“Hrrmph.” I let out a louder grunt to ensure my companions could better understand my current frustration.

  I started handling the harness more roughly, yet it didn't accomplish much.

  I didn't understand why my leatherbacks were behaving in such a way. They seemed uncharacteristically pensive. They had good instincts, so why were they being so cautious right now? I needed to get these carts moving.?

  The sun was at its hottest in this arid region. Prolonging this worry of theirs could only set us back.

  I gave up and looked around to see if anything was bothering them—

  *CRSHSSSS

  Both my merchant carts and the surrounding area quaked from the impact of those crashes. Several products that were in bottles or made of fragile materials crashed down onto the floor, unable to be recovered. Meanwhile, the rest of my supply was thrown into disarray.

  “The hell!” I yell in blatant anger. There shouldn’t be any earthquakes or sinkholes.

  That nearly destroyed everything. It did destroy a good chunk of my stock. Do you think I can afford any setbacks? I threw away the reins I was holding and jumped off my cart to see what was happening.

  I could feel my back wincing from the excessive movement, but I didn't give a damn.

  The leatherbacks did not panic at the crash or flee in fear, as they were accustomed to this harsh environment. Instead, they huddled closely together. Unfortunately, it was positioned at the front of the wagon, where I was located.

  I wanted to lighten their spirits, but I didn't have the time. Something was happening in that direction, supposedly over that western butte: a dry, isolated hill.

  It can't be a wight; we have rituals to prevent them. A sinkhole was out of the question, and a cave collapse would not have caused this level of damage. The creatures here don't get rowdy during this time of day. The significant ones simply burrow underground and make an effort not to shake the ground if they wish to avoid alerting any potential prey.

  Could it be Ahote? No, he wouldn't be found in a place like this. He is too busy pitting our people against one another—my people.

  Wait, what happened to the hill? There was supposed to be a hill west of here, intended to serve as a reference point for maps. Did it collapse under its own weight? That should be impossible; it's a landmark for a reason.

  This could pose a significant issue if it continues or escalates. This route of mine is too important to compromise.

  I made sure to carry my self-made club with me. It wasn't that I couldn't afford one; I simply didn't like the idea of losing touch with my culture after all these years. I chose a random leatherback to accompany me as we headed in the direction of the collapsed hill.

  The wagons and the other leatherbacks should be fine if left alone, as no one ever ventures into this area. It is too dangerous for anyone unfamiliar with the terrain, and those who are familiar with it are too preoccupied with fighting among themselves for better land.

  Thinking further about it, the small earthquake could be a strong beast that has yet to be documented or an outside species migrating into this new environment. It is a rare occurrence, but when it happens, it usually causes significant disturbances.

  It's best for me to start preparing for the worst, me being dutied to end this 'beast' if it exists. To prevent pseudo-earthquakes or hill’s disappearing. I still believe I have the stamina to see this fight through to the very end.

  We started gaining closer to the wreckage of the hill. Close enough to be able to examine what had occurred but far enough to escape if need be.

  "Ah." I hadn't realized I was holding my breath in anticipation, but a wave of relief washed over me.

  Now drawing closer to examine what had occurred, I could see that the hill had indeed collapsed in on itself. How relieving. I had partially believed that something had attacked or consumed the hill, but there was no evidence of that. No missing chunks, no large beasts claiming it as their feat—only rubble remained.

  Still, how strange it is that we are alone. Giant earthworms typically thrive in this environment, being among the few beasts that flourish here. Given the commotion caused by the collapsing hill, I had expected them to emerge from the ground.

  They typically live underground and attack people from the surface for making too much noise, such as using wagons or hills falling. This is why I had only brought myself and the leatherback I was riding. So, why haven't they emerged yet?

  Out of nowhere, I hear a patch of debris rustling among the ruins of the hill.

  The leatherback I was riding wanted to leave, to escape, but this might help us explain the situation. Who knows, the rustling could easily be a victim of this disaster—an animal caught astray.

  I knew it wasn't a giant earthworm or any worm for that matter, as they would have surprised me by now instead of rustling around in the dirt and allowing their prey to escape. So, what has survived this catastrophe? Hopefully, it's something I can cook or feed off of.

  “HAHAA, that was close!” I see a man—no, a boy—pulling himself out of the wreckage. Covered in dirt and blood, breathing heavily and looking nonsensical.

  “What?” was all I could utter. I could gauge that he wasn't from around here just by his attire. Still, most outsiders don't venture into this region for good reasons. This raises the question: Why is he here?!

  The kid who was at a distance began yelling at me, “HEEEY! Finally, someone! Heh, I thought I had run out of luck. I'm going to sleep. Please make S’chure to take care of me. I'm really going to sleep—now. Hahe." Was that a request for me to save him?

  I decided to move forward to aid him. This could very well be a trap, but his injuries appeared genuine. I could see men die on and on, but he was no man—he was a child compared to me.

  The leatherback I was riding complied and moved forward, recognizing the urgency at hand.

  As I approached, I could see how bloodied and battered he looked. I might have questioned or scorned him for his predicament, but he immediately lost consciousness the moment I had gotten there.

  I sought answers to questions I hadn't even formulated. I wanted to know everything about him before treating him, but I wouldn't have that luxury.

  Shit.

  I was just inches away from him now, treating his wounds as best as I could, but I needed to get him to my wagon where my medical supplies were stored. I did everything I could with the things I had, making sure he wouldn't bleed out at this moment. Still, one repeating thought surged through my head while treating him: How is he not dead yet?

  I may not have been a true doctor, but I understood the limits of a normal human body. Some areas of his skin were swollen from venomous stings and bites, while open gashes through his clothes and armor. His body was splattered in different shades of red, indicating that not all of it was his blood. Although he was breathing steadily now, the boy appeared thinner and paler than any human should be; he had certainly not emerged unscathed.

  He would die if I didn't take him with me—not from his injuries or the venoms, but from the predators lurking out here. I wasn't given much of a choice. How shitty for an outsider to find themselves in this type of mess.

  I lifted him off the ground and carried him to the leatherback, where we could both ride together.

  As we were leaving, I noticed that the boy was still gripping his sword tightly. He should have been unconscious. That wasn't what bothered me; neither was him wearing fur-lined, metal pieces of armor in this sweltering region.

  It was that sword, the one he was holding for dear life. Its aura felt familiar. It was a divine weapon—nothing could copy the unique familiarity of a weapon enchanted by a god.

  “Kuku!'' I laughed, a mix of nostalgia and anger culminating in my body.

  Perhaps he is an emissary for a foreign god or a messenger. No, they would never have sent someone like him—an idiot who got himself trapped under a collapsing hill and now seems to be on the brink of death. I doubt they would become careless so quickly.

  Still, wanders the mind on how he shattered that blade of his. He was holding a broken greatsword. The handle remained intact, but looking further above the blade, you could see it cut into two. It was missing half of its length, including the tip.

  It surprises me how anyone can still wield that unwieldy blade, even if it is broken in half. It resembles a rectangular short sword with a noticeable girth—a rather amusing concept. Furthermore, the handle seemed only suitable to wield with one hand. Maybe two if you put in effort.

  I tried to keep my mind off his sword.

  Looking at him more closely, I noticed he had a sheath strapped to his waist, which could possibly hold the other broken half of the blade. If he possessed all the parts of his sword, couldn't he simply ask his god to repair it? Even with the sword blade in half, does he still retain the power of an apostle, or has the connection been severed?

  No, he possesses the power of an apostle. If he did not, he would have died by now due to his incompetence. He has been poisoned multiple times by different species and has had a hill collapse on him. He experienced severe blood loss, and worse than that, he could have endured even more that I am not aware of.

  I'm still contemplating that sword and its significance. I'm uncertain whether I will regret taking him in. He appears quite fragile, but regardless of his appearance, he wields an instrument crafted by the gods.

  I wish I still had the balls to kill him and get this day over with. I've grown more stubborn over the years, how annoying.

  What a wonderful day that was! Everywhere I had looked, there was a different animal—no, a different beast—on each side of the cave. Not just getting into a nest filled with the same type, but a new one each way I looked. That cave was a gathering ground of theirs.

  There was also a water source in there, making it a hotspot for those beasts. When was the last time I had found good water during this venture? That dried-up place above was so plain compared to the cave, and it was right under my nose.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  The lesser creatures fled or hid in the shadows when I appeared, while the stronger beasts stayed unmoving. They just kept their eyes locked on me. At the time, I had believed they were afraid of being left weak after our battle, making them easy targets for anyone who could pick them off. Knowing what I know now, that was probably wrong. They were likely trying to avoid alerting any other larger beast to the cave's territory.

  Only one of the beasts had decided to make a move: a large, four-legged lizard shaped like a shell charged at me at full speed. Luckily, I was nimble enough to maneuver toward its underbelly. Unluckily, I couldn't pierce it. I had part of my sword with me: Falle, but it wasn't sharp enough to pierce its bone-layered skin. I needed to get my sword repaired.

  And, one moment I was focusing on nothing but piercing the underbelly of that armored beast, and the next, a bunch of teeth attacked both of us through the walls. A giant worm was interfering with our battle, making this fight more fun. And unlike that armored beast, I knew what a worm was. Its name and how to kill it.

  How did the fight end again? I remember being slammed by that armored beast while I slashed at its face in revenge. The worm couldn't fully attack the beast because it was too well protected by its body and too big to swallow whole. Eventually, the armored beast and I got pushed toward the water source, where I took advantage of the situation and held it head down to drown. Its heavy body made it harder for it to escape or break free from either my grip or the water. It landed a few cheap shots on me, but I knew I had won.

  After I defeated the armored beast, I believe I had gone up for air. The worm didn't meddle in the drowning of the armored beast since it was dealing with the other beasts attacking it. mauling at its skin, trying to take it out at this opportunity. All the beasts that were in the cave were united against a common enemy.

  The worm tried to escape by burrowing underground, but I was never going to let it evade me. Next thing I know, I had impaled Falle into the worm, not letting it outmaneuver me as long as my sword was impaling its body.

  The other beasts in the cave couldn't keep up with the worm's fast pace, and I immediately lost my view of them. The worm was moving faster underground than I thought it would.

  But no matter what has happened or who you are, running away while being the biggest one in the room means you're pathetic, a cheater. The worm ran away when it was starting to get attacked by the beast inside the cave. The worm was five times bigger than any of them, yet it ran away.

  I was never going to let the worm escape, as that action alone makes me angrier than anything. I was going to make sure I buried this worm to death. I almost considered it a worthy beast to be remembered.

  I remember pulling Falle out of the worm's body and screaming its name with everything I had. I was ready to bring everything down, even if it was the last thing I did.

  Then a—

  Oh yeah, a crash. That's the last thing I remember. We must have been under something important. Wait, where am I now?

  “HUH!” I immediately jumped to my feet to check what was going on. The floor was moving under me, which was weird. I was surrounded by wood and junk being put on shelves. What is happening?

  “HEY! Don't break anything while you’re here, kid! I gave you some much-needed help, and this is how you repay me!” An old man shouted at me, but I didn't really pay him much attention. He looked familiar, though. Where had I seen him before?

  The old man, wearing a stitched-up hat, had stopped the movement of the wooden box and approached to check on me. I wished I could see through him, but I couldn't even see his eyes. That hat of his hid them well.

  “Kid, you were poisoned earlier today with various types of venoms. More importantly, you were exposed to baby back spider venom, which can kill its victims in just a few hours. Fortunately, I was generous enough to provide you with some of my stock of antidotes and whatever I could manage in terms of bandages, but you still look terrible. I suspect…”

  I didn't want to interrupt the old man, but the last time I remember dealing with a spider was a few days ago. It's probably because I'm too strong for the venom that it didn't kill me during those three hours. Or maybe he confused it with me eating uncooked meat from the beast I ate earlier today, which made me look so ‘terrible.’

  Either way, all those fights were fun, but not everything else in this land. The heat and the bland area are wearing me down; I honestly miss everything back home. ‘Life is never easy, but our perseverance is our greatest strength.’ Or was it might? Never really cared for our chants.

  “Hey! HEY! Pay attention, jeez. Were you even listening?” The old guy let out a huff and continued, “Kuku, let’s get to the important part then. What are you doing in this territory? You seem like an outsider, and the locals in these lands don’t take too kindly to trespassers. The god here made a pact with our neighbors, allowing our kind to kill anyone caught in our territories. And our god enjoys making a sport of it.”

  Didn't know people or gods cared so much about this kinda stuff. The other territory with the sand did not mind me that much, so maybe it's different for each place. These territories are so weird that it's hard to wrap my head around. Oh yeah, I need to give this hat-wearing guy a response to his question on why I'm here.

  "Sorry, my bad, old man. I was trying to reach the Volcano Islands. I heard that's the place to go to fix this," I said, pointing to the broken greatsword in my hands. "I got a bit lost while trying to sail and ended up crashing on the shore of a place filled with triangles everywhere I looked. I asked around to figure out where I was and decided to make my way to the Volcano Islands on foot. Since my ship was completely destroyed, I couldn't rebuild it. That's why I'm heading directly east—the fastest route to the Volcano Islands, where the greatest blacksmiths are located! Hopefully, they can repair my sword and make it whole again. And that's how I got here.” I told him enthusiastically.

  His once squinted eyes were fully open in surprise at my words.

  He followed up with, “Then why did I find you walking west if you're supposed to be going east? Never mind; I had forgotten the stupidity of the state in which I found you. No self-respecting traveler would be caught in the condition you were in.”

  “What do you mean by the ‘stupidity of the state in which you found me?’ Also, no, I have been going in the right direction by following the sun, the horizon, and the path of the birds. Birds always know where land is,” I stated, happy in my smartness.

  The old man said, as if looking down at me, “The sun rises due east in the morning; you must have confused the directions. Additionally, the sun around here is manipulated, meaning relying on it for navigation is basically pointless. But following the direction of birds? I've never heard of something more stupid. Following birds, are you looking for seeds then? You cannot achieve going location to location solely by relying on nature unless you know how to read the stars correctly and are familiar with the landmarks.” The being whose name I didn’t even know, spoke with exasperation, as if scolding a child.

  Was he right? Have I been fighting so many battles with my conviction to realize it was for nothing? How much time have I wasted due to this? I didn't pay much attention when I was being taught how to navigate and other important skills. I only focused on what I wanted to be good at. That may be where I went wrong. The ship I was using might not have been destroyed if I had operated it better against those massive storms. If I had been smarter, maybe things wouldn't be so shitty.

  I wanted to hit or punch something to let this bitterness out.To be scolded as if I was a child and him probably being right. I was going in the wrong direction this whole time. All that effort and conviction.

  “Haah! I'll make sure not to do that again.” I could only laugh at that mistake but atleast I know it now rather than later. “Thank you, old man, what's your name?”

  He hesitated before saying, “Lyouse, that's my name. But you were saying before how your main purpose of going to the volcano islands was to repair that broken blade of your sword. I saw in your satchel earlier, you have both parts of it on you. It's obviously a great weapon, so it's in the domain of Thorgar: The Barbarian Viking God. “

  “Yep, Thorgar is huge even for us. He almost destroyed our whole home in one attack. Yet, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. That motto lets me know I can win against anyone or anything bigger than I. I have made it true firsthand.” I still have a long way to go to match you, Dad, but I will surpass you.

  "Speaking of which, how did you acquire that weapon, the Greatsword? You're not large enough to have come from Thorgar territory, The Land of Ice, let alone be born from there. As far as I am aware, they only value size and strength. Additionally, your hair is the incorrect color. It is abnormal for you as an outsider to be an apostle for them."

  “Tch,” Now my mood has dropped, “I am a bit different from my people, but I still have the same blood as the others. I was born sickly—maybe that's why I am a bit smaller compared to the rest. I may not have the same muscle sizes or immensity as the other, but WE SHARE THE SAME MIGHT! So, don't go saying that again. Cause i'm a victor, a devourer!”

  I could tell for certain that my conviction spooked the beings moving this box—those little horn animals. And for the old man, he didn't show it, but I knew he was just acting tough.

  “Ok?” He scratched behind his ear and said, “What about your god? Can't he fix it if you have both parts?” As he pointed to both parts of my sword, Al & Falle.

  I wanted him to at least show some fear from hearing my conviction, but he was a veteran. If he lived long in this place, then he was no slouch. Oh yeah, he asked about my god, didn't he?

  “We killed our god. So he can't repair my sword. Also I'm planning to kill all the gods while I'm at it.” I told him straightforwardly. It did cost us most of everybody's lives, but we won in the end. Meaning the lives lost didn't die for nothing.

  “‘We?’ Your people killed your god, is that right? Is that what you're saying? One of the few gods that is regarded as old as the Holy Quint. That god.”

  Lyouse was starting to get serious, his breathing was less rhythmic and his face was more stiff. He was focusing more and he was also concentrating on not giving a reaction to anything i'll say.

  I agreed with him, having a smirk on my face, “Yep!” If the old man attacks me for this, then I'll make sure not to kill him since he helped me figure out I was going the wrong way and patching me up. The same can't be said for those animals moving this box.

  “I see,” he responded. He left me be and went back to fully paying attention to the reins.

  That was calmer than I expected. Should I ask him if he can take me to the Volcano Islands now? He doesn't look like the type who can sail well, but eh, you never know. He knows my conviction, so if I ask him well enough, he might agree to take me. Although he heard my conviction in full force, he could be scared on the inside. He may not want to take me to the islands. I should be good to him to make him lose his fright over me.

  The old man coughed into his hand to get my attention and uttered, “Last question: by coincidence, have you happened to run into my people, the natives of these lands, while you were traversing? Did you, by chance, happen to fight one of them? They wouldn't have neglected you, that's for sure.”

  It would be rude to lie to him, “Nope, that's for sure. Haven't encountered anyone who dresses or looks like you, old man.”

  “I don't dress like my people, but I'll accept your words at face value. Glad you didn't run into anyone." He started focusing more on the steering and the traveling aspect while directing the horned, wide-legged snakes to our destination.

  The old man continued with, “Oh, and also, please stop calling me old man—you know my name already. And you must be curious about how I'm going to deal with you.”

  “How are you going to deal with me?" I turned my head in curiosity. I didn't know what else to say in response to his question, but he looked competent, so I trusted him on what we're going to do onward. I'm hoping to hitch a ride so I don't waste as much time as before.

  “These lands are dangerous for you, and you're dangerous to everybody else who lives in them. You'll cause trouble wherever you go—you even destroyed a landmark that my people have been using for generations. I'll drop you off on my next stop, into a civilization, into a new domain of a god, in which they won't treat outsiders as hostile. You can check for proper direction or a guide there for this not to happen again.

  But please, don't cause any issues. If you mention that Thorgar nonsense, whether it's real or fake, you'll find many who will take offense, especially when it comes to you wanting to kill all the gods. The place I'm taking you to doesn't have swords or weapons like the others; it's more ‘stark.’ Everything in that place is new compared to the other territories. Since that god only took power seventy years from now, relatively recently."

  “Anyways, I checked that torn satchel of yours; you have nothing of value to sell for coins. And I doubt you'll want to sell your organs or the remnants of it. You don't have many options, but you can work as a mercenary or do something that you're good at. Then slowly work your way up to buy that trip to those islands. A profession that ca–, HEY! Stop messing with my goods!”

  I was partly listening to the old man babble, but I got interested in what he had in here. I had never seen stuff like this, and why was there glass on the floor? Seemed some of it got stuck on my back when I was sleeping.

  “I give you my wisdom, and this is how you treat me? By rummaging through my stuff! Is this how my elders felt?” He said that last part under his breath, but I could still hear him even over all the noise of this wonky chariot.

  Seemed the horned animals gave him a sympathetic look. I thought they would be dumber by the way they were stuck carrying everything: me, the old man, and all his stuff. Guess they must like doing it then. If they're showing him sympathy, then they aren't forced into doing this.

  Honestly, his idea of not being noticed was good and all, but if the place were going to have a new god, wouldn't he be easy to kill? We had so much trouble killing Thorgar because he was strong and all, but he wasn't any ordinary god—he was far above them.

  I'll try to get money to make the journey to the volcano island that much faster, but I will fight an apostle, even if it's the end of me. I need to compare the gap between our strengths. I'm only worthwhile if I'm the strongest, and if I'm not that, then I'm worthless. Simple as that.

  Also, he did go through my stuff when I was asleep; it would be rude to not return the favor.