Emperor's Cunning Wife

"Captain, are you all right?" The man asked after placing a finger under the captain's nose.

"Ugh." The captain opened his eyes, after regaining his sense from the impact. He nodded with difficulty and stood up with the help of his subordinate. His sluggish actions clearly implied the immensity of strength the injured man used.

Clang-

The weapon of the guard flung making a loud sound and drew the two's attention.

"Watch out!" The subordinate assisting his captain exclaimed after he saw the arm that was about to slung on his companion's shoulders.

However, the 'injured' man's actions were too fast, that the one facing him could barely keep up, thus the arm with tremendous strength sent him kneeling with a thud.

The pained groan from the receiver raised an alarm and fear in the two. Blood splashed to the ground when the man vomited.

"Help him!" The captain nudged the one currently beside him.

Unsheathing his sword, he send a lethal attack at the man's back not caring to keep the man's alive anymore. The 'injured' man perceived his movements and dodged swiftly while lifting the other man like paper on the ground. The crashing of bones could be heard before the man tossed the listless body on the wooden wall creating a hole, where the interiors of the room became visible.

The captain at the side saw the purple eyes of the 'injured' man when it turned around. Such Strength! This doesn't clearly belong to an injured person. Where's his accomplice? The captain scanned the periphery and only realized now that that man had escaped taking advantage of the chaos.

The hooded man facing the monster adjusted his stance after his attack failed. He circled the monster around trying to find his weakness. The monster swung again its one arm towards the human.

The hooded man raised his blade to block the attack, but when his sword clashed, his arm went numbed, and vibrations from the impact travel to his spine.

He exerted all his force to push the man off but was only able to send it a few feet away. Dismayed, he made a call to the captain, "Captain! We need to call for reinforcements!"

The captain gripping his stomach shouted back, "Continue to evade, don't engage. This thing is not afraid of pain." He said observing the deep wounds on the injured man's body made by his two subordinates. He turned and jumped from the wall, inconspicuously avoiding people and followed to path to the direction of the Emperor's study.

The man instantly kept the monster's attention all to him and led it far away from his unconscious companion. When, they were far enough and he had less distraction. His eyes quickly observed his opponent's abnormal features. The veins on the man's skin were protruding and color purple; they were like vines twisting the man's body. His eyes were also purple, but they were blank similar to a mindless puppets which indicated his uncoordinated attacks. His captain must have also figured this out and suggested.

Where he stood, a figure would soon follow leaving deep dents of its attacks.

He remained vigilant, surveying his surroundings of manned places to avoid; their operation should remain hidden from the palace people. However, sounds that belong to a female group were picked up by his sharp ears. That moment of distraction, cost him to get swung on the torso. But even when he was in mid-air suffering from the aftermath, he made sure not to create any loud noises, and landed himself near the bushes. The shadow of the monster neared him and was about to launch another attack, when it stopped and fell onto the grasses beside him.

The arms he was about to raise could only be brought down.

The raised himself up, and use his feet to turned the body over. Mix of surprise and confusion flickered passed his eyes once he has seen the purple veins were gone. He squatted, used his fingers to open the man's eyes, and again shocked, the color returned to normal. Sceptical thoughts came after another. The remnants from the fight and the pain which lingered on his body proved this was reality. But doubts also rose when he remembered his opponent's condition.

Suddenly remembering his duty, he hurriedly dragged the body in a dead angle inside the bushes and placed some marks and went to find to check his companion's state. When, he reached him, he applied pressure to the bleeding wound and carried him to a corner under a shade.

Tap- tap- Series of familiar footsteps emerged.

Finally, the reinforcements arrived with his Captain. Through their expression was hidden under a cover of fabric, gloominess could be felt in their aura. The captain in the back rushed out of the group and was confused.

"Captain, this subordinate left it under the bushes where this servant made a mark." He saluted each one before reporting.

"You were able to beat it?" The Captain was surprised, never thought his new subordinate were that monster's match.

"No. He just fell down and never open his eyes again and this subordinate was also confused." He answered relaying the same confusion.

"Go retrieve the body." The leader at the front commanded the one beside him.

"Yes." He jumped and followed the instruction.

After a while, the man came back but empty handed, "Where's the body?"

"There was no body." The subordinate replied leaving the captain and his teammate baffled.