THE RIDGE

The bones at the ridge turned red from the blood of the dragus. Their corpses showed deep wounds of arrows. However, not far from them the two unlikely allies were still fighting off what was left of the beasts.

Their back facing one another while they were surrounded by the blind dragus as they hissed and roared, Each exhausted of power. The bartender especially his face was pale.

" Any last thing to say, dreadful merchant! I believe we won't leave this place in one piece." Said the bartender with a cheeky smile as if taunting the merchant.

His heart was beating faster, his face lost its colour. His mind trapped deep in fear. The merchant seemed thin as if he had lost weight.

" Damn! Do I really have to use this?" He shouted.

There was one thing Reiza hated more than anything. It is when he had to spend his own money.

He brought out an old tattered scroll from underneath his robe.

" I knew you hid a lifesaving thing but who would have thought it was a higher scroll." said the bartender.

Scrolls are magic equipment that has been enchanted and drawn by Siris. The advantage of using a scroll is the immediate power it brings and can save its user from a definite peril. The more powerful the siris who enchanted the scroll is the more power the scroll holds. However, the only downfall was it was a one-time use item and was very expensive to obtain.

" You think this things are cheap! I am telling you am burning money! money! here." Said Reiza as he gritted his teeth.

The merchant bit his finger and activated the scroll with his blood.

" Stick close to me Ser, it's about to rain fire."

' FIRE METEORITE' He shouted.

Suddenly, the very ground started shaking, fiery red rocks came falling down from the sky. Each causing huge damage to wherever it fell but strangely enough not one of the rocks fell near the merchant.

The dragus hissed and groaned in pain but it was too late for them. None of them escaped in time. They were all caught in the spell. The fire was so strong that it turned their very bones into ashes.

This was the power of a higher scroll. To call upon the power of the heavens unto thy enemies. The situation was now reversed as the only one standing alive were the calculative bartender and the dreadful merchant.

Reiza gasped for a deep breath and laughed maniacally, " I shall not die today! Your damned beasts! I shall survive this ordeal and go back safely."

Had it not been for the higher scroll, this two would have most certainly not survived. It is true when they say wealth is also power.

" I wouldn't be so sure about that! True we had just survived through a horde of beasts but we are still in the Ridge." Said the bartender.

When Reiza heard that he suddenly lost all vigour and hope as if he was awoken from the nicest of dreams and back into the harsh reality.

" Come let us go in this direction! I can see clusters of fire." said the bartender. He almost fell after he took the first step but Reiza held him just in time.

" Now! Now! you're still drained of soul power. Let us take it easy. Eat this herb. It should restore what you have lost." Said Reiza. It was hard for him to give such an expensive herb for free but for the sake of his life he had no choice.

After ingesting the herb and restoring his soul power the two men started moving again towards the small clusters of fire the bartender saw from the distant.

Meanwhile at the cluster of fire was where the group of the coward prisoners who were sent by their foolish king to look for the golden city of the witches.

Lucky for them there was no beast that had attacked them, Up until a while ago when they were peacefully hurdled together and about to fall asleep, and out of nowhere a young boy appeared. He looked raggedy and bloody and held an axe in his hand.

" Enemy Attack! Get the hell up everyone!" one of them shouted.

Their reaction time was very poor. It took them long enough just to ready themselves to defend. Had it been a real enemy attack they would have most certainly perished with the first few seconds.

" Where is this? Who are you?" asked the boy as he looked around trying to find his bearing.

The prisoners looked at each other and had no idea what to say.

Their self-appointed leader stepped forward with caution and shouted, " How dare you sneak upon us! Where did you come from? you wretch!"

" What the hell are you doing? Don't you see! He is just one boy! Get him tonight we shall enjoy." His eyes were full of lust.

The boy was none other than Diaz. The stubborn one who wouldn't leave without seeing Keiser. He was one of the six people who entered the portal when it became unstabilised.

The six of them were separated and sent to different locations in the forest.

Aye, he was very brave and courageous but not strong enough to fend off a group of fully grown men.

He put up his damaged axe and started taking a few steps back. " Don't come any close or I will fucking kill you." He clearly heard and could see the lust in their eyes.

The ridge was a place of death and betrayal, a survival of the fittest but sometimes it was better to face off against the terrifying beasts than facing off against ones own for they are much crueller and evil.