Heart Of A Warrior

Heart of a Warrior
By Khairul Nazran

Three words…………

Rage……..

Depression……….

Sadness………

There are three things that fuel him to hack away his enemy. A stab in the chest, a slit at the throat and decapitation slash at his enemy. He already being fighting for 30 minutes but he shows no sign of slowing down. Max, the usually calm knight of the Wendesia, became a killing machine. All of this because of one thing.

(Flashback)

Max was writing a letter to the Solevent government to discuss about livestock exports. His wife, Birgit enters the room.” Max don’t you need a rest for your trip to Solevent?”

“But I’m writing the letter for your exports of live stock to Solevent.Birgit sighed loudly.”Fine, fine but if you became too tired for tomorrow. She shows her bow and arrow. “You will have to avoid this.”Max just smiled at his wife antics.

The next day……

Max just gotten up from bed when a soldier burst in.” Sir, the Solevent declare war on us and there are approaching from the forest. Max’s face was carved with shock. Why would Solevent declare war with us? Apperently, they want to take our gold and profit than sharing it. The soldier said. Max snap back from his trance.” Order all available units and assemble at the Town Square!” Yes sir!” The soldier ran. Max quickly grab his armor and sword and ran to the Town Square.

Town Square

“Every soldier available gathers at the Town Square. Everyone became quiet when the mayor, Sir Machblade raised his hand.” We will counterattack the Solevent at the north-east forest. To unsure the village safety, half of you should stay while the rest of you should ambush the Solevent army. We……….”Machblade continue to give his speech for several minutes which effectively increases the soldiers spirit of fighting, their eyes shine brightly with fighting spirit. All of the brave soldiers raise their weapon and gave out a loud warcry which echoes throughout the town. All the citizen watch with awe at their window. At the corner of Max’s eyes, he watches Birgit with a sad look at one of the shop.

As the soldiers get ready at the gate, Max took the opportunity to see his wife. He stared his wife who was avoiding his gaze. Before he spoke, Birgit said.

“So, you are leaving?” A sad tone that delivered a stab to his heart. He hate when she is sad.

“I am afraid so. But don’t worry, I will return safely!” ax said and laugh aloud. He glances at his wife who just smiles slightly.

“You better don’t die, or I’ll spit on your grave.”Birgit said with overly sickening sweet voice that a brave knight will even ran to his mummy. Max quickly made a mental note “Hell’s Fury is nothing compare to a Women’s Scorn so don’t die.”

Max gave a hug to his wife and went to join the others at the gate. He positions himself on his horse beside his best friend, Duzra.

“Hey Max, what with the look?”Duzra said with a smile visible behind his helm.Duzra was a unique one in his squad. He hates formality, so he usually talks casually.

“It’s nothing, Sir Duzra.”Max replied with a fake smile.

“I told you to skip formalities!”Duzra said.”Sheesh, if something bothering you let it out.”
Max just smiled.

Max looked behind him to see at least 200 people wearing a full body armor, equip with a sword, axe, mace and bows. Ready to risk their life for the town. When he was ready, he said.

“Everyone! Let’s move!” He signaled his horse to move. The squad of 200s went to war, bravely and to return as heroes and die as warriors or kill with shame and return as failures.
North-East Forest

“Sir, we have arrive!” a scout said.

Max took a good look and said. “Alright, we should set…….”

Before Max can finish his sentence, a volley of arrows shot out from the right, killing a few soldiers and Max took out his twin katana which he receives from a government from Japan. The Solvent army emerged from the east.

His spun his body to avoid some arrows and charged at an enemy, thrusting his right katana to the enemy’s soldier’s heart, killing him instantly. The soldier’s squad member became enraged with their friend’s death, their charged dumbly. Using the dead soldier’s body as a shield, he did an upper slash to a soldier and follows it up to a down slash at the soldier opposite. Using the momentum, ax cartwheel kick the former soldier, breaking his neck. Max did a rapid stab to the latter soldier which kills him.

Max glances at Duzra who was hacking the opposing soldier with his giant sword.
“I see you are not slowing down.” Max said with a grin.”
“I know I’m a bit rusty but I’m good”Duzra replied while fighting with a dumb soldier.

After several minutes of fighting, The Wendesia forces won the battle but…..

“Max, don’t you think it’s weird, the Solevent sending only this much to attack wendesia? I thought they had catapults and more archers but according the bodies, it is a far cry to Solevent real number.”Duzra said while scanning the field.

“Aye, this number can be eliminated with a simple mecernary.why the Solevent send these forces unless.” Max’s eyes widened.’ They are bait’

Max expresses his fear. “These squads are bait. The real forces are attacking the town!”

“What!!”Duzra said in shock. His eyes glistened with fear, his whole body trembling.

Immediately, Duzra commanded “Everyone return back quick!!!!This battle is a decoy.Solevent is attacking the town.

All the soldier react immediately and head for the town when a volley of arrows shot out from the forest.

The ambush surprises most of the soldier, only half of them escape while the others struck by the arrows.Thus, the second battle starts.

The sound of metal clashing rings the air and echoes the silent forest. Now the table have been turned.Solevent are winning. Most of the soldier was tired after the first fight so most of them were killed. Only a handful survived.

Duzra was fighting very well until a stray arrow headed from him.

Max realizes it and shouts “Duzra watch out!!!!”But it was too late…..

The arrow landed right at Duzra’s heart.Duzra scream with agony and with a sickening sound, pulls out the arrow. With every ounce of his strength, he swings his giant sword like a disc, killing several soldiers.

Duzra instantly collapse. Ax rushes to his side.

“Duzra don’t die!!!”Max said.

“Hehehe, I fell my end is near, boy.That blasted arrow has a poison tip.Max, abandon this forest and safe the town. You hear me.”

Max trying to hold back his tears seeing his best friend dying in front of him.

“So goodbye, Max”Duzra close his eyes. Never opens them again.

Max who was filled with sadness, but the sadness turns into determination as he hops on a horse and order it to run towards the town.

The town of Wendesia

The town’s shape was terrible, bodies scattered around, buildings destroyed and on fire. Blood were everywhere. The sight hurts Ma deeply.

He began to move towards one of his worries,

His wife.

Soon, he arrived at the Town Square and saw the body of his former leader, Machblade pinned to the wall by a sword in his stomach. He was still standing and holding his sword. By the bodies of Solevent soldiers around him.Machblade put a decent fight.

Max offered a silent prayer and continue running to his house.

When he arrives at his house, he saw Birgit at the lawn fighting with a soldier. But when Max just wants to help her, a soldier slashes Birgit across her back with a heavy broadsword.

With a soft ‘epp’Birgit fall on to the ground, lifeless.

Max saw the whole incident with shock. The shock turned in to sadness, sadness turn into pure rage.

With a warcry, Max withdrew his twin katana and hack the remaining soldiers there. All soldiers there were eliminated in less than a minute except one.

Max pulls him by the collar and asks with a voice fill with an extreme amount of killing intent.

“Where are the others?”
“T..t.t.t.t…they are at the gate. Please don’t kill me!!!”
“Oh, I won’t kill you….”Max said with a grin.
“Oh thank you sir, thank you, thank you, thankyou!”
“But I will behead you.” Max said with pure sarcastic tone.
“Wha….”

Before the soldier finishes his word, Max beheads the soldier. Quickly he head for the gate.

*Flashback ends*

And there he was, hacking the entire soldier gracefully and without missing a beat until a several arrow get to strike his back. Max resists the pain and beheads two more soldiers. Some soldiers have lost their guts and ran away. Because of the arrows, Max movement became a little bit sloppy.

A soldier found a chance and strike Max in the chest. The world around him became blurry, yet he still fighting.

After several minutes, a soldier stabs two swords in Max’s chest. He couldn’t say anything when he collapses.

He knows he will die because the wound is fatal. He hears his wife said in his mind.
‘Goodnight, Max’
‘Goodnight, Birgit’
With that, Max, the knight of Wendesia, die in honor.

World History……
1576….
The town of Wendesia vanishes from the map…..
Because of Solevent greed for power……
But Wendesia’s hero fought bravely until he dies in the battlefield……
Few days later, Solevent meet their doom, when Dragna government takes revenge for their ally, Wendesia defeat…………