"Why must we be away from our clan for such a useless mission?” An exasperated Rykos grumbled

“Watch your tongue Rykos. The journey to our ancestral land is sacred and will be treated as such.” Responded in a firm tone by Laiya 

“The captain is right Rykos, this is the most sacred mission a member of our clan can do.” 

“I understand that Jace! But we are at war! This is no-“ 

“Enough.” Said Laiya in a tone that left no room for doubt. 

“The Forest of Shadows is not a place to be unfocused. Silence from this point on and remain alert.” Continued Laiya 

And as she dictated, the small team of three continued moving through the forest in absolute silence. All while maintaining a speed that most humans can’t fathom. 

A speed that wasn't inhibited by all the different changes of direction they were forced to make to avoid the territories of rank 7 or higher beasts. Beings strong enough to threaten entire countries. 

Meanwhile, in a small temple that appeared to be shrouded in perpetual darkness with its pitch-black walls and lack of any form of light, a group of human-sized egg-like pods sat in a circular formation. Five pods that resembled the color of darkness surrounded a slightly larger pod in the center, which seemed to exude an air of dominance. 

No one knows exactly how long these pods have been sitting here. Nor would they be able to explain the pressure the pod in the center exuded without any movement of any kind. But all would easily understand that the beings within these pods are of a different class of strength altogether. Something the small team of 3 led by Laiya, will soon find out. 

As if in a practiced manner, the void-like silence present within the temple was immediately broken as five of the pods all cracked at the exact same moment. The cracks then continued to multiply all over the pods and within seconds all five pods shattered at the exact same time. 

After the dust from the shattering of the pods cleared, it revealed five kneeling humanoid figures with their heads bowed in reverence in the direction of the center pod.

 Their skin tone was a steely almost greyish black, without a single blemish or imperfection. A lean body with muscles that screamed power with every fiber of their being. Not to mention the pressure they would naturally exude as being on their rank. 

Rank 7. 

All five of them were rank 7. Beings capable of ruling entire nations or likewise destroying them lest a being of a higher rank gets involved. Just one of them alone would level the temple and surrounding area to rubble should their aura be released. Something they wouldn’t dare do in the presence of the center pod.

In fact not a single one of them dared to move unnecessarily, treating the act in itself as a crime against the one they held in the highest esteem. Such is the position they would stay in until the center pod shattered….Unless they were provoked of course. 

During all of this, the small team led by Laiya, continued their sacred journey to the location of their clan's ancestral grounds. The same location of course that now housed five rank 7 beings kneeling with lowered heads in reverence at a much larger black pod. All while being naked of course. 

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Stop. We are roughly a little more than 1000 miles away from the temple. Just outside the passive range of notice of a rank 7 being. Of course, their full range is much wider than that but based on our records they will concentrate on the 1000-mile mark. We must approach the temple acting as if the Royal Guards are present and alert. We will approach cautiously, alertly, and without aggression. If we are approached by a Royal Guard we will cease all movement, explain our reasons for being here and proceed accordingly. Is that understood?” 

“Yes!” Echoed both Rykos and Jace in response to their captain. 

“Good, move!” 

It was then that all five kneeling beings snapped their eyes open and turned their heads in the direction of Laiya, Rykos, and Jace instantaneously. 

“I will intercept.” One spoke in a calm and quiet voice.  

No one else responded as she vanished from their sight, covering the 1000-mile distance in a matter of seconds and appearing in the sky above the trio undetected, with her body shrouded in darkness. The remaining four members simply closed their eyes and lowered their heads once more. 

Not knowing that someone who could dictate their life and death with little effort was hovering above their heads, the small team just kept cautiously moving forward toward the temple. 

They had just barely crossed the 1000-yard mark in the time it took for the being above them to not only notice them but arrive at their location. In fact it’s only been a few seconds. 

It was then that an unforgiving pressure descended upon them, immediately forcing them to their knees, despite all three being elites at a rank 5 level of strength. Laiya immediately knew they were in the presence of someone they couldn’t afford to offend. 

“Return from where you came.” Said a feminine voice that almost sounded like a whisper, yet it was clearly heard by Laiya and her team. 

As soon as the pressure descended upon them, Laiya hurriedly thought up a multitude of options for them to employ in this situation. None of which included returning, as this mission was simply too sacred and important for her clan. It wasn’t until after the being spoke that she finally settled on an option..one that could pose grave consequences should it upset the being above. 

“We are members of the Umbra clan, on a sacred mission to check if our Lord has finally been born in our ancestral temple. Sent here by our Elders to lead our Lord along with his Royal Guards back to the clan should he have arrived!” 

Much to the shock of Rykos and Jace, Laiya revealed the details of their sacred mission! A crime deserving of a punishment worse than death in the clan! A punishment Laiya surely knows! 

Yes, Laiya decided to reveal her mission with the hope that being above them was someone that hasn’t been seen in their clan for over 50,000 years. 

A member of the Royal Guard. 

How did she come to this abrupt conclusion? This was the Forest of Shadows. A place that housed their clan’s ancestral lands and is currently ruled by beasts of imaginable power. Beasts that rarely left their territories. Places that Laiya was certain they avoided entering. As a matter of fact, as far back as the records in her clan go, no beast dared to live within 2000 miles of their ancestral temple, which led her to believe that the being that spoke couldn't be a beast. A conclusion that then raised the question, would the elders of her clan allow someone this powerful to waltz this close to their ancestral temple? Most likely not. 

So who else could possibly be here if not the main target of their mission? The Royal Guards! Of course, if the Royal Guards were here so would be the target of the guard’s protection... The Lord. Though she didn’t entertain that thought too long as they were more pressing matters at hand. Will her bet pay off? Will she along with her team members die here? Will they be allowed to leave only for her to die back at the clan for the crime of revealing the mission? Did the pressure of death cause her thought process to spiral in the completely wrong direction? She was about to find out. 

Right as she was enduring her inner turmoil, along with Rykos and Jace who were both still in a state of frozen shock. 

The pressure on them was rescinded. 

Her bet appeared to have paid off. 

For now.