The Great Oni
Volume (1) Chapter (16)
When lunchtime came, the four family members ate together.
Suddenly Commander Sandar arrived, bowed, and saluted.
"Forgive the interruption, Your Majesty. An urgent matter has arisen."
Artha frowned, glanced at Yeti once, then rose.
Yeti merely lifted her brows, nodded to Artha, and smiled.
"What is it, Commander?" Artha asked calmly once inside his office.
"Five thousand troops from Earthquake Empire's frontier garrison town—Ryetin—are on the move. It's the elite 'Fire-Nine' force, sire. Their heading is… here."
Sandar's face was stiff as he spoke.
"Very well. From Ryetin, they'll take one day to reach us. Prepare our defenses," Artha said without a flicker of change.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Nothing, sire," Sandar replied, puzzled at Artha's composure.
Artha smiled, patted Sandar's shoulder. "Don't worry, Sandar. We'll win for sure."
He returned to the dining room. Wiping Victor's messy lips, Yeti asked, "What is it, Artha?"
Artha drank a cup of water and answered, "Nothing big. Five thousand Fire-Nine soldiers from Ryetin are headed our way."
Yeti raised an eyebrow. "Shall we cut them off inside Natin Forest?"
Artha nodded. "Yes, that's the plan. We leave at dawn."
Yeti nodded too and focused on eating.
---
Next morning before sunrise, Yeti donned a black leather combat suit and carried a bow.
She had about fifty arrows in her quiver, and at her waist hung a light sword about two-and-a-half feet long plus two short blades.
Beside her, Artha wore a tough leather cuirass and a four-foot sword at his belt.
Nearby stood two splendid steeds: a black stallion and a white one.
The black steed, about two meters long, was muscular—Artha's mount.
The white horse, likewise two meters long and well-muscled, was Yeti's.
Looking at the white horse, Yeti recalled falling off during riding lessons and bruising her hip.
She vaulted onto the white steed.
"In about an hour they'll be here," Artha exhaled.
"Let's wipe out at least half of them. The prisoners can be used as labor," Yeti replied, flicking dust from her arrow-shaft.
"All right—let's go," King Artha's deep-blue eyes flashed as he moved out.
Pretty Yeti smiled once, toyed with the white horse's mane, and followed her king.
---
Five thousand Fire-Nine soldiers in red leather were marching through Natin Forest toward Artha's kingdom.
"Why did Father send five thousand Fire-Nine troops against such a tiny realm?" a mounted youth asked.
He was Earthquake Empire's third prince, wearing pale-blue garments under plate armor.
Beside him, a rough-voiced commander answered:
"Though small, the realm sits on the border, Your Highness. They watch our moves and constantly relay news to the Sun Empire. We can't have that."
The prince frowned. "But isn't that kingdom ruled by Prince Artha? Why is he helping the Sun Empire?"
The commander shook his head. "It's more tangled than it looks, Your Highness.
"The Sun Empire's prime minister has effectively controlled two generations of monarchs. The current king is a tiger covered in sheep's hide.
"The prime minister saw Prince Artha's potential, so he backs the Sun-Empire second prince, Yunis.
"Prince Artha's 'rebellion' was likely the prime minister's trap. That way, once Prince Yunis ascends, the prime minister keeps control."
He explained quietly and clearly.
The third prince smiled. "Interesting, then. Prince Artha might be worth capturing alive. If he's truly capable, I'll put him under me."
"Whoosh!"
Just then, an arrow flew from a hundred meters away toward the prince.
Smiling lazily, he drew his sword and flicked the arrow aside.
"Thann."
The blade vibrated, his wrist tingled, and the prince smiled. "Huh, interesting."
The commander barked orders. "Protect the prince! Three companies, investigate!"
Over a hundred cavalry spurred toward the arrow's origin.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
Before they got far, three arrows in quick succession pierced vital points, killing three soldiers.
"Voom!"
A shadow leapt, kicked a thick tree, snapping it. Two more soldiers were badly injured and out of the fight.
"Whoosh!"
Arrows poured out like a machine gun—ten shafts each second—piercing vital points of ten men.
So far, none of Yeti's arrows had missed.
She was perched in a tree, and her movements were lightning-fast.
After a moment, the Fire-Nine soldiers managed to respond, firing into her perch.
Yeti plucked an enemy arrow, slipped it into her own quiver, and withdrew deeper into the woods.
Meanwhile, Artha had plunged among the cavalry, killing at close range.
Though the riders were elite Fire-Nine warriors, they couldn't compare to Artha.
Within one minute, the cavalry retreated.
Artha seized a rider's spear and hurled it at the third prince before withdrawing.
Even at two hundred meters, the spear reached the prince.
He didn't dodge; channeling full power, he slashed.
"Thann!"
The spear's shaft shattered, his wrist numb; the prince smiled faintly. "So, you've awakened martial spirit too."
Seeing the prince deflect his spear, King Artha's deep-blue eyes flashed brightly.