Side Chapter - 109 - RUN

DESOLATION OF ANGES - TOWN OF RANARK

The night air was chilly and refreshing. The kind of breeze many would use to enjoy a beautiful night's sleep. The streets were deserted and quiet with only a few figures sighted here and there.

Guards, actual guards, unlike the last time Erizos was here lined several positions on the town walls and also formed groups that patrolled the streets.

In the center of the town within the central region stood a huge unfinished statue. Right in front of it was a cylindrical beam waist high with some sort of colorless plate embedded thickly into it. Around it, an altar of sorts had been formed which made the beam look shorter.

Guards were more rampant in this area than anywhere else. There were even those with some noteworthy classes mixed with the guards.

Yet none of this was the main event. Atop the huge familiar townhouse where a certain old man once met the god Erizos, sat a little girl. Blonde hair fell around her and golden eyes moved from one place to another seeking something.

Raina was stressed out. For good reason too. She needed to complete a criteria or quest for getting a sub-class. But for some reason, her system had been silent about it. Thinking it was hidden she had plagued the Desolate Forest hunting and finding Direwolves or other animals to complete some hidden option. Yet nothing of the sort had shown up.

Today she joined the guard to see if the hidden option was here. The night had just begun but nothing had yet to reveal itself. With a sigh, she simply accessed her stats.

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STATUS

NAME - Raina Talon

RACE - Half Human /Half Angel

GENDER - Female

LIFE GRADE - Mortal

LEVEL - 6/10

ESSENCE - 2500/3200

AGE - 13

TITLE - First Guardian

CLASS- (HIGH PALADIN)

SUBCLASS -

STRENGTH - 38

AGILITY - 38

DEXTERITY -38

STAMINA - 38

VITALITY - 38

INTELLIGENCE - 38

MIND - 38

LIGHT MAGIC - 57/57

SKILLS - Slash Lv5, Light lance Lv 2, Light ball Lv3, Life detection Lv1, Light shield Lv6, Light manipulation Lv1.

SUBCLASS UNLOCKED - QUEST PROCESSING!! UNABLE TO GAIN ESSENCE!!

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Raina knew unlike the others how her attributes allotment worked. There had been nothing like free soul essence. Every essence gotten from a kill joined the pool and stayed till it reach a maximum before being used to upgrade the body. Causing the Level up.

Having the class plate was a good thing for her and others since it explained things whenever the system made a change.

At the moment there were three essential attributes and other normals. The essential attributes had to do with one's class or in the case of the priests their aspects.

The three essential attributes had an addition of plus five points to each of them in every level up. The others got a normal plus three. This could be increased by equipping gear with certain effects. Although only system-approved gear would work. No one knew how to have a gear system approved yet.

For those without the aspects, learning skills was easier since all they had to was repeat it. While for those with aspects learning and upgrading were harder since each level of skill was powerful and needed more comprehension to increase. Sometimes though it would increase with their level up due to more access to their abilities.

This worked the same for those with just classes.

Raina was different though since her race had been slightly affected knowingly or unknowingly by Erizos. She had only one essential attribute that got plus seven and the rest received a plus three in increments with each level-up balancing her out. The attribute had been her light magic.

Looking at the last line she spotted the reason for her frustration. The subclass line.

SUBCLASS UNLOCKED - QUEST PROCESSING!! UNABLE TO GAIN ESSENCE!!

If she could she would have yelled out to the heavens for the handsome man that had given this power to come to fix his system.

Ever since that day she had been treated like a princess. While being pampered she had also been put through several pieces of training with Aegefon. It wasn't only her though. Several others had used the class plate getting several classes and had begun training. So she hadn't thought of herself as anything special.

But while no one said much it was obvious they looked at her with hope and respect. So she had grown a subtle feeling of not letting anyone down.

And now her progress was being stalled for a reason she couldn't fathom.

While Aegefon had access to her system it was only when she permitted him to. As such, she had let him see the glaring words restricting her. His words.

"The Great one knows best". How infuriating.

Finally getting tired her eyes drooped as sleep tugged at her luring her into its comforting arms.

DING

That sound. It chased sleep off like a wild beast chasing a trespasser. Her eyes widened the dizziness was gone. Her status popped up once more she focused on the new info. Yet her gaze dimmed as she saw it. Finally, all she could say was.

"Huh".

******

BORDER CLIFFS OF THE DESOLATION - HELL'S AND PARADISE FIELD

Carla had fought lots of battles ever since that fateful night when she had her throat slit. The same night she managed to circumvent death's bony talons all thanks to that handsome god. The fights she'd been in had been mad and wild and dangerous, yet she'd survived with her sister time and time again.

But now, she wasn't so sure. It felt like all her luck had run out. Like today she'd finally meet a laughing death who would mock her for her failed attempt at evading him.

BARK.

The sound brought her attention to the seven-foot beast on all four feet as it pounced straight at her. Her body barely moved as she eyed the creature watching it soar in the air and land straight on ... bam. Golden light flashed as the wolf struck a shield and then was sent flying back.

(Shield Integrity 100% >>> 20%)

MANA SHIELD - Lv2 - Active

Create a shield of pure mana negating all strikes below total defense. Defense from level x mana plus int x mind.

A problem she had noted here already for her was regenerating mana. Something she only remembered at this time once she noted her sharply decreasing mana.

Kendor had shared the stats of the attacking Bukgarwolves and it only served to remind them why there was a Hell in the name of this place.

Name -

Race - Bukgarwolf

Lifegrade - Evolver

Corrupted mana - 2000/2000

Attack - 4000

Defense - 3500

Skills - Savage Bite, Cruel slash, Hells Blaze, Marked Howl, Archaic Pulse.

With each attack, she always had to feed mana back to the shield to replenish it before the next attack. While she could dodge and avoid unnecessary blows, she held the last line between her and the non-fighters of the camp.

Yet as her eyes scanned her dropping mana levels she wasn't the only one seeing the issues.

At this point, everyone was either fighting a mad battle for survival or grouped up to protect one another. The camp members forming parties clashed against one or two Bukgarwolves. Between the huge numbers of members ganging up on these wolves they still lost splendidly just not as fast.

The priests and priestesses held their own in a one-on-one confrontation as long as there were no interruptions. But that was it, interruptions existed, after all the Bukgarwolves didn't know they were supposed to wait to be killed one by one.

Kendor who stood atop a boulder was a testament to it. The boy looked like he survived a tornado of blades. His skin was clawed up in several spots his clothes mostly shredded save the dark nemean hide. While Kendor might not have admitted to it, the hide was the sole reason for him being still alive. His hands shook with the pain of the several injuries as he drew back his bowstring three arrows notched.

The explosive that came from the landing of the three made him grin a bit as he glared at the murderous wolves getting blown back. Surprisingly or unsurprisingly the explosion did little in terms of taking lives but he was content in watching the wolves pick themselves up and limp about with burnt furs.

Then there was Humda. The K'night Jader was constantly on the move. His nodachi taking no rest was bathed in black blood. The air continuously cut as he swung it at his assailants. Blood spilled as a few wolves dropped here and there.

But he just like the rest was beginning to realize that there were more than just Bukgarwolves here.

An explosion rumbled as the environs shook. Rocks and stones as well as dust rolled from the top and engulfed everyone. Worse off were the huge crumbles and loud cracks that occurred right before the wall section broke apart.

Like a decree from above, it slammed straight into the ground creating a cloud of dust that rose to obscure everyone's vision. Everyone but Moira saw clearly through it just as she would see clearly through the night.

"The entrance is sealed. Everyone cluster up now". Her voice echoed in the ears of the camp members. Her words made their hearts shudder. That was their last hope, even if things had gone perilously bad, retreating had been the last option.

Yet even that had been taken from then. Just as everything was always taken because they were weak. Thoughts like this assaulted their minds. Everyone pondered on things as they clustered up. From the hows to the whys and finally the here. Several questions rang in their heads but it all led them to one answer.

They would die here why because of the other races. The races hadn't pushed them to come here. Hadn't ordered them to, so why blame the races? It was simple. If not for the races they would have crossed normally via the lesser giant's path. If not for the races they'd be strong enough to fight the lesser giants if need be. If not for the races they wouldn't even have to head for this Desolate Forest. If not for the races they wouldn't feel weak and look at everything like a death sign.

'It was all the race's fault. Right?.'

'Yes. Those half-brained incomplete beasts'

Moira watched as the crowd surged forward. Without needing to say a word to boost morale they attacked. Rage and annoyance but most importantly resolve clear on their face.

Her eyes searched the floor, moving from one corpse to another. Some missing a body part, and some dismembered or sliced apart.

With a sigh, she turned back to the wolves watching them press the crowd back. Watching them rip through the soft and tender skin of humans. Blood flying and body parts scattering.

Blue eyes turned red as the space right in front of her gaze simmered with heat. From the balls shot out red beams that caught a wolf setting it ablaze.

Humda was more interested in the new friends that were rushing in alongside the Bukgarwolves than he the whimpering dog that was currently melting in puddles of cooked flesh and bones.

His eyes spotted a huge insect-like creature with four scythe-like arms, another tall beast with a hide more ferocious than any wolf. Finally, there was a huge cat-like creature with a black mane.

Humda knew when things were bad and right now it was worse. The Bukgarwolves barely dealt with, new powerful beasts joining the fray and their retreat sealed there was only one option. But he refused to take it. It was the last thing he needed, they needed. So he made the one call that was needed.

"RUN! Everyone. Forward. Run!"

If they survived then they'd look back to this day and marvel. Marvel not for the many that died or the many that survived but for their reactions to one word.

Humans were a race that knew themselves very well. They knew their strengths and their weaknesses. Their wrongs and their rights, they knew their capabilities and whatnot. At this very moment, these humans knew they were toast. Scratch their resolve and their anger away.

It was basically a bluff. Courage and determination wouldn't help an ant slay a dragon. A weak being would remain a weak being. There were no two ways about it.

It was this very knowledge that made humans a race to be respected. Call it cowardice or wimpy. Knowing when to run and when to fight was what made them a smart group of people. And run the did.

Like a wave that sort to abandon the sea, the tide of humans rushed forward aiming for the beasts that still spawned from the darkness. Behind them was the non-fighting group assisting those injured.

Upfront the creatures noticing the surge moved as well ready to tear the flesh from the bones of these daring humans. Yet their path got barred.

Like thunder from above the floor exploded as a girl with her shield stamped straight onto the floor disorienting their movement. While the Bukgarwolves and the increasing group of insect-like creatures stumbled Sanda leaped into their midst.

Sanda wasn't one to be considered courageous. She was anything but fearless. Her fear being the reason she trained the spear and shield. Strike from far and protect from their strikes behind a haven. Were her usual words. Yet today the girl would never understand why she dived into a group of powerful, terrifying beasts when she had never worked the courage to face off against swordsmen. Thinking of Moira she pondered if this was the madness that affected the Phoenix Queen.

Her feet moved without stopping, her body turning and spinning like a dancer. Her tower shield waved about like a light piece of cloth as it defended, deflected, and absorbed damage from all angles. Wherever the shield was left open the lusterless blade of her long halberd appeared reaping insectoid lives while pushing the Bukgarwolves away and injuring one or two.

If Erizos had been around to watch this scene, he'd have realized one thing. He'd have remembered one phrase, less meaningful but widely popular back from where he came from.

It was the same phrase that unsurprisingly applied to the fight going on. After all in the long run, no matter how strong or fast or capable one was. She was still human.

A phrase used to denote their racial weakness.

With a crowd of them surrounding her and beating against her shield. The staff of her halberd got slicker and slicker from the liquid that splashed onto it. Her movements got slower and slower, the lack of space jamming her battle dance.

And when she thrust out ending the fifth Bukgarwolf of the day it happened.

The sound of flesh ripping was drowned by the scream of pain uttered by the colossus tank. It was far from the first taste of pain she had gotten but it was definitely the worst.

Eyes locked on the scythe-like arm that twisted into her side she paled. It was moments like this that the lack of Health points in their system was a good thing. As such a strike would according to a HP pool show her health tethering dangerously close to the edges of death. It was a panic-inducing moment. Yet not realizing this the brunette girl smiled at the insect with her row of bloody teeth exposed.

The insect feeling insulted rose its other scythes to finish the job while the Colossus stared it down arrogantly.

Slash.

Its head rolled, black blood spraying onto Sanda's face. Her feet touched the floor as got dropped both limbs shuddering as they attempted to give way. A clang of metal against bone rang in her left ear. To her side, Humda stood his nodachi in between her face and another scythe. Before she could take a good look at the thing it screeched in pain as it went ablaze. The stench of cooked meat tickled her senses as her eyes rolled into her head. Several yells and shouts calling out different names sounded out around and mixed with the growls and screeching of the insects and wolves.

The last thing she saw right before her mind shut down was the roll of glowing words in her vision blaring adamantly as if begging to be seen. Many of the words were hazy but two stuck out to her.

'Quest' and 'Survive'.

'Sleep now. Figure out the quest later.' her thoughts were simple as she shut her eyes the pool of blood leaking out her torso a horrific sight for all to see.

******

Three hours later.

The night was silent. Not a sound to be heard. Not a chirp from the birds, the chittering from insects, or the wing buzz of those tiny things. The sky was dark and the stars hidden.

On the ground was a beautiful path with more flowers than could be admired. Little springs of water flowed from the rocks around and even with the darkness, a blue luminous light gave an ethereal glow to the surroundings. Right after it came huge trees, tall and broad that spread out far into the distance creating a huge forest. The forest itself was dark, the lack of any celestial body leaving it in a state of darkness.

Strangely the blue ethereal glow halted just shy of the first forest tree. A little gap of at most ten feet lying between the tree line and the glow.

BOOM!.

To the edges of the rocky walls where a sort of cave or tight cluster of rocks stood an explosion of fire and debris rushed out razing the obstruction in its path.

From the smoke and dust stepped out two figures. One clad in a battle dress, hand fans in both palms, dust, and blood on her fair face. The other was taller in a black animal hide and tattered clothes a bow in one hand and an arrow notched in it ready to fire.

From behind them pouring out of the hole in the rocky wall were hundreds of people. Scampering out like frightened mice from within with a hurry that was alarming for any onlookers they bolted for the two ahead. Some if not many had several degrees of injury while others were fine. One of the men rushed to catch up to the first two with a body in his grasp.

The hole that they came through seemed to slow down the number of people it spat out till finally, no one came out again. Another section of the rocky wall blew apart as a figure tore through it and crashed into the ground. Right beside it, the air shivered and then spat out a body from the darkness.

Without hesitating Humda grabbed at Moira's hands before dragging her up and bolting after the rest.

The ground shuddered once, then twice before the entirety of the wall shattered and caved down creating a large area of ashy dust.

Humda and Moira didn't care to turn back and see what it was. Both already knew. Hell the entire hundreds of people that got out of that path knew. They'd spent the last three hours battling several different creatures, from Bukgarwolves to insects, to Himabears and Stiffserpents. Even rodents and rabbits within the path had been dangerous.

Yet nothing paled compared to what even Moira now ran from. She was strong, she knew that. But she knew when she was weaker.

Carla and Kendor had arrived just a few meters from the edge of the ethereal glow. There they halted as a sound that shouldn't be heard entered their ears.

"Water?" Kendor looked around searching for the source of the sound but was unable to. Neither he nor Carla could see past the glow. As such non realized the presence of a rapid running right in between the glow and the silent forest. But that was the least of their problem. At that very moment right at the edge of that glow which they didn't even realize was the edge their bodies locked up refusing to move one more inch. Worse still the more they tried and succeeded the more a feeling of pain grew in their heads almost like a squeezing pressure attempting to pop their skulls.

Taking a step away from the edge was possible but stepping forward was impossible.

"I guess now we know why the creatures in here never left. They just couldn't ".

It was here that the rocky walls exploded even more harshly than it had done when they ran out. The entire section from bottom to top caved in and with a huge release of dust exposed the interior of the broad path. The tops were narrow as the rocky wall clustered together to close off the top shutting out the sky from above. This path indeed a well-structured terrain. The only way being forward.

Carla and Kendor were too busy to note this. One was trying to continue healing the girl resting in the arms of one of the men. The other was staring wide-eyed at the congregation of beasts that wished to make them stay for dinner.

Carla stopped healing just as Moira and Humda arrived both confused about why the crowd had stopped there. After several attempts, both reached the same conclusion. But it didn't solve or help in any way.

To their backs was the exit which wouldn't let them through, and to their front was a literal horde of beasts eager to spill their lifeblood and feast on warm flesh. Was this the legendary caught between a rock and a hard place?