The Achievement Junkie

The eighty soldiers stared at the shadows hiding below the water's surface.

"Men, ready yourselves!"

Their captain's command awoke many of them from their nightmarish imaginations. All veterans stepped forward, ready to lead the charge upon command. Most of the inexperienced soldiers followed suit, grateful to have people to follow.

"Father, what are those?" asked Trevor. There was a hint of fear in his voice, fear of the unknown.

"I have no clue," replied the man. He kept staring at the watery silhouettes but couldn't ascertain anything about them. Maybe if they were above water he might have an idea.

It didn't take long for them to see that side of the upper docks begin to splinter and be pulled under the water.

"Father, what about the dock?" Trevor stared at his father, hoping for some kind of miracle answer.

"Let it go. It's easier to replace a wooden dock than to replace human lives."

"But…" Trevor couldn't think of how to reply. He didn't want to waste the lives of his men, but he would be held responsible for the pier's destruction, which would have major repercussions.

"I know what you're thinking. Stop. Even if they removed you from your position, it would be better than you living with the regret of sending your men to useless deaths," stated the old man with a hesitant gaze, as if he were speaking from experience.

Remembering his father's military career, Trevor nodded and continued to watch the destruction of Reinolt Pier.

No order was given and not a single soldier moved. Fifteen minutes went by and reinforcements arrived. Another fifty men arrived with two other guard captains in the lead. "Where's the captain?" yelled one of the arriving captains.

"Captain Fronks, Captain Prat!" Trevor's shouts grabbed their attention as he approached the troops as well. "We have no clue what the enemy is, but we know they've targeted the navy from underwater. As the water reached the upper docks, all our stationed ships were destroyed and now the rest of the pier is in danger."

"And what have you done to prevent this?" asked Fronks coldly.

"Sir, there's no way for my men to fight as the enemy has yet to reveal itself and has the ability to sink the docks they would be standing on," answered Trevor.

"Still, you must at least send a small scouting party. Maybe then we can at least learn what we're up against," retorted Fronks, who was no longer looking at the young captain. "Men, I'm in charge now! You ten, go and scout the upper dock! Yell the moment you get a visual on the enemy!"

Those ten veterans swallowed some saliva and looked at each other. They all knew that is was practically a suicide assignment. All the guards stared at Captain Fronks with despise in their eyes. No one dared say anything, but they all immediately understood that they didn't matter in his eyes.

"Hurry up!" yelled Fronks impatiently.

"Yes, sir!"

The ten men drew their swords and walked out onto the upper docks carefully. The entire upper level was now swaying, affected by the underwater beasts' assault on the docks.

"Faster, get moving!"

Fronks orders caused the small group to grunt in displeasure, but they followed orders. They ran to the dock's edge, nearing the bestial silhouettes and the sinking end of the dock.

Before they could reach the splintered end of the dock, more snapping and creaking was heard. The ten men came to an abrupt halt as they felt the dock beneath them quake uneasily like it was about to be torn apart.

"Don't stop! Push forward!"

Fronks order reached them, but they didn't dare move. They could feel that one more step might be the end of their lives.

"That's an order! Now get--"

Before Fronks could finish his command, a thundering snap was heard. All the gathered soldiers trembled at the sight in front of them, even the captains.

The dock was ripped open from below and a hole appeared beneath one of the men in the scouting party. However, that man wasn't even able to fall into the water. He had already been trapped by razor-sharp teeth and dragged under the water.

It happened too quickly for anyone to get a good look at the beast, but they all knew it wasn't anything they had ever seen before.

The old sailor on the balcony of the dock house was watching everything carefully. Like the others, he couldn't recognize the beast and watch in horror.

"Fall back!" It wasn't Captain Fronks, but Trevor that gave the command to retreat.

"No! Stand your ground!" shouted Fronks, determined to use those men as a sacrifice to learn about their foes.

The men on the dock disregarded Fronks' order and made a mad dash back to safety, but it was too late. They were already over fifty meters away from the dock's entrance and were surrounded by water.

Another snap was heard together with a scream as another man was dragged beneath the docks. The same thing happened to all ten of them. None had survived.

Fronks frowned and looked back to the soldiers on standby. He fixed his gaze on a batch of inexperienced dockhands and pointed at them. "You, go onto the docks!"

"What!?"

They all yelled and complained. Unlike most soldiers, they weren't used to the cruelty of battle and war or the coldness of a commanding officer.

"Hurry up onto the docks, or you'll be killed for treason against the Royal Court for disobeying an order!"

Those fifty men from reinforcements surrounded the remaining seventy who were originally stationed at the pier. They showed their determination to follow their captain's orders.

Saddened by the reality they found themselves in, those ten young soldiers eventually walked onto the docks, albeit quite slowly. At a snail's pace, they neared the place where the past group was dragged under.

Again, more snapping and screaming was heard as the first victims of the new group were dragged under. Those that remained alive scrambled without any organization. Some tried to run back to safety. Others accepted their deaths and drew their swords, trying to maybe slay one of the mysterious beasts and survive.

More snapping occurred and there was only one man left. Somehow he had managed to dodge the initial attack and dove to the side. He felt relieved but soon fell back into despair as the same beast rose out of the hole and began walking on the dock.

Everyone was shocked and confused by the scene. They noticed that the beast was the shape and size of a lion, but had no fur or a feline head. It was covered in deep blue scales that let it blend in with the water. All four of its paws were webbed and there was a dark purple fin that ran from the top of its head to the tip of its tail. With a long serpentine neck and head, it appeared to be from the darkest nightmares of the most experienced sailors.

The beast snarled and bit into the lone man's leg before diving back under, dragging the soldier to a watery grave.

Every soldier was frozen where they stood. Such a beast had never been seen before and was far more fearsome than anything they had predicted.

"Men, send word to the Adventurers Association immediately! Inform them of that over a dozen of these things are threatening the pier and we request immediate support from every able body they have!" yelled Fronks, with a tinge of fear.

"What about the palace? Should we request the magic guard?" asked Trevor.

"The association should be able to handle things, no need to bother the magic guard," replied Fronks, shaking his head.

Trevor was shocked to hear such an explanation. "What do you mean? The magic guard are our sworn protectors and seniors. The association only has adventurers for hire. Of the two, clearly, the magic guard should have priority."

"Are you saying that I don't comprehend the situation enough to give the correct orders. The magic guard will be informed in time, but the association should be able to handle the situation without too many casualties." Fronks remained firm, denying any change in orders.

Both Trevor and Captain Prat were floored by Fronks' statement. It was clear to them that he only wanted to weaken the association given the opportunity.

Captain Prat frowned and yelled, "Men, send word the magic guard and inform them of the situation! Request backup immediately! Now, go!"

Without delay, a messenger on horseback left before Fronks had the chance to stop him.

Fronks looked at the other two captains and grunted unhappily. "Men, prepare to stay your ground! Before reinforcements arrive, we must hold the line! Frontlines, step forward and take on the enemy!"

Trevor's face paled. All of his men were surrounded and pushed to the front lines, forced to be sacrificial lambs to stall for time. He had no clue how he could avoid the deaths of his men.