Garden of doom.

The group saw from a far an ape type beast glare from a far with red eyes. The beast exuded the aura of a beast tyrant . This was comparable to peak saint stage level .

Every noise that was occurring in the garden stopped at that gaze. Slowly by slowly multiple red eyes looked to the group as if looking at prey. 

They were only ape beasts on the vicinity however they were the most troublesome beasts. They did not have strong attacks but their agility and intelligence more than made up for this. 

There were no grand apes which would have been a cause of celebration if the beasts themselves were not beast lords or monarchs coupled with the tyrant beast as their leader. 

' Oh no this is bad . I still haven't fully recovered from that puppet doll technique ' Gena thought . But even she was not confident on surviving this on her own in full power.

The beast gave out an unearthly roar that caused the group to hold their ears but even then there was an after ringing effect. 

The apes at the command of their leader rushed to the group . 

" Not good " Priscilla muttered as her energy soared to mid grandmaster level . Her staff touched the ground and the earth raised around them and top of them creating runes.

Mia on the other hand was flabbergasted by her tremendous increase in strength. Back in the village she used to stay how strong she was before she was sick but Mia never took that to heart. However right now she believed.

Light failed to penetrate the dome but Priscilla's wand glowed blue illuminating the area. Some of the blue light escaped the wand and rushed to the earth dome forming runes. 

This time Gena was surprised . She new that rune magic was quite hard and learning it together with an elemental magic was even harder . 

' What a talent ' She couldn't help but think.

However this time wasn't the right time to do nothing . She took out her two spears. The runes glowed brightly and gave out more power than they ever had due to the environment. This normally would be a cause of celebration but currently Gena dreaded this due to the magic she was to perform.

BANG!!!

They heard someone hit the earth dome . 

BANG!! BANG !! BANG !!

Hits started streaming in . Priscilla held her ground as she continuously supplied her magic to the earth dome. The dome every time it cracked it regenerated at a faster rate.

Gena laid her spears to the ground as a magic circle appeared . It was of a higher quality than usual which made her momentarily sigh in relief. 

" What are you planning ? " Priscilla asked.

" Apes at the end of it all are just beasts. Kill what ties them together and they will turn on one another. " Gena said before looking at Mia.

" Mia can you help supply mana to the dome to help Gena . " Mia looked hesitant.

" But my mana is so little , am still a mage apprentice. I also mess up important things." She countered.

Gena warmly smiled at Mia .

" You never know until you try and am pretty sure you won't mess this up " Mia gave a small nod.

Priscilla made another rune and placed it infront of Mia.

" Supply your mana here . It will turn your water based mana to earth then supply it to the earth dome. " Priscilla instructed.

Mia's small hands stretched to the rune and blue light escaped her hands and landed to the rune. 

Priscilla's eyes widened . Such strong and powerful mana . She had not felt this much power come from someone of saint level let alone from a mage apprentice.

' So this is why the assassins were after her. They thought that she would become a dangerous figure in the future once she grows stronger. ' Priscilla thought.

Despite what she found out she didn't blame her for Lockley's death. After all they accepted the mission. 

Priscilla who previously had the challenge of supplying mana could now use this chance to attack.

She stopped supplying mana n the earth dome and directed her staff to the ground. A small magic circle the size of a hand appeared. She knelt down to the ground and supplied mana to it .

BANG !! BANG !! BANG !!

The hits on the earth dome did not stop however after thirty seconds of supplying mana on the magic circle , It glowed bright red. 

Outside the dome where apes surrounded it nearing a hundred earth spikes suddenly appeared penetrating most of them .

All ape lords that were near the dome died while the ape monarchs suffered grievous injuries.

The spikes were designed to kill a beast lord of the rhino species , known for their defense. Apes however had very weak defense so such an attack even managed to thoroughly harm the ape monarchs.

The ape tyrant who watched back awaiting for the humans to lose their energy so that it can deliver the killing blow shrieked in anger to see such a massacre on its subject.

It jumped up high and descended . Its body glowed on its descent and once it touched the dome , a large shockwave was formed making the earth dome break easily.

" Ah !! " Mia let out a small scream as she narrowly dodged the ape. 

Priscilla was faster to react. She summoned an earth spike when the ape was concentrating on Mia . The spike hit it and it flew to a large grand tree . The large tree couldn't withstand the force and it fell down .

" How long ? " Priscilla asked . She saw the spears slowly merging into one and the various tunes becoming one.

" A minute give or take " Gena said as she focused on the magic circle.

Priscilla was about to say they don't have a minute but the ape emerged.

A small wound was on its stomach but it ignored that and rushed to Priscilla.

It reasoned that this human was the strongest individual killing her first would be the most logical approach.

It blitzed to Priscilla , its body once again glowing.

Priscilla saw this and once again used three earth spikes .

BOOM!! 

A shockwave was produced once Priscilla's spikes and the ape's punch got into contact. Her spikes crumbled as the ape jumped towards her ready to punch and kill her.

Priscila looked at the punch approaching her . The very same thoughts that plagued her since Lockley's death returned.

Was a world without her husband worth living ? 

She was unsure if she should fight back . She had the mana for two more earth spikes but why did death seemed so charming to her currently ?

SWISH!! 

A spear flew at an incredible speed and penetrated the beast . Blood splashed on Priscilla's body . The small look of fulfillment fully vanished replaced by her expressionless face.

The spear flew to the air and slowly changed directions . It flew in a circle trying it's very best to return back to it's master.

It finally reached its master with a great force that slightly shook the ground.

" I thought you said a minute " Priscilla said.

" I had some help " She said before glancing at Mia .

Suddenly once again the red eyes in the forest appeared. This time way more than last time.

Mia stepped back in fear but Gena comforted her . 

" It's okay , they aren't here for us " Gena said. 

The apes remaining were about to rush to the tyrant ape's corpse but they suddenly froze seemingly stuck in time.

The holographic image once again appeared and the same mysterious being appeared.

" Wow !! You actually managed to kill the guardian with one shot. That spear really is powerful. I can tell that however designed those dual spears was no ordinary craftsman.

Anyway , we will be going to the 3rd and final test and I really do hope you enjoy yourselves. " The being said before a portal appeared.

The holographic video disappeared and the monkey started moving albeit slowly but as time continued . Their movement increased. It was as if time was unfreezing for them.

Gena took Cole's body and tossed it to the portal . Mia followed hurriedly to look at Cole's unconscious body as Gena and Priscilla remained.

Priscilla was about to walk to the portal but Gena stopped her. She was tall so leaning to Priscilla's ear who was short would be a comical sight so she opted to speak loudly.

" I know what you are going through more than you can understand however trying to kill yourself or worst of all push those people close to you is never a good option . " Gena said.

Priscilla frowned slightly. 

" Why show care ? Don't get me wrong but you don't seem the type to care about anyone " 

Gena couldn't disagree.

" You are right. I currently only care about the wellbeing of my niece and that is why I am telling you this. I know you care about her too and that is why I tell you to stop pushing those who care for you now in pursuit of those who cared for you then or otherwise you will end up a very lonely woman. " Gena said.

Before she could hear Priscilla's response , she walked to the portal. Priscilla's heart was ambushed by those words and she stood momentarily shaken .

However the apes that started moving in normal time forced her in to the portal .