THE INSUPERABLE: Death and Decay

Part 3

King Periclese of Athens and his generals were huddled around the war table, the king was sweating profusely, mainly due to the heat of the cave but also to the fear of losing the battle. "How is this even possible, we outnumber the whoresons by thousands yet they're tearing through our defenses like it's malakas nothing, how are they doing it? I need answers now! Or I'll start removing heads!" the king demanded, slamming his fist on the table. One of the generals stepped forward shivering like a scared dog. "Your majesty, maybe they were just better prepared, perhaps they arrived early and observed the terrain to indicate possible vantage points?" The king glared at the general, he started shaking in great anger. "You there, soldiers!" the king pointed at the two guards guarding the cave entrance. "Take this piece of cow dung outside and remove his idiotic head!"

"My lord no! Please!." The man begged immensely, tears running down his cheeks. The king however did not retract his order. The two soldiers grabbed the general by the arm and dragged him outside "No one is more prepared than the mighty Athenian army! No one knows these lands better than the mighty Athenian army! No one malakas outsmarts the mighty Athenian army!" The king flew into a rage, he threw the table over causing the maps and placeholders to fall to the ground. Suddenly a scream could be heard from outside the cave. The king straightened his breastplate and composed himself. "I guess the boys decided to have a little fun before beheading the man," the king smiled nastily. Suddenly 3 bodies flew into the cave crashing against the cave wall. The general that was to be executed was among the 3 bodies. He was not dead; however, the man lay there choking on his own blood. "My lord hel..." before he could finish his sentence a large otherworldly pickaxe came flying into the cave striking the dying man in the head, splitting it in two.

The soldiers all drew their swords and surrounded their king. It was quiet, sweat dripped from their foreheads, they desperately tried to control their nervous breathing so as not to seem cowardly. Suddenly a shadow appeared that of a giant man followed by a significantly smaller man. From the darkness, two chestnut eyes could be seen. "Evening gentlemen", the voice was deep and menacing and sent chills down the neck of the Athenian king. One soldier found this far too frightening and proceeded to wet himself.

"What are you doing standing there, attack the man!" The king yelled with anger. The soldiers closed their eyes, gave a silent prayer and blindly charged at the gigantic figure. The figure kicked an oncoming Athenian man sending the soldier flying, he extended his arm towards his mighty pickaxe which then flew towards his hand. As the weapon entered his grasp the figure gave it a powerful swing splitting all the charging soldiers in half, sending the pieces flying about the cave. The king stood up from his cowering position removing his hands from his face. "Sh...show yourself I wish to look into the eyes of the beast that murders me," the king demanded with caution.

The figure stepped forward. From the shadows Kalib emerged, he was gigantic, a true specimen of a man. Just before the king could speak he noticed the smaller figure emerging from behind the large man. "Acastus?" the king's jaw flew open, he could not believe his eyes.

"Periclese?... How are you old friend?... Oh, this is quite the unfortunate predicament hey!?" Acastus clenched down on his teeth rather nervously. "Wha...what are you doing here? Are you with this large man?" The king grew more and more confused. "Oh how rude of me, this is Kalib of Ambracia he's a misthios hired by the Corinthians to... well... Uhm...kill you," Acastus exclaimed with an awkward smile. "Kill me? Acastus tell me it isn't so? Are you working with the Corinthians?" the king shook his head in disbelief. "Oh no no Periclese, I'm no Corinthian, I'm a misthios now, I just do whatever Kalib here does, we win wars for coin," Acastus said proudly. "Wait, your friend here is the mighty pickaxe warrior? Malaka, that explains how the whoresons got through my defenses!" the king rubbed his chin. "Yes well it was lovely to see you old friend, but you know how it is, battles don't win themselves, Kalib you may proceed." Kalib took a step forward but immediately halted as the king raised his arms.

"No wait please you won't really kill me Acastus, I mean I gave you wealth, respect, a wife for gods' sake," the king begged nervously. "Yes, well here's the thing, the wife you gave me fell in love with my son and ran off with him and all of my wealth," Acastus laughed nervously once more. "Oh my condolences," the king exclaimed. "Eh, what can you do? Women, you can shower them with wealth but you can never truly own them,"

Acastus sighed. "Forgive my interruption but we're in the middle of a war here." Kalib interrupted. "Oh yes sorry please go on Kalib," Acastus extended his arm towards the king. Once again Kalib took a step but was once again stopped by King Periclese. "Please Acastus isn't there anything you can do to call off your friend?" "I fear not dear Periclese, you see Kalib is like a female, he can not be tamed." Kalib glared at Acastus then rolled his eyes and looked at king Periclese. "How much will you pay me to bring you the head of the Corinthian King?" Kalib asked with a serious tone.

"Are you serious? You'll betray your employers, Just like that?" the king asked, confused. "Yes! Now can you pay or not? "Kalib grew a bit impatient. "Uh how about five hundred thousand drachmae?" "Give me six and it's a deal," Kalib asked calmly. "Deal!, what happens now?" Kalib did not say a word; it was clear he was rather frustrated with the day, he merely turned on his heel and marched out of the cave. "Calm yourself Periclese, well be back shortly, you might want to leave the cave though, it's getting rather spooky with all these dead men lying about."