Escape from an Ancient Civilization Ch 174

Chapter 174

Only one thought filled Nataek’s mind.

He would lose. If he stayed like this, he would lose Medeus.

As the thought struck, his body moved. Nataek sprinted forward with full force, wrapping his arm around Medeus’s shoulder and spinning him around. The moments unfolded like slow motion. Medeus avoided the spear, but neither was fully out of harm’s way. A spear thrown by a charioteer grazed Nataek’s shoulder and stuck in the ground. As the spear stuck, the chariot wheel hitting a long obstacle caused it to tip forward.

Neigh!

Startled, the konka struck the ground with a foreleg and slipped backward. At that instant, Nataek recalled the enemy commander moments ago. It wasn’t just the charioteer attacking. They might stab him with a sword. As Nataek reflexively reached behind to protect himself, the chariot thudded heavily, crushing his forearm.

Ugh…

The crashing wheel pinned his arm hard, pain so sharp he couldn’t even scream. Straining to look at where he was stabbed, he saw the enemy commander’s grimacing face.

[Hittite] □□□□□□□□□□□□

[Kish Gates] ■□□□□□□□□□□□

In an instant, the Hittite gauge disappeared completely. Not long after realizing what happened, Nataek saw Medeus gripping the commander’s stabbing blade barehanded, enduring. With his other hand, Medeus stabbed the enemy’s neck with his broken spear.

“Guhk…”

Blood spattered down Nataek’s back with a pattering sound.

“Le-, Lieutenant!”

A Hittite soldier shouted. Medeus pushed to the right, forcing the enemy’s body to tilt. Pulling the spear forcefully, blood gushed out like a fountain from the neck. The commander collapsed with a thud.

“Th- The general…!”

The enemy visibly wavered. The Kish deputy commander nearby pulled off the general’s helmet and stabbed violently into the neck. The head fell swiftly. The deputy commander raised the severed head.

“We’ve severed the enemy leader’s head!”

At once, a cheer erupted among the allies. Kish morale soared, and Hittite spirits plummeted. Yet Medeus’s eyes only saw Nataek.

“Teresi! Are you alright?”

Throwing his spear down, Medeus pushed the chariot pinning Nataek’s arm with his hand.

“Teresi, Teresi!”

Nataek’s eyes welled with tears. The pain spreading from his arm engulfed his entire body. Despite this, he forced his eyes open, scanning the surroundings. Fortunately, all around them were allies. This time, he checked on Medeus’s injuries.

“Medeus, your arm…”

“Can you move it?”

Though asking about Medeus, Medeus was preoccupied checking Nataek’s condition. Swallowing pain, Nataek blinked.

“Let me see.”

Medeus was about to check Nataek’s arm but froze. The heavy, sharp iron wheel had scraped so deeply that flesh dropped away. As Medeus tried to help Nataek stand, Nataek roared in pain. Any small movement hurt.

Medeus laid Nataek down and lightly pressed around the arm, causing a grimace. This was far from the minor injuries Nataek used to trivialize. Medeus nervously stroked Nataek’s cheek.

“Teresi, I’m sorry. Hang on just a bit.”

Medeus took a sheath from his waist, tore a clean cloth from inside his shirt, wrapped it carefully, and used it to support Nataek’s arm as he helped him up. Nataek bit back a moan, trying hard not to show it, but his eyes were faintly wet.

Spirited allies began to push back the enemy with bodies, bows, and shields.

“The Hittite general is dead!”

“Reinforcements are coming from our allies!”

Voices grew louder. Amidst the sounds of flailing eels in the mud, Nataek’s vision blurred with pain as a system message appeared.

“Hittite forces are retreating.”

“Don’t stop firing!”

With Gufan-Uu’s shout, arrows rained down like falling stars. Nataek recalled the legend of the guardian spirit in his mind:

‘Fair king of the heavens. Trust the brave lion who broke the golden horn. The stars under his command will guide your destiny.’

Even on the bloodied battlefield, Nataek slowly embraced his own flower that never fades.

“Teresi, hold on a little longer…”

The allies nearby ran forward. Cheers erupted. Another volley of arrows pierced the air.

Lead victory in battle…

The system’s alarm confirmed it.

“Hittite forces have retreated beyond the border.”

[Final Battle] quest completed.

[Main] ‘Final Showdown’ story completed.

You truly were my guardian spirit.

Muttering the realization, Nataek gave himself to Medeus. As he gritted his teeth, he could hear the grinding of teeth. In the upward view, he saw cheering allies.

❖ ❖ ❖

Nataek was immediately moved to the makeshift infirmary inside the castle. It was faster than summoning a doctor.

He wanted to confirm the gate’s condition and whether the Hittites had truly retreated but screams and groans resounded. Half-conscious, Nataek grasped Medeus’s arm and asked,

“Medeus, how is your wound?”

Medeus wiped his dried blood from face and arm and answered,

“My wound’s nothing.”

“Nothing…?”

“Really. That’s enemy blood. It’ll heal soon.”

Only when Nataek carefully inspected the casual-looking wound did he feel relieved; it was not deep. One worry resolved, he turned to another.

“Have the Hittites really left?”

“Does that matter?”

Nataek smiled faintly.

“It matters.”

“It’s not time to laugh, Teresi…”

Medeus’s tearful gaze was fixed on Nataek’s arm. With a face twisted from smiling, Nataek asked again,

“I’m just too curious.”

“They’ve retreated beyond the border. Thanks to Umma and other allies arriving quicker than expected. More importantly, can you move your arm?”

Nataek clenched his fist in response. More accurately, he tried, but the excruciating pain prevented a tight fist. Blood seeped from the loosely wrapped herbs. Pressing down for hemostasis was painful, so he couldn’t press hard; the linen cloth was stained red.

Medeus’s expression darkened. He bit his lips hard and stroked Nataek’s wet forehead gently.

“It will be fine… it will be fine…”

Just then, a doctor entered the infirmary, removed the temporary splint, and examined carefully.

“Can you lift your arm?”

Nataek shook his head. He tried to act okay but the pain was unbearable.

“When I press here…”

The doctor pressed firmly, eliciting a sharp cry from Nataek. The doctor, frowning, examined all around and bandaged the wound.

“It seems the bone is broken.”

Nataek’s expression darkened. He had feared a fracture but confirmation hit hard. Could the ancient medicine heal the fracture?

He reflected briefly, then denied that hope. With such a large wound and fracture, without modern medicine, it seemed impossible. Even with monster-like resilience, it would be tough to recover. Even blessings from Medeus would be temporary. The best he could do here in ancient times…

Nataek recalled a healing potion. A sub-quest received from an herbalist. But memories of hardships from obtaining such potions followed.

He looked down at his body— rising fever, useless arm, and an aching ankle that had turned from a sprain even while lying still. In this state, he could not take the quest. But there was exactly one other person who could.

Nataek signaled Medeus, and white ears quickly approached near his mouth.

“Please summon the soothsayer.”