Chapter 13: The Eastern Call

A few hours had gone by since we started following Ashton to fort Livot but something just felt off. The moment we entered the desert I realized how open everything was so anything is perfect for an ambush or archers to fire upon us.

This place is definitely one to be cautious about at all times, I won't have anyone die on me.

The closer we got to the fort the more buildings that were destroyed from the battles seemed to be. Following with a lot of bodies as well.

The signs that I was given definitely didn't seem good to me but I'm not afraid of fighting people if necessary. I've fought some enemies but not enough yet to make me fear anything.

Even after fighting Sorakami I don't have fear instilled in me, I've almost died and this fear doesn't exist. Maybe I just don't have a fear of death after all.

This world has been cruel but it does have it's moments as well.

"The fort is just over the hill." Says Ashton.

As we approached the hill, distant screams could be heard and the clashing of swords grew louder. It seems we were coming in the middle of a battle which could be either good or bad for us.

"Alright everyone we're going to cast something that'll give us a safe passageways to the fort." Says Ashton looking towards the other soldiers in his group.

A guy stepped forward, a mage looking man. He wore soldiers armor but a hood covering his face as well, he then began to cast something.

It was so fast I couldn't catch the words he used but then suddenly a beam of light crosses the sand and makes a path for us to follow.

"Let's go, nows the time!" Shouts Ashton as he begins to run.

The soldiers begin sprinting ahead and of course we follow behind, though I'm not afraid to fight here. I can't show myself too much in the off chance of a hero being here for whatever reason.

The gate slowly opens as the men approach and a guard Shouts.

"Come on come on!!! Let's go!" Shouts the guard as he holds the gate open.

After a few moments we all made it through the gate and the guard quickly closed it.

"We were wondering when you'd return Ashton, who's your friends?" Asks the guard as he looks at Mika and his party.

"They're here to see Captain Elliot, kings orders." Answers Ashton as he looks at the guard.

The fort looked as if it had been here for years, the walls were cracked, moss covered parts of the walls, blood was stained everywhere. Yet soldiers remained in this fort and keep fighting to keep everything the way it is.

Suddenly all of Mika's thoughts are interrupted when a big soldier comes into the courtyard of which they are in. Tall, built like a tank, and had long hair and a big bushy beard. Black Hair, brown eyes and seemed to be human.

"I take it you were sent here from the King." Says the man.

"They were Captain Elliot." Responds Ashton.

"We were told to find you and help you push back an army." Says Mika while stepping forward.

"I see, I knew it was true when general Tion told me the king had spoke to a party." Responds Elliot.

"How'd you hear of this?" Asks Mika with a curious tone.

"Magic can be used in various ways." Answers Elliot as he pats Mika on the shoulder.

"Okay, so how can we help push back this army?" Asks Mika while ignoring Elliot hand on his shoulder.

"Well if you really are Mika the one that is believed to be summoned by the 'witch' you'll definitely be able to help by just going out there and fighting." Replies Elliot.

This didn't bother me much, normal soldiers probably wouldn't be able to handle me anyway. This wouldn't be incredibly hard for me to handle on my own but I do need to be on my guard in case they try to kill me.

"Alright then I'll get going." Says Mika while turning back towards the gate.

No one said a word until I reached the gate, the clashing and Shouts of men dying had come to a halt outside. Then suddenly all at once the roars of men ready to take a fort came.

"Open the gate, I'll need to get out there if you expect me to stop them." Says Mika while drawings his sword.

"Fine fine, open the gate!" Shouts Elliot.

My party didn't seem to want me going myself and followed behind, I couldn't change their minds if I tried.

"Well let's go stop or push back this army." Says Mika as he walks out the gate.

Outside the fort, Mika's party continued towards the enemies who could be heard in the distance.

A minute or two passed and the soldiers were quickly seen coming over the dune. It was time for Mika's party to fight and end this battle.

Mika quickly charged in and once he reached the enemies he began slashing away with his sword, sending soldiers to the grave left and right.

Blood splattering the cruel sands of this region and enemy soldiers falling every direction until finally Mika uses a skill.

"Hey be ready, you guys will be able to move since I deem it so. Kill some too if you haven't already!" Shouts Mika as he activates pause.

"45 seconds remaining. " Says a voice.

Mika's party quickly gets to work slaughtering alongside him. Azura using her dagger and mini crossbow to kill enemies while Ella uses her sword to stab through them.

Hiroko using magic to devastate the others that they didn't see and before they knew it everything had started back up.

"Time resuming." Says a voice before fading.

When everything resumed, all were dead except one soldier who fell to the ground when he saw all his dead comrades around him.

"Say what kingdom are you from?" Asks Mika as he puts his sword to the soldiers throat.

"M-Mito. im...from Mito." Says the soldier as he stutters in fear.

"I see, restrain him and bring him with us." Says Mika to the party.

We quickly restrained the soldier and brought him back to the fort with us. We had answered the eastern call the king had sent us here for. So now we have the king of Mybourn's favor and look good at the same time.

People will start to notice that we did something good or rather I did some good. Something someone summoned by a witch wouldn't do so maybe it'll change some people's thoughts.

Upon reaching the fort the soldiers looked surprised to see us return without any scratches or well any damage at all. My armor was stained by all the blood though which I had gotten use to by now.

This world is real, meaning people will always spill blood here if fights occur. At least there hasn't been something to deem it otherwise.

"Who's the soldier there?" Asks Elliot as he gazes at the soldier sitting on the ground.

"A soldier of Mito. Seems King Maziel was right that a war was coming." Responds Mika as he kicks the soldier over.

I had no sympathy for Mito at all, they are that way of their own choice. They can burn in hell.

"Well done, I do have to say I'm glad the king asked you to help. We would've had more soldiers die and probably would've lost the fort." Says Elliot while putting his foot on the soldier.

The remainder of the day we sat within the fort and ate the food they provided us. It wasn't too bad for just doing a huge battle for them.

It's sad how fast killing became normal for me, I never would've expected myself to be like this. This world has shown me I must fight to survive or ill be eaten alive by those who already figured this out.

I've also got the strongest thing this world could've given me, a system from a game that I know so well. This is my advantage that I must always remember, I'll also be able to get stronger faster than others.

Explains why I need to die, these heroes must have an idea of this already. There's no way just Hiroko knew about this, she didn't seem shocked in the least about it.

I need to keep an eye on her still, and these people. Everyone seems to have something up their sleeves around here, I won't die from a back stab.

"Hey Mika is it a bad time to talk" Asks Hiroko as she stands in front of me.

"No what's up?" Responds Mika leaving his thoughts.

"There's a hero coming here, I remember this place. It was on a map in front of everyone during the meeting. I think his name was Shin and he is pretty good." Says Hiroko as she looks down at her hands.

"How strong is he?" Asks Mika while looking at Hiroko.

"Pretty strong, I'd say he's among the top of the heroes. below Sorakami though." Answers Hiroko.

A hero coming directly to me, how foolish.

It saves me the time of looking for them and now instead brings their death even closer than before. Shin I hope you know who you're missing with because this fight won't be easy.

He's still strong even if he's below Sorakami so I'll have to be cautious regardless of if he's weaker than him. Though that leaves me to question who is exactly at the top of the heroes.

"I'll take care of it." Says Mika while looking at his inventory.

Nothing Here will change to make this better for me but this won't be the worst battle I've had. After killing players for years in rpg games and becoming number one in most of them it would be sad for me to lose.

Sorakami got lucky beating me for I didn't know his strength then, but now I do.

Shin won't be too much to figure out I'm sure.

Mika looks out the gate and into the distance. Beyond the furthest dune is a figure wearing black robes and some sort of mask.

(Shin's POV) Across the desert.

It seems the troops failed but no matter, I'll take care of this mess and the king will thank me for it.

You send lower beings to deal with other lower beings and this is what you get, doesn't surprise me. I sense it wasn't just soldiers who take care of these men though.

Mika if you're here, prepare to die because I've heard the rumors of you surviving Sorakami's attack. You won't be so lucky this time I swear that much.

Crossing the dune Shin can see Fort Livot in the distance and continues his travel until he finally notices someone at the gate.

Mika and Shin both look at each other from across the sandy lands. They knew what was going to happen next.

(Mika's POV) Standing at the Gate.

"I need to head out Captain Elliot, please open the gate." Says Mika as he pulls out his sword.

"Alright just be careful with whatever your doing kid." Replies Elliot as he signals a guard to open the gate.

It seems no one else had noticed the distant figure except Mika and Hiroko but that's because of a skill being used.

I know this bastard thinks he'll win but I won't let that happen I swear that on my life. He also won't be touching anyone here.

Wielding his sword Mika starts heading towards the figure who is known as Shin. The figure also starts heading towards Mika until suddenly the winds start blowing everything around.

Mika notices this immediately and realizes Shin isn't phased by it, it seems to be him using something to cloud his vision.

This is going to be one annoying battle indeed. I hate him already.