Isekai Kosmos: War For Existence

The concept of movement died instantly upon hearing such a powerful and terrifying roar.

It seemed as if everyone present had magically turned into stone statues. The powerful and intimidating roar was the cause of the commotion, for a few moments everyone felt panic and terror. Even Kona'an who was suffering from pain was leaving for the world of death.

Even Mathias, who was beside himself, could feel it, and one sign of this was the hairs on his tail standing up.

They all felt an unpleasant sensation run down their backs, a kind of cold sweat comparable only to ice ran down their spines, freezing them.

The bloodlust that was in the air just seconds ago was completely dissipated. What kind of beast could cause this in people with very strong convictions?

-WH-What was that?- asked Diana trembling with fear. -Huh?- she murmured again, noticing herself and only now did she realize that she was trembling as if she were a small leaf.

-Chri-Christopher, I'm shaking...- she turned all her attention to the aforementioned, being even more surprised when she realized that he was also shaking with terror. His body did not stop shuddering totally against his will. Sweat reached every corner of his being, but at all times it was a cold sweat.

It was the same with Kana'an - what the hell was that? - he said with his eyes wide open as if they were big plates.

Among all of them, he and Kona'an were the ones who felt the most fear and the reason is quite simple, on countless occasions they were forced to face ferocious and terrifying magical beasts which transmitted the same feeling of terror as the one that apparently approached. Kana'an understood that the situation was much denser and more complicated than what his adversaries possibly thought.

-There is no doubt...- a slight shudder ran through his entire humanity just by uttering the following words -that has to be an Alpha Class Magical Beast-.

Sweat was falling heavily from his face as he analyzed all his options, he had no intention of dying at all - I must flee as soon as possible, in the condition I am in there is no way I can face an Alpha Class magical beast. Even if we all joined forces and were in the best conditions we would not be able to face it - he looked from one side to the other, considering all the possible options again, the best option and also the most viable being to escape as soon as possible.

-Kana'an, h-help me... p-please- Kona'an from the ground took advantage of the fact that his partner was close to him and begged for his help. He also knew that the thing approaching was an Alpha Class Magical Beast. Due to his current condition and if someone didn't help him, he would be the appetizer for that thing -h-hurry up, it's coming-.

Kana'an looked at his companion very seriously. After that he remarked on himself: amputated arm, deep wounds, losing blood, tiredness, physical exhaustion, bruises, cuts and bruises.

He didn't even see himself in a condition to help his partner, so he simply smiled at him in a very malicious way -I hope you can forgive me, but I'm afraid I won't be able to take you with me- he really didn't feel it; his partner's eyes opened in the purest expression of despair -but don't be sad, thanks to the fact that you will be eaten by that beast I will be able to escape and I will fulfill our goal of becoming recognized mercenaries within the organization-.

In this way Kana'an advanced towards the front leaving behind his companion who shouted at him as best he could a lot of slander and obscenities.

-Hey, you moron- Kana'an called to his young rival who forced himself to completely put aside all the bewilderment and stupor that was tormenting him -if you want to live, you better get out of this place, otherwise that thing will devour them-.

-What are you saying?- Christopher complained, raising his guard but still shaking -I won't let you escape, so stop right there...-.

-Do you think I will obey you and stay here waiting for my end while I am devoured by that thing? Do you at least know that it is an ALPHA class Magical Beast?-.

Christopher's legs and entire integrity seemed to lose consistency as if he were a simple mass of gelatin. He could not feel his own legs, the same happened with Diana who was behind him with a look full of pure terror, as if she had seen an abominable monster.

-If you don't run away as soon as possible, that Alpha will devour you- smiling, he pointed behind him to his companion who was making a colossal effort to crawl away -in any case, if you want to take someone for questioning, take him. After all, your magic sword poisoned him and he won't be able to do anything-.

Under his arm, because even though they didn't show it, he felt a lot of pain in it -although if you do it you'll run the risk of the Alpha chasing you, the best thing would be to leave it and let the beast entertain itself by eating it-.

Christopher opened his eyes, his irises looking like pinpoints due to how much they had shrunk. Diana couldn't believe what she was hearing and among everyone, only she could speak. "Are you planning to abandon your friend?"

- Friend? - Kana'an laughed - little shit, people like me don't need to have careless imbeciles like him as friends. In fact, I've always considered him as a damn nuisance that gets carried away by fits of anger, I'll finally be able to get rid of him and the best thing is that I won't have to lift a single finger to do it-.

"You're disgusting," Christopher commented, narrowing his eyes while he protectively stretched his hand out to the side covering Diana.

Kana'an just sighed -I don't care what you think of me- he began to walk ready to leave -You can try to take him and interrogate him, that's only if you manage to escape from the Alpha, believe me, the best thing I could do is leave him and...-.

ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAARG

Once again they felt that inexplicable terror strike them.

Kana'an in that state did the best he could do and that was to run away, run like never before, ignoring as best he could all the pain that tormented him. He ran through the bushes, dodged obstacles and jumped into the trees escaping as quickly as possible from the fearsome magical beast. He had not the slightest interest in seeing that dangerous beast.

On the other side Christopher noticed how the trees were moving and even some were falling, the beast was getting closer. And even in the midst of all that disaster Christopher could very clearly see a pair of orange eyes approaching them which seemed to shine with a life of their own.

A horrible thought crossed his head when he saw those eyes "DEATH" he could even swear that something whispered that in his ear.

He completely forgot about taking the mercenary lying on the ground and interrogating him, now only one thing was going through his head –WE MUST HIDE! THAT THING WILL KILL US!- he turned around grabbing Diana on one side and Mathias on the other. He concentrated an incredible amount of strength and energy in his legs like never before, it was so much that it even caused the ground beneath his feet to crack from the pressure they imposed.

The action only lasted a second because then he released all that energy and took off, ready to flee as far as possible and be out of the reach of this fearsome being.

ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAR

He roared once more, causing a strong shudder to pass through Christopher and Diana who thought they had the beast just a few inches behind them.

Fear distracted Christopher and he had no choice but to fall into some large bushes and hide as best he could in them and pray not to be discovered. They both heard something in the distance that seemed to drag quite loudly. Christopher and Diana looked at each other, diverting their attention to the third of them who luckily was safe, so to speak.

-Let's look- said Christopher as Diana nodded, shakily and with extreme care both of them brought their faces closer to the light that filtered through the twigs of the bush. They moved a few aside and finally they could see that dangerous Alpha class Magical Beast. Instantly a feeling of uneasiness and despair took control of their integrity. Their wide open eyes transmitted nothing but terror.

-Chri-Christopher- Diana called, trembling in terror and sinking into horror. With tears rolling down her hurt, but still beautiful face, she found the strength to speak -eee-that's it...- it was painful to see her friend's state of desperation, she was scared to death.

The same thing happened with Christopher, seeing Alpha's Magical Beast and finding out what it was was not to his liking - CURSE! DAMN IT! SHIT! - he threw insults that only he could hear because he said them mentally.

Cursing his terrible luck and his late reaction to this new danger -WHY THE HELL DIDN'T WE RUN WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE? THIS IS HORRIBLE! WE ARE LOST- he screamed mentally.

-Christopher- that silent call made him come out of such a painful state of retrospect. Diana crying and shaking in fear was not at all something he liked to see -ee-that's co-co-com-ing us...- just in time and swallowing all the terror and fear he felt Christopher did his best to comfort the fearful soul at his side.

-Don't worry- he said in a very low voice, almost in a whisper- nothing will happen to us, we just have to wait for him to leave. Don't be afraid, I won't let anything bad happen to them. I'm here with you...-.

Unfortunately, Diana was overcome by fear and Christopher's words had great difficulty reaching her. She used all her being to search for a strategy, an opportunity to attack, a plan of distraction, a method of offense and defense that would work against such a mortal being.

-HE'LL EAT US!- Christopher's eyes opened wide as if they were the biggest plates, and he instantly covered Diana's mouth while sweating profusely and praying to the heavens that she hadn't heard them.

This Alpha Magical Beast had the characteristics of a huge snake about fifteen meters long and three meters wide. It was far from being a snake. It had a lot of sharp scales which adorned almost the entire body of this beast, distributed in blue and green colors but very dark. Starting right where the head began and traveling until almost touching the tail, a kind of path of scales that seemed to be special because they were totally black and thick.

Adorning one side of the blessed "path" were other scales, but the same ones arranged like arrowheads due to the way they were erect.

The beast's tail split into two at one point, each at least a meter long. Unlike the scales that adorned most of its body, its ventral scales seemed to be somewhat more fragile but resistant, as they were its mode of transportation since it completely lacked any kind of limb.

The head of this beast was adorned with two horns which emerged from behind the skull and appeared to be incredibly strong. Along the length and width of the aforementioned horn, a lot of protuberances can be easily observed protruding from them, as if they were small, pointed scales.

The face looked covered in scars that were obviously inflicted by his opponents in many of his fights for supremacy and survival.

Bright, completely orange eyes with only the iris torn vertically.

The beast looked down watching his lunch trying to escape.

ROOAAAAAAAAAAAARG

He let out that horrible roar again, causing Diana to cling to Christopher like a tick, the teenager couldn't take it anymore. Christopher released his grip on her mouth so she could hug him better, and he instantly covered her with his arms.

He was able to see the beast's open jaw as it roared loudly.

Teeth arranged side by side like sharp locks that would not let even one of its prey escape. Just one bite from that thing is enough for you to be done for, its teeth will cut and tear you to death. And even more terrifying were its enormous fangs which stood out above everything else.

At the moment the beast let out its roar, the forked tongue could also be seen moving up and down as if it were waves.

It closed its powerful jaw and snorted through its nostrils, from which a strange purple mist emerged and disappeared into the air. Poison! It was poison. Apparently this magical beast is capable of releasing poisonous breath and who knows what else.

Slowly, he brought his jaws closer to the poor mercenary, who had to resign himself to living; he wouldn't escape for anything in the world. The beast opened its jaws, getting as close as possible until it took him between its teeth. He lifted him up and enjoyed the feast.

-Arg- was the only sound Kona'an could make before dying, now he has become a mass of flesh that continued to be torn apart within the jaws of the beast which chewed with great pleasure a rather large prey. The ground was painted in a reddish tone.

Kona'an had died in a horrible way, being devoured while still alive.

-Christopher- Diana called again, terrified, shedding tears under her breath -The Dragon came back to eat me! Please do something!- and this was the reason why Diana was so terrified. The beast looked too much like a Dragon even though it lacked many of the mythical being's characteristics.

Still, Diana only saw a Dragon and that was bad because if her desperation increased the beast would discover them and everything would end.

A few years ago Diana was saved from being eaten by a Dragon and despite the fact that it was very small it was still extremely powerful and dangerous. They only managed to scare it away. Because of that event Diana has a horrible trauma and an uncontrollable fear of Dragons.

-He-he wants to eat me...- she said, trembling with fear, clinging to Christopher with all her strength so as not to be separated from him. -Help me, please, don't let him eat me-.

-Diana, look at me- he had to do something to get her out of her stupor caused by fear. He squeezed the teenager's cheeks with both hands -please, try to calm down. I know you're very scared, but that beast is not a Dragon-.

I take a breath of air, as witnessing Kona'an's horrible death had a huge impact on me - I know it looks like one, but that beast is a Wyrm. Remember Diana, a Dragon has wings and four or more legs while the Wyrm lacks them completely, like that thing over there -

Breathing raggedly, Diana looked back at the Wyrm that had taken the last bite of Kona'an and then swallowed him.

She was still in fear, but seeing that Christopher was in fact right and the magical beast was a Wyrm and not a Dragon, she was able to calm down, even if only a little, it seemed like someone had turned on the light in her world. Her breathing improved and became a little more comfortable.

Christopher continued while watching for any movement of the Wyrm -even so, the situation is still very bad, that's why we must calm down and think of something. For now, it would be best to wait for the Wyrm to leave and while that happens we cannot be discovered by it-.

-Y-yes- said Diana taking some air oxygenating her lungs trying to calm down as much as possible. She separated from Christopher and wiped her tears -I'm really sorry for losing control in this situation, it's a side of me that I didn't want you to see. But, as you know, I'm too afraid of Dragons-.

-I would be the same if I were you- said Christopher -now, let's keep quiet until the Wyrm leaves, if it hears us we are lost-.

Diana nodded. Would she protest? Of course not! She would obey every word and order that Christopher dictated, knowing in advance that everything was planned so that the three of them could get out alive.

-Go away, damn Wyrm- impatience was wreaking havoc on both of their minds, Christopher looked away to the side watching as Diana seemed to sway while sitting. -Diana?- he called her and seemed to wake her up.

"Hey?" she muttered as she fell to the side, right into the pile of branches that held the entire bush, moving it very roughly and leaving both of them completely blank while she and Christopher looked away at the Wyrm whose integrity was approaching them.

Grrrrrrrr.

The Wyrm growled as a loud movement coming from some bushes caught his complete attention.

(SNIFFING SMELLING)

The Wyrm caught something, the scent of potential prey coming from those bushes. Without the slightest hint of effort, it moved its tremendous body towards them.

-Diana, there's no point in you helping me- Christopher was breathing with great difficulty -so go as soon as possible and take Mathias with you-.

-It's just that- she muttered causing an angry Christopher to turn to look at her.

-You'll just be a hindrance, don't you realize that in your condition you won't be able to...- and that's when he understood, it wasn't that Diana wanted to stay and help him. She couldn't move because of all the blood she had lost and right at the worst moment her mind was starting to disconnect.

-I'm sorry- she said- I can't move anymore and now it's my fault the Wyrm noticed our presence, it's my fault for losing my balance-.

-Don't be silly- he tried to sound as calm as possible, even though the situation was desperate, he still wanted to calm his dearest friend- you've lost too much blood and that's why you can't stay conscious so it's not your fault... it's my fault-.

He clenched his fists thinking about every word Kana'an had told him before - that mercenary was right, the best thing I could have done is take them with me and run away from this place - he looked back at Diana now with a sad smile - I'll take care of it, so don't worry and rest -.

Diana couldn't help but feel that if he left the bush, she would never see him again. She couldn't accept this ending, but she couldn't do anything about it either, since she was no longer able to move. She wanted to stop him as soon as possible. Her suffering was even greater when Christopher prepared a knife.

With that small weapon, would he face an Alpha-class Magical Beast?

Christopher sighed before taking his first step towards a possible certain death. "I love them," he murmured to himself, thinking of all his loved ones. An impulse he could never understand pushes him to always defend others.

When he was just a step away from being visible to the Wyrm, it growled and roared loudly as it looked up at the skies, looking back and forth with its eyes while shaking its head incessantly. ROOOOOAAAAAAAARG.

He roared again as if expecting an answer, and he got one.

Christopher, who had already left the bush, couldn't help but look up and once again be left in a state of stupefaction looking at the scene.

HYUUUU.

The new beast called out from the skies, which now seemed to be flying in circles with its noble eyes fixed on the Wyrm.

-A Winged Whale! No, that's not it, that's a Flying Whale - he said, engraving such a majestic Magical Beast deep within his being.

There is a difference between the Winged Whale and the Flying Whale. The former, instead of having dorsal fins, has a pair of feathered wings, and the tail is also completely feathered. While the whale that has visited the place returns using magic, something typical of its race.

The Wyrm completely ignored Christopher who was in front of him and with his guard completely down. It was as if for the Wyrm, Christopher had ceased to exist and now he was only focused on his flying rival.

HYUUU

The whale roared, so to speak, as it left the place.

ROAAAAARG.

The Wyrm seconded him and sped off into the trees chasing her. Surely a battle between these two powerful alpha-class magical beasts would take place, worthy of a monster fight.

"Lucky me," Christopher murmured, listening to the bushes move and Diana emerge from them, barely holding on. She was standing guard, fully prepared to fight alongside Christopher.

He looked ahead seeing only Christopher with the small knife in his hand, he looked from left to right again wondering why such a Wyrm couldn't be seen - Where is it...? - he opened his eyes while a huge smile spread across his face - Did you scare it? -

Christopher scratched his head, sighing, for he had not done such a feat. Still, he did not complain about the events that had occurred, in fact he was grateful for it, because if he really had to fight the Wyrm right now he would be nothing more than pulp in the bowels of the magical beast.

-No- he answered the recently asked question -the one responsible for saving our lives was a Flying Whale that luckily appeared out of nowhere. The Wyrm sensed the presence of the Flying Whale and decided that fighting it was much more important than eating us-.

-A Flying Whale? Are you serious?- Diana's face was torn between astonishment and disbelief, she had long since lowered her clenched hands and relaxed her shoulders -I'm glad everything turned out well in the end...-.

Now Diana's body said "Enough! I can't go on!" collapsing in her full length. She fell completely unconscious without even thinking about any possible danger around her. She didn't even have time to think, because when she realized that everything was over she decided to go back to the world of dreams.

-Leaving all the work of carrying them to me- Christopher joked, looking at the sleeping face of his dear friend. -A horde of Zombies appeared, and we had no problem exterminating them- he remembered every word Diana had said when she gave her explanation about the events.

-I hope Letia hasn't been turned into a Zombie, otherwise...- he hadn't forgotten at all the reason why he had entered the forest once again, he wanted to find Letia's corpse at all costs and give her a proper burial, he wanted the body of the one who sacrificed her integrity for the good of her brothers to rest within the city where she so wanted to live.

At least he was able to give the lights of his life a new chance to start over.

FSHI FSHI.

His eyes widened as he heard the bushes in the area where the Wyrm had left begin to move very slightly. His breathing became labored again, desperation once again invading him as he thought of only the worst possible scenario.

A single thought wreaked havoc throughout his head -THE WYRM RETURNED- trembling he turned towards the area where the sound of moving bushes came from.

He gritted his teeth very hard as whatever was there revealed itself. His face didn't seem to have changed at all as it turned from one filled with despair to one of utter sorrow. It was so much so that he brought his left hand up to cover his face, gripping the knife in his hand much too tightly.

Facing him and approaching slowly, shuffling his feet in an unnatural walk, he was dressed in tattered clothes, bare feet, and countless scars adorned his body. The most striking thing were his bulging eyes, every blood vessel in his sclera burst, staining it red. And finally, a horrible wound adorned his neck like a decorative necklace.

Christopher's eyes closed in pure sorrow. "Letia..." he muttered to himself. "You ended up turning into a zombie..."

The being or person who had emerged from the bushes was unfortunately the walking corpse of Letia, he could not get there before Letia turned into a Zombie.

-Maybe if I had gone another way I would have arrived before you turned, but with everything that happened I see that that was not an option. Don't worry Letia, I will make sure that your body becomes one with KOSMOS again- shedding a tear.

That's how Christopher walked towards her who now extended her arms forward. The Zombie wanted to eat him, his instincts screamed to devour the being in front of his bulging eyes.

HUAAAA

Because of the wound from having been beheaded, it was almost impossible for her to make a sound; through that wound, contaminated black blood was falling in drops to the ground.

They were face to face, separated by at least three meters from each other, but Letia kept moving forward -Letia, if you are able to see me from heaven I hope you will truly forgive me, because of me your body has ended up this way. Because you have become a Zombie I will not be able to bury you in the city- she looked down and a few tears fell to the ground, the tears denoting such deep sadness -I will take care of your body-.

Before the Zombie could touch him, he swung the small knife in a horizontal thrust, splitting it into two perfect halves which fell to the ground side by side. Even in that position, the Zombie was still trying to grab Christopher to eat him.

-Earth Elemental Magic: Excavation-.

With this he made a small, long hole in the shape of a rectangle just below Letia's Zombie, obviously she fell into it, the hole was at least two and a half meters deep -Letia, if you are seeing all this, I beg you to forgive me but I really must cremate your body because your essence could convert other corpses that may be buried in the area-.

-Fire Elemental Magic: Flamethrower-.

Using the magic attack Flamethrower, albeit at a very low power, I completely incinerate Letia's Zombie body, there were few ways to prevent the Zombies from turning other corpses into more Zombies. The best option is through Holy Magic, also with Light Magic. But in case of not having those possibilities there was one more which was to incinerate and carbonize the Zombie so that it does not affect others and then bury them -you deserve to go to heaven-.

This is what Christopher did, the essence of the Zombie was gone and only the charred body of the one who was once Letia remained. The sight of her broke Christopher's heart even more, he subsequently filled the hole back in using earth magic.

-I have not been able to fulfill my objective- I look at Diana and then at the bushes where Mathias is unconscious- but now the most important thing is them-.

...

WAYNE MEDICAL CLINIC

Two beds separated by a few meters, but in the same room, were completely stained with blood, which after a short period of time had finally stopped flowing. Mathias and Diana, dead from exhaustion in a state of pure unconsciousness, were resting deeply.

The thin blanket covered their naked bodies; if someone lifted the aforementioned blankets, they would be able to see, with the naked eye, the horrible wounds caused by having been cut and stabbed.

Diana: Her head was broken with a small hole open which was now clean as Wayne's assistants were treating her. Luckily the aforementioned wound was covered by her hair. Her face was not left unscathed, as it is extremely impossible not to have any after-effects or marks after receiving such a blow from rocks.

Moving down to her torso, it was covered in cuts and stab wounds. Black bruises greeted anyone who looked at her abdomen. It was a real blessing that she hadn't lost a single tooth after being hit so hard and so many times in the face.

Mathias suffered the same fate, as not a single one of his teeth or fangs were torn out. He also didn't lose his ears or tail like his father in the past, but that didn't mean he was free from injuries. He took a lot more punishment than Diana, cuts, stabs, blows, magic attacks, and then there's the fact that having used his humanoid phase in such a bad state, his muscles almost burst.

Since he adopted the humanoid phase, Mathias has been fighting against his enemies and the intense pain in his muscles. He was actually lucky that his muscles didn't burst either, because if that were the case, he would be in much worse condition than he already is.

Next to the demi-human, sitting there were his beloved parents who looked incredibly worried about what could happen to their son. Wayne's assistants treated each and every one of his wounds, even putting back into place some of the bones that had come out of their places.

-Please- called his mother, pressing her lips together with her teeth. -Is my son okay? Tell us that nothing will happen to him- she said while Mansot stroked her hair.

-Our son will recover- said Mansot trying to cheer up his life partner -he is part of the Great Feline clan, there is no way he will die from those wounds. Besides- he smiled looking at him -he is our son and also a hero-.

Meanwhile in the other bed where Diana was, Rachel who was leaning on Valentina's shoulder immersed in tears and sobs, she in turn comforted her the best she could. -Mommy- she called Valentina, her mother -my daughter... -What's wrong with her?- she murmured again closing her eyes and clenching her teeth very tightly, she was too worried about her beloved girl who despite being a teenager in her eyes was still her sweet girl.

-He'll be fine so you don't have to worry- she hugged her very tightly trying to ease the uneasiness that tormented Rachel.

-Mommy, my daughter has been hurt too much and now she will have to live with her body full of scars, I don't want to see her in that state- Rachell hugging Valentina.

-You don't have to worry- Valentina smiled, Rachel knew perfectly well that smile which Valentina had given her so many times in the past when she cried at night because of nightmares and was comforted by her telling her the same words -everything will be fine, just trust me-.

"Mommy," Rachel called, regaining some of her spirit, "but what could I do?"

-I will talk to the Elves and ask them to prepare some cream or concoction that will serve to completely disappear scars in both humans and demi-humans- while Rachel hugged her happily, Valentina turned her gaze towards the pair of demi-humans who thanked her with their eyes.

Valentina was truly a trustworthy person who cared about all her people.

...

While in that room Diana and Mathias were recovering, in a somewhat remote room to which only Wayne and his partner had access: Christopher, Selestia and Alexander were discussing all the recent events.

-Son, how are you feeling?- asked Alexander while Christopher simply gave him a thumbs up, although he was quite sore and hurt he didn't want to talk about it, he just wanted to talk about the subject at hand.

-And you, Selestia? Neledia contacted us telling us about your fight with a trio of mercenaries and how you were badly injured and poisoned- Now, Alexander was paying attention to his daughter.

-WHAT?- Christopher couldn't contain himself even a little, the news of her being injured and poisoned surprised him too much -Selestia! Have you already treated yourself? What kind of poison was it?-.

-Please don't worry, my friends helped me get rid of the poison with these medicines. What we should talk about now is about the organization...- I look at Christopher.

-It's okay- he said- When I went to look for the corpse of those two's sister I found Mathias and Diana fighting for their lives against a duo of pretty tough mercenaries. Luckily I got there in time-.

He remembered that both Mathias and Diana had actually been on the verge of being enslaved or perhaps dying - one of them was a bit easy to manipulate, so I guided the conversation in a direction in which he would inadvertently give me some information, I was able to confirm at least some suspicions.

-So as we had talked about it earlier- Alexander sighed with some weariness -we are facing a criminal organization-.

"That's right," Christopher replied. "I was able to confirm that they do indeed use their slaves to avoid suspicion and thus be able to take a few away."

-I agree- added Selestia -the demi-human whom I rescued must be being interrogated, she had tried to take a small child, when I called her she tried to escape through the corridors. I chased her and found her being...- she clenched her fists tightly remembering the harsh scene -punished by the mercenary who poisoned me, her master-.

-Unfortunately, slaves have no choice but to obediently follow their masters' orders or else they will be brutally punished. It really is a shame the way they are treated- Alexander clenched his fists because there was something he had to make very clear -even so, whether they are slaves or not, they will be punished if it is confirmed that they have already taken a few of our people to be sold... son, were you able to confirm that?-.

Christopher felt too sorry, but what would he say? If his father was right. Because of those slaves who have no other choice, many of the people of Gignit must be going through a real hell right now -yes, without realizing it the guy confirmed to me that they have already taken several of our people through them-.

Selestia looked down, the slave she had brought in for questioning had at least failed to fulfill her missions. But the others were a different matter.

Alexander frowned in pure annoyance, closed his eyes very tightly and clenched his fist to the point where his knuckles turned white and some blood dripped from his fist. -He also told me that they have another way to enter the city and that is not through the checkpoint...-.

Slowly, Alexander and Selestia's eyes widened as their facial features turned to one of pure shock and surprise. "W-how? I don't understand." Alexander was the one who seemed the most affected of the three. "Didn't he say that to make you desperate and give him an advantage over you?"

-I highly doubt it- Christopher replied, taking off some of the bandages from his face and rubbing that part of his face-because his partner reprimanded him and called him an idiot for spreading information, unlike his partner, he seemed to be aware of my tetra in order to take information from them, so after that he reprimanded him for having confirmed that he has a base somewhere near where we fight-.

-That's bad...- Selestia muttered -but I still can't find a coherent explanation of how they enter the city if there are too many sentries guarding the walls-.

-Earth magic and they come from below?- very good assumption on Christopher's part, that was actually a pretty coherent possibility.

-Impossible- Alexander sentenced and concluded after just a few seconds of thinking -there are too many Elves acting as sentinels, it is impossible for them not to feel magical energy coming from the ground, even if they dug in the traditional way, we would have known about them a long time ago. I also highly doubt that it is via air because the same thing would happen-.

Alexander waved his arms explaining his point of view while Selestia and Christopher watched, analyzing the idea -we would have seen and captured them a long time ago...-.

-You're right about that, the Sentinels or some guard from the divisions would have found them- Analyzing his idea once more, Christopher also came to the same conclusion and it was impossible, because in truth they would have already found all of them.

Alexander put his hand on the back of his neck -this topic is too complicated...-.

-Well that leaves us with other pending and quite important issues, such as rescuing all our people from that slave-owning garbage- Selestia.

-Yes- said Christopher -but for that we would first need to find the base where they surely have all of them- he looked at his father -and in regards to that, tonight you had planned to send those two to look for the SILVER rank, right?- Alexander nodded -apparently that guy is a failure, and he is not a SILVER rank. When I fought against the mercenary I realized that he surpassed him by far in every way and that was even though he was on par with a BRONZE rank adventurer-.

-What are you trying to get at with that?- asked Selestia, not understanding her brother. -If both of them go, they'll surely find the fiasco you're talking about more quickly-.

-That's right- Christopher laughed- with this, the plans change, so you should only send one of them to look for the slaver while the other should search in the vicinity where he fights. That way one could find the slaver and although the chances are very small the other could find the base-.

Selestia event the eyebrow was not a bad idea at all - that way the chances of finding the base in one way or another would increase considerably.

-It's not a bad idea- Alexander touched his chin thoughtfully- then the fact that the fat guy is a SILVER-rank dud is in our favor- Christopher nodded.

Alexander looked back at his children in such a proud manner. Apparently he was doing a good job as a father and was raising his beloved “children” very well. Even though the children grow up, in the eyes of the parents the children will always be children.

-It would be best if you rested a little longer- I remarked to Christopher and his body covered in piles of bandages -especially you, Christopher, you have received too much damage, your body really needs to rest-.

He turned around as if to leave, but Selestia opened her eyes wide remembering something -dad wait- she called him as if she had just discovered fire for the first time -when I came back from my fight I met a group of girls who said they were going on a special mission given by you- she narrowed her eyes while Christopher looked at his sister truly interested in the mission -what kind of mission is it...-.

-If you intend to go, let me tell you that it is only granted to adventurers who can access within the guild- Selestia now looked even more interested while Christopher raised his eyebrows -BRONZE rank and above-.

-I know... it's just that I'm really intrigued to know what it's about-.

Alexander sighed as there was no point in hiding it, at least not from his children -remember that when you left the house the guild messenger arrived quite nervous and somewhat fearful- the two nodded -well the guild master sent us some information and what would be the way to proceed... A Daemon has appeared among the paths of the forest and also one that only women could face-.

- DAEMON?! - they both shouted while Alexander asked them to lower their voices because there were many patients resting - How did a Daemon get up here? - Christopher asked quite agitated, things were much denser than they seemed.

-The situation is more than dense- Selestia called again- it is still not explained why the mission is exclusive for women-.

-As I told you, only women can confront this Daemon- Alexander -it really is not suitable for men, being that it is one of the Daemons considered as one of the natural enemies of men, a Tzegua-.

At the news, Christopher's skin seemed to tingle, his shoulders moving involuntarily up and down.

Only for a few moments Selestia seemed to be speechless, the news truly impacted her - now I understand, the Tzegua is a deadly being for men because it attacks them just by sensing lascivious intentions coming from them, it adopts its true form and kills them when they least expect it. Sending only women is the best of all options-.

-It seems that the situation is only getting more complicated- added Christopher -it is strange that magical beasts live up here, which do not usually frequent this kind of 'islands'. A Daemon, Wyrm, Flying Whale. Apparently something is happening or will most likely happen-.

Christopher didn't even know why he had said that, but he felt he had to say it as soon as possible.

He even thought it was a warning that something was urging him to say from deep within. And while he was in a state of retrospect, his sister and father remained silent and thought about the events and it was true. The situation was covered by stormy and black clouds.

It seemed that too many battle fronts were forming which needed to be covered: The slave traders, the kidnapping crisis, the other way of entering the city, the Tzegua, among others.

-It's better that we leave everything aside for today, especially you- she pointed at them with her finger so that they could look at themselves- you went through a lot today alone. Selestia, you were poisoned and you Christopher endured a lot in a desperate fight and a Wyrm almost attacked you- she narrowed her eyes, walking towards them hugging them- I won't tell you not to fight, but next time at least bring reinforcements, your mother and I would die if something happens to you-.

She separated from them smiling at them - now she is comforting Rachell, you know about their relationship. But when she is done she will give you the scolding of your lives, so just bear it, your mother almost died seeing your wounds. So for today I would like that when you leave here you go straight home and rest all day. Just for today do not worry about anything else - she looked into both of their eyes - if you think about your friends there is nothing to fear because Wayne's assistants are doing a good job, you will be as if nothing happened after a few days of rest -.

Christopher could breathe quite calmly now, it was true, there was too much tension generated by the situation and by the apparent battle fronts forming. But what his father said was true, both he and his sister were very hurt.

Alexander left the place leaving the brothers alone who smiled at each other glad that he was safe.

-So a Wyrm, huh- said Selestia -you sure have had a beautiful day little brother- she joked again as Christopher smiled.

-You should have seen it, I've never felt so scared in my life... I really thought I was going to die, luckily I didn't have to face that because otherwise I would already be dead- Christopher smiling.

-Oh by the way- said Selestia- Did Diana propose to you?-.

Somewhat blushing, Christopher could only complain -this is not the time to talk about that, besides, you know about my interests-.

-HAHAHAHA I'm sorry, I just wanted to make us laugh a little... like dad said- he remembered every word his father said -we really had a shitty day-.

-That's right- Christopher sighed.

Selestia smiled and to brighten up the room where they were both, she decided to unearth some memories from the past - hey, do you remember that I was your first love? -.

Christopher's face was the faithful representation of the color red, he just smiled with some embarrassment - without comment.

...

Meanwhile, resting under the shade of a tree, a young adventurer whose chain marked him as a SILVER Rank rested with a slight smile on his face. He kept looking at the clock that marked the time, waiting for the agreed moment.

But for some unknown reason this young man, who earlier begged the pretty demi-human for a date, showed a smile which only denoted excessive malice.

-Just a little more and you, pretty demi-human, will be ''mine''-.