Goro: Prince of Shokan
Chapter 4: King Motaro
I arrived back at the Kuaton palace that day to see everyone surrounding something.
I got a closer look to see that it was Morrow, dead ... again. " It was like he was some kind of zombie," a surprised Shokan said. That is when father turned around a noticed me. " Goro where have you been! "
" Just doing some reconnasince," I replied.
Father raised his eyebrow, " What are you talking about? "
" Well I decided to take a trip to the Centaur palace. Seems they are having the same undead problem as us. " I explained.
Father once again looked at the zombie Morrow. " Cremate him," father ordered to a few servants, just in case zombie Morrow would once again rise.
" The thing is they blame us, they believe we are using sorcery to turn their own people against them." I further explained.
" That's proposterus!" father shouted, " They know magic is illegal in these parts of Outworld, sorcery is just a shortcut to gaining might, something we already have. "
" The are also having problems in their mines like us, they can no longer make weapons. Which is why they are attacking in a few nights. "
Father's eyes widened, " This is indeed bad news Goro, where is your evidence? "
I blinked, " I...have none, I was there when they first decided to fight. "
" As much as your explanation seems logical Goro I'm afraid I cannot risk getting on their badside or moving our men away from the area to let down to lower our defenses because of an irresponsible Shokans words. "
" I tell the truth,"
" No Goro, too risky,"
" But what if they do attack? that is too much to risk. " I questioned.
I knew that father believed me deep down, but it's hard to accept it when you were responsible for his wifes death.
Father sighed," I'll give you a large portion of the army, make the best of it, you are in command for this one son. "
" Thank you father. "
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I studied a map of the wastelands, where the Centaurs were to assemble, all night long.
After hours of studying, I came up with a plan.
The next day I heard a familiar growl behind me, " Risky plan your coming up with here, the Centaurs may not be even attacking," Kintaro said, he then grinned , " I'm in."
I stood in front of a battalion of Shokans to begin the briefing. " This is Operation Blood Bath, The Centaurs are assembling near the ancient Palace of Edenia in the Wastelands. They are planning to attack us from there, with such a head start, if they get anywhere near Kuaton we're done for."
" Half of you lead by Kintaro will attack from the west and distract the Centaurs here," I pointed to a map. " Then the other half, lead by myself, will go down the River of Blood in a fleet of small boats, where we will outflank the enemy. At which point we will rendevous with Kintaros group and take the abondened Edenian palace they are using as a command station. Everyone got it? dismissed. "
" Quite a gamble Goro, the part of about going down the River of Blood especially," Kintaro laughed , " I like it. "
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" Keep your heads down," I whispered as we drifted down the river.
Soon sounds of screams and arrows shooting were heard. I looked out to see the action. Kintaro was cutting down all Centaur in his sight. He had ordered some men to throw boulders from the cliffs. The boulders rolled after and squised the Centaurs making them run back in fear. A rogue catapult shot a boulder our way which barely missed, splashing blood over all the Shokans in the boat. Then to my surprise, The Centaurs started to push Kintaros group back. Firing catapults at them. " What the.." Arrows flew into the boulder throwers. One dropped a boulder which squished a Centaur. This made Kintaro angry as he shoved his arm right through a Centaurs torso, sending it out the back with bloody claws, then slowly twisting his claw around before hauling it out, as the Centaur slumped over dead. Ahead of us a boulder smashed through a boat killing a Shokan and sinking the boat. I ordered them to assist Kintaro as I passed them. " This isn't whats supposed to happen, " I said to soldier in the boat.
Boats ahead of us were being smashed to pieces. We were gaining mass casualties.
"If this keeps up we won't have enough men to succesfully encircle the Centaurs." I thought for a bit.
" We need to take out their catapults. "
" Verox, your in charge here," I told him.
" What! wait! where are you going, " He said panicing.
I leapt out of the side of the boat and swam through the blood untill
I got out of the river. The caslte was in sight. A Centaur was waiting for me as I exited the river. I dodged his sword swipe. Gave him a uppercut, and leapt on his back. I controlled him and riding him, I leapt across the canyon. Another Centaur charged at me. I took the Centaur I was riding by his sharpe pointy horns and used them to impale through the other Centaurs chest. I then took the Centaur I was riding and snapped his neck. I put on my dragon fangs, I set of deadly guantlets for each hand that Shokan usually use as weapons and silced across one Centaur.
Kintaro and his squad was a litte ways off pinned down by the Centaur assault. I came up behind the Centaurs and impaled a few before the others noticed me, this gave Kintaro a chance to attack. We ripped all the Centaurs apart. One Centaur was about to impale me bit Kintaro threw me into the air, Kintaro blocked the Centaurs attack and replied by kicking him in the head, at which time I came back from my fall and landed on the Centaurs back, crushing it. " Your arrival was just on time, it was much appreciated Prince." Kintaro thanked.
" Kintaro we need to shut down those Catapults or are men will never outflank the Centaurs."
" I have a plan," Kintaro grinned as he looked over at a beaten, yet still alive, Centaur prisoner.
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" Don't try anything funny." I warned.
I was on a Centaurs back lying low with a sheet covering me. He finally trotted to the outside of the Edenian Palace. " What are you carrying soldier?" A Centaur officer asked the Centaur suspiciously.
The Centaur soldier remained quiet as I put my guantlet closer to his neck.
" Well why don't we take a look," the officer demanded.
He ripped off the sheet as his eyes widened when I leapt out and stabbed him.
" Kill him! Kill him!" the other officer demanded.
The Centaur I was riding tried to stab me but I dodged it and knocked him down.
A small squad of Centaurs charged at me. I quickly stabbed the operator of the catapult. A turned around the catapult to line up with the squad and the other catapult and fired. It squished them and destroyed the other catapult in the process. I took another boulder, climbed atop another catapult, and threw it downwards sending the wood and pieces of the catapult flying in all directions. I smiled as I looked over and saw the boats make it to their drop off point.
" Hold the castle! " King Motaro screamed.
Thats when I got a look at is face, he was the one who killed mother.
Motaro ran into the castle with a group of Centaurs. I chased after him dodging a hail of arrows as I did. I finally smashed down the great castle door and confronted them.
" Stupid Shokans, don't know when to quit, slaughter this one! " the King ordered.
One Centaur ran after me but I rolled to the side and grabbed its tail. With all my might I swung it around and into the other centaur I then threw it into the ceiling, knocking a chandelir into the remaining Centaur.
" Quite smart are we? " the King said as he approached. " I recognize you from somewhere, no matter, I will put you out of my misery myself."
Motaro lunged at me as rolled to one side. A delievered a series of punches but he blocked everyone. " I am not so easily defeated, " he laughed.
He punched me across the face, and did a horse kick with his back legs which sent me through the wall and into the dining room. He fired a fireball from his tail, I rolled backwards and to my feet to dodge it. He charged at me but I swung my arm upwards and struck him across the chin. He stared at me as he shook off his diziness. " You! you're the Prince," he laughed , " killing your mother was very satisfying."
I charged at him in rage, but he leapt over me. I turned around to see him as he fired a series of fireballs at me. I ran to avoid them. I jumped onto the wall to avoid one but Motaro shoved his sharp metal tail through my upper left arm, I yelped in pain as I fell from the wall. He aimed a fireball at my face but I blocked it and got up. He teleported behind me, picked me up with one arm and prepared the finish me off, but I quickly used both of my bottom arms and punch him in the stomach, releasing me from his grasp. We both fell to catch our breath but I got up first. I jabbed him across the face and pushed him back to the wall. I then charged and rammed him through it. I threw a boulder at him but he shoved his tail through it and flung it back at me. I fired a fireball of my own to destroy it. I was going to punch him but I got a pain in my pierced arm. He picked me up and threw me through the ceiling and to the second floor. He threw more punches but I blocked and parried, we parried each others attack untill he teleported behind. I countered however and leapt through the roof and back down, shoving my feet in his back. I then noticed him wobbling on his feet, four feet, if I could just knock him down he'd have trouble getting back up. He tried to trip me with his tail but I hopped over it. He tried to bring his fist down on top of me but I caught it, and struck him across the jaw. Then I took all four of my hands and slammed them into the ground with all my might causing the ground the shake. Motaro lost his balance and fell down. I then took two of my hands and gave massive uppercut with two hands at once. He fell back near the wall. I than charged and with my shoulder pushed him through it. He fell down the side of the caslte and to the hard ground at the bottom, defeated. A group of Centaurs quickly picked him up and escaped with his body.
I exited the caslte to find a group of cheering Shokans. " Mission accomplished." Kintaro said proudly. Around, the boats were on shore and dead Shokan and Centaur covered the grounds.
I earned a reward for my victory at the wastelands. " I hope you can forgive me for ever doubting you," father said. " I hearby declare my son, Goro the commander of the Shokan army." more cheers were heard as we began a royal feast for our victory.