How I Became the Strongest King

Chapter 6:The Wish

It had been half an hour since Gary left to confront the intruders, and every minute that passed felt like an eternity. My heart hammered in my chest, torn between the urge to help him and the command he'd given me to stay hidden. "Stay here," he had said, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. I hated it. Every part of me screamed to rush out there, to stand by his side, but I was frozen in place, my body betraying my courage.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of horses in front of Gary's house, their hooves echoing ominously. Voices followed—muffled but unmistakably authoritative. My blood ran cold. Who were they? Could they be the King's knights, or worse, enemies laying a trap to capture me?

I crouched lower in the storeroom, straining to hear. My pulse quickened as I made out a snippet of their conversation: "Find the boy in the house. I'll check the back." A chill ran down my spine. They were looking for me. My hands trembled with fear, a cold sweat trickling down my face. I had only seconds before they found me. Why couldn't I move? Why couldn't I call upon some power to help Gary and myself? I cursed my powerlessness, anger and fear warring within me.

Footsteps approached, growing louder with each heartbeat. Someone was coming. I peered through a small hole in the closet door, catching a glimpse of a man entering the storeroom. He moved methodically, his eyes scanning every corner. I shrank back into the darkness, hoping against hope that he wouldn't find me.

But then he turned, moving toward the closet. My heart pounded in my chest, louder than the clomping boots on the floor. This was it. If he found me, I would have no choice but to fight, despite the terror coursing through me. I steeled myself, preparing to strike as soon as he opened the door. "You can do it, Mike," I whispered to myself. "You have to."

But just as his hand reached for the closet handle, another voice called from outside. "Hey, get over here!" The man paused, muttering a curse before turning away to see what the other needed. I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, sagging with relief. Maybe they wouldn't find me after all.

But then, without warning, the closet door was ripped open with a crash. A knight stood there, grinning with a sinister glee. "Did you really think I didn't see you, boy? I was just toying with you." Before I could react, he reached in and yanked me out by my collar, his fist connecting with my face in a brutal punch. Stars exploded behind my eyes as I stumbled, the room spinning around me.

I staggered, but managed to regain my footing, driven by sheer desperation. I swung my fist at him, landing a blow on his jaw, but it barely fazed him. He laughed, an ominous sound that sent chills down my spine. "Is that really a punch, boy?" he mocked, grabbing my arm with ease. Before I could even attempt another strike, he slammed my head against the wall. Pain exploded in my skull, and everything went black.

When I came to, my head throbbed with a relentless, blinding pain. I tried to move, but my arms and legs were bound. Blinking through the haze, I realized I was on the back of a horse, being carried away. My heart sank. I had failed.

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Gary was fighting with a ferocity I had never seen before. His fire sword blazed in the fading light as he faced off against Steve, the leader of the knights. "I have a surprise for you, old man," Steve sneered, gesturing to something in the distance.

I couldn't see what he meant, but Gary's eyes flickered with worry. He fought on, cutting through the ranks of knights, but their numbers were overwhelming. Even with his extraordinary skill, they began to wear him down. Yet, with every blow, every attack he dodged, Gary fought as if he had something left to protect.

"Steve, are you too scared to fight me?" Gary taunted, his voice carrying over the clamor of battle.

Steve smirked. "Don't push your luck, old man."