Chapter 4 (Fierce, Fearless, Far-striking)

 To sleep, Sultana Maryam placed him in a vast bedroom with a wide bed. Max fell asleep slowly on the cozy bed.
“Max!!!”
 He woke up suddenly at midnight and moved a bit. 
 “Bram!”
Max escaped his second death at the tip. There was a hole in his bed. His linen was ripped by the thorns.
 A dark being tried to stab him with its sharp claw. It resembled a Djinn with sharp claws and long limbs. Smokes appeared from nowhere as the creature came. Its back was bent, and its face resembled a jackal. There were thorns on its spine. Its tongue protruded, drooling, just like a mad dog. It produced a smoke-like dark mist, causing Max’s vision to blur.
 “Vroom”
 Max, despite the drowsiness, began attacking that creature back by shooting fireballs. The ball he shot went through the creature’s body, and the creature disappeared. Knowing the possible attack pattern of the creature, Max turned around and shot a ray of flame. Only the walls were damaged by the flames and not the creature. Because of his sound, Jizo from separate rooms was awakened. He rushed into Max’s room and attacked the abomination with his staff. Jizo’s staff caused more damage than all of Max’s attacks combined. Its club-like nature was a main advantage in close combats.
 “Phram!” The creature appeared before Max, ready to strike him with its claws. Using this chance, Max shot a strong flame ray directly towards the creature’s chest before it disappeared again.
 “Boom!” The creature was pushed backward by the force of the flames.   “Zreek!” A sword appeared on its chest, piercing it from the back. Suddenly, from the wound, the creature emits light beams. It got brightened. It shone the whole room. All glasses, tiles, and marbles were reflecting the light. When it disappeared, the creature was no more.
“No one hurts my visitors in my presence!” The sword holder's voice echoed through the chamber. It was mighty. It was fierce, and it was feminine. It was the voice of Sultana Maryam. Despite her age, the Sultana was no more a sweet girl but a fierce, fearless, far-striking warrior queen. Her sweet hands had shed blood. Her smile was freckled. 
 Max felt shocked after the attack and said, “What is it? Another sin I did?”
“No, those are not from Bardo, Max. We got outsiders now,” Jizo said in a deep tone.

“What do you mean outsiders?”Max asked Jizo
“That creature is an outsider who doesn’t want you to pass the Bardo. I have noticed them since the Envy realm. They are the same minions that served the red-skinned one,”

“Why would they want me to get stuck here?” 
“That’s what we shall find. Sleep for now, as we will leave tomorrow. And, Mighty Sultana, thank you for your hospitality. We owe your protection, but we will have to continue our Journey,”
 Sultana Maryam spoke in a meaningful voice,
 “I will help you through the Journey as I knew the gate. Now, sleep peacefully. My guards will protect you for tonight,”
 Max had no words to say. He spent his night thinking about the attack. Was it the Yama guy behind the attacks, he thought?
  The following day, Sultana hosted a grand feast for breakfast. She chose fine horses for the travel. 
 When the journey began, Max and Jizo were on the back of the dark and white horses. Along with them were Sultana Maryam and her troop of soldiers. Together, they passed the peaceful villages under the control of the Sultana. 
 While on the Camel’s back, Jizo asked Max, “Max, tell me about your death. Isn’t it a murder?”
 Unwillingly, Max replied, “Yes, it was,”
“By whom?”
“My friend, Vithura,”
“Vithura? Isn’t he the protector Deav of children?”
“Yes, he was,” Max said in a low voice, as he didn’t want to talk too much about his friend’s backstabbing. Jizo was in deep thought until Sultana Maryam spoke,“Aren’t Deavs enemies of demons?”
“Yes, Sultana, they are,” Jizo said.
“How did you two become friends? Didn’t he hurt you?”
 Max had no answers. He still couldn’t believe that Vithura had killed him. “For what reasons?” he thought. His heart was weary by these questions.
 “Was it because of me leading a group of demons? Was he envious of me? He won’t! Did he think I was a danger to society?” thoughts popped up, and Max was downhearted. His head was low, and he almost sobbed.
 Jizo noticed his condition and said, “Max, Vithura might also have some reasons. We don’t know what lies behind or what forced him to do,”  Max just sighed. He knew Vithura would never do anything without reason. After all, Vithura could have killed him before if he would. He was the one who trained him to control his demonic side, too. With a saddened face, Max continued his journey. Flashbacks of him and Vithura appeared in his mind, making him ignore all other heat and sand.
 After traveling for more than two hours, they could finally see a structure that resembled a gate. It was from afar. Doubting it was a trick of heat, they got closer. As they got nearer, they found the gate truly standing.
 Suddenly, a sandstorm broke out, and everyone covered their faces. The Sultana told the company to stay alert and pulled off her sword. Dozens of dark and skinny creatures appeared around them and began charging toward Max.

 The troops made a defensive move to protect Sultana Maryam. But the Sultana ordered them to center Max instead of her. Max, being strengthened after a rest, used his power of pyrokinesis to fight the creatures back. The dark ones moved as fast as the wind, but Max focused and used his powers. He focused well on shooting them with fireballs before they changed into smoke.
 One by one, the monsters began eating Sultana’s soldiers alive as they couldn’t harm Max. This sparked Max’s flames of fury. His eyes widened and his forehead rose. Knowing they got eaten because of protecting him, Max changed his fierce demon form and began charging at the creatures. Jizo, too, helped him in the fight. 
 The dark ones swiftly try to pull Max down with their bodies. But Max used the chance to burn down the ones near him. Sultana Maryam cast a spell on the sand, controlling them to attack the dark ones. She caused mini-tornadoes and sand waves. Soon, all the dark ones disappeared, and the duo could reach the gate.
“Those creatures must be summoned by the Deavs or other beings,” said Maryam
 Before the gate, Max showed his regard toward the dead soldiers. He still couldn’t get over the fact that they died for him. But Maryam said, “It would be proud for them to protect you,” She granted him a coil of rope and a diamond ring as a gift. Max didn’t know the reason behind this, and Jizo whispered, “I think she knows that we will need it in the future,” 
 Sultana Maryam said, “Continue now!” and waved at Max and Jizo while on horseback. The duo waved back and continued their odyssey to another state of the realm