4 THE MONSTER OF KAO REN LAKE 3

After his arrival at Lord Buh Huy's castle, Emperor Lam took no rest and immediately held a meeting in the main hall with Admiral Huan Tah, the commander of the Imperial navy fleet that was dispatched to Qualoh, Taosih Tsun head of the Imperial Mage team accompany the Imperial fleet (*Taosih: a high ranking Downer mage), Lord Buh Huy and his advisors.

"Gentlemen, what had we known so far about this monster?" Said Emperor Lam

"Your Imperial Majesty, after five months battle this monster, sadly we have learned very little about the monster. Only is that, its scales are extremely tough, our strongest ballista cannot penetrate very much through it, and it's very intelligent, always attack where we least expected." Admiral Huan Tah said.

"We still do not know anything about the monster's origin, and its scales not only tough but also seem to have magic deflecting ability, most of our elemental magic had a difficulty to struck a directed hit on it and those manage to hit does very little damage…" Said Taosih Tsun. "But five weeks ago we did have some progress."

"Oh, do tell Taosih Tsun." Said Emperor Lam.

"Your Imperial Majesty, five weeks ago during a hunt of the navy, we have successfully struck it with a lightning spell, the monster seems to be hurt and intimidated by it." Said Taosih Tsun.

"Lightning spell?" Emperor Lam said "Lightning spell is very dangerous and can cause unnecessary damage, especially on watery environment like this, be cautious Taosih Tsun. Nevertheless, you'd done a good job, taosih."

"Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty, me and my team will." Said Taosih Tsun.

"Also according one of our captains, his crew had land a successes hit with one of his ballista in the monster's mouth, it's seem… though it's tough on the outside but vulnerable on the inside." Said Lord Buh Huy.

"So this mean it can be kill." Emperor Lam said. "Then what's the problem here? Why haven't you exploit this weakness, Admiral?"

"As I had said, Your Highness." Admiral Huan spoke "The monster is very intelligent, and after the hunt five weeks ago, now we have a hard time to lure it to engaging in a sea battle."

"Lord Buh Huy, how is the situation with the cult that you spoke of in the report?" Emperor Lam asked

"Your Imperial Majesty, I had arrested most of the cultists, and put a wanted order on their leader. I think they won't be a problem anymore." Lord Buh Huy replied.

Suddenly the city alarm bell rung. A city guard rush in the meeting hall

"My lords, Your Majesty, the monster had reappeared. It just surfaced outside the port." The soldier said

Heard the news, everyone in the hall rush to castle wall. Because Lord Buh Huy castle located at a highest hill overlook the city, from the wall's battlement they can saw the port in clear view. Emperor Lam can see all the people in the area around the port fleeing inland or toward higher ground in panic. Out at the port, is the cause of the chaos, a gigantic dark red fish-like head bobbing amidst the wave, its two big round eyes menacingly glowing under the sun. The monster cycling the deep water outside of the port with its mouth of jagged teeth wide open, gulping up any poor souls whose have to risk their lives just to try to make a living by fishing near the shore and the port. Then the monster suddenly twisting it enormous tail and created a tsunami six lias high rushing toward the port. Witnessing all that happening Emperor Lam cannot stand idle, he must do something. And his eyes turn white, blood vessel bulging around the tail of his eyes. The Emperor invoked his magic to enhance his body, and with just one somersault he had arrived at the port. Right the moment his feet touch the ground Emperor immediately chant a spell in ancient language.

"Thur rua fuh qelah ein luur.

Ark ein kavik zuarah iun huslur.

Kelov, kelov zuarah fiee ein nukuur

Divardi uanarku aban pofike da kuhfur"

"Earth and stone beneath my feet

By my command now pay heed

Rise, rise now to aid my need

Created an impenetrable wall withstands all siege"

The ground before his feet started to rumbling violently, two parallel cracks appeared and stretching along the shore line, then the earth rose up, created a wall eight lias in high and hundreds lias in length, enveloped the entire port area. With just himself Emperor Lam had done what would take ten taosihs to accomplish. Awestruck by such marvellous magic, everyone near the port stood in silent as the tsunami make land fall, the water crashed on the earth wall violently, mist plash through the top of the wall as if it about to suffuse, yet the wall still stands, and the port is unharmed. Seeing it attack has fail the monster disappears back under the wave. After the danger had gone Emperor Lam recalled his magic and returns the ground back to normal. Then awoke from the silent someone in the crowd starting to chant "the son of dragon" following soon by the crowd and the entire city roaring with cheering and chanting.

THE SON OF DRAGON! THE SON OF DRAGON!

They cried

Some of them cannot curb their joy, they rush in and swirling around him, chanting "the son of dragon" as four men carry him on their shoulders through the crowd as they exploding with joy.