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

ready to fight, but there was no apparent danger. They were standing in a clearing. Around it was a forest of thick undergrowth.

The children waited for a long time. They were now getting very bored and sleepy, when suddenly the bushes rustled. The children snapped alert.

The Scavenger stumbled out, covered in sweat and blood.

As the Scavenger ran towards the children, another man in red armour ran out of the bushes. He threw himself at the Scavenger.

The Scavenger turned and blocked the attack. He punched the man hard on his head, knocking him unconscious. No sooner had the Scavenger done this than more men in red armour came out of the bushes.

The Scavenger raised his lightning sword and chanted a spell.

Bolts of lightning struck the ground hard. Within no time, all the warriors were lying in tatters.

“Who were they?” Daniel asked as they ran towards the Scavenger.

The Scavenger sheathed his sword and bent down. He was breathing heavily. “The Red Warriors. Sent to hunt me down. It was the millionth time I refused to be defeated.”

The Scavenger stood tall, but lines of exhaustion were visible on his face. “Ugh. Creating that lightning sure is difficult.”

“By the way, thanks for being so happy to see us,” James said sarcastically.

The Scavenger looked at him quizzically. “What?”

“Aargh!” James shrieked. “Some gratitude for us?”

“Oh. Well... thanks for coming?”

“Never mind,” James said, sighing.

“Let’s go at once. It won’t be long before the enemy’s backup arrives.” He started walking, and the others followed.

“What has happened to the Dark World?” Matt asked. “When we had left, everything seemed to be all well.”

The Scavenger stopped and shook his head sadly. “The Skull Warrior rules the Dark World now. Many of my men have gone into hiding, and the others are being hunted and killed.”

“What do we do then?” James asked. “Don’t we have another Arcane Crown to save the day?”

“I don’t think so.” The Scavenger started walking again at a rapid speed, the children jogging to keep pace with him. “We need to approach Lynx, also known as the Man of the Rock.”

“Who’s he?” Archer asked.

“He is very old,” the Scavenger said.

“What do you mean, he’s very old?” James said. “I could say my grandfather is old too!”

The Scavenger groaned. “I mean that Lynx has existed for so long that he knows the dirt on everything. He’s full of experience. I think he can tell us what to do to defeat the Skull Warrior.”

“Is he immortal?” James asked.

“No,” the Scavenger replied. “But long back, he discovered a longevity herb which he consumed. He is ageing much slower than anyone in the Dark World.”

“But what if he doesn’t help us?” Matt asked. “What if he wants to support the Skull Warrior? What if -”

“What if you shut up?” the Scavenger interrupted. “We need to take things one step at a time. First, we will reach him, and then we will figure out what to do next.”

“So, how much time will it take to reach him?” Matt asked.

“A week, at the least,” the Scavenger said. “And that’s the last question.”

They walked in silence.

Almost at once, a savage howl came from nearby. It sounded as if a wolf was in pain.

The Scavenger stopped and listened.

Another howl came.

The Scavenger turned in its direction and began running.

“Hey!” Matt said, running after him. “Where are you going?”

The Scavenger pulled out his sword and ran faster. The howl came again, and this time, it was closer. The bushes disappeared, and the Scavenger emerged on a clearing.

A strange-looking wolf that had golden wings was lying injured on the ground with a bleeding paw. The Scavenger knelt beside it and examined the wound.

A whistle of air alerted him. He turned... and sliced an arrow coming towards him.

“Who goes there?” the Scavenger shouted, turning his head to detect movement. More arrows came in reply. The Scavenger kept slicing the arrows with his sword.

Then, men in robes carrying thin swords and bows emerged from the bushes and rushed at the Scavenger. But they hadn’t taken one step before a wall of fire erupted around them.

Archer’s face was scrunched up in concentration as he maintained the wall of fire through his Elemental Power.

The Scavenger stood up and walked up to the wall of fire “The Wolf Hunters,” he whispered to himself, recognizing the outfit of the men.

One of the men spoke from the other side of the wall of fire. “I am Mort, the leader of the Wolf Hunters. You have prevented us from taking our kill. You must pay.”

The Scavenger frowned. “You were about to kill an injured animal. What is the fairness in that?”

Mort shrugged. “Dude, ever heard of the cycle of nature? And by the way, who are you any-” He peered closer and gasped. “It’s you! The Scavenger!”

The Scavenger bowed. “At your service.”

“Get him!” Mort yelled and then jumped over the wall of flames.

Archer lost his concentration, and the flames dissolved. As Mort landed in front of the Scavenger, he pulled out two swords and attacked. The other Wolf Hunters rushed forward, and the children quickly engaged them with their Elemental Powers.

Rendering a powerful elbow strike at Mort’s shoulder, the Scavenger spun Mort back and hit his left arm hard. One of Mort’s swords clattered to the ground.

Mort gritted his teeth and came at the Scavenger again, but now he was weakened. One quick strike to the head and Mort sprawled to the ground unconscious. Daniel had summoned roots and shrubs that had tied down Mort’s army.

The Scavenger and the children’s Elemental Powers proved to be too strong for the Wolf Hunters, who were defeated in a few moments.

“Come on,” the Scavenger said, walking away. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Why did you come here in the first place?” Matt asked.

“To save the wolf, of course.”

“Well, the wolf flew away without saying any thanks,” Matt said. “So much for your chivalry.”

“Never mind,” the Scavenger said. “Keep doing good. It will come back to you in ways you can never imagine. Let’s continue our journey. We need to meet