THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 374: 374. ZAKA ASAKANA VS SAGIRI I

The hour passed far too quickly. Every few minutes, another scout returned with the same report. No sign of Senraki. No message. No trace.

By the time the sun had begun sinking toward the western mountains, even Salka had accepted that the old headmaster would not return before nightfall. Without another word, he left the academy and made his way to the outer nonagon, where thousands of northern warriors had completely encircled the fortress-like school.

Banners bearing the crest of the Galka insignia fluttered in the evening wind while armored warriors stood shoulder to shoulder in disciplined ranks. At their center sat Great Chief of the north Zaka Asakana upon an enormous warhorse, his broad frame radiating the confidence of a man who had never been denied anything by force.

Salka stopped on top of the outer gate of Galka war academy, his expression unreadable.

”State your business,” he called. Zaka’s eyes narrowed.

”Hand over the Southerner.” His voice rolled across the courtyard like distant thunder. ”The Supreme Chief of the South is hiding within these walls.” Salka didn’t even blink.

”The intel you have is not the one I have.” Salka said his voice calm.

”His beast ehaded this way. My scouts saw it even in the night it is hard to miss such a beast.” Zaka Asakana said.

”Whether he is or isn’t is none of your concern.” His tone remained almost bored. ”You know the laws as well as I do. No chief, king, or mandra possesses the authority to enter an academy by force.”

Zaka’s lips curled into a humorless smile.

”Those laws exist because men choose to respect them.”

”Exactly,” Salka replied. ”Which is why I’d advise you to continue respecting them.” A murmur rippled through the gathered warriors. Zorath slowly dismounted, the ground seeming to groan beneath his weight as he landed. He stepped forward until only a few paces separated the two men.

”I will give your headmaster one hour to present himself,” he declared. ”If Senraki does not appear...” His gaze hardened. ”...I will enter.” Salka folded his arms.

”You don’t have the mandate.”

”I am the grand zorath of the north. Every inch of this territory belongs to me”

”And I am the marshal of the academy. I have as much right as the grand marshal and same power inside the academy as you have in the north.”

”Don’t mistake neutrality for protection.” Zaka snarled

Salka smirked in response.

”Don’t tell me you have the right to kill cadets because you think we harbour and nemy withing the walls. Your army is rather uncalled for dont you think great chief of the north.”

”I see you are the catain Salka... You served under me once before the supreme mandra scooped you only to spit you. Do you peraps think you are worthy of being great chief of the north so much so you wish to challenge me?!” Zaka snarled again.

”It is you who is feeling a challenge I merely wish to protect the youmg warriors and future of Tagayia.” Salka said. Both men are beast to the eye chief Zaka more so and many had speculated that captain salka would b the one to be the next chief of the north.

Well he was unbeatable among hisnpeers in combat and weaponly and even the men under him would topple a small nation f left to their own devices. The whispers seemed to have reached the ears of the great chief of the north

The air between them became suffocating.

Neither man yielded an inch. It had become less a negotiation and more two predators measuring the other’s resolve.

Then something changed. Zaka’s patience vanished.

”Enough.” He didn’t even wait for the promised hour to expire. He raised one hand.

”Advance.”

Hundreds of armored boots struck the earth at once. The first ranks surged toward the academy gates. Salka’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

His hand moved toward his weapon.

Warriors atop the walls immediately lowered bows while instructors and senior instructors flooded onto the battlements.

Before the great chief’s men could make contact however then the sky exploded.

A deafening boom ripped across the battlefield as something descended from above faster than the eye could follow. Before anyone could react, a figure slammed into the ground directly between the two opposing forces.

The impact was cataclysmic.

Stone shattered in every direction as a shockwave erupted outward with enough force to tear banners from their poles and send entire ranks of warriors flying backward. Horses screamed as they lost their footing.

Northern soldiers crashed into one another like scattered leaves before a storm.

Even Salka, who had been expecting something, was thrown backward. He instinctively planted one knee against the ground, sliding dozens of meters through shattered stone before finally grinding to a halt in a cloud of dust. Across from him, Zaka’s enormous horse’s frame was forced three heavy steps backward, his boots carving trenches into the earth before he managed to stop himself. Silence followed.

Dust rolled across the battlefield for a long moment before it begun to settle.

Then, slowly, a black cloak emerged from the settling cloud. Sagiri stood at the center of the crater, Nokai resting loosely across one shoulder, his expression impossibly calm. Without looking at either army, he brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve and sighed.

”I thought,” he said quietly, ”we agreed to wait until sundown.”

The dust had barely settled when Grand Chief Zorath Zaka Asakana let out a slow breath through his nose, his piercing gaze fixed upon the young man standing in the crater. His lips curled into a sneer.

”You’ve always had a flair for dramatic entrances,” he rumbled. ”I preferred you when you knew your place.” Sagiri met his eyes without the slightest trace of emotion.

”And I prefer you outside academy grounds.” His voice was calm enough to be mistaken for indifference.

”Tell me, Great Chief...” His crimson eyes drifted lazily toward the shattered formation of northern warriors before returning to the towering man. ”...how quickly were you hoping to die by forcing your way into an academy?” A ripple of outrage spread through the northern ranks.

Zaka laughed a deep, mocking laugh that echoed across the courtyard.

”Die?” he repeated. ”Boy, you have no right to ask me such a question.” His smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. ”I’m here to kill you.” The declaration hung in the air like a drawn blade. Sagiri merely tilted his head slightly.

”Are you?” Sagiri asked. ”I wasn’t aware you were capable.” The words landed hard.

Zaka’s jaw clenched so violently that the muscles in his neck bulged. Veins surfaced beneath the skin of his massive forearms as rage flooded his features.

”Careful,” he growled. ”Your tongue has always outrun your strength.”

Sagiri shrugged.

”Then perhaps today you’ll finally catch it.” A dangerous silence followed. The warriors on both sides instinctively stepped back. They could feel the killing intent pouring from the two men. Zorath slowly reached for the massive axe strapped across his back before stopping himself. Instead, he stepped down from his warhorse with a heavy thud that cracked the stone beneath his boots. The beast snorted nervously and retreated on its own, sensing the mood of its master.

Zaka rolled his broad shoulders once before planting his feet firmly apart. His enormous frame seemed even larger now, his presence alone pressing against the air. Then two low growls echoed from behind him.

Shadows detached themselves from the northern ranks.

Two colossal cats padded silently to either side of their master, their fur black as a moonless night, their golden eyes fixed unblinkingly upon Sagiri. Their shoulders rose almost to Zaka’s chest, muscles rippling beneath sleek coats as they bared fangs longer than daggers.

The ground itself seemed to tremble as they settled into crouches beside him. Zorath rested one hand on the head of the larger beast without taking his eyes off Sagiri.

”You asked whether I was capable,” he said, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper. ”Come closer...” His grip tightened. ”...and I’ll show you why every chief from the northern tribes bows when I speak.” Sagiri looked from one beast to the other before returning his gaze to Zaka Asakana.

Then, to everyone’s disbelief, he smiled. It wasn’t mocking. It wasn’t arrogant. It was the quiet smile of a man who had finally found exactly what he had been looking for.

”Good,” he said softly. ”I was beginning to think I’d have to lower my expectatown.”

”I will show you why the entire south bows to me. You are a mere bug Zaka Asakana Bami. And I despise you themost.” Sagiri articulated each word but he did not make a move to leave his spot.

The suddenly he dissapeared from his place.