Chapter 24:
"Wow… this actually works," Dreadmane said, rising to his feet, fully healed.
"You're right it works," Obsidian added, getting up alongside him.
"It should," Slime said, placing a hand on its hip. "I ate these leaves while traveling… my headache vanished, and I healed up."
"Good story," Ethen said, already walking ahead. "Now, let's go home."
The sun rose as they continued their journey. "We've been walking for a while now," Slime said. "Are we lost?"
"No," Ethen replied, eyes fixed on the path ahead. Finally, they arrived and what he saw took him by surprise.
Lucien was being chased by a third-ranked beast, A cheetah-like creature marked with crackling lightning. Nearby, Sophia taught Jessica how to manipulate magic without equipment. Chris balanced on a massive boulder in a plank position, and Theresa and Seraphine meditated quietly, seemingly untouched by the chaos around them.
"Wow… are we in some military training ground?" Dreadmane said, scanning the scene.
"Looks like it," Obsidian replied, eyes narrowing. "Mostly children training here."
"Only two kids and two elders," Slime added.
"What makes you so sure?" Dreadmane asked, one eye wide, the other narrowed.
"I've seen them all before. My memory may be foggy, but their auras… it's them...the wolves that killed the pig," Slime replied.
"Pig… wolves…" Dreadmane burst into laughter. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't know either," Obsidian said, smirking. "But darm when says it with that kind of straight face, it's hard not to laugh."
But the he played close attention. "Look closer, Dread," Obsidian added. "Don't they look like the kids who fought us during the rank battle?"
Dreadmane's eyes swept the area again. Obsidian wasn't wrong. "You're right… except the woman with long black hair, meditating with the other…"
"That's our mother," Ethen said, stepping toward the cave.
"Ohhh, Ethen… look at what the kids are doing," Jake said, raising his hand. "And who are these behind you?"
"Those are my new recruits," Ethen replied, pointing toward Lucien. "Who sent him that beast, and why?"
"He said he wanted to increase his speed and stamina," Jake explained.
"Lucas, right…" Ethen sighed.
"Yep," Jake said. "So… are your new recruits strong?"
"Wanna find out?" Dreadmane asked, leaning toward Jake, his aura bursting outward, forcing everyone to halt.
Instinctively, Solvian stepped in front of Jake, golden energy flowing from his hand. "Get away from him," he commanded.
"Make me," Dreadmane said, a dark grin on his face.
With immense force, Solvian pushed Dreadmane away, sending him crashing into the trees for miles. Everyone froze at the display of power.
"Are you okay, brother?" Solvian asked Jake, who was visibly shaken by the sheer force.
"In a fight, never take your eyes off the enemy," a familiar voice said.
Before Solvian could react, Dreadmane appeared behind him, fist ready. The strike came so fast, Solvian had no time to defend.
A hand grabbed the blow, absorbing it entirely.
"Huh…" Dreadmane said, looking down at the hand. Slowly, he lifted his head. Theresa stood before him, shadow covering her face. Her fists glowed with dark power. She countered immediately, striking him in the gut with enough force to split clouds. Dreadmane spat blood, eyes white, and collapsed unconscious.
"Ethen…" Theresa's voice trembled with anger. "What did I say about my kids?"
"I don't remember it being me this time," Ethen replied, walking ahead without looking back.
"I'm killing him," Theresa said, Crimson flames erupting from her hands.
"Kill him if you want… but using that will only—"
Before Ethen could finish, Theresa's attack struck. Dreadmane absorbed it, growing stronger.
"Ohhh… thanks for waking me up with a fine meal," Dreadmane said, rising again, eyes turning back to black.
"What the—" Theresa pushed back in shock.
"What did you expect? That I'd die that easily? Think again," Dreadmane taunted.
In a flash, he appeared behind Theresa, claws forming, aiming for her chest. But Ethen's hand intercepted, gripping Dreadmane's arm with dark authority.
"That's enough," Ethen said, voice low and deadly. "Harm her, and you die."
Dreadmane raised his other hand in surrender. "Fine… she didn't put up much of a fight anyway," he said.
Ethen released him and walked inside the cave. "Damn… I need to sleep."
The three followed him: Dreadmane, Slime, and Obsidian. Dreadmane's hand rested in his pocket as he trailed behind, chuckling. "This is going to be fun."
Theresa remained frozen, realizing she had nearly been killed. Jake could barely move. Solvian forced a calm expression, but his heart raced.
Ethen smiled. "Let's all train… the show's over."
Everything returned to its routine, but deep inside, fear gripped them especially the wolves. After being ranked number one, something far beyond a monster had now appeared.
Meanwhile, at the Kingdom of the Slums
The land was dead. Houses rotted, fields dry, and the air thick with despair. Inside the castle, a young boy with short red hair and piercing blue eyes lounged on the throne until a man wearing a commoners clothes entered. His hair short blue and black eyes.
"The project has worked, my lord," the man said, bowing low. "The device functions exactly as promised."
"How many beasts have been captured and sent to the Kingdom of Soulburn?" the boy asked.
"Close to ten thousand," the man replied.
"And the pill… has it progressed?"
"Yes, my lord. Only five of our beasts survived and grew stronger from it. Everything is on track. Once Soulburn strikes back, we will have even more to destroy them," he said.
The boy's grin spread across his face, the left side of it swallowed in shadow. "Let's make my father's dream a reality, my dear friend."
To be continued…