The Hollow Warrior

Xao Chang was sitting in the hall and was looking at the walls of the palace. Assayah looked at him and asked, "What are you looking at, Master?" Xao Chang said grimly, "The paintings are wrong. There is only scenes of the incidents that shows only the strength of the elves. But, in reality we were dominant most of the time. King Alacapa rarely faced us in the battlefield. He only faced me when I attacked the palace but I defeated him then too." Assayah smiled, "Everyone likes to show their strengths, Master. They shows theirs and we should show ours." Xao Chang looked at Assayah and said, "Tell Nakamura to bring me the people of Ganzi City. They must know something about the incidents that happened before my arrival." Assayah said grimly, "We have interrogated them. They don't know much about the incidents. Kayuba and Bayu attacked them and as far as I heard, two queens fought." Xao Chang said, "I know about the fight. I am asking something different. Manaca must have completed the Blood ritual. I can feel it. We have to release Xao Lin." Assayah asked, "Didn't you say that Xao Lin is already released?" Xao Chang said grimly, "Xao Lin is released. But, not physically. His spirit has woken but he is still trapped inside the volcano. We have to release him. Overconfidence has ruined many things." Assayah asked, "What about resurrection?" Xao Chang smiled, "Resurrection? Resurrection is not an easy task. We have to rely more on brain than strength. We have to keep fighting for the honour of Xao Lin. It is our foremost duty." Nakamura appeared and said, "I caught one elf in the kitchen. They know where Aliyah and her friends go?" Xao Chang looked at them and asked, "Tell me honestly. Where did Aliyah and her friends go?" The elf looked at Xao Chang and said in a nervous tone, "I heard that there is some friend in the Dailo Mountains somewhere. I don't much more than that." Xao Chang grabbed his head and throw it inside the burner. Xao Chang smiled, "Dailo Mountains is a very big place. We cannot enter there without proper plan. We could have easily defeated them but Mother Manaca destroyed everything. If she was still in the Monastery, we would have won the war already by now." Nakamura said, "I will bring her head to you. Just give me three days." Xao Chang said, "I trust you but Dailo Mountains is not a good place to show your confidence. The thick forest and the harsh vegetation is going to destroy you. I advise you to keep patience and wait for the arrival of Xao Lin." Nakamura looked at him and went away. Xao Chang looked at Assayah and said, "Call Kystion and Kavana." Kystion and Kavana arrived and bowed before Xao Chang. Xao Chang rose and patted their shoulders, "I have always liked people who chose to be my loyal dogs. I will shower you two with generous gifts and powers. I have a job for you two." Kavana asked, "What job?" Xao Chang smiled, "I received news from an unknown source that Aliyah and her friends are currently hiding in the Dailo Mountains. I want you two to go there with half of your army and bring me that girl, Alice. I want her. She will be powerful but not enough to kill such a big army. Kill anyone who comes in your way. I don't want any hindrances in my way." Kystion asked, "But, what about Mother Manaca?" Xao Chang smiled, "Mother Manaca will not be able to harm you. She stayed in the Monastery for five centuries and most of her power is now vanished. She will not be able to defend for a long time." Kystion and Kavana bowed and walked towards their army. Xao Chang looked at Assayah and asked, "Where the hell is that asshole Kenchi?" Assayah shrugged.

Kenchi was walking around when he saw two men walking inside the prestigious brothel of the Elf Kingdom. Kenchi looked at one of the man and said, "Just a minute, gentleman. I think you have forgotten your wallet." The man turned and looked puzzled. Kenchi took out a dagger and slit his throat. Kenchi thrusted the dagger inside the other man's neck and then his their bodies. He wore the clothes of the men and walked inside the brothel. The woman on the entrance said, "Welcome, sir. Have a nice night." Kenchi smiled and went inside. The whole hall was filed with prostitutes waving and kissing the ongoing customers. Kenchi looked around and saw a door where a big lock was hinged. He looked at the door and then slowly opened the door. He entered inside and saw only darkness. He mumbled, "My weapon should be here. The last time I left it here, it was under a small box." Kenchi started scrambling things and then finally he found a small box. He opened the box and a small pen was inside the box. He took the pen and pressed the nib on the ground forcefully. The nib broke and the floor started to open. He laughed with joy as he saw his weapon there. He took out his weapon and then blew the dust over it. He held the weapon in his hand and slowly the weapon started glowing. The weapon was Kenchi's power that he stored it the weapon five centuries ago. The weapon was an ordinary glaive, but the power in it made it more powerful than ever. Kenchi was about to go when twenty ladies entered the room and looked at Kenchi. One of the ladies said angrily, "That is our ancestral glaive. It was wielded by our house lady when she fought bravely against a powerful demon named Kenchi." Kenchi smiled, "Yes. I am an eye witness of that fight. It was very painful for both of them. Your house lady screamed all the time." The ladies ran towards him with swords. Kenchi smiled and sliced his way through the poor ladies like butter. He smiled and walked outside the brothel as the dead bodies of the ladies fell one by one behind him.

Aliyah and Vexana were sitting near the fire and were looking at the small dust circling the fire. Vexana looked at the sky and asked, "When all of these will end, what will you do?" Aliyah smiled, "I will get salvation and may go to heaven." Vexana smiled, "Heaven is a very distant place for you. You are not the best of people." Aliyah smiled, "I don't know. But, I need salvation and it will be best for everyone." Vexana said grimly, "The moments we spent together. Do they give you happy emotions?" Aliyah smiled, "Of course. They are the most beautiful moments of my life. I want to treasure them inside my head forever." Vexana asked, "Won't you forget everything after you attain salvation? What will I do without you?" Aliyah smiled, "Live. Stay alive and find a new lover. Someone much better than me. I know that I have not been the one who brought happiness but please never hate me for it. My life was already quite messed up at that time and I just didn't want you to mess up your life too. Therefore, I maintained distance from you which you thought to be my heartlessness." Vexana smiled, "Everyone's life was messed up, Aliyah. I don't hate you and I will never be able to hate you even if I want to. Your love has occupied all the space in my heart and there is no space for hate there. But, I do have regrets. You never tried to learn about my feelings. You always made yourself the judge of our relationship and made all the decisions yourself. You never even tried to know about my feelings at all." Aliyah smiled, "I tried, Vexana. But, the world didn't reciprocate my feelings." Vexana smiled, "You and the world don't go very well together after all. Anyway, I think we should stay here till Xao Chang attacks. There is no advantage in being brave and attacking first." Aliyah said grimly, "I totally agree with you. Xao Chang is a shrewd person and he must have thought everything beforehand. But, he may also attack this place if we stay here for too long." Vexana said grimly, "We have to talk with Mother Manaca about it. She will be able to help us." Aliyah and Vexana rose and walked towards Mother Manaca. Rachel looked at them and smiled, "I know what you two are thinking. But, that thought is impossible. We cannot change this place. The war is inevitable and there is no point in delaying it further. We will defend ourselves if Xao Chang sends his people here." Aliyah and Vexana looked at each other and smiled. Alice looked at them and asked, "Where are Elena and Trisha?" Aliyah looked at her and said, "Elena was killed by Leo whom we have punished accordingly and Trisha is still in Mount Tysogame. I think we should send Trisha back to the mortal world. She is still quite weak and I don't want her to end up like Elena too." Alice said grimly, "No, she will stay here. It is her duty to fight here. She already sacrificed many things from her life to stay here with me. Sending her home or considering her weakness will be a cardinal sin. She deserves to fight alongside me in the war." Vexana smiled, "She talks just like a warrior. I think she is ready." Rachel said grimly, "No. She shall not fight. Xao Chang needs Alice and he will try everything in his power to kidnap her. Our main priority is to safeguard Alice and we cannot let her fight in the front line. She will stay secure here in the village hut. Elgin and Aliyah will be with her. Vexana and I will fight outside." Alice said grimly, "If I cannot fight, what is all the power about? Am I just a doll?" Rachel smiled and patted her shoulder, "No, my child. You are not a doll. You will fight when the time is right. You are the one who is destined to fight and kill that monster. We are just here to protect you from any harm." Aliyah said grimly, "Protecting her will be a bad decision. She can only increase her power if she boils her blood with rage and ruthlessness." Rachel smiled, "Ruthlessness? If we also start fighting with rage and ruthlessness, what will be the difference between them and us? The Blood Spear is all about honesty, compassion and justice. We even forgive our enemies if they surrender." Aliyah lowered her head and walked away silently. Rachel smiled, "Fragile ego is the worst thing that can be in a warrior. Aliyah pretends to be righteous but deep inside a darkness is there. A darkness that frightens me." Vexana and Elgin looked at each other. Diana looked at Rachel and said, "Aliyah is a sweet person. Everyone has some kind of darkness inside them. No one can be the most perfect person in the world every time. She never got her mother's love and also never saw compassion from her surroundings, so she turned up so messed. She needs a kind heart and strong mind to control herself." Rachel smiled, "She repels everyone from her that shows love and compassion towards her. She is incorrigible. But, sometimes her repulsive nature does some good to others. Vexana would have died that day if she was with Aliyah. Elgin would have been a sad person if his relationship hadn't deteriorated with Aliyah over time. I understand what you are trying to say, Diana but she is her own barrier. No other person can help her, except herself." She rose and said, "Keep your defenses ready, Diana. Xao Chang will attack anytime." She smiled and walked away...