Kyllian's eyes were locked on Mika who was smiling at the fact his provocation worked.

  " I said, I shit whoreson's like you every morning. "

  Without a word Kyllian walked towards him. Mika took a step back and took a fighting stance.

  " Take your sword out. "

  Kyllian kept on walking while Mika was backing away.

  " I said take your sword out ! "

  Kyllian finally lost patience and rushed Mika, before he could react the trainee guard was sweeped off the ground by a kick and fell on his back. Kyllian stood there looking at him with a smile.

  " I don't need a sword to beat you, and if I did use it, you would be dead, I'm in a good mood today and your captain is watching so I won't beat you to death. "

  He then walked away and returned towards Tsirek, Mika stood up and spat on his back. Kyllian stopped and took a deep breath, finally, he pulled out his short sword from its sheath and the blade made a piercing and vibrating sound as it was exposed to the air.

  " I guess I will beat you half dead then. "

  He then turned around and began attacking Mika, during their fight people could realise that even if Kyllian was fast, he was not a swordsman as Mika could deflect all of his blows with ease. Kyllian's stamina was impressive as it took five minutes of constant attacks for Mika to finally go on the offensive. He began by aiming for Kyllian's footing to disrupt his balance and get an opening. Kyllian dodged the incoming attack by shifting to his left but as soon as he was on only one foot Mika rushed towards him and just like Tsirek had just done to him slashed upward to open Kyllian's guard, the two sword clashed and both of Kyllian's arm were now above his head, his torso completely exposed. Mika smiled as he was ready to strike him.

  " Gotcha ! "

  He lunged forward in order to stab him, as he was about to get hit, Kyllian smiled.

  " Gotcha "

  He then bent himself backwards with incredible flexibility and put both his hands on the ground, in the same motion, he kicked upward as if his leg was a spring and delivered a powerful kick directly into Mika's jaw sending him on his ass. Kyllian got back on his feet and walked up to Mika who was trying his best to stand up.

  " Stay down boy, I kicked you in the jaw, your head is probably ringing right now and you can't tell your head from your ass even if I have to admit the difference is hard to do in your case. "

  " Shut up, I'll teach you some manners. "

  Mika stood up even though his legs were shaking and he was tilting left and right, he raised his sword again but Kyllian sheathed his . A big hand slapped Mika on his shoulder and he turned around to discover Tsirek judgemental look.

  " Sir I - "

  He was instantly interrupted by a punch so strong it made him make a full turn on himself before falling to the ground, the hit had rendered him unconscious. Tsirek let out a heavy sigh and pointed at two guards.

  " Pick him up and get him to the infirmary. "

  " Yes sir ! "

  " The rest of you gather around, and Kyllian come here too. "

  Kyllian approached the captain with a look of defiance.

  " If you expect me to apologise you are mistaken, he came at me. "

  " I am not going to fault you, I did not do that to help you but him. I saw the look in your eyes, it is the look of someone about to kill. "

  " I don't fight for fun, I fight to survive. "

  " You have talent I will give you that young man, but you lack control, I don't know you enough but those bandages makes me think they go with your lack of control, you seem to win because you are crafty and have good instinct but this lack of control will catch up to you sooner than later. "

  " Like you said, you don't know me, I don't need all this military bullshit, I'm here to get a damn stone to save my friend. "

  " Right." Tsirek turned towards all his men who had gathered in the yard. " Listen up everyone! Tomorrow we launch a raid on the mines to finally get rid of the Arachaes, we will split into multiple squads, hunt them and exterminate them all. As you know they reside in the mines east of town, we won't have to personally kill all of them, we are going to flood their nest. Thanks to the dedication of some citizens that used to work there years ago, we learned that they had flooding issues back then. I have aquired maps of the mine, we will move through it, kill the creatures in our way and then flood the bastards. This young man right here killed one by himself without having ever met one, I want you all to listen to him and what he learned during his encounter. By the end of this day, I want all of you to be able to kill one by yourself too. Kyllian, step forward and tell us in detail how it went down. "

  Kyllian took a step forward and looked at the guards divisions, he took a deep breath and started explaining.

  " The one I fought was young but they are smart, they will likely try to ambush us from their burrow so be wary of any hole in the ground or anything that seems to have been filled or covered. Always be fighting as two people, I managed to kill mine because I dodged the one who was hiding, these creatures will use any opportunity to get you. Tf you are on the ground they won't try to hit a non vital spot but will move around you to get to your head and separate it from your body. Their fangs are about the same length as daggers. If they can't get you with speed, they will try to overwhelm you with power and that's when you strike! They will lift their front legs up in order to smash you on the ground, you have to rush them before they do, if you have a spear, kneel and plant the back of it in the ground so they impale themselves on it. If you have a sword and a shield, bash them in their thorax, if you are more than one it will be easier, you can flip them on their back and just plunged your weapon into their thoraxes, if you have a blunt weapon, aim for the part where their thorax and abdomen connects. Don't try to hit the top of their heads, their carapaces seems way too thicc. They can fire a sort of web and will try to position themselves in your blind spot. That is all. "

  Once he was done, he spent the rest of the day helping them practice formations and combat tactics. The fifth and seven divisions were the most experienced, full of veterans that fled wars up north and decided to put their skills to good use. After speaking with some of them Kyllian learned that this city came to be a sort of safe haven for refugees years ago. The count and his father before him wanted to have a neutral city, away from the wars and that whoever you were outside, once you go past the walls, you have no more enemies. " Interesting concept but you can't run away forever, one day or another, Tsungstat or Fardug will win and then it will be Euhya's turn. I'm just focusing on what's important : the blizzard witch. ". On his way back to the mansion Kyllian thought about visiting Dag before going to bed.

  Back at the mansion Yordan was walking in a circle under the gaze of Alyssar.

  " Alyssar, this is madness. "

  " This is the only way. "

  " But you don't know that! You are just assuming that since you heard about something relatively similar that it will work the same! It's way too risky. "

  " Do you have a better idea ?! "

  " Not yet, let me think! "

  " While you think, your friend is dying!! "

  The door opened with a crash and count Amor entered the room with a clear look of anger and annoyance on his face.

  " Why in the ever living fuck are you two yelling so damn loud in my house?! I can hear you from my workshop and it's almost on the opposite side of the mansion! "

  Alyssar slightly bowed to him and took a green book on the table next to her.

  " Sir, we are arguing about a way to heal his friend. I think there is a counter to the Arachaes's poison effect. "

  " And why is it an argument which needs you two to raise your volumes so high that I need to actually come here? "

  " Because I need - "

  Yordan decided to cut her off before she could finish.

  " She wants him to die first. "

  " Almost die! He needs to be on the brink of death and then with the help of a few mages we will place him in an artificial state between life and death during which our antidote can work and get rid of the poison inside of him. "

  " This is way too risky, she thought of this based on legends and tales, not real experiments! "

  " Yordan, I know you are a rational type of man but you are not familiar with the art of alchemy and magic, there are things that some people can achieve that seem impossible at first. But with the effect of the saradane added to the antidote, we can achieve a cure."

  The count let out a heavy sigh and pinched the base of his nose with his fingers.

  " Listen lad, it's not like you have tons of options. Either we try we fail and he dies, we don't try and he dies but we can try, succeed and he survives. I would trust Aly with my own life, trust him to her. "

  " Sir with all due respect, I don't know either of you very well but" Yordan looked over at Dagi who was struggling to breathe and then at Alyssar who had a look that said 'trust me'. Finally, he sighed, his hands on his hips while tapping his foot on the ground. " ... alright, I guess we can give it a shot. "

  At the same time Kyllian entered the room trying to understand what the commotion was about.

  " Hey everyone !How is Dag? "

  Everyone remained silent for a few seconds while he slowly understood that the news wasn't good. They then spent the next hour and a half explaining and discussing the current situation with him.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  " So let me get this straight, you want to make him sleep, put him in a sort of crafted reservoir, fill it with medicinal herbs, mutagens and the saradane and hope he'll come out cured? That's ballsy, I like it. "

  Yordan was still unsure about this whole process but he had no way to protest all the arguments. He stayed at Dagi's side and hoped for him to wake up the rest of the night. Kyllian entered the small room while he was starting to fall asleep, Yordan scratched his eyes when the light from the main room lit the space.

  " Hey "

  " Hey, still not awake ? "

  " No, he is burning up, his fever is the worst and I can feel he is slowly going away. "

  " Hey, don't worry, if what the doc says is right, it's a good thing, tomorrow I will find the saradane and we will cure him. "

  " You seem so certain that it will happen, how can you be so sure ? "

  " Because if I don't succeed I will die, so I will succeed. "

  Yordan smiled.

  " You are way softer than what you seem. "

  " Shut up. "

  " Ahah, go have some sleep, I'll try to send someone to get you if he wakes up. "

  " Don't stay up too late either. Goodnight Yor'. "

  " Hey wait !". Yordan reached into Dagi's pouch and took out a small pot full of the explosive paste. " You might need that tomorrow, Goodnight Kyllian."

  Kyllian grabbed the pouch and nodded.

  " Thanks, don't worry I'll get what he needs."

  The next morning, Kyllian left at the first light of the morning to join the raid party at the guards barracks. When he arrived everyone was ready in ranks, Mika was standing at the front of one of the lines and glared at Kyllian when he passed him. Tsirek was slowly walking back and forth while touching his mustache. The raid was composed of two divisions of veterans which in total was a company of sixty men. Kyllian had some information to share with him before the raid.

  " Tsirek, I need to tell you something about the Arachaes."

  " I'm listening. "

  " The count's personnal doctor found something, the hatchling I killed had female sexual organs while having a male body, apparently they are adapting to reproduce without their queen which mean we can't let even one survive this raid. "

  Tsirek swallowed his saliva, he knew the raid was not going to be easy and that many men would die.

  " Let's hope the creator is with us today. "

  Tsirek took a big breath and began his speech.

  " For the last few years, our safety has been threatened by these beasts, for years we have endured and suffered under their relentless attacks, today, is the day we RETALIATE ! "

  The soldiers cheered, exhilarated by their commander's passion.

  " Today we will live or die by our creed! Guards! What is our creed?! "

  " Protect! Rescue! Sacrifice! "

  " Louder! "

  " Protect! Rescue! Sacrifice! "

  " LOUDER !! "

  " PROTECT RESCUE AND SACRIFICE ! "

  " Move out! To the gates! "

  With this final order from their commander, the small garrison began their march towards the mines.

  The mines were located an hour of horse ride away to the east of the town. The guards were expecting some mild resistance but there were no Arachaes in sight. They managed to walk up to the entrance of the mine with no trouble, Tsirek stopped at the entrance with a torch in his hand, he took a deep breath and threw it as far as he could, the torch revealed the borders of a narrow tunnel where only two men could fit at once.

  " I want ten of you from the fifth division to establish a perimeter of security right here, if anything that doesn't look human comes near this entrance, you pierces it with arrows and blades, understood ? "

  " Yes sir ! "

  " Our success depends on the complete extermination of the Arachaes."

  Tsirek turned around and gave a hand sign to Kyllian, he nodded in response and took out his short sword which let out its usual vibrant sound. The two of them took the lead and were closely followed by the rest of the company. The walls of the mines were all covered with a gooey white substance. In the distance, Kyllian could see rotten corpses stuck to the walls. He placed his hand on Tsirek's shoulder to make him stop. The captain then raised a hand and everyone stopped. Kyllian pointed at the walls to make the captain aware of it.

  " Do your best to not touch any of it, I don't know how easy it is to unstuck yourself from it, it is probable that they will try to attract you or push them towards it, watch each other's blind spots. "

  The raid party resumed their march accompanied by the clicks and clunks of their armors and weapons grating the walls. Finally they entered a room larger with a high ceiling. There were many holes in the walls. Four different tunnels were leading further into the mine but before they could decide where to go, they started hearing screeches and tapping sounds all around them. The guards got in square formations and awaited their enemies. Suddenly, Arachaes started pouring into the room from the holes in the walls and from the tunnels. Tsirek raised his sword and screamed with all his might.

  " Attack !!! "

  In a general roar, the guards faced their enemies and ran to fight. Kyllian was the first to make contact with an Arachae, this one was almost twice the size of the hatchling he fought " so this is a regular one, good, easier to fight, come here fucker ! ". As soon as the creature leaped forward, he slid under it and plunged his sword into its thorax, with them going in opposite directions, the sword split its thorax and abdomen in two. He stood up and immediately jumped over another one coming at him from his left, while in the air, a third one tried jumping at him but luckily it was bashed and flipped on its back by Tsirek who immediately killed it with a deep stab. The two of them joined back to back to cover each other, Kyllian was smiling with excitement while Tsirek was looking everywhere and giving orders to his men.

  " Fifth division, throw your torches into those holes above the tunnel we just came from! Don't let them come from behind! " He then looked at Kyllian. " You don't move too bad for a little shit with no military training. "

  " You aren't bad either for an old fart, I thought you were gonna turn into dust ahah! "

  Soldiers were applying the techniques Kyllian taught to them, keeping the Arachaes at bay until they exposed their thoraxes to them and pierce them with a lance. All of a sudden, guards started dissapearing, Kyllian looked around and realised Arachaes had dug under them and started picking them off one by one.

  " THEY ARE IN THE GROUND !!!!!!!! "

  The ground here was not pure rock, it had been filled with earth in order for the Arachaes to make burrows. Tsirek recognizing this made a decision and started running towards one of the four tunnels they saw when they entered this room.

  " Everyone into the tunnels! We will join up when we can! Quick! "

  The remaining guards engulfed themselves into the tunnels and ran as fast as they could, some of them were getting taken out as they ran from left and right. Screams and the sounds of their armors crushed by the Arachaes were resonating through the tunnels. Kyllian was leading into his tunnel and a few followed him, the rest dispersed into the maze that was the mine. The sounds of fights, screams and boots on the rocks could be heard all around in almost complete darkness. While running, Kyllian was trying to remember the map Tsirek asked them to memorise. " Was it right or left after this one? I can't remember! Shit! ". He decided to turn around and ask the soldiers for directions.

  " Where is the rally poi- "

  He stopped mid sentence after realising that no one was behind him, he was alone in the dark and humid tunnel. He looked around and realised he was at a crossroad between multiple ways. He barely had any time to wonder where to go because he could hear screeches from his left and behind his back, signaling to him that some Arachaes had spotted him and were coming towards him. He began running in the tunnels without caring about where, he just needed a space to hide to catch his breath. He felt a vibration coming from his right and ducked as a reflex right in time to dodge one trying to cut his head off. He kept going, his legs were getting tired and his breath was getting short. He ended up finding another crossroad and looked around. All the tunnels looked the same. Now he could barely hear soldiers shouting and only Arachaes. " It's like they knew we were coming, it feels too much like a trap. We need to regroup somehow ". Before he could take another decision, a Hatchling jumped from the ceiling and fell onto him. He had no time to pull out his sword and was wrestling on the ground to evade the fangs of the creature. The hatchling then managed to push him toward a wall so he had no space to roll away. the Hatchling quickly pounced on him in order to finish him off. Kyllian rolled his knees against his torso and used his legs to kick the Arachae in the thorax to keep it away, he managed to stand back up and take his sword out, instantly the Arachaed fired a web at his leg and his sword hand. Fatigue and the lack of light made evasion impossible and Kyllian found himself stuck on the wall. " Shit ! ". The arachae started to rub its fangs together in anticipation of its meal. " I'm gonna have to use it, come on focus ! ". Before he could put his plan to execution, the creature rushed at him, Kyllian heard a scream coming from his right and Mika emerged from the tunnel just in time to stab the monster and kill it. Out of breath, Mika placed his hands on his knees and took a deep breath.

  " Pfiou, happy to see me ? "

  " I prefered the other person I was having a talk with, less ugly. "

  " I'm dying of laughter as you can see, If u want I can leave you here. "

  " Get me down. "

  " Don't move, it would be a shame if I cut you. "

  Mika used his sword and within a couple seconds managed to cut Kyllian free, he massaged his now freed wrist and looked around.

  " Do you have any idea where the others are ? "

  " No, Everyone got lost and split up. I was heading towards the rally point. "

  " I'll follow you, I don't remember where it is. "

  " You are useless. "

  " Yeah yeah just walk before I regret not killing you yesterday. "

  " You only won because I fought the captain first. "

  The two of them started walking throught the tunnels, after a few minutes they started hearing the sound of battle in the distance and what seemed like Tsirek shouting orders.

  " Watch your flanks ! Three more to the right ! HOOOOOOOOOOLD ! "

  Kyllian and Mika began running to join with the others, all of a sudden Mika stopped and Kyllian bumped into him almost causing him to fall into a gigantic pit. Some light was piercing from the ceiling and they stumbled upon a gigantic hole which they could not see the bottom of. The sides of the hole were organised like stairs for the Arachaes to move within the nest, this passage was the main artery and they could see dozens of them climbing the walls towards the guards defending themselves just one floor above Kyllian and Mika. The two young men began walking up to join with the others. Suddenly Mika's foot was swept and an Arachae began dragging him inside of the wall. Kyllian reacted fast enough to cut the creature's leg off as it let out a piercing screech. Quickly he held out his hand and helped Mika up. On their way up the two of them tried to dispose of as many Arachaes as they could. Finally they reached the group who was fighting, only a handful of them remained. Tsirek bashed a creature into the pit and kept shouting orders.

  " Keep digging, we will hold them off! "

  Behind him, three men were taking stones from a blocked passage behind which probably contained the water needed to flood the nest. As time was passing, more and more creatures were swarming the small group. Kyllian's arms were killing him but he kept swinging his sword, he knew that if he stopped, he was dead. The situation was getting even more dire as they felt a bigger vibration through the ground than before. Something big was heading their way, they needed to hurry because they did not want to know what it was. Kyllian suddenly had an idea. " The explosive paste! " He reached for it on his belt and realised it was missing. " Fuck ! It must have felt when I rolled against the Arachae. ".

  " Tsirek ! I have an idea ! I have something that can make this wall explode and liberate the water in one go. "

  " What are you waiting for then ?! GO ! "

  " Yes sir ! "

  Feeling like he had no time to lose he ran towards the hole and before he reached the edge he planted his sword into the ground and used it to slow his fall, gripping the sword with all his might he managed to go down one level and fall right before the tunnel he just exited. He sprinted to the place he fought and looked around in the mud for it. Finally, his hand closed on something and he took the pouch out of the dirt. Without thinking more, he ran back to the group and before entering the main artery again he heard a scream that made his blood freeze in his veins, right after he saw multiple guards fall into the pit. Something was ripping through them. He made his way up and stumbled upon an horrifying sight, the biggest Arachae he had ever seen was holding a guard in its mouth and flinging it from left to right. " This must be the queen. ". She was almost the size of a small building, all the other Arachaes around were standing still. Against the wall he saw Mika, holding his bleeding shoulder with Tsirek unconscious next to him. The queen noticed Kyllian and closed her jaw, snapping the soldier in half right in front of him, she instantly swung at him with her giant leg and he rolled under it, making his way to Mika.

  " Thank you for joining us in our final moments. "

  " We are not going to die. "

  " I would beg to differ, everyone is gone, I'm injured, you seem to be dead tired and in case you haven't noticed, we are surrounded !! "

  " I have a plan but I need you to close your eyes. "

  " What ?! "

  " Trust me! Close them now ! "

  Mika took a deep breath and closed his eyes, thinking death was coming.

  Kyllian walked slowly towards the queen while unbinding his bandages, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes and began to remember the voice of his mother.

  " You should have ran away and stop whining please, i'm trying to bandage you"

  " But mother, it hurts. "

  " You have to learn how to control yourself. "

  " But they were bullying this kid. I had to help. "

  " You are gifted, you can't use your gift this way. "

  " Why do I have it then?! It's unfair! Why do I get punished and hurt for helping others?! "

  " Life is unfair my son, but remember, You are precious, my child, you will accomplish great things. Never forget. Who. You. Are. "

  " Yes mother. "

  He crossed his arms on his shoulders and focused. His hands and forearms suddenly caught fire and the light blinded the Arachaes. He released his arms to the side with a scream of rage and pain.

  " I hope you like fire! "