“Good work.”

Lance said to everyone after Ezekiel came back carrying a head of his prey with him.

He raised it for others to see and asked, “Captain what do we do about this?”

Just as he was about to answer him he noticed Ellena walked towards Damian, who then curiously lowered his head making it easier for her to whisper something to him.

Everyone watched in puzzlement how he started nodding and then he suddenly stood straight to moved towards the servants that carries two logs of the fallen trees.

With all gazes on them the servants lowered the logs and Damian touched the ground before he started controlling the dirt near it like they were clay to slowly formed a deep rectangular earthen container, with the woods integrated in both sides it looked much like a palanquin but bigger and one without roof above.

“What's that?” Ezekiel asked in amazement.

“Ellena suggested that it could be used to carry those guys.”

Lance nodded, he then ordered them to bring back the corpses of those monsters here.

Sometime later the group could be seen walking with both Ezekiel and Irushka leading the front, at the sides were Tron and Heretic while the rest stays in the middle, following them were four human servants carrying their makeshift palanquin, on it where the eleven dead snake monkey they killed, farther from it were the two new servants that were guarding their rear.

This new recruits were of the same kind as the former but they were the ones Irushka slayed, it made them a bit cleaner than their peers due to that they became chosen ones.

Damian glanced at Lance on his side and asked, “Why did we have to go all of that much trouble?”

“Second agenda.”

“Right! I almost forgot about that, so was that one out of three?”

“No, not yet—”

“We arrived.”

Their conversation then was cut off before he could elaborate when Irushka stopped from her tracks.

In front of them was the densest part of the forest, compared to where they are it was already night there and the separation of light and darkness looked like a boundary that marks the end of human lands.

“We will move in groups.”

Lance looked away from him towards each the rest of the group before he continued, “The first one, Damian and Ellena.”

The red-hair man slapped his fist onto his palms in enlightenment.

“So this is the continuation of that agenda of yours right?”

However instead of giving him an answer Lance picked the rest of the other groups.

“The second one, Heretic, Irushka, and Ezekiel.

“Last group Tron, Kyrille, and Old Man.”

When he saw the group divided themselves by three he nodded before adding, “You are to moved separately but not too far that Irushka won't notice your presence.”

“What about you Captain?” Ezekiel asked.

“I'll be going with him.” he said as he placed his hands on the shoulder of of the young man.

“I-is this the test?” Alexis stuttered due to his nervousness and anxiety building up within him.

“No, its just a warm up before the real thing.”

When they saw the relieved look on his face everyone pitied him guessing how brutal the warm up would probably be.

“Then spread out!”

On his orders the different groups picked their location and when only their lights could be seen from the distance Lance also started to move.

Alexis followed him hurriedly, he didn't asked for what the man in front of him is planning as he trusted him a little bit and also he was sure that if he ask, he would only get a vague answer.

The light orb guided them through the dark forest at the same time it also gave away their position, the rustling of the shrubs made Alexis nerves drawn taut that he kept looking around in worry, the only sole relief was his captain's cold expressionless face.

When Lance all of sudden made a stopped the young man's heart almost popped out of his mouth, the light orb floating on top of his palm shone a large front leg of a creature that had it glowing eyes glairing towards them.

“Looks like we met one.” he said, the orb in his hand then flowed instantaneously towards the air in the middle, it floated like a light on top of the ceiling of a house.

Thanks to that Alexis was able to see the creature fully under the spotlight, the sight of it made him took a step back in reflex.

It was a huge beast, which had nicely positioned into a pouncing stance preparing to ambush them if they entered its range, its paws had fearful sharp claws and it stood on four yet it was bigger than Tron whose the tallest Alexis ever seen in his life. The beast had a short dirt-colored fur, its eyes were menacing adding its mouth that was full of fangs that are all showing making its lips never met, lastly its thin long flexible legs support its hungered body, it was nothing but a predator.

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“Is this the Bullhound?” he asked doubtfully.

Lance shook his head before informing him, “No, this is called Mountain Beast, like its name this creature supposed to live on the mountain. This one was the same situation as those monkeys.”

“Then are we going to circle around it?”

“No this is good enough, also I don't think that this one is letting you go—”

“Roaaar!!!”

The loud cry made strands of their hair flew due to how strong it was, Alexis was just about to take another step back when he felt someone touched his back then that one suddenly pushed him forward.

He heard a rather cold voice as he was forcex to take his first step, “Fight it.”

Before he could even balance himself and throw some complain at Lance he saw the drawn beasts release itself pouncing towards him.

“Damn it!!”

Alexis cursed, he stopped trying to balance instead he put force on his feet jumping forward before making a roll.

Above him the mountain beast passed, when they both change their position the beast tried to attack Lance whose watching over but when he glared at it the beast wisely turned back and choose Alexis instead.

Thanks to the wasted time it just made Alexis was able to stand on his ground and armed up with both a sword and a shield.

He looked at the round wooden shield that his left hand was holding and he couldn't but feel doubtful as he size the enemy up.

“Is this really useful?”

Alexis stopped bitching when he saw the beast face him, even if he was weak the beast was still cautious he didn't pounced towards Alexis once again instead it tried to circle around him.

Not letting it happen Alexis also move away from it, his focus was entirely on when would the beast attack again.

They go round and round few times but no matter how long he waited the beast did not pounced, it made Alexis' tensed nerves relax a bit.

And when it saw how its prey shown its weakness it fully made use that by taking a step inside the circle they made and curled its body, Alexis was late but when he saw the beast about to attack he instinctually jumped sideways before making a roll.

But when he turned his head towards the predator he saw its huge body lunging straight to him!

The beast just made a faint!

It was the best opportunity to satiate its desire for food, the meat of its prey as it tear it lavishly made the beast salivate and hunger also made its way to its brain devouring most of its primal instincts.

Alexis closed his eyes waiting for the world of pain, he already imagined his body getting mangled by the beast but just its mouth near his head, he heard a whimper then a thud and when he hesitatedly opened his eyes what he first saw was Lance below the limelight, the man had his right leg raised like he just kicked something—which is true.

He placed his foot back on the ground and shifted his eyes towards the astonished young man.

“Again.”

His cold voice doused the reverent feeling Alexis just started having towards him, he sighed before looking at the beast that was laying down the root of a tree, it was still whimpering.

'Looks like both of us are in this hell.'

He felt a bit comfortable with that thought, the young man then stood up and walked towards where the it is.

The mountain beast once again gained a bit of its instinct and wanted nothing but a retreat after looking at Lance however when it saw the prey walking towards where it is, it reigned the fear towards the man, saliva spilling out of gaps of its teeth as it stood up for the harvest.

Its mind was hollowed by the hunger making it fail to noticed that it was truly the best idea to escape but that is if it could truly escape—that's a good question with an easy answer.

What followed after was failure after failure on both sides, Alexis was always the one on defense the one that was repeatedly saved after he failed his dodges, meanwhile the beast took every initiative to pounced towards the rabbit however it always failed to closed its maws with Alexis head in it due to Lance interference.

The young man and the beast might be an enemy but both of them felt the same kind of fear towards Lance who was watching everything in cold eyes.

Their bodies are exhausted, their fur or clothes was covered with dirt and some random stalks of grass, they are fatigued and tattered yet the two circled once again for the nth time.

Alexis glared back at beast and while on the move he thought, 'When it pounced towards me I am done and that's how it always ends, this time should I try to be the one that would initiate the fight?'

The fear towards the beast started to lessen after knowing that Lance had his back and would not allow him to die, that's why Alexis decided to be just a bit more bolder.

Instead of continuing the circle game they have been playing where he was always the loser, he broke it by charging straight towards the monster.

He made his body as close to the ground as possible making it harder for it to pounce on him that's why the beast used its right front paw to attack him using its sharp claws.

Before the paw descended on him Alexis took a strong step with his right foot while his shield wielding hand draw back he then threw the shield towards its threatening claws.

No matter how fragile an item is if it was used correctly it could kill a man, instead of blocking Alexis used his shield to attack creating a little time for him to dodge the attack.

When the beast saw its claws failed, it lowered its head instead to welcome the running young man to its open maws, but Alexis did not flinch instead he smoothly held his sword using his two hands, and just before the mouth filled with sharp teeth came closer to him he instantly stopped and jumped straight upwards to the sky, his feet went aflame for a brief second, it burned off most of the sole of his leather shoes.

Alexis flew up much higher than he thought but he still raised his sword up and curled his body to hasten his descent, his aim was the head and so using the momentum that was pulling him to the ground he brought out a slash towards the dumbfounded beast.

Slash!

The sword cut half of its head and Alexis used the counter force to do a backflip then rolling backwards killing all the momentum that was left.

When he finished his roll he raised his head to see the beast hobbled after it moved forward but it was only able to take one more step before it slumped down the ground, finally breathing its last freed from the curse of its stomach.

Using his numb hands Alexis forced himself to stand up but when he saw that his enemy's bloodied head he couldn't help but relax, just as he was about to fall the hand that pushed him forward also gave him strength so that he could stand up.

“Sir Lance...I did it.” his burnt lips curved to a smile.

“Good work, now take your time to relax before another one appear.” Lance said while he helped him sit down on the roots of a tree.

When Alexis heard it he had an urged to rip off his burnt ears from his head but he stopped instead asked, maybe he heard it wrong.

“Another one?”

The man bent over the beast's carcass and took out Alexis' sword out of its mangled head before turning to look back at him.

“Yes, because the sun had yet to set.”

‘Fuck!' “Yes!”

Alexis forced a smile but it was hard to notice the difference with the darkness and his blackened coal all over his body.

“This one is still usable.”

Lance brushed the blood off by slashing the sword diagonally, he first checked its condition before throwing it towards where the young man sits.

The blade that was lodge on the ground briefly reflected Alexis' blood covered visage, however instead of retching back in disgust he remembered the feeling of having triumphed over the beast.

His hands held the grip, clutching it tightly the memory of that fight washed over him, boiling emotions and the fast racing heart not only because of his fears but also, excitement.

An unknown future opens for the boy, will it be one where he seeks strengths and crave for death battles? Only time knows.

Lighting up the ground, Lance focused his attention on the scorched patches kneeling down he felt the leftover warmth on the dirt with his palm. Grasses' ashes finely run down his fingers before he stood up.

“Let's go.”

That cold voice of his awaken Alexis from the reminiscence, he tried to voice something, “I am—”

However the rest was left unsaid when the light orb moved forward bringing with it was the bright respite. The dancing shadows, rustling leaves, and whispers of the wind came alive in the darkness, in the end he chased for the light.

“Wait!”