The Skull Warrior

by Yajat Sharma

  “All right.” James sighed as he looked over the lake. “The water is muddy. How do I see underwater?”

  Lynx cleared his throat. “Ever heard of magic?”

  “Oh,” James said.

  “Here, take this pill,” Lynx said. “It will enhance your eyesight underwater. Any more questions, sir?”

  “Nope. It’s all fine. Let’s start,” James replied.

  “Bring the rope,” Lynx said to the Scavenger. He continued, “Let’s go over the plan a final time. We put James underwater with a rope as bait for Scoshag. As soon as James sees it, he tugs on the rope and we will lift him. The crab would, in all likelihood, follow James and break out from the water into the air. James lifts the water, the crab lands on the ground. The Scavenger goes in with the cage and traps the crab. Simple.”

  “All right.” The Scavenger clapped his hands. “Let’s do this.” Everyone wished luck to a shivering James.

  James jumped into the Gokru Lake and started to swim. The pill had enhanced his eyesight and he could see the lake bed. It was very ugly inside with loads of pieces of smelly mud floating around.

  James’s ankles had started to turn numb due to the tightness of the rope around it. But, James continued to swim. The rope was very long and robust. Nothing happened for a while. James started to feel drowsy and his eyelids started closing.

  Suddenly, the sand beneath rumbled.

  James’s eyes opened at once and he became alert. Had something moved? Or was it just his imagination?

  James got the answer almost at once, as a hole in the ground opened and the Scoshag started to come into view. James frantically tugged at the rope.

  Nothing happened.

  He tugged harder. The Scoshag was almost out of the hole, but no one seemed to be pulling him out.

  James’s heart sank. He had feared this. The ones holding the rope would get distracted, no one would pull him out and the Scoshag would eat him up.

  The Scoshag emerged from the sand bed of the sea.

  James almost screamed. They had completely underestimated the size of the crab. It was enormous. James could see two little spots on its head – its eyes. They moved all around, trying to locate its prey.

  James was having a bad day. As James tugged harder, the rope broke away from his ankle and he started falling towards the Scoshag.

  As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Scoshag’s eyes focused on James.

  James looked the crab straight in the eyes and focused as hard as he could. He used his Elemental Powers to shoot a sharp stream of water into the crab’s eyes. The confused crab momentarily stopped in its tracks. But it soon located James and swam towards him. James knew he was no match for the creature as he desperately tried to swim away from the Scoshag.

  Meanwhile, on the banks, as the Scavenger talked and laughed with the others, suddenly Matt noticed something.

  “Hey,” he said to the Scavenger. “Don’t you feel that the rope isn’t taut?”

  The Scavenger pulled the rope. The entire rope came flying up into the air, and James wasn’t there.

  The Scavenger’s face went white. “Oh my God!” He instantly pulled out the cage, swallowed a pill to enhance his eyesight and dived into the lake.

  James dodged the crab for the fourth time and saw the Scavenger on the far side, looking around. James heaved a sigh of relief.

  The crab had now turned its attention to the Scavenger and went after him. The Scavenger hid behind a large rock on the seabed.

  James got an opportunity to concentrate. The water all around him, though dirty, was water after all, and it gave him a comforting strength. He knew what to do.

  Not five seconds had passed before all the water in the lake lifted into the air. The crab landed on the lake bed, confused once again. The Scavenger rushed towards the crab with his cage.

  Lynx, No One and Insanity jumped into the lake bed and surrounded the crab from all sides. Before the Scoshag could comprehend the situation and escape by changing his shape, the Scavenger leapt at the Scoshag with the cage. The cage expanded along the length of the crab, enveloping it.

  The Scoshag was trapped.

  “Move out. I can’t lift the water anymore!” James shouted. Everyone rushed out onto the shore. James let go of his control and tonnes of water crashed down on him.

  James swam out of the water. Everyone clapped and complimented James for his bravery. James’s previous anger at the Scavenger’s carelessness was forgotten as suddenly, he was struck with a plan.

  “Well, that went well,” Lynx said. “Now that we have the crab, we can go get the Trident.”

  “Let me first rest for a while,” James said. “I am exhausted.”

  “You deserve it, James. Rest for a while, while we strategize our next move.” Lynx said while sitting down on the banks of Gokru Lake.

  James raised his finger. “About that only. While we rest, we can plan how to attack Hothel. Hothel won’t be defeated in a normal fight. That’s why… I have an amazing plan.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Lynx asked.

  James said, “I am depending on three things. Wormholes, invisibility and cleverness.” He looked around.

  “Wormholes are no problem,” Insanity said. “Making wormholes is no big deal. “Cleverness is abound here. But invisibility…”

  Lynx spoke up. “I know what to do about it.”

  “Then listen up everyone,” James said. “Let me reveal my master plan.”

  In three hours, they had gone over the entire plan and were rejuvenated after the rest. Everyone was nervous. The plan was risky, as usual, and included everyone. If anyone messed up, then it was over.

  Insanity relayed some instructions. “Okay, let’s walk to the beach of the Sea of Trion, which is also called the Devil’s Sea. Hothel lives deep inside the sea and always carries the Trident.”

  “Hey, we have the Devil’s Sea on Earth too,” James said. “Countless people have disappeared there. I always wondered what happened to them. Where did they go?”

  “What do you think?” Insanity said.

  Gears clicked in James’s brain. “You don’t mean to say -”

  “Yes,” Insanity confirmed.

  “What?” Archer asked, seeing James’s astonished expression.

  “Invisible energy tunnels connect a few seas on Earth to the Dark World,” Insanity said. “One of them is the Devil’s Sea, where there is a place called the Bermuda Triangle. People who ‘disappeared’ there fell into one of the energy tunnels and got transported to the Dark World, to a place called Island of Humans.”

  “That’s impossible,” James said, dismissing the thought at once.

  “Trust me, I have seen and even met them,” Insanity said. “I have seen large ships, vessels and aeroplanes.”

  “If that’s the case,” James said. “And if what you say is true, then why don’t the persons take the tunnel and return to Earth?”

  “I think that must not be possible. Moreover, why would the humans want to go back?” Insanity said. “Many scientists and engineers worked for years to make luxury after luxury in the Island of Humans. Posh malls, huge mansions, beaches, sports complexes, you name it and it will be there. So no one wants to leave the place so filled with luxuries. ”

  “Wow, that’s wonderful!” James exclaimed.

  After a few minutes of walking, they reached the seashore.

  The Scavenger put the cage on the soft sand and waited.

  “It could be a long wait. And we have to be ready all through. No rest for anyone,” the Scavenger said. “Just remember the plan. Everyone.”

  Several hours passed, and nothing happened. The Scavenger picked up the cage and dipped it in the water.

  Archer started doubting the whole thing. He said to the Scavenger, “Will Hothel come? For how long are we expected to sit here?”

  Before the Scavenger could reply, all of a sudden, there was a massive ripple in the water.

  “He’s coming,” the Scav
enger whispered to everyone. “Lynx, your show.”

  Lynx nodded, at once pulling out a bunch of tablets from his pocket. “This is the last bit of invisibility tablets in the entire Dark World,” Lynx said, looking grave. He looked up then. “Make it count.”

  Everyone, except the Scavenger, swallowed them and at once turned invisible.

  The Scavenger gritted his teeth, waiting for Hothel to appear. As the ripples increased, the area around the cage was now full of currents and water fountains.

  There was a sudden trembling in the air and a colossal figure broke out of the water.

  The Scavenger had a fair idea about how Hothel looked, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight that emerged. Hothel was enormous and was a half-human, half-sea animal. He had scars all over his deformed face. His hair was like fins, parted from one another and waving in the air. His arms and upper body were covered in white and blue armour, which glinted in the sunlight. From his waist down, there was a huge tail that stretched out behind him.

  His massive arms clutched the Trident. The shaft of the Trident was blue, and at the bottom was a long curved edge. The Trident had seven sharp prongs that could tear through anything like butter.

  Hothel gave the Scavenger a disgusted look and said, in a booming voice, “Hey! Give me the Scoshag. I have waited for centuries for it.”

  The Scavenger flicked his fingers and the cage disappeared. “Uh-uh. Not so easy. Why don’t we make a deal?”

  Hothel twirled the Trident in his hands. The Scavenger remained calm as the Trident moved.

  The Scavenger said further, “The deal is simple. You give me the Trident and I give you the crab.”

  There was silence for a few seconds, and then Hothel erupted into laughter. His laugh was kind of creepy, like a cross between a snarl and a scream. “I have a better idea, you stupid person. Why don’t I take the crab without giving you the Trident? And kill you in the process?” Hothel’s eyes glowed red. He shouted. “Give me the crab. My collection will finally be complete.”

  “I have sent it to a Magic Compartment,” the Scavenger shouted back and started running away from the shore. Hothel was stunned for a second, but then started to run after the Scavenger.

  Hothel’s legs were huge, and one footstep of his was equal to five footsteps of the Scavenger’s. The Scavenger increased his pace. He needed to get Hothel away from the water.

  Hothel was closing in. The Scavenger, feeling that Hothel would snatch him up any moment now, flipped to the side. As he did so, he threw the knives concealed in his hand straight at Hothel’s face.

  Hothel roared in anger and his fists slammed the ground.

  “Hey, pig face!” a voice hollered from behind.

  Hothel stiffened and turned, but saw nothing.

  Lynx appeared next to the Scavenger and handed him a pill. The Scavenger nodded. The plan had begun. A second later, the duo disappeared.

  Hothel turned again to find the Scavenger nowhere.

  Hothel roared, “You puny creatures! You will pay for this!”

  Hothel raised the Trident and sliced through the air, but hurt no one.

  Hothel shouted, “Show yourself, cowards!”

  There was no reply.

  All of a sudden, a flying sword struck Hothel’s face. The aim was precise and Hothel, with a roar of pain, bent down.

  A wormhole opened above Hothel’s back and a long figure coated in fire dropped. Archer placed a burning hand on Hothel’s back and disappeared again.

  The fire burnt Hothel’s skin and he yelled, again swatting his hand but hurting nothing.

  From the other direction, Daniel dropped down and sharp branches penetrated Hothel’s legs. James appeared on Hothel’s head, sending a powerful flow of water to Hothel’s eyes, blinding him.

  Hothel knelt on the ground and further attacks came at him. No One appeared from the ground and slashed at Hothel’s legs with long lances. Insanity hovered in the air and sent magic balls flying towards Hothel’s chest and stomach.

  Finally, the Scavenger jumped from the air, carrying the Lightning Sword. His friends leapt away from Hothel as the Scavenger sent a massive lightning bolt towards Hothel.

  There was a massive blast as Hothel was struck with lightning. Everyone seized the opportunity. Co-ordination was displayed at the maximum as the children, No One, Insanity and Lynx bound him in shackles from all sides, just as they had done with Urrax.

  Hothel fell to the ground. The shackles now covered his whole body, except his mouth and his right hand, which clutched the Trident.

  “Release me at once!” Hothel roared. “Or you will pay for this!”

  The others moved to stand beside the Scavenger, and the Scavenger shook his head. “I don’t have money to pay.” He laughed.

  “You dare laugh in the face of the legendary Hothel!” Hothel yelled.

  The Scavenger flicked his fingers and the shackles bound against Hothel’s mouth, stopping him from giving any more empty threats.

  The group moved to the Trident, which was still clasped in Hothel’s hand. They all started pulling it out, but it didn’t move an inch.

  “What do we do?” James asked. This was an eventuality they hadn’t planned for.

  The Scavenger had a grim face. “We need to kill him.”

  “What?” Daniel said. “Why?”

  “He will not lose control over the Trident unless he dies,” the Scavenger said, pulling his sword out.

  “Should we try our Elemental Powers first?” Archer said.

  “I don’t think they would be able to do the job,” the Scavenger said. “Hothel needs to die. No amount of force can detach the Trident from his hand.”

  Suddenly, the Scavenger noticed the Trident glowing. “RUN!” he shouted. “NOW!”

  Everyone got to their feet. They had not even taken ten steps before the shackles exploded and Hothel got up. The Trident was glowing so bright, it hurt to look at it.

  “Die, puny mortals!” Hothel shouted, his eyes full of fire. He slashed the Trident around.

  All of them dodged as the Trident left ashes on the sand in its wake. Hothel ran towards the Scavenger.

  The Scavenger rolled as the Trident slashed towards him.

  Hothel picked the Scavenger up by his legs and slammed him on the sand. Hothel’s hand smacked against the Scavenger so hard that there was the unmistakable sound of bones breaking. James cringed as the Scavenger landed on his back on the sand.

  As the Scavenger lay on the ground, Hothel raised the Trident and slashed right at the Scavenger. The children sighed helplessly. They knew that the immortal Scavenger’s body would be completely broken and he would be paralyzed for ages.

  As the Trident moved towards the Scavenger, a figure appeared right in front of the Scavenger.

  The Trident passed right through the figure’s chest, stopping an inch from the Scavenger’s face.

  James’s heart sank. Two realizations hit him at the same time.

  The Scavenger was alive. Insanity was not.

  The Trident stuck deep in Insanity’s chest. Before Hothel could remove the Trident from Insanity, a creature emerged on top of Hothel’s hand and covered his eyes.

  Thunder the wolf was back.

  The Scavenger jumped up. His eyes were full of rage. A white glow surrounded his body as he used magic to heal his broken bones. At the same time, with lightning speed, he made gashes and cuts on Hothel’s body with his sword. A barrage of wind, fire, water and roots struck Hothel. It was a tornado of different colours, and the Scavenger was in the centre of it. The children, along with the wolf, were controlling the tornado.

  Hothel roared in pain but couldn’t move at all. Lynx and No One were jerked to action and were now summoning shackles that were binding themselves around Hothel, preventing him from moving.

  Hothel abruptly swayed towards the side and landed on the sand with a thump. The combined energy of the attack was too much for Hothel to handle. He fell unconscious.


  Everyone ran towards Insanity. The Trident’s barbs were stuck inside Insanity’s chest. Insanity was still alive, breathing slowly. He coughed and specks of blood littered the sand around him.

  “Bring herbs.” The Scavenger was desperate. “Bring medicine. Go!”

  “No,” Insanity croaked out. “I am too far gone. You know that.”

  “I can’t let you die,” the Scavenger said.

  “You can’t help,” Insanity said. “My time has come.” Insanity’s eyes darkened. “You know, I always wanted a statue of myself. Too bad that won’t happen now.” He paused. “Don’t grieve too much for me. I am proud to have died for such a great cause.”

  He continued, “Don’t ever give up. You have to stop the Skull Warrior.” Insanity coughed and tried to say something.

  “What? Tell me, my friend.” The Scavenger leaned towards him.

  Insanity spoke out his final words. “Avenge me...”

  18

  Everyone was shocked. The children were inconsolable. They were kneeling beside Insanity with tears flowing from their eyes.

  The children knew that time was running out. But they felt good just sitting beside their dead friend Insanity. It was their way of showing him respect and thanking him for everything he had done.

  The Scavenger slowly pulled out the Trident from Insanity’s chest. He bowed his head in respectful silence and then sent the Trident to the Magic Compartment.

  Matt wondered what they would do next. They had got the Poison, the Bolt and the Trident. The Sacrifice was still unknown. Without them, the Slayer could not be formed.

  The Scavenger stood. Everyone else followed. Lynx summoned a portal to his cave and they all stepped inside it.

  When they entered Lynx’s cave, they were in for a shock.

  The desks and shelves were placed against the sidewall, leaving plenty of space in the cave.

  Urrax was nowhere in sight.

  Aronicle was lying on the ground with the blade of a sword sticking out from his chest.

  The children were shocked.

  The Scavenger raced towards Aronicle. There was a puddle of blood beneath Aronicle’s body, but Aronicle was still conscious.