The deer-like monster gracefully stepped out of the steam and stood on solid ground in front of them.
"It's here," Hafen alerted and unsheathed the katana.
"I'll handle it," Stark proclaimed and raised the claymore. He charged with a mighty swing.
The deer-like monster elegantly sidestepped, and it swung its massive antlers.
Stark slid to a halt and blocked the attack with the flat of his blade. His feet dug into the ground.
The deer-like monster shook its head, and a layer of frost spread across its antlers. Ice on Stark's claymore thickened and became heavier.
Stark grunted as he struggled. His body felt cold and numb.
The deer-like monster strengthened its push.
"Stark," Hafen called out. He rushed forward and sliced its side.
The deer-like monster flinched and turned its head towards Hafen with fury. It let out another piercing cry and shot a single, massive icicle from its mouth.
Hafen, with the help of the katana, conjured a shield of water.
The icicle crashed into the shield and exploded.
Hafen winced and covered his face with an arm. His vision blurred.
The shockwave flung him back.
Matteo saw an opening. He dashed to the deer-like monster's other side.
The deer-like monster quickly turned and sent Matteo flying with a swing of its antlers. Then, it leaped back to create some distance.
Matteo crashed against the cave wall and slid down to the ground. He groaned and shook his head. The rapier fell out of his grasp.
Stark broke the ice encased on the claymore with his bare fists and gritted his teeth.
The deer-like monster stood triumphant over them. Its antlers glowed with an intense, icy energy that covered the entire chamber.
"We have to attack in unison," Hafen reminded again and panted heavily.
Stark nodded. "On it," he affirmed. He raised the claymore and focused on the creature's powerful legs. The claymore hummed with a green light.
Vines erupted from the ground. They snaked around the deer-like monster's legs and tightened their grip.
The deer-like monster struggled and thrashed. It bellowed in frustration, and its antlers flared. The intense cold spread and froze the vines solid.
At the same time, Hafen surged forward and swung the katana.
It clanked against the antlers.
The deer-like monster jumped back on top of the lake.
Hafen channeled the water from the underground lake with the katana.
The water rose and swirled around the deer-like monster, forming a whirlpool that trapped it within.
The deer-like monster's eyes widened in panic. It spun and flailed within the watery prison.
Matteo rushed in and readied the rapier. He thrust it into the center of the whirlpool.
The flame along its blade grew hotter and brighter. As it met the water, a colossal cloud of steam erupted and engulfed the chamber.
The deer-like monster shrieked in pain as its hide scalded.
The steam cleared.
The deer-like monster stood with its fur scorched and smoking. Its antlers had lost their icy glow. It breathed heavily, and it held a final defiant gaze.
A large blizzard suddenly erupted from it.
Stark, Matteo, and Hafen stood with a fierce determination. They employed their weapons in unison.
With their three swings, three slashes emerged and pierced through the blizzard. One was of fire, the other was of water, and the last was of a large, sharp leaf. In unison, they hit and exploded on the deer-like monster with a massive, concussive force.
The deer-like monster let out a majestic cry and slammed against the wall. It barely stood back up with a look of weary resignation. In a turn of events, it bowed in a gesture of respect or perhaps defeat. With a soft chuff, it trotted away into the tunnel and disappeared into the darkness.
The cold slowly dissipated.
Hafen slid the katana back into its sheath. His arms ached, and every breath was a struggle.
Finally feeling the fatigue, Stark collapsed to one knee. The heavy claymore fell from his grasp and clattered on the stone.
At the same time, Matteo stumbled back against the cave wall, and the fiery rapier slipped from his trembling fingers.
The weapons faded their glows.
Then, a single, warm ray of light from the exit cut through the chamber.
"Did we," Matteo queried with a stutter.
Hafen looked ahead. "The sun's rising," he whispered with relief.
The faintest glow of dawn seeped and painted the wet walls in shades of soft pink and gold.
"Then, we survived the night. We passed," Stark asserted. He pushed himself to his feet and grinned.
Soon, Hafen, Stark, and Matteo emerged from the tunnel and onto a narrow ledge on the cliff face.
Stark gazed at the sunrise in awe. He squinted and pointed to a series of ledges that zigzagged down the cliff. "There. That's our way down," he informed. He carefully descended.
Hafen and Matteo nodded and followed.
"Hafen, how did you end up in that cave," Matteo inquired.
"It was by chance. I went into it thinking I could escape the cold. It seems that monster was behind it," Hafen replied.
Down on the ground, Pepe waited for them. He had discarded the disguise and wore his usual attire. "You made it," he greeted with a proud nod.
Old Man Marcus stood beside him with a rare, thin smile. "You've survived the night well. More importantly, you learned the most valuable lesson of all: to rely on each other," he commended with a deep rumble. His gaze swept over their torn clothes, their scrapes and bruises, and their exhausted but triumphant eyes. He took a deep breath and finally announced, "You have passed my Trial of Survival."
Matteo sighed with relief.
Stark punched the air and stood proudly.
Hafen nodded with a solemn but profound sense of accomplishment.
"Kneel," Old Man Marcus ordered.
Stark, Matteo, and Hafen complied and knelt.
Old Man Marcus walked to them and pulled out the diamond-plated sword. As he patted their shoulders with his sword, he declared, "You three have great potential. As my new apprentices, you are now suitable to protect The Sacred Forest, and you are worthy to wield my elemental weapons."
"Elemental weapons," Matteo mumbled and stared at his rapier.
"I've replicated them from the originals with my passion for blacksmithing. Matteo, yours is a rapier. Stark's is a two-handed great sword, and Hafen's is called a katana. Cassandra helped me make them," Old Man Marcus elaborated before a grim expression formed on his face.
Stark reminisced on the challenges. He asked, "Why were there deadly traps and zombies in the trial?"
"I controlled all the traps, and I knew about your capabilities beforehand due to Pepe's inquiry. Though, the zombies were a surprise to us, as well. You've exceeded my expectations," Old Man Marcus answered.
"What about that final monster? The one with the antlers," Matteo sought to know.
"It's also a protector of the forest. Its name is Anhanga. I've asked it to be your final test. You have earned its respect," Old Man Marcus revealed and handed out battle suits. "Here, put these on when you're ready. Now, the training truly begins. Your mastery over your weapons will only grow from here, and your first mission as protectors awaits," he urged.
Hafen grabbed the battle suit and raised a brow. "What mission," he questioned.
Pepe stepped forward with a heavy sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck with a tired slump. "I found a giant baby zombie with a crown on its head on my patrol. I call it Baby Zombie Prince. Bulky guards accompany it. Their numbers are growing, and they're destroying everything in their path," he divulged with a serious tone.
"A giant baby zombie with a crown," Matteo repeated with a stammer. The image was absurd, yet deeply unsettling.
"We're going. With our new weapons, we can take them," Stark claimed with a firm nod.
Matteo hesitated but then nodded with a determined look. "I'm ready, too," he affirmed.
"We should rest first," Hafen insisted and sighed.
Old Man Marcus agreed to Hafen's suggestion with a nod.
Hafen stared at the ground with a thoughtful frown. "A zombie interrogated me about a princess while I was in the frozen cave. I think it's connected. What's special about them," he recalled and surveyed.
Pepe's expression turned serious. "I also heard Baby Zombie Prince mentioning a baby sister," he attested.
Old Man Marcus coughed and elaborated, "We were wrong about the leaders of the zombies. It's not The Exalted One. It seems like he was just a third party. He may have been using the invasion to abduct those three students."
Matteo looked up at him. "Benjamin, Jasper, and Elaine," he whispered with dread.
"We need to rescue them," Stark insisted with a determined tone.
"We will, but not now. They are in The Exalted One's clutches, and his whereabouts remain unknown," Old Man Marcus warned and turned to enter the mancave. He addressed, "About your question, Hafen. We can now conclude that the zombies are being controlled like any other species, with a royal hierarchy. There's a king and queen for each species, and they have absolute control over their kind. Their children, either a prince or a princess, are the strongest among them, and the eldest is next to inherit the throne." He resumed walking.
"So, the queen and king of the zombies are behind the invasion," Hafen questioned.
Old Man Marcus nodded but clarified, "Their children, the royal baby zombies, are behind it as we speak. Still, they're likely following orders from their parents."
Matteo tilted his head and inquired, "If there's a king and queen for every species, then who's the king and queen of the humans?"
Old Man Marcus paused for a moment. He chuckled and admitted, "That's a good question. I have no idea."
The next morning, Matteo, Hafen, and Stark found themselves in a quiet corner inside the mancave. They took off their dirty clothes and slipped into their new battle suits.
Each suit was tailored with unique modifications reflecting their fighting styles. Built to absorb impacts, Stark's was heavier across the shoulders and chest. Matteo's, aiding his agile movements, was lightweight and flexible. Hafen's was streamlined and designed for minimal drag and maximum mobility.
"Good morning, brothers," Pepe greeted with a small smile. He handed them plates of half-eaten breakfast. "Old Man Marcus made this before he left. He said something about visiting a grave," he explained.
Hafen grabbed his plates and narrowed his eyes. "Did you eat from them," he asked with suspicion.
Pepe chuckled and gave a reassuring smile before admitting and apologizing, "Sorry. I couldn't help myself."
Hafen frowned with disappointment.
Hafen, Matteo, and Stark sat around a small, makeshift table and ate.
Pepe watched them and surveyed, "So, are you guys ready to go after Baby Zombie Prince?"
Stark took a hearty bite of some strange bread and confidently affirmed, "Born ready." He flexed in his new suit and grinned. "With this suit and my new claymore, I can take on anything."
Matteo nervously looked down at his new battle suit. He fidgeted with a strap on his wrist. "I hope so," he mumbled. He nibbled on a piece of fruit and asked, "Where is he now?"
"He and his zombie guards are heading towards The Orphanage," Pepe replied with a heavy heart and continued, "My mom is still there, along with the other orphans."
"Then, we have to go. Now," Stark urged and stood up.
Hafen finished his meal and nodded in agreement. "We can't let the same thing that happened to the school happen there."
"Be careful, you three. Baby Zombie Prince is stronger than the other zombies," Pepe cautioned.
"Are you not coming," Matteo queried and burped. He covered his mouth and shyly turned away.
Pepe shook his head. "I'll stay here for a bit and watch over Cassandra. I also have my own mission. I'll meet you back at The Orphanage after I'm done," he answered with a reluctant expression. He looked over at the locked door with a worried frown.
"We'll be victorious before you know it. I give you my word," Stark comforted and patted Pepe's shoulder.
"Okay. Thanks," Pepe replied with a forced smile.
Ready to face the new threat, Hafen, Matteo, and Stark exited the cave. They had accepted their first mission and headed to the forest. As they hunted for their first target, Baby Zombie Prince, how will they fare? Elsewhere, what has become of Baby Zombie Prince and his horde?