The mountain was home to many monsters that not only limited to those that fly but also monsters like the mountain beasts which Alexis fought yesterday and subterranean monsters.

And most of all these creatures are territorial so the mountain was divided into their own kingdoms. The lowest or bottom were caves where monsters armored with tough carapaces thrived; these are the monsters that the hunting group focus to hunt as they could be deadly due to their overwhelming numbers, the middle part of the mountain meanwhile was home to diverse species as monsters both atop, below, and the woods came here for the refreshing blue lake, and lastly the topmost part is where the predator of this mountain lives.

The peak was the group’s target for the day, there the Drawks watches all the monsters below with its sharp and clear eyes, they have fearsome pointed beaks where sharp teeth inside made sure to mangle down its prey that was swiped down by its talons, however unlike normal avian of their kind they have jagged wings much like a bat but it was also covered with light and soft feathers.

“Why am I being used like this?” Damian asked gravely as he carves out stairs on of the mountain creating an easy path to the top.

Irushka moved pass him like others before she answered, “Because its convenient.”

Thanks to his blessing that could shape the earth into whatever he wanted the group easily passed through the bottom and mid tier without breaking much sweat from fighting hordes of rabid monsters.

“It’s convenient for you but not for me, my mana has limit you know!?”

He tried to have someone sympathize him but none of them said anything, so he sighed before he followed them upwards.

“Then you can use this.”

Lance threw him a bottle made of glass just as he catch up with the rest. Damian caught it before raising the bottle with light blue liquid in it.

“Mana potion? Where did you get this thing?”

“From the merchants. I bought it last night while you drunk yourself.” Lance said before he pointed once again to the mountain wall that was blocking them, “Now hurry up and do your job.”

He was left without anything to grumble so he reluctantly drank all the liquid inside the vial, his frowned lessened due to the refreshing taste, then he walked towards the cliff.

“Tsk, how could my blessing be used for something like this?” Damian complained but he still made another set of stairs that should deliver them closer to the peak.

Alexis followed the rest of the group and arrived at the top where he was blessed by the beautiful sight of cotton-like clouds few steps away from him, he was tempted to reach out for it as for now he was ever closest to the sky.

“Are you not feeling sick?” Kyrille whose face unnoticeably paler checked on him.

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He shifted his eyes back at her and asked in voice filled with confusion, “Didn't we had mister Heretic's magic already?”

“The spell only helps our body to adjust fast enough to match our ascent but it did not make the effects of the climb disappear like nothing.” Old Man informed to which both of them nodded like a children being taught, he smiled at the two before he added, “But we have different bodies so its normal to have a little discrepancies on its adaptation.”

“I see, that was why I am not that much affected by it?”

“Yes.”

While they are discussing that, Ezekiel run towards a protruding jagged rock to look around the place. It was barren with few trees that already reached it ends and some unoccupied nests strewn near the peak.

“So captain where are our targets?”

“They should already attacked us when we were climbing closer to their place.”

Like Lance said, Drawks are aggressive bunch and they do not tolerate intruders climbing closer to their home that's why the group should already been attacked before they could even watch this scenery.

Suddenly everyone except for the two young ones turned their head towards the summit of the mountain.

“It might be because of that.” Irushka pointed at the thing that slowly came out of the peak.

They all focused there and saw a big four legged creature with a hideous human face that was surrounded by a black mane, its dark red eyes glared at the group with hatred liked they killed its mother, its robust mighty figure then lowered into stance while the bat-like wings spread open and the spiked tail pointed towards them for taunt.

“Are considered lucky or unlucky?” The old man chuckled, “We met a rarely seen monster in this place.”

“Manticore…so what do we do Lance?”

Damian looked at their captain that still had his mask unbroken and his stature showed him as unfazed, he waited for the man's order.

“Is it stronger than a wyvern?” Lance did not gave an answer instead glanced Old Man who was brushing his beard and eyed the creature of many tales in intrigued.

His hand came to a paused before he gave his opinion, “I don't know as I haven't seen any of their fight—if they have one, but from what I heard a wyvern was more dangerous than it.”

“Captain are we gonna fight it!?” Ezekiel asked, excitedly.

Lance also did not answer him, instead he shifted his gazed towards Alexis whose red eyes strained towards the Manticore who was also looking at them dangerously.

“Any characteristics?”

“Its poisonous tail which could discharge stingers, blade like claws enough to tear plated armors, capa—”

“HUMANS! DIE!”

Old Man's words was cut finished when the Matincore opened its mouth and spoke human language—rather empire's, but before his grating voice reached their ears its was blocked by a thin invisible film procured from a magic circle, it rebounded the sound almost muting it for the people at the other side only affecting them with just a small frown left in their foreheads.

He lowered his staff when it ended its cry before he continued, “—capabilities of speaking human tongue, voice that could cause confusion, and lastly its unbounded hatred against humans.”

After that their hair flapped to the sound of gust that came after the monster jumped from its throne, its gigantic wings let itself hover mid-air for a while looking down the humans below with it’s large blood filled eyes.

“So what do we do now?” Irushka asked, she aimed the creature with her bow and arrow that was casually made from branches she just picked up.

For the third time Lance did not answered instead moved towards Alexis who had the same eyes as the monster, he patted the young man's back that was starting to became warmer by every blink.

“Did you hear what Old Man said?”

Alexis turned his eyes to the side though before he could gave an answer he felt the hand on his back pushed him with a great force, it made him broke into run that moved him forward.

'I felt like something the same happ—' his thoughts stopped when he heard the fearful cold voice of their Captain.

“This will be your test; now fight it.”