The Skull Warrior by Yajat Sharma (popular books to read txt) 📕

In front of them were two pathways. One of them was very rough and dirty. It led to a hut that was in shambles.

The other path was made of glass, and beautiful flowers decorated it. It led to a large mansion.

Daniel clapped to get everyone’s attention. “Okay, listen. I have read enough fairy tales to know that we have to choose the bad path. It is a stupid test designed by the Warhead.”

“No, no, no,” James said at once. “It’s reverse psychology. We have to choose the glass path. The Warhead wants to confuse us. Just trust me.”

“I’ll go by what James says.” The Scavenger stepped into the glass path. Everyone followed. As soon as they stepped foot in the glass, the flowers turned into thorns. It took a lot of effort to walk up to the mansion. They entered inside.

The entire mansion was filled with a stink. There was a table laden with six plates covered with brown sticky food. It smelled like the whole world’s sewer system. Beside the table was a portal with a sign at the entrance – ‘Want to activate the portal? Eat the food first.’

“I hate the Warhead,” the Scavenger muttered.

“I can’t eat that,” Matt whimpered. “That’s yuck!”

“And disgusting,” Daniel said.

“And smelly,” Archer added.

“And yuck,” James said. “But we have to eat it, or else the portal won’t open.”

James went straight towards the table and picked up one plate. He turned towards the others. “Who knows? Maybe this tastes delicious.” And he shovelled the glop into his mouth.

Immediately, James started coughing and spluttering. He rolled onto the ground, yelling in disgust.

The others came near the table too. Daniel didn’t wait, because the more he waited, the more he hesitated. He swallowed the food. Somehow, Daniel forced down the urge to vomit. Everyone else did the same. Matt however couldn’t control himself and he vomited. Everyone backed away from him.

A second later, the dark portal turned grey. Everyone jumped into it.

They emerged into a well-decorated big hall.

At the far end of the room were steps leading to a golden throne and on it sat the Warhead.

The Warhead was dressed entirely in black. A hood covered his face, and he carried two curved swords. He stood up.

Welcome. The Warhead then said, I have tested each one of you and can say that you are almost worthy of getting the Poison.

The Scavenger cleared his throat. “So now you -”

I haven’t finished. I said ‘almost’.

The Warhead walked down the steps and beckoned with his swords. Fight and lose or surrender and lose. What do you choose?

In reply, the Scavenger pulled out his Lightning Sword and charged the Warhead with a diagonal cut. The Warhead bent to his right and dodged the attack. The Scavenger kept on with a flurry of strikes, but the Warhead weaved around them expertly. As the Scavenger stopped for a breath, the Warhead kicked forward and sent the Scavenger flying. Recovering quickly, the Scavenger leapt at the Warhead again, but the Warhead dodged all attacks. It was as if the Warhead was seeing the Scavenger’s every move before it even happened.

You are weak, the Warhead said.

The Scavenger came at him again and attacked.

Daniel watched with growing concern. The Warhead was tiring out the Scavenger, and although the Scavenger was a great warrior, there was a limit to his energy levels and stamina.

Suddenly, James said behind him, “Oh no, we forgot. We have to harness the scroll’s energies.”

“Oh no, what a silly slip of the mind,” the Scavenger said. “Lynx has given me a spell to harness the powers of the scroll.”

The Scavenger stepped forward, the scroll in his hand. He closed his eyes and chanted a spell.

Almost at once, the scroll flew and appeared above the Warhead’s head. Strange creatures with sharp claws dropped out from the scroll. Shrieking in a nasty voice, they swarmed the Warhead and started tearing him. The Warhead was utterly taken by surprise. Taking advantage, the Scavenger moved forward and plunged his sword towards the Warhead.

The Warhead’s swords flashed in a blur as he parried the creatures and the Scavenger. The Warhead appeared to dominate.

Suddenly, the scroll transformed into a giant caterpillar that swamped the Warhead’s head and covered his entire face. Before the Warhead could react, the Scavenger plunged his sword into the Warhead. The Warhead shrieked and flew into the air. He whirled around and then burst into dust.

A bottle with red liquid appeared at the spot where the Warhead had disappeared, which was...

Twenty feet into the air.

It didn’t take a Sherlock Holmes to figure out that it was the Poison. But it was falling. If it broke, then all the challenges and hard work would be in vain.

The Scavenger sat up and leapt for the bottle. But Daniel knew that the Scavenger wouldn’t be able to reach it. He was too far.

Everyone was too far.

The children ran as fast as they could, but the bottle was falling. Fast...

Daniel yelled and extended his hands forward in a final attempt. Pain exploded in his fingers, but he didn’t see what caused it.

He landed with a thump on the ground. The Scavenger was clapping with joy. Daniel had managed to catch the bottle just in time.

Daniel gave the Poison to the Scavenger. As soon as it touched the Scavenger’s hands, it disappeared.

“Where’s it gone?” James asked.

“I sent it into a magic Compartment.” Seeing the confused looks on the others’ faces, the Scavenger explained further, “It is a small box-like thing in the air. It is advantageous because no one can enter another’s magic Compartment. Only the ridiculously powerful sorcerers can. And they can only enter it if they know the exact coordinates of it. So it’s virtually impregnable.”

The Scavenger then grinned and congratulated everyone. “Great job! We got the Poison. The scroll served its purpose. It’s time to go back to Lynx.” A portal appeared in front of them, and they all entered it.

They appeared in Lynx’s cave