“It appears that they have a swordsman named Xin fighting for the cause of the Ming Empire. Kurr had also mentioned a prophet in their midst who vouched for the souls of the Ming warriors upon the battlefield. He managed to equalize the incantations of our mages in order to buy time. Kurr had fought valiantly, but was unfortunately outmaneuvered and forced to flee. Nonetheless, we have learned plenty from the battle. We know their weapons, their tactics, and— ”
The Overlord slammed his giant fist onto the armrest of his throne and a gust of wind flew away from the impact as it shook the floor. “We cannot let this happen to the rest of the mages. Summon the Four Demon Generals of the Terukk nations. Send them posthaste into the Middle Kingdom to protect our sorcerers from this petty swordsman and this meaningless prophet. The Dark Hordes rising from within their own borders will grant us enough time to amass the rest of our forces for an invasion upon the world of men. Regardless of their military response, they will fall to the might of the Terukk. What is important is that we were able to understand their military tactics and methods, correct?
“Yes, my lord. A great deal has been learned from the first great battle.”
“Hmm… and tell Kurr, if he ever fails me because of his pride and selfish pursuits again, I will personally cast him into the chasm where the other failures descend into the void.”
Just like that, Hadrukk bowed low and made his way out of the castle fortress, and took to the skies to summon the Four Demon Generals so they may be shipped immediately across the sea.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Though writing this book has been a great joy, it many times became overwhelming. It would have been impossible for me to complete it without the vital support from family and friends. I thank my mom for her prayers, timeless advice, and tremendous support. She cooks amazing food. I acknowledge my father as well for his support and understanding, especially for one as eccentric and peculiar as I am. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Prof. Drew for his encouragement and belief in me.
All glory, honor, and praise belong to Jesus Christ, my Redeemer and King. Without His grace and enabling, I am nothing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pierre Dimaculangan is a digital artist, designer, and author of the Trials of the Middle Kingdom series. He was born in Manila and grew up in Queens, New York. He’s a lover of world history and of Chinese civilization. He loves to read, play story-driven video games, play drums, and practice Muay Thai and Parkour.
Website: www.pierredim.net
Facebook: TrialsoftheMiddleKingdom
Artwork in Instagram: @pierre_tomk
Find the sequel to this story with
"CLASH OF ALLIANCES: Trials of the Middle Kingdom 2"
The Sage, the Swordsman and the Scholars Page 27
