El Antiguo Guerrero

The test in Mordor

Franni and her newfound friends were seen moving through a long passage that seemed to end nowhere, with the leader of the giant leading the way. Three more giants that seemed like guards stood at their back with a longsword in their hands.

They were clad in golden armour, and a helmet covered their heads.

"Excuse me, mister Giant." Jake's voice booms throughout the whole passage, which makes the rest stop and listen to what he had to say again. "Can I take a few minutes to rest?"

Ariel looked at his face with a hard glare, and Jack could see the terror in her eyes.

If eyes could kill, he was damn sure that Jake would have been more than 6 feet underground now.

"Did you think this was some sort of theatre or comedy room?" The leader of the giants barked with an angry voice. "You seem not to know the kind of trouble that awaits you in the king's chamber? If not, you would have knelt down and started begging for your life. "

Alpha Thane utters angrily, "I'm not a coward. I would rather die like a hero than lie down and beg."

"Puny humans don't learn." One of the guards bellowed from behind and rushed to attack Alpha Thane, but Franni stepped between them.

"Touch my mate, and see my worst side." She spat angrily.

"How many people's mates is he?" The giant leader spoke in front of them with a small chuckle.

"I and junk". Franni replied without thinking twice.

"Don't forget you hate our mate." Junk speaks in Franni's head.

"But she is still ours." She replied.

"Not ours, but mine; mine alone. So get that into your five-year old brain. " Junk snap.

"Shut up and let me talk." Franni snapped back.

"Your voice sucks." Junk mocked

"Yours is the worst". Franni replied.

"Then let's see," Junk elaborated, but before Franni could process what her mate meant, Junk had already taken half control of her body. "Touch my mate, and you shall burn alive." Junk's voice comes out in a threatening tone, but it's deeper than Franni's own.

"What are you doing?" Franni asked in a scary tone.

"What you should have done, but your brain doesn't remind you." She replied nonchalantly.

"If you are done performing your comedy, then follow me right now." The giant leader elucidated while Franni and the rest followed behind him.

"You know, that crazy wolf of yours almost got us into trouble." Ariel whispers in Franni's ear.

"I guess you will have to get used to her crazy attitude," Franni replied. "I just hope she doesn't get us killed one day."

After a long walk, the giant finally took a sharp bend towards a corridor. Right in front of them is the king's chamber, with two giant creatures guiding the entrance.

"Inform King Cassius of our arrival." The giant leader bellowed more in a commanding tone, which made Franni and her friends wonder who he really was. Without hesitation, they watch as one of the guards hurriedly leaves his position and enters the king's chamber. After what seems like forever, he finally comes out and signals for Oreion and the rest to enter.

"Your majesty," Orieon utters with his head bow. "We caught this wanderer in the territory walking around aimlessly."

Franni's eyes traveled around the room, and it was made of pure gold. The floor was made of transparent materials that looked like ice, while the king's seat was made of diamonds.

At first, she did think that their so-called king was also a creature like them, but she was totally wrong. The king is a normal human being with pure blue eyes and dark eyelids. The difference was that he was far taller than anything she had ever seen.

"What brings you to Mordor, human?" His cold and stoic voice jolted Franni out of her thinking world. "We haven't had any visitors here in a long period of time, and I haven't tasted human flesh for a while now. I wonder how sweet you will be. "

"Hope she is not referring to us?" Junk asked Franni.

"He dare not," Franni replied. "Or else, I won't hesitate to shred him to pieces."

"With those weak vampire claws of yours, right?" Junk taunted

"Shut up," Franni snapped, "Can't you see that I am busy?"

"Sorry for yourself, i***t," junk apologizes in a mocking tone. "I wanted to take a nap now, see you later."

"Better," Franni replied, before taking a few steps toward the king's throne.

"We are indeed visitors from the outer world, but our realms are in grave danger and there is something here that could help us."Franni bellowed, in a humble tone.

"Please, Sir Giant," Jake says. He is now moving closer to Franni with the rest. "We are the only hope of saving the realms, and we can't do that without some treasure that you are hosting here in your abode."

"And why should I help you?" The king asked in a sarcastic voice.

"Because the god of death wouldn't spare you." Ariel replied.

"Did you mean Thanatos?" The king asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Alpha Thane bellowed. "If he succeeds in conquering the supernatural realms, do you think he will spare your kingdom?"

"Are you trying to scare us with that titan god name?" Orieon asked from behind them.

"It is not about scaring you," Jack answers, "it is about what must be done before it is too late. Perhaps, we should even join forces together so we can conquer him".

"And why should we believe you?" Orieon explored further.

"Because we have had many encounters with the other stones." Ariel replied. "Three of his men are dead now, and you know what could happen if we act too slowly?"

"How can you possibly handle three stones?" Orieon asked in bewilderment.

"Seeing is believing," Franni replied.

"What are you suggesting?" Orieon asked.

"We should probably settle this by dueling," Jake elucidated. "And if I win, we go with the sword without you hurting anyone."

"The ancient sword is the most precious treasure here in MORDOR." The king's voice boomed throughout the chamber. It was found 100 years ago in the woods on one of our daily patrols and it took more than 20 strong men 15 days before they could lift it to the underground room. So how did you weak beings intend to carry it, talkless of wielding it? "

"How we intend to wield or carry it doesn't concern you in any way," Alpha Thane bellowed. "Just release the sword and let's get the hell out of here." Franni watched as the king stood up from his throne with a dark face. She was the tallest being she had ever seen, taller than she had imagined, and she could see the look of shock on the rest of her friends' faces. The king looked infuriated, and one could guess that Alpha Thane's words hurt him badly.

"As you wish, human." He bellowed in a thick, dangerous voice. "Seize him," he pointed at Alpha Thane. Some giant guards tried to grab Alpha Thane, but Franni cut off their heads with unimaginable speed. Even before Alpha Thane could react, a bright light suddenly illuminated the entire room, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. After a few seconds, the room returns to normal, and there is Franni in her tri-hybrid form.

"Touch my mate, and feel the wrath of a crazy and dangerous wolf." Junk spoke in a dangerous tone that sent shivers down everyone's spine. "As if disturbing my sleep with your noise wasn't enough, you are now threatening my mate with your babyish voice."

"What are you trying to do, junk?" Franni asked her wolf "Don't you know you might get us killed?"

"I am doing what you should have done," she replied. "You are too stupid for my liking."

"Let's try another method," the king suggested. He took a few steps away from his throne and faced Oreion. "Prepare the ring of death and the wild bull arena, then tell General Zod and his brother to get dressed.

"As you wish, my lord," Orieon replied with a bow, and walked out of the chamber.

"What does that mean?" Jake asked Jack in a whisper.

"I can't guess, but I am sure it wasn't something good." Jack replied.

The king said calmly, "The door to the underground treasure is down the hallway," he said, pointing to a dim corridor. "There is more gold, diamonds, and other treasure than you can ever imagine." He cleared his throat and faced Franni before continuing. "I have heard the story of the tri-hybrid prophecy, and I think you are the one they are talking about."

"What does that have to do with what you are planning?" Franni asked, still not understanding what the king was driving at.

"The sword is down in the underground room, but it was guided by a gatekeeper who won't allow you in unless you fight your way in." The king elaborated in a dangerous tone. "According to what I've heard, only tri-hybrids can wield the sword, and you are the only tri-hybrid here. So, that is your own duty. Retrieve the sword and save your realm. "

"What about the ring of death and the wild bull arena that you asked Orieon to prepare?" Franni asked.

"Oh, about that," the king answered with a small chuckle. "It is for your friends. They will group themselves into two and each one will face a tournament. You know, everything comes with a price. "

"Is that the price for showing me the way to the underground room?" Franni asked with a hard face.

"You can choose to leave your mission and join them, or you can walk in and retrieve the sword before it is too late. Remember, your clock is ticking," King Cassius said with a shrug.

Franni tried to argue with him, but Ariel placed a hand on her shoulder with a determined look on her face.

"We have been through the worst. Trust me, we will be fine." She assures Franni.

Franni looked over to the rest and she could see that they were all ready for the quest without any hint of fear in their eyes.

"That is the spirit." The king broke the silence.

"Shall we begin?" Ariel and Jack asked the kings at the same time.

"As you wish, human." The king answered, and a loud cheer erupted from the rest of the giants that were present in the room.

To be determined.

2021 is the year