Aleron felt the urge to laugh at the dragon's words.
"We don't mean harm," the woman said, lowering her weapon slightly. "You're alone?"
"For now," Aleron replied. "You mentioned a city?"
The trio exchanged glances before the woman nodded. "Yes. The Barrier City. We're survivors, same as you. There's a barrier that protects the city from the abominations. We were out scavenging when we picked up signs of your presence."
Barrier City.
Something stirred within Aleron. Finally, a lead.
I wonder if this city contains a gate to the Tower of Heaven, he mused inwardly.
"I'd like to come with you," he said plainly.
"Do you have strength?" the man with the square face asked bluntly. "The city doesn't take freeloaders."
In response, Aleron calmly bent down and picked up a stone from beneath his feet.
Without a word, he tossed it with all his strength toward the young man's face.
The man's eyes widened, stunned by the sudden motion, but before he could react, a sharp whistling sound sliced through the air. The stone brushed past him with razor precision.
A thin trickle of blood slid down his cheek. His hand flew to his face, and there, just where the stone had passed, was a slight but precise cut on his skin.
"You…" His expression paled instantly.
"Right," the woman murmured. "You'll do fine."
Aleron shrugged. He was at the twelfth level of the Origin Apprentice Realm, while these three, judging from their auras, weren't even half as strong as he was.
The woman's gaze lingered on Aleron for a moment before she turned away.
"Let's move. We don't have time to waste."
Without waiting for confirmation, she spun on her boots and started walking ahead.
The others exchanged brief looks, then silently fell into step behind her.
Aleron remained quiet, his eyes fixed on her back, but his senses were sharp and alert.
'Come, let's head to the city. There might be something nice there,' Aleron said to Ashkar, who padded quietly by his side.
The dragon nodded and followed without a word.
The forest around them was unusually still.
Towering trunks flanked the narrow path, their bark dark and weather-worn.
The wind that rustled through the canopy carried a strange blend of damp earth and something foul, an underlying stench that clung to the air like rot.
As they continued walking, the terrain began to change subtly.
The trees grew sparse, giving way to crumbling stone ruins swallowed by vines and moss.
Aleron glanced slightly ahead and caught faint glimpses of shifting silhouettes.
"They're here," the woman said, her voice quieter than before. "Abominations. Hundreds or perhaps thousands of them gathered around. The barrier keeps them out, so they just linger nearby."
As he listened, Aleron focused ahead.
The creatures were packed together, a twisted assembly of corrupted flesh and bone. Their numbers were overwhelming.
A chill ran down his spine.
There were far too many to count.
The woman noticed the flicker of tension in his gaze.
She waved her hand, and a white light flared beside her.
From the glow, a feline-shaped creature emerged, its silver fur sleek and faintly glowing.
"Be cautious," she said to Aleron and the others, then turned to her summoned beast. "Lead the way. Mask our scent so they won't be able to detect us."
Aleron felt the pressure in the air intensify.
Still, he followed, stepping carefully as they weaved through the outskirts of the monstrous horde.
He noticed the abominations weren't looking in their direction. It was as if they hadn't noticed them at all.
Then he remembered the woman's order to her summon.
'So that's the beast's ability,' he thought. 'How Impressive.'
They moved in silence, but then Ashkar gave a low growl.
The woman turned to hush the dragon, only for a gust of wind to slam against them.
A shadow flashed past.
She spun around, her body tensing.
A Tier 3 abomination loomed in the clearing, its grotesque form glaring at them with murderous intent.
The instant he saw the abominations, Aleron's instincts kicked in.
Without hesitation, he flipped backwards in rapid succession.
To the side, one of the armored men was caught mid-turn.
His body collapsed, and only his lower half remained.
The abomination's strike had obliterated his torso in a single blow.
Aleron's heart clenched at the sight, but his thoughts were calm.
'Ashkar. Swiftly kill it. Do not let it attract the others.'
'Yes, Dad,' Ashkar responded lightly within his mind.
In a flash, the dragon's wings unfurled.
With explosive speed, he surged forward, closing the distance to the abomination in an instant.
He opened his mouth wide.
A torrent of searing flame erupted from his jaws, engulfing the creature.
Before the abomination could react, Ashkar lunged and bit down, his fangs crushing into its flesh.
The flames consumed the creature, clinging to it like a living inferno.
It thrashed and screeched, but the fire showed no mercy, burning it to ashes in a blink.
Aleron turned to the side and saw the woman muttering in frustration to her summon.
"I told you to mask our presence. How are they still able to sense us?"
The summoned beast trembled, unable to respond.
It had tried to conceal them, but the abominations could still detect their presence.
There was something wrong, something it couldn't explain.
The woman exhaled heavily, then turned to Aleron and the other armored young man.
"Quick, we have to run to the city. It is only an hour from here. Once we are inside, they will not be able to follow. But now that our presence is no longer hidden, we won't last long if more Tier 3s show up."
Their strength, at the Origin Apprentice Realm, was barely enough to face a Tier 2 abomination together. A Tier 3 would be fatal.
She had not factored Aleron's power or Ashkar's presence into her calculation.
Though she knew he was stronger than them, she assumed the difference was not significant.
Aleron did not bother to correct her.
From the distance ahead, more figures emerged, Tier 2 abominations closing in fast.
Behind them, larger and more threatening towering figures moved.
Tier 3s.
The woman's face turned pale.
She looked at the remaining two and gave a sharp nod.
Then she ran fast, without hesitation, heading for the city.
But just a few strides in, her heart skipped a beat.
The armored man beside her froze mid-step.
So did the summoned beast.
Aleron's eyes narrowed.
Their movements had stopped, their eyes wide.
What was going on?
Then he saw it.
A faint arc of purple lightning traced along their skin, crackling faintly.
Aleron's breath caught in his throat.
This familiar scene.
[Detected the trigger of Karmic Backlash…]