REVIVAL by Nick Venom (great book club books .TXT) 📕

With his preparations completed, he released the arrow and watched as it flew high into the air before curving down to strike the middle of the tree. It pierced the tree and broke through - creating a clean hole.

Zake ordered a skeleton bat that was flying around the clearing to check out the tree, waiting for its report. The skeleton bat reported the clean hole that Mikey made. “Good job, Mikey.” He pointed at the foundation of the watchtower. “That watchtower will peer over the treetops towards the city of Bluehaven. A squad of Bluehaven inhabitants has already crossed into our territory and burned down my first house.” He pointed at the three-story capitol building. “That was built to replace the burnt one.”

“They attacked us?” Mikey asked. “Did you kill them all, sir?”

“All but one to act as a messenger. Even so, they shouldn’t have reached us.” Zake shook his head.  “We found out that they were in our territory too late to counterattack properly.”

“You want me to watch the city?” Mikey asked.

“Indeed, if there will be another attack from the city then I need to know before they enter the forest. Not a moment after.”

“Yes, sir,” Mikey said, rushing to help with building the watchtower. 

Zake left Mikey to help out with construction, turning to face Selena. “As for you, you’ll be in charge of training these zombies and skeletons. They’re not going to counter Bluehaven’s strongest soldiers, but I need them to delay the invaders as long as they can.”

“Yes, master. I’ll teach them the secrets of my race.”

“Good, I’ll call Derrick to create more skeletons for you to train. After the watchtower is built, the barracks will be next on the list.”

Selena kneeled again, lowering her head. “Thank you, my master. I will be proud to assist you in any way I can.”

Zake grabbed her hands, picking her up to her feet. “All I care about is that our home is protected. Do that much and I’ll be prouder than anybody about you.” He said while smiling. Jessica noticed the smile, slightly jealous. 

Selena thanked him again before running off to meet with Derrick, who had entered the clearing after searching some parts of the forest for more zombies and other monsters. By his side were the reanimated corpses of Ingrid’s team with Ace’s body mutilated but walking. The punishments for burning the first house were apparent.

“What if they attack and burn our home again?” Jessica asked.

Zake looked down at her and shook his head while smiling. “They won’t.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I won’t let them.”

***

“Are you afraid to subjugate a few zombies?” Ingrid’s superior, Sand Johnson, asked. Her superior was a tall muscular man who wielded twin battle axes. He wore a tight green camouflage shirt with normal blue jeans.

“There weren't just a few zombies. A dangerous person is in the forest and they made it their home. He slaughtered everybody except for me. We shouldn’t attack him or his home or he’ll massacre us.”

“Ha!” Sand exclaimed. “I can’t believe that Ingrid Winters, the prodigy of captains, has become like this. Afraid of some monsters, really?”

“There was a Death Element user. It wasn’t a few zombies or skeletons, but a Death Element user.” 

Sand shook his head. “I see that you’re afraid of Zake.”

“You know his name?” Ingrid asked, furrowing her brows.

He nodded his head. “We got some reports from the nearby town of Greyhill about a kid named Zake killing two people with his unholy element before fleeing to the Death Forest.” He said before whistling for someone to enter his office. A man---wearing a solid black outfit with several pockets scattered all over, deep blue jeans, and black ballroom shoes---entered the room.

“This is the police chief of Greyhill, Arif Kaiser.”

“Good morning, Miss Winters,” Arif said. “As General Johnson said, I am the police chief of Greyhill who has been attached to the case of Zake’s double homicide. I would like to hear your reports about the event that unfolded a few days ago, but I understand that you were discharged from the hospital hours ago. Now, however, I ask if you wish to join me and Captain Kelsey Chamberlain on our adventure to the Death Forest.”

“I apologize sir, but I must politely refuse.”

“Ha! I would recommend you go, Winters. Otherwise, I’ll put you on charges for leaving your comrades behind.

“Well, I didn’t want to get that fierce, but you are the only person to survive an encounter with the current Zake so I do need you to go,” Arif said.

“But…” She stammered. 

Sand waved a file with the words, in bold print “discharged.”

“I-” She stared at the file, before shaking her head. “I’ll go.”

“Good, now go find Captain Kelsey and witness how a true captain gets work done.” He retorted before finding himself in a laughing fit.

“Bastard, you just signed my death certificate.” She whispered under her breath.

TBC…

Captain Kelsey Chamberlain asked for more support when hearing that her target was a Death Element user. She held ten men, at most, but needed more to overwhelm Zake. She figured that overwhelming him with numbers was the only way to take him down, ordering an entire company of men. Sand followed her order, arranging a hundred men from other units to assist Kelsey. However, the men had a range of expertise and understanding of the Death Element. Sand forced a hundred men to suffer through harsh training for a few weeks before they were ready.

With a hundred extra men aside from her ten-men unit, Kelsey was sure of victory. She led the company towards the Death Forest. Under her command, she brought them to the main gate, peering into the dense vegetation.

“Ingrid!” Kelsey shouted. Ingrid appeared at her side. “How deep is the Death Element user into the forest?”

“Zake is about two miles into the forest. It’s an empty clearing, about a mile in width and two miles in length.” She reported. 

“Okay-” Kelsey pointed towards the back of her company. “-now go and hide in the back of the pack. The real warriors will trudge forward.” She said mockingly. 

Ingrid squinted her eyes at Kelsey, but she was at a lower rank than her. She couldn’t do or say anything against Kelsey or she’ll be charged with treason. Instead, she obediently headed to the back of the pack. Kelsey watched with a smug grin while her men laughed and scoffed at her. 

“Okay, we’re heading in. Watch every angle and cover each other. We’re attacking a Death Element user, so be careful of the skeletons and zombies this reject will send towards us. Copy?”

“Copy!” Her company shouted simultaneously. 

“Let’s go,” 

***

“Sir, there’s a large number of humans standing outside the forest!” Mikey shouted from atop the watchtower. 

Zake, who had been overlooking the construction of a few two-story houses, turned towards the watchtower. “How many? I need an estimate.”

“I would say a hundred, maybe a hundred and a half.” He shouted.

“Okay, stay in the watchtower,” Zake ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Mikey said, motioning towards a squad of skeleton archers under his control. “Squad, watch the forest. Prepare to draw your bows.”

“Derrick!” Zake shouted, glancing over his shoulder at Jessica. She looked around nervously, unsure what to do. 

Derrick emerged from the forest line, followed by a small platoon of elite skeletons. “Yes, my liege. You called for me?”

“Yes, I need you to send all of the skeleton bats and scope out the company of humans gunning towards us and see if there are any spies nearby. Oh, and get the traps ready!” He ordered.

Derrick nodded, looking up at the skeleton bats flying above them. He muttered something under his breath, unintelligible words to Zake and others, but the bats understood him. They all flew towards the company of humans. 

“Selena?” Zake called out, looking towards the barracks. The barracks, a four-story warehouse-looking building, was built on the northwest side of the capitol building. 

Selena popped her head out from the front door of the barracks. “I’m here, master.” She said, running to meet with him. “I heard the report; a company of humans is heading towards us? Should my platoon and I engage them?”

“No, stay here. Let the traps we set destroy as many as they can. When the company reaches the edge of the clearing, near the watchtower, you’ll attack.” Zake looked around the clearing. “Have your soldiers ready for battle!”

“Yes, master,” Selena said, turning around and heading back to the barracks to prepare her skeleton soldiers. 

With all three servants preparing for the battle, Zake stationed himself in front of the watchtower. By his side was Jessica, still nervous about the upcoming battle. He patted her head in an attempt to calm her, but its effect was weak. She worried that she’ll be a burden in the fighting, but Zake convinced her that she wasn’t. To Zake, she was a little sister, not somebody suited for fighting, but he didn’t want to disclose that tidbit of information. 

“Derrick, report in!” Zake barked.

Derrick appeared in front of him, kneeling. “The company has reached the traps. Explosions and screams will soon fill the air.” Derrick looked happy to hear that screams will be everywhere, something that Zake found disturbing.

“Okay, once the company charges past the traps, have your elites there to counterattack them. Remember, no mercy.”

“No mercy, my liege?”

“Last time I granted them mercy and they destroyed our home. We rebuilt and expanded but now they threaten to destroy it. They’ll no longer get any mercy from me.”

Derrick nodded, rising from his kneeling position. “As you see fit, my liege.” He said before calling a skeleton bat down to repeat the order to the elites hiding on the path of the clearing. The company would soon cross past them and be ambushed.

***

“There’s something off,” Arif noted. “We’ve been walking without obstacles in our path. According to Ingrid’s reports, there was a building, skeletons, and zombies. However, we haven’t come across anything and we’ve walked a mile already.”

“Ignored it, this Death Element user must’ve contained all of his forces in the mention clearing. When we reach the clearing, be ready for a fight, mister police chief.” Kelsey said, scoffing at him. 

Arif ignored her attitude, continuing to talk. “Still, we should’ve chanced upon some monsters. This isn’t called the Death Forest for its vegetation and long walks.”

“Shut it, chief.” She said, 

Arif closed his mouth, glaring at her. He hated arrogant people like her.

“Company leader, the scouts reported that the path ahead is clear. They haven’t found the clearing yet.” Michael, one of Kelsey’s ten-men unit, reported in.

“Good, Michael. Make sure to go and motivate the company of meatheads. I bet they’re itching for a fight. Let’s not disappoint them.”

“Yes, company leader,” Michael said before disappearing into the company. 

“Meatheads?” Arif questioned. “Aren’t these people a part of the same army as you?”

“They’re not a part of my unit. Only people like Michael I can respect; and that’s because we’ve been through hell together. Everybody else is an imbecile.”

“Huh?” He muttered. “I see why Ingrid despises you.” He muttered under his breath, low enough for Kelsey to not hear him.

Ingrid marched with the company,