Strange Invasions (Part 1)

Hyoran snarled and dashed towards Zherk, not even using her sword. I reached out to grab her shoulder to stop her, but I grabbed something below that.

"WAAOOOUUU!" Hyoran howled loudly and her body stiffened rigidly. Her ears are flapping around that it could come off her head. The sensation she feels is comparable to being struck by lightning.

She turned her head to see me grab her tail tightly.

"K-Kain! My tail! It hurts!" Hyoran said.

"If I let go, you'll attack that orc. We have bigger problems, remember?" I said.

"But he insulted mama!" Hyoran protested.

"We're better than this. We dealt with monsters and people before, this is no different." I said and Hyoran's anger subsided. Though she was no longer angry, she'll remember it.

"Fine." Hyoran said and I let go of her tail. She dashed back and brushed her tail as to ease off the pain.

I check the stats of Zherk.

"Looks like the little Lycanian got some fangs in her." Zherk said, smirking.

"You are wasting your time if you only came here to spew insults, Zherk. What is your purpose here?" Friis said sternly. Zherk snorted, letting out steam from his nose.

"It's been over 3 days you have accepted to bring your caravan to us for supplies." Zherk replied.

"I did say that it will take no less than one day to get there. There are paths and terrain we have to consider, especially aggressive monsters." Friis said.

"Chieftain! Chieftain!" a goblin yelled out, running towards Friis. The goblin knelt down, catching his breath.

"What is wrong?" Friis said.

"An army of Dire Gray Wolves has invaded the village! It's being led by a Gray Horn Wolf!" a goblin yelled.

"What!?" Friis yelled with eyes open.

"Gray Horn Wolf!?" Zherk shouted.

Gray Horn Wolves are evolved versions of Dire Gray Wolves. Although they usually can't use magic, they rely on physical power and defense. They're bigger and stronger too. Friis told me it has happened while he was out twice, but three times? This ain't no coincidence.

Friis began running back to his village followed by his goblins, Zherk's group followed suit where Hyoran and I followed.

We ran through the path that has the grass lower than the other because the goblins have used this path frequently.

As we reached the clearing inside the forest, we see destroyed tents, goblins fighting off wolves, and corpses on both sides.

"To battle!" Friis yelled and the goblins yelled for battle, raising their weapons. Friis jumped up to the air and thrusts his spear at the struggling goblin.

*Stab!*

Zherk pulls out his greataxe and swung at the five wolves jumping at him.

*SLASH!*

*Woosh!*

Hyoran and I jumped over them towards the goblins in trouble and cut down the Dire Gray Wolves.

*Slash!*

*Slice!*

We bisected the wolves, rescuing the goblins while I cleaved 6 other wolves in two.

[8 F rank targets slain. 80,000 EP awarded.]

I looked ahead and see the Gray Horn Wolf, standing there in the back, waiting. But something is wrong. Those eyes are purple and glowing. Gray Wolves have yellow eyes, no matter how much the Gray Wolves evolve, they always have yellow eyes.

I checked its stats.

"I knew it, and the other wolves I see have purple eyes as well." I thought. Someone is pulling the strings.

*AWOOOO!*

The Gray Horn Wolf howled and ran the other direction. The lesser wolves retreated as well, disappearing into the forest beyond, leaving wolf corpses behind.

"Just when we returned, the Gray Horn Wolf commanded a retreat. We could give chase, but we'd be leaving our village more vulnerable." Friis said.

"This ain't no coincidence. Someone is pulling the strings. The attacks are too organized coming from the beasts." I said.

"How do you know?" Friis asked.

"The Gray Wolves have yellow eyes. The ones I saw now are purplish pink. It's no doubt that they've been Hypnotized and Charmed at the same time." I explained.

The goblins, including Friis gasped.

"Friis, how long did you have this problem?" I asked.

"Three months. The worst possible was when a swarm of Thunder Jackets invaded us, I barely managed to defeat them, thanks to this spear and my evolution to High Goblin." Friis answered.

Damn, so they were having problems long before we got here. Usually, goblins have a high birth rate, meaning they need a lot of food to sustain it. With the monsters attacking while hunting and traveling on caravans, the goblins suffer on starvation and even kill each other for scraps.

"Zherk, I know why you didn't get your caravan for a few days. It's the same reason, those monsters attacked. I'm sure you had your share of problems." I said.

Zherk widened his eyes. It was not that he was caught off guard with disrespect, it was my awareness and skill.

"This human child isn't just smart, he fully understands what's around him quickly and slew wolves instantly with this heavy looking halberd with one hand." Zherk thought. "It's as if he went through multiple battles."

Zherk sighed, possibly regretting his previous statements. "You're right. Friis isn't the only one who faced monster invasions. Poison Jackets attacked us along with Rock Bears. The Poison Jackets attack our supplies while Rock Bears attack our people too."

"Yep, this confirms it even more. Someone is pulling the strings. Are there other races involved?" I said.

"There are several. Aerokin atop the mountains, Seakin at the coasts, Ogres in the caves, Lizardmen in the swamps, and Onis at lakes and rivers." Friis explained.

"And there is us Orcs and Goblins. Previously, we're able to live peacefully and were a large population for decades, but within months, we're struggling to survive." Zherk said.

Damn, decades long peace only to be ruined within a few months, but I got a good guess for who can do all of this.

"I know who is pulling the strings." I said.

"You do?" Friis said.

"It's a Hellkin, a strong one at that." I answered. All the goblins and orcs gasped.

"A Hellkin?! You are saying that you've encountered one of these evil creatures!" Friis yelled.

"It's cause we have. I even faced a strong one too. A Hellkin at rank C+. The worst part is that she was prepared." I said.

"C+? You mean..." Zherk said as dread came over him.

"A Greater Demon. Same rank as you, but she had magic, a Epic Weapon, and a Legendary Artifact. Had she entered any of those villages you mentioned, it would've been curtains. That's one way how scary a Hellkin can be." I said.

The crowd trembled in fear just by me describing a Greater Demon. If the Hellkin I faced earlier is at B or A alone, I wouldn't be so sure if I can defeat them even if I use all my skills. They're even more scarier if they come prepared.

"Young Kain, if you did happen to encounter a Rank C+ Greater Demon, how are you able to survive?" Friis said.

"We killed it. And by 'we', I would like to introduce you to some of my friends." I said. "Gris, Noire, come on out."

*Shoom!*

Gris and Noire jump out of my shadow and sits down. Every Orc and Goblin became shocked at the sight and unsheathed their weapons.

"Woah, woah! They're with me!" I yelled.

"You said that monsters hypnotized have purple eyes. That black wolf over there matches." Friis said.

"You're right, Black Wolves have purple eyes. But the wolves you saw earlier have their eyes completely covered." I explained. "Isn't that right, Gris, Noire?"

*Woof!*

The two barked in agreement.

"But they aren't the only ones who supported me managed to kill a Hellkin. Arex." I called out her name.

*Bwing!*

A silver light flashed and Arex appeared above us all. Gleaming silver sparks of light glimmer around her as she floats down to gently touch the ground. As she touched the ground, grass grew rapidly and flowers bloomed, being fed from the second sun. Arex opened her silver eyes and sees the orcs and goblins gaze upon her as if hope itself has appeared in front of them.