The Power Of Wrath-Chapter 23: Impatient

Several minutes had passed since Rio decided to rest at the top of the hill, yet no one had come to meet him or even tried to communicate with him.

Instead, troops of soldiers had flooded the base of the hill, barricading it and sending the villages who loitered around back into the village, ordering them not to leave its confines.

From the top of the hill, Rio had gotten to see that other than soldiers dressed in crude animal skin clothes, there were soldiers wearing leather armour and then a few with pieces of iron armour on their being.

"Someone went the extra mile to make sure there is a strict hierarchy in this village"

Fortunately, other than the two-headed direhog pursuing butterflies up on the hill and headbutting themselves, Rio had found another source of entertainment in the mounts that the villagers particularly the soldiers unutilized.

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Just like the soldier of earth had infantry and cavalry, so did the village below and for them, rather than horses which was the norm on earth, they rode a creature which walked on six legs, had a scrawny body with, a hunched back where the riders sat and the head reminisce of an armadillo.

It was the same kind of creature that had attacked him two nights ago while he was asleep.

The way the creatures moved and interacted with the rider, releasing guttural sounds as they circled the hill and roared up at him, kept Rio occupied for a while till he noticed the gathering of a large number of people at the front of the building at the centre of the village and then suddenly a horn that echoed around the whole village was blown.

Bwhooooorn!!

"Things are getting serious"

From the building at the centre a procession which had two people on mounts at the front and a menacing looking cavalry fully garbed in armour behind appeared.

Taking their time, somehow certain that he wouldn't step into the village and would wait for them at the top of the hill, the procession strolled throughout the village, shouts and praises coming from the villagers who stood at the sides of the road looking at the procession, particularly the two at the front with reverence.

Rio watched people fall to their knees in worship, and he was forced to endure this sight till the procession reached the foot of the hill and his gaze was filled with interest.

First, the two mounts at the front of the procession were unique as not only were they bigger than the others he had seen so far, but they also had the distinguishing colour of white and black compared to the grey skin of the others.

The black mount was ridden by a man in armour which shined so much that Rio knew it had to be silver while the white beast was ridden by a woman Rio could best describe as an elite prostitute wielding a staff.

Other than the two entities at the front, the procession continued up it with just 8 men on mounts, the group fearlessly climbing to the top of the hill while the rest of the procession stayed at the base.

"Okay buddy, we got people to kill." Rio said getting to his feet, the group below moving at a rapid pace that saw them reaching the top of the hill within seconds and facing off Rio.

"Do any of you understand me" Rio shouted.

Though he tried for civility, the killing intent radiating from the group and the two-headed direhog's aggressive growls had Rio tightening his hand around his axe, his gaze already focusing on the man on the black mount who gave him the most dangerous feeling.

Observing the brown long hair of the man in silver armour, his tight expression, and his challenging gaze, Rio's spirit burned in excitement as he realized that there might be a thrilling battle waiting for him, but then his gaze moved to the woman on the white mount.

Not only was her presence on the hill odd, considering everyone else was a male dressed for battle, though her presence gave off of no danger it unsettled Rio and while he was still peering into the amused gaze of the woman, she spoke.

"I understand you"

The woman's lips didn't move in a pattern Rio was familiar with, but when the words came out, he understood them.

"So, she's not just some bimbo," Rio thought.

"Who are you"

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"

"I'm Rio."

"Well, I am grandpriestess of the great Vladryl Kingdome"

"Kingdom" Rio muttered looking at the tiny village before looking at the man in shiny silver amour.

"I'm guessing he's chief of this tribe," Rio said already updating his knowledge of where he was, but the grand Priestess's next words had him looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"No, he's King Ark Pulmas, and this is not a tribe, it's his kingdom"

Having a look at the little village and back at the amused Grand Priestess who seemed to understand his doubts yet remained confident in her words, Rio decided to shrug off the problems with what he had just heard and focus on what he wanted.

"He's boiling to battle me, isn't there a chance for civility."

True to Rio's words, while he and the grand priestess conversed, the face of the supposed king had been tightening, a noticeable pressure coming off his being.

"Kill the cursed beast and we can talk"

"Is that the only way?" Rio asked but before he could get a reply from the woman, he immediately performed a roundhouse kick, his foot smashing into the shoulder of a figure who had appeared to his right, swinging his blade down at the two-headed direhog.

With a roar, Rio sent the figure shooting away, flying through the air, falling and digging into the ground as he disappeared into the forest in the distance.

Rio had sensed the danger and moved on instinct and it was only when he looked back at the group that he understood whom he had kicked.

"It seems your king is quite impatient, not a good trait for a leader."

"He's still young and inexperienced, give him some time to grow and he will become a force to be reckoned with, it's unfortunate though that you won't be there to see it."