Territory War (Part 3)

"If the Forest Guardian ever reach past the bridge, we need to evacuate all the villagers." Ezo said.

"You'll douse the flames and I'll find who is responsible." Tuya said.

"To think we go to adventuring together after some years. Just like old times, right?" Ezo said as he smiles at Tuya.

"Yeah, slaying a Red Centipede until it explodes into fireworks was pretty in the moonlight." Tuya said, smiling back.

Ezo and Tuya kept running to see a goblin camp destroyed from the previous battle and stopped to look at the goblins that has been torn apart by the flames and wounds alike. The bodies that hadn't been destroyed had their stomachs cut open.

"Seems that Flint and his friends did that for fortune." Ezo said.

Tuya sees the footprints leading after the camp and beyond.

"The footprints lies ahead. This might lead to the Forest Guardian." Tuya said, pointing in the direction where the prints lead. They run to follow the footsteps with great haste as the adventurers are possibly in danger.

{Meanwhile...}

The Dire Gray Wolf, the Hobgoblin, Flint, Altan, Elliea, and the Rock Bear in the part of the forest where the flames that once were alight were doused immediately from the Rock Bear's roar. The remaining goblins and wolves stay there frozen in fear of the Intimidation skill. Hobgoblin and Dire Gray Wolf are also affected, but is heavily restricted.

"Who is responsible for the damage of the forest!?" the Rock Bear demanded in a deep commanding tone. Flint's team is also frozen from the mere presence of the Rock Bear.

"Speak now or I will unleash nature's fury without mercy!" the Rock Bear added.

"It...it was m-me." Elliea said with her trembling voice. As she barely mustered up the courage to speak. The Rock Bear walked forward with his massive physique. His steps shakes the ground, his weight crushes the twigs and branches down to mere splinters and grind bones to dust if any unfortunate soul happens to be in his way.

Elliea trembled more until she could no longer stand. The Rock Bear stops in front of Elliea and looks down on her with not contempt, but authority.

"Speak your reason, human." he said.

"I-I did it to defend the Nolten Village. The Hobgoblin and Dire Wolf are fighting for territory and soon threaten the Nolten Village." Elliea said.

"Territory War to claim Nolten Village?" the Rock Bear said.

"Grrk!" The Hobgoblin manages to move his body and ran towards the Rock Bear. "GRAAAGH!!" The Hobgoblin let out a war cry, filled with rage that his chances of take over was being stripped away. He swung his club at the Rock Bear and the Rock Bear turned his green eyes at him.

"Impudent goblin." he said and his green eyes flashed.

*SHINKT!!*

*Splash!*

A sharp spike darted from the ground and impaled the Hobgoblin in the head through his jaw. A fountain of blood, bits of the skull, and gray matter scattered forth, drenching the grass in a puddle of blood. The Hobgoblin died instantly and went limp. The Rock Bear looked at the Dire Gray Wolf with the same eyes saying "Do you dare as well?" The Dire Wolf turned its tail and ran without a second thought, yelping in fear until it is no longer heard.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rock Bear...please don't eat me..." Elliea said.

"Yeah, eating a human could be bad for your health even if you're a Forest Guardian." Ezo said.

"Ezo, Tuya. We meet again." The Rock Bear said.

"You...you know the Forest Guardian?" Flint said.

"We were around Bronze at the time and met him." Tuya said. "Could you please try to not scare the children? This young lady could barely speak."

"Worry not." Rock Bear said. "I only come to find who is responsible."

Ezo looked at the Hobgoblin whose head has been impaled from a spike out of stone.

"Yikes, looks like he had seen better days. He's the one responsible." Ezo said.

"The Hobgoblin had dared attack me despite the difference in power. The female human behind you stated she is responsible." The Rock Bear explained.

"Oh, Ellie. You know bad things would happen if you use Fire in a forest." Tuya said.

"I'm sorry...I'll make sure to use Fire Magic responsibly." Elliea said, bowing hastily.

"As long as you showed repentance and avoid repeating, I shall spare you." the Rock Bear said. The Rock Bear turns around and began walking away, walking into the deep forest until the towering body becomes hidden within the forest.

For moments that felt like hours, Elliea's legs gave out.

"Oh my gosh...I thought we're dead for real...that Rock Bear is not something to fight against." Elliea said.

"I couldn't even speak in front of that bear..." Altan said. He looked at his hands that is trembling even if the Rock Bear is no longer here. "My hands are still shaking."

"With the Hobgoblin and the Dire Gray Wolf is no longer there, we have completed the task. Right?" Flint said.

"Yeah, that Dire Gray Wolf is scared out its mind so we won't have to worry." Ezo said. "By the way, did any of you happen to cut open some goblins after you destroyed their camp for their crystals?"

"Uh, no. We just went ahead to find the source of the infestation." Flint said.

"Come take a look." Ezo said.

The group walked back to the destroyed goblin camp to see the goblins with their stomachs cut open, left with a large gash.

"Woah, they weren't like this when we were here." Flint said.

Altan took a closer look at the goblin corpse and saw that the wound was went straight across without being diagonal and the crystal was removed.

"This can't be a beast since the wounds are too clean. It is done by a knife." Altan said.

"We'll think about it later. Right now, we have to get back to the village. This place will obviously come crawling with monsters soon after the Rock Bear left." Ezo said.

The five people kept walking back to the Nolten Village to find Olken who is waiting there to see the news.

"Thank goodness you're alive. Sending Ezo and Tuya was the right decision in case of emergencies." Olken said. "So, that roar. What was it?"

"It is a Rock Bear. A Forest Guardian at that." Flint said.

"Oh. You used Fire Magic and let it spread, didn't you?" Olken said, calmly.

"Yes...We're sorry that we put you in danger." Elliea said apologetically, bowing.

"Likewise." Altan said, bowing.

"Same here." Flint said, bowing as well.

Olken sighed and rubbed his face with his hand.

"Then sending Tuya and Ezo was the best course of action. Ellie lass, you can't throw Fire magic around without considering the consequences. If the Forest Guardian weren't there, you would've caused a massive forest fire, displacing many monsters out." Olken said.

"We'll never forget this lesson today." Flint said, promising Olken to avoid such a scenario.

"Well, at least no one was hurt, just shaken up from that roar. So, about the infestation." Olken said.

"It is a infestation, but the monsters Hobgoblin and Dire Gray Wolf was fighting for territory before the Forest Guardian appeared. Hobgoblin was killed and the Dire Gray Wolf ran away." Flint explained.

"I see. With these two gone, the Forest is safe for now." Olken said. Olken hands Flint the paper that showed the request of the monster infestation and gave it a red stamp saying 'COMPLETED'.

"Okay, return this to the guild and get paid." Olken said, patting Flint's hands. "It's nice to see you again, my boy."

"It's nice seeing you too." Flint smiled.

The three adventurers walked to the carriage and began travelling back to the Noltia Kingdom. The villagers waved them goodbye and the three waved back. The three has now completed the quest and off to finish another. However, that's another story for another time.