Another One

I was miserable. We just started our party expeditions and now I was the one who couldn't get enough time to do it. I was not the only one though, it turns out the reason vincent was here was the swordsmanship training ! for Zhira ! I get it though Aras was now not enough for her, she's become fearsome after all that monster-slaying experience and leveling up a little. And for some dumb weird reason, Rahil also started taking part in their little training sessions. Their training sessions were exactly after lunch, the same time when I had to work for my father as punishment, from 1.30 to 3.30. Their training just lasted an hour though !

We changed our meeting time with the party. One day I told them to wait for me till 4 and because of some unknown variables they all just started killing monsters at 3. I met them on my way to our hidden meeting place. To my surprise, Rahil was leading instead of Zhira. They all acted like 3 was the decided time for meeting all along, which clearly was 4. Never mind we continued like this for a week without any problems.

Then when one day I met them after my work at 4, they were killing monsters as usual. They were not dumb enough to go deeper into the forest without me which I was grateful for. I joined them and we started going deeper into the forest slowly. Carnia was a really big forest our palace was not that far from the town. Even after 5 km from our palace, only max level 10 monsters were observed. For some weird reason once the monsters gain a higher level than 10 they just go deeper in the forest. No one knew why but that's just how it was. We had yet to see any level 10 monster or even 8 or 9 for that matter. But today it seemed like we were sliding really fast and deep in the forest. I observed a new biome and such too. I ordered them to be extra vigilant since it was our first time here. Our formation was the same Zhira and Bilky at the front then Shal, and last us - me and Rahil. I detected 8 blue dots on my Third Eye and we started going towards it slowly.

Once we reached halfway I stopped them because our targets were not moving even an inch for some reason. It was an odd thing for monsters so I felt a need to check it out first. I was the main supporter and shot caller so I had to stay behind in case of emergency, the healer was too important so in the end, I chose Bilky.

" Bilky, I will make you float high in the air with my earth block, try to see what's going on ahead of us."

" Okay " She said and I made her fly with earth block up straight from me. At 10 meters which was my limit of skill, I stopped it. Bilky looked around for a while then waved a hand at us so I brought her back.

" So what's going on ? " Zhira asked.

" Three direwolves, two ogres and two Batsquatch also one sand snake are just standing there like some kind of meeting ! " Bilky said.

" Four different kinds of monsters together !? " Rahil said.

" A sandsnake on land ? That's a first ! " Shal said. We had never fought a sandsnake while we were together.

" Did you see the levels ? " I asked.

" Yeah, ogres were 9, bats were 7 I think and wolves were 10 but one of them was red ! " She said.

" A red direwolf !? " Rahil and Zhira said together.

" Okay, be careful guys. These guys are high level but we can take them. Just be wary of that wolf and listen to my commands exactly, no extra movements ! " A red wolf, someone with mimicry skill again ! It's just one though I think it should be fine. I want to take him alive if possible though.

" In formation and eyes forward, don't look at your third eye screen anymore Rahil will keep a look, everyone else focus."

" Yeah," They all said together and we started moving again.

After some 40 - 50 meters through the woods, they came into our vision, everyone was looking the other way except that red wolf. It looked like he was really holding some kind of group discussion.

" Zhira and Bilky with each ogre, Shal you assist them. Rahil aim for two wolves and keep them from charging, I will deal with bats and snake."

" You will take three ? " Zhira asked.

" Yes, now let's go "

We started sprinting at a common speed of 30 kmh, some of the monsters turned around but before they could fully take a look my 15 fastest blades had pierced two bats completely and one ogre in just one leg, the snake also got hit by some but it couldn't pierce through its thick back. Zhira thrust her sword at the chest of ogre but he just blocked it with some kind of rusty axe. And threw her back, but before she went like a meter away Shal came from behind her and hacked at his neck but he raised his hand in defence which was cleanly cut off by Shal now. He started swinging the axe at Shal in anger but before he could scream there was a sword coming out of his neck, Zhira's sword. She had circled around him after landing. Bilky's ogre was already on the ground with blades in his leg so she just attacked with her axe with full force her skill activated and made a big crater bashing the ogres head, killing him with just one blow. Rahil had launched his bullets at the wolves one died, one was still dodging when the sandsnake which was gone underground came right behind Rahil but before it could open its mouth to take a bite there were 8 earth blades through his stomach. I really had kinda get the hang of it by now. I loved using earthblades. The remaining wolf ran back to the red one who just now had finished 5 air slash sending in the middle of our formation but he was the farthest so I had plenty of time to counter it. Two on the side were easily dodgeball one I deflected with my own sky strike in the air, Rahil got one with his bullets, and last one I received on my big krigara shield standing in front of Zhira and Shal, who had not noticed the air slash since they were looking the other way because of ogre.

I ran towards the wolf absorbing my shield. Everyone else started running with me too, the wolf sent a sky strike at me which I dodged, then the wolf felt running was better so it started running. I ran completely behind its tail, just a few steps back.

" Don't kill him, I need him alive " I shouted. Which took everyone by surprise even the running wolf and he made the mistake of turning his head a little, in a second I made a cage of krigara on edge of my skill limit. And crash !! The red wolf bashed his head on the cage wall and I used the time to completely seal the cage. It was a 3-inch thick krigara square box, with just little holes for air, I didn't want any more unnecessary air slashes or sky strikes.

" A red wolf ! Just as you said…!! " Rahil said.

" Yeah…but direwolves don't use air slashes right !? " Zhira said.

" Why do you want it alive ? " Shal asked.

" Nothing ! I just want to study him…" I said.

" Hey, could it possibly be one of those…" Zhira must have heard the rumors about beasts like prisoners that father had captured I guess.

" Yes I think so…" I said.

" Wait for real !!? "

" What are you guys talking about ? " Rahil asked.

" You remember when I told you about the skill that lets you turn into any monster ? "

" Ohh….you saying…this..!! "

" Yes. I never saw them turn though."

" Oye ! Are you guys saying this wolf is a human !? " Bilky exploded Shal also looked like he was gonna say something.

" Yes, but don't tell anyone guys. We are not sure yet." I warned them as I lifted the cage up to the edge of my skill range.

" Okay let's go ! Don't forget where we are, we have new guests in case none of you noticed ! " I said as I saw the new three blue dots north of us.

" Oh yeah…" Rahil said.

" let's go !! " Zhira said.

" Wait ! he's just gonna hang in there like this ?! " Shal said.

" You wanna carry him ? " I asked. Shal glared at me then we moved towards the monsters.

Three level 7 ogres were waiting to be hacked when we laid eyes on them. Zhira, and Bilky moved and we fired our skills, in less than 30 seconds they were dead. Level 6 7 were nothing for us now, only I was level 5, others were mostly 3 or 4 and still, we were doing pretty good. We glided from monster to monster for another 20 minutes, and no high leveled monster was seen, I thought this area was for them but I don't know what was going on. Then when we finished killing another herd of goblins which now came with swords and armor but were still level 6 7 at most, Rahil noticed 9 red dots on the third eye. Finally some big stuff !