Earth: The Second

Intruder at the Gate

A soldier opens his mouth widely as airs rushing out of them in one push of breath. “Hoaaaaahmh…” he yawned while trying to rub his eye that hidden beneath the small gaps of headgear. He is leaning back to the wall of the mansion’s gate with a spear that he used to support himself. 

“You did not get enough sleep, sir?” asked the same soldier, that standing on the opposite end of the gate. He wears the exact same attire as the previous soldier. The sleep-deprived one is a senior for the later soldier, it has been custom for the juniors to call people above their rank ‘sir’ as a custom to showing respect. Although both of them are the same grass-root rank soldier, they still hold the same custom.

“Yeah, I decide to take extra shifts yesterday, since my wife is going to give birth to our second girl soon,”

“Eh!? This is the first time I heard about this!” the Junior startled. The senior that he talking with right now, is known for his high work ethic, and rarely be seen at parties at the bar. “Is that why you did not come to the Colonel’s drinking festival a week ago?” 

“I need more money, so you know, extra shifts. The pay is pretty good for extra meals,” answers the Senior. There is a dark bag under his eyes, showing how is this person has been working hard before.

“Isn’t it better to take days off or just rest sir?” asked the Junior. He is concerned for his health since this Senior is one of the people with a better personality. 

“No can do. I heard the security budget will be cut again next week, and I will not able to get as many extras as it is today.

“I see… Wait, what? They will cut out the security budget again?” said the Junior, half-shouted.

“Of course,” Senior’s expression goes grumpy, and he looks up to the mansion behind his back as if he looking directly at the owner. “Duke’s priority is always his entertainment first. To do that, he needs to make more money, which comes from the economy as the second. In the end, he almost thinks that the military gives him nothing, probably because we mainly act under the King’s order. That is why he prefers those adventurers.”

“I have heard about them. Black Claws right? The one that led by the King of Mercenary, Boss?” asked Junior.

“Yep, that one,” Senior is yawning again, he is almost fall, but luckily he quickly regains his sense of balance.

“Talking about the Black Claws, have you heard the news? I heard that yesterday, they lost a battle outside of the city.”

Suddenly, Senior’s eye opened widely, “They lost? What happened?”

“It’s just a gossip I heard this morning, but apparently, some kind of weirdo called ‘Man in Iron’ challenge him, and able to kill two of their member,” 

“Two of their members huh? Do you mean the one with the weird hairstyle and the shortest among them?”

“Yeah, those people.”

“Heh! They are just the weakest among Black Claws. But if we are talking about the big three of them, that is worth talking about,” commented the Senior. “You can not dismiss a mercenary with an actual battle experience with someone who happened to be able to fight back. Mercenaries work to kill, and their fighting style is mainly purposed for that objective.”

“I think so, but what if that weirdo called ‘Man in Iron’ manages to outperform the whole group?” asked the Junior. Suddenly, Senior thought that this is probably one of the good things. The Duke probably will turn to his army if Black Claws cannot finish their job properly, which then led to the increased salary.

But he quickly abandons that idea since he did not want to put too much hope. He knew the story and reputation of the Black Claws. Without the two of their weakest member, the big three would be able to perform stronger, with better coordination with each other.

“I don’t want to keep my hopes too high. They are strong and experienced people,” replied the Senior.

“Really? I think you guys should believe that someone will put those groups down.”

An unfamiliar face suddenly joined the conversation. 

“Wha- where did you come from!?” Senior and Junior are surprised as they lift their spear, prepared to battle. In front of them, a man with white hair and blue eyes, wearing a dark tattered mantle suddenly appeared. They did not hear or see anything or are they too immersed in their conversation instead? 

No matter what, the Senior thinks that this suspicious person has to get rid of. “We did not hear that there will be an appointment with the Duke today. If you want to meet him, you have to submit the necessary document and request permission.” 

“It’s true that I wanted to meet the duke himself, but unfortunately, I don’t want to follow his rulebook,” asked that man.

“Then you have to be prepared to face the consequences! No law-breaker should be left freely!” both the Senior and the Junior prepared a battle stance. Their spear is ready to stab, once that man takes a further step.

“I don’t want to make this much harder than supposed to. What about we work together for a little bit?” from that mantle, the man showed a small purse bag. He shakes it a bit and the clinking sound of coins can be heard.

“Don’t ever expect to buy us off!” screamed the senior as he finally charges forward that mysterious man. But, right before the tip of the spear would pierce him, the man quickly duck. With the move very fast, and in a blink of an eye, he already closes the gap between him and the Senior guard.

“I see you’re too tired to fight. You should not push yourself too hard,” said the man. with the side palm of his hand, the man strikes right to Senior’s nape. 

The guard did not know what has hit him. He only feels the electric surge running from his back, to his whole body, and suddenly, everything goes black.

***

“We have been attacked! The main gate has been breached and the enemy is proceeding to the mansion!” Junior slams open the door of the army’s office, shouting the news to everyone inside of the building. He quickly gets everyone’s attention, where one of his superiors asking what the emergency is.

“Sir! the person that called himself ‘Man in Iron’ has appeared on the main gate of the mansion! He demands an audience with the Duke!” screamed Junior. Suddenly, the air around the office changed, people are whispering with each other about this ‘Man in Iron’ that has been rumored about ever since this morning.

“Don’t just standing there, morons! Get your weapon and quickly go to the main gate! Everyone that present!” screamed the superior to every soldier inside the office.

Eventually, they are seeing with their own eyes what this ‘Man of Iron’ is about. He looked exactly like a man their 25 years old, with short hair, and a mantle. They don’t see anything else, except the gate that has been broken. The steels are bend open, and the walls are cracked from what it seems the attack from that man.

I need you to get everyone’s attention to me.

Adma, AKA: Man in Iron, is recalling what he said to the Junior guards minutes before. Before that, he actually had heard about his Senior guard’s struggle to fed his family. As he hands over the bag of golds to the Senior’s unconcious body, he strikes a deal with Junior. 

My objective is not to kill anyone. If I can get the Duke’s attention and speak with him, it will be enough. Asked Adma.

The Junior, knowing that he himself probably won’t be able to fight against Adma finally agrees. He pretends that Adma is an attacker that had defeated one of the guards, and his task is to warn everyone else of the danger of this man.

All of the soldier that located inside the mansion is now surrounding Adma with sword and spears. There are around twenty of them, and each one already heard about the rumors.

“I demand an audience with Udeka! The Duke of Horundah!” screamed Adma to every soldier that present in front of him.

“HEAAAH!” one of them screamed a battle cry and charging with a spear in his hand.

“Navigator, disarm and subdue,” whispers Adma. He felt a jolt inside his head, and eventually, his body moved automatically. Adma did a roundabout kick, right before the spear came in contact. 

His foot kicked the staff so hard, that the soldier loses his grip and dropping the spear. Adma continues his attack to grab the soldier’s arm, place it on his shoulder, and slam the soldier down to the ground. 

The soldiers stopped moving, but he is not dying. He still growling at what Adma just did. Adma then took the spear that laying on the ground, and held it with both of his hands.

“Notification: spears equipped. Adjust the combat mode according to the weapon in hand.” report Navigator. Once again, Adma suddenly knew what he has to do to fight with a spear. He spins it with both of his hand, and point it towards the swarm of soldiers in front of him. 

“I see, I can do this too,” said Adma to himself. Once more, a soldier trying to attack him with a sword and shield, but with a sweep of his spear, Adma able to punch those soldiers, and flew him back to where they come from. He strikes them so bad the spear he previously obtains suddenly split in half.

“Oh dear,” mumbled Adma. “Probably, I have calibrated myself better when using other people’s weapons,” he said to himself.

“What are you guys doing!? There is just one person in front of us! Get him quick!” screamed one of the superiors.

All of the soldiers that have been watching from distance finally screamed, and charge Adma with weapons in their hands. At first, it seems that Adma might have no chance to fight against this many people, but there are huge differences between them and people like Boss.

For Adma, this soldier’s movement is like a movie played in slow mode. All of them have gaps, wide enough where he can exploit them. His body then moved swiftly, guided by Navigator’s program, Adma land one-two jabs at each of the soldiers that charged towards him.

Every punch is landed right through their solar plexus. Even if they wearing armors, Adma’s strength is way beyond their protection, and in an instant, everyone that comes near Adma ends up growling in the ground while holding their chest.