The Mountain of Valtuz

Meanwhile, inside the cave there is hideout with huts and banners with the red claw marks painted on the exteriors. The numerous bandits of multiple races populate the cave. Be it Humans, Beastkins, Orcs, Goblins, Dwarves, and even Elves in this organization.

However, what lies further in is a being of a stronger presence. Strongest out of all bandits in this infamous gang.

This being has a large golden brown mane for a hair and beard with streaks of black fur. Large muscular body, animal ears at the top and a long tail. A Lion Beastkin, a Leosian.

The Lion Beastkin sits on a large couch of high quality cloth, eating a large chunk of meat off of a large bone. Each bite he takes makes a vicious ripping sound as the meat is tough. What lies before him is a large assortment of food that could feed multiple people for more than one day.

And yet, the beastkin is not happy in the slightest. His patience running thin with each passing day.

"Lord Zaneth?" one fox beastkin called.

*Crash!*

Zaneth angrily slams his fist on the table, possibly chipping away his already low patience.

"What is it?! I have not heard from Terrence, Grundel, nor Arzus for days! Especially that Rock Bull I have lent to you in the Nolten Forest!" Zaneth yelled. The fox beastkin was startled by his outburst.

"Taking control of the villages without anyone knowing takes time. If Noltia catches wind, it'll take us even longer, if not set back." The fox beastkin explained.

"Boss! We got bad news!" one goblin ran inside.

"What now?" Zaneth said.

"The camp where it leads to Nolten where you appointed Arzus there, but Arzus took his men..." the goblin began explaining, but was cut off.

"Out with it!" Zaneth growled.

"The camp there was destroyed! Our men there were also killed! Not one survived!" The goblin replied.

"What happened to Arzus and the Rock Bull?" Zaneth asked while his orange eyes flickered and let a growl.

"Arzus was not in this camp for I couldn't find him. Also, the Rock Bull is missing!" The goblin yelled with fear in his eyes.

*ROOOARR!!*

Zaneth roared furiously inside the cave. His roar is so loud, it can be heard outside of the cave. The people inside it covered their ears as his roar was deafening, even if they're not near him.

"Not only my good men are missing, but the Rock Bull we used to raid is missing!? Who did this!?" Zaneth demanded, seething with anger.

"T-there were claw marks, bite marks, burns, holes inside their bodies, not a single one survived. I think a powerful monster attacked our camp. At least an S rank monster did this by itself or an army of monsters did this." The goblin explained.

"Arzus and Grundel would've dealt with that monster or monsters already as they are at A and S rank." Zaneth said.

"But we haven't heard from them for days. What if they're caught by the Noltia's knights?" The goblin said.

"They won't get caught so easily, especially when many adventurers are afraid of us." Zaneth sighs as his bursting anger faded slowly. "If it's the monsters, they'd already be in a different place by now."

"Is our plan needed to be changed?" the fox beastkin said.

"No, it stays unchanged. Despite losing the Rock Bull, I have something stronger." Zaneth said.

*Grrr...*

A low growl emits behind Zaneth as there is a beast stronger than the Rock Bull. Yet it remains hidden behind the curtains.

{Meanwhile...}

A little girl dressed in green with green hair put her hand near her mouth, showing a gasping gesture. She flew away from the mountain as she has heard enough information to pass on to someone important.

She flew from the mountain, above the forest, and to the city of Valtuz. What awaits is an angel dressed in white with bronze rings around the dress.

"You came back. What did you hear?" the angel asked.

The little girl closed her hands and opened it and spake the words unfitting for a little girl.

"It stays unchanged. Despite losing the Rock Bull, I have something stronger." and then she closed it.

"So there is a monster stronger than Taudera? This could be troublesome. We must inform him after he wakes up." The angel said.

*Caw! Caw!*

The cries of the crows rings out from both sides. A red crow and a yellow crow comes flying towards them, holding the letters.

"Are these two with Kain?" the angel asked. The green haired girl nodded.

*Caw!*

The red and yellow crows handed the letters to the angel and she unraveled it to read it. She reads that the armies are heading to the city of Valtuz in a couple of days.

"This is good, we should inform him once he wakes up." the angel said.

{Hours later...}

Morning has arrived in Valtuz and everyone began to wake up. I woke up in the bed and noticed two rolled up papers.

"Vampa? Burya?" I called.

*Caw!* *Caw!*

Vampa and Burya flew through the window as I called them.

"You brought the letters safely? Nice job." I complimented them, stroking their heads. I jumped out of my bed and began reading the letter.

"Couple of days...this could mean 2 or 3 days depending how you spin it..." I said, considering it how long it'll take. Since I slept like a rock, at least 5 hours went by. I looked at Hyoran who just woke up and Fennec also wakes up.

"Morning." I said. Hyoran soon got off the bed and yawned.

"Morning...what are we going to do today?" Hyoran asked.

"We're gonna go bring in more monsters. Also, the armies from both kingdoms are coming." I said.

"Really? That's great!" Hyoran said, happy with the good news.

"Arex, are you around?" I said. Arex went through the window and Viri followed inside as well.

"Yes, and there is something we need to inform you." Arex said. Viridesca creates a sphere of wind and a voice comes out.

"It stays unchanged. Despite losing the Rock Bull, I have something stronger." it said. Then something unexpected happened.

*Grrrr...*

A low growling sound, a low, menacing growl. I knew it instantly that it's a lion-type beast! These guys are nightmares to anyone in Iron rank, even Silver ranks struggle against it, because of its nasty strength and most of all, its roar.

"So they got a back up monster, huh? Seems that whoever is calling the shots is planning something and will attack soon." I said.

"What should we do?" Hyoran said.

"We stall them until they get here. We'll have to forget recruiting monsters for now. Get ready." I said. Hyoran nodded and we began changing our clothes and me reaching for my armor. Especially with our cloaks.

As we finished arming ourselves, I took the letters and we rushed downstairs. But...

*Grumble...*

Our stomachs would like to say otherwise. We walked down to the main floor of the tavern and see some people eating. They happened to notice me, Hyoran, and Fennec coming down the stairs. They smiled, knowing that their city is in good hands. They don't care who, but as long they can save the city, they're happy.

We sat on the empty table and waited for someone to take our order. Thankfully, a waitress came to our table and served us food instantly.

Three pancakes stacked on each other, two eggs, and corned beef on both plates. Just like my previous world.

"Wow...it looks delicious..." Hyoran said as she began drooling at the breakfast in front of her.

"This is for saving our city twice. Enjoy!" the waitress said as she walked off.

Without hesitation, we began eating by butchering it with our utensils placed for us. The taste of the fluffy pancakes and the sweetness of maple syrup brought nostalgia to me.

That nostalgia could make me reminisce, but I can't let that stop me. I must finish this food so that we can get started.

{Later...}

We exited the tavern with our bellies full and ready for another day in Valtuz. I see Thompson walking by and he noticed us walking out.

"Hey, how did y'all sleep?" Thompson said as he walked towards us.

"Like a brick." I replied.

*BURP!*

A burp was let out and we looked to see that Hyoran is covering her mouth. I can see her blushing then giggled.

"Pfft. Nice." I said. "Oh, take a look, my crows came back with the response." I gave Thompson the letters, he took it and began glancing over it.

"Now this is great. All we have to do is to hold down the fort until they get here." Thompson smiled.

"But we have a problem, the bandits are planning to attack and it could be more than I can handle. More than we can handle." I said.

"Damn, when will they attack?" Thompson said.

"Hours at the earliest. For that, we'll stall them and weaken them." I said.

"Hit and run, huh? Not bad." Thompson complimented me.

"Zala." I called out to her. Zala gallops towards me. I jumped up with my Halberd in my hand. Hyoran jumps on as well.

"Gris, Noire, Viri, Schwarze, Mavros, Vampa, Burya, Groza, come with me." I said. My monsters agreed and followed us to the main gate where Stein and Flammen was stationed. They opened the gate and we left the city quickly as the rest of my monsters followed me.

The Valtuz Mountain in the game is a mine where it has multiple monsters and materials for crafting. It can be also used as a hiding spot to gank some unsuspecting players, adventurers and monsters alike.

What Viri did is that she found a bandit base in that mountain where Zaneth is at just as Arzus told me. If Zaneth is getting impatient and wanting to find out who did it, it would make sense if he attacked even before I made it to Valtuz.

The reason he didn't attack and spread out by then is because I left no one alive in the previous attacks thanks to my monsters and prevented that fox man from running. Which in turn brought me time.

Now that the armies from both kingdoms are coming, we have to stall 'em. And I can increase my chances of stalling them by evolving them.

Next up, the Bandit King!