders left, and it seemed they were beginning to recognize the cleverness of these young dwarves.

The six dwarves lined up, the rows very close. From the far right, there is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple hair. Then, another dwarf came out of the bush, carrying a bow and arrow. Her hair is indigo.

Hegoss felt this was not the right time to waste the army. After all, their surveillance had been caught red-handed. The Ironfoot ordered the rest of his warriors to retreat, while he himself disappeared from the sight of the dwarves in the blink of an eye. Finding the enemy's base empty, the dwarves were greedy. They hugged each other, patting their chests full of pride.

Hector suddenly came out from behind the tree, riding his giant raven as he stared at the dwarves. His gaze fixed on the red haired one. The dwarves were not happy and returned to alertness. However, the man with the title of Helarctos bearer refused to fight and preferred to fly away.

"That person is staring at you, Yugo," said Eoryl, the green haired one.

"Why?" continued Galmdir, the purple haired one.

"Maybe he knows Yugo is our leader. That man must be afraid of him." The bow-wielding dwarf, Halmdir, answered.

"No, Halmdir," said Yugo, the curly red hair. "He's afraid of us all. Mavrick's army is worth fearing. Go away, Bird Rider! Before we shoot your crow's head."

The seven dwarves of Mavrick's warriors laughed triumphantly. It was not in vain that they waited patiently, tiptoeing with their little legs to execute this brilliant plan of invasion. Now the valley is safe.

"Come home to Ouros, Friends!" Yugo commanded.

"COME ON!" answered the others simultaneously.

"Sing the song!" Yugo exclaimed.

All the dwarves started humming. "Seven brave dwarves climb the mountain. Axes and swords on their backs. High, slope, high, slope. We're all good at it. Archery and slashing. Till the enemy runs free. Mavrick's great army. A song about mountain-climbing dwarves. Hoy! Hey! Hoy! Hey!"

(To be continued)