To our bad luck magic circles started forming above the spider pointing towards us, Usaki got alert and went straight for it, before he could get close the spider spat at him, which although he dodged easily, he barely dodged a stake of green liquid, having to retreat when more stakes went for him. In a moment of carelessness from Usaki the spider got beside him and gave him a strong blow that sent him quite far.

Although thanks to it focusing on Usaki, Shina was able to hit it with her three Shadowlight Blades on its head, before the spider could do anything, Usaki gave it a punch where one of the blades was lodged, but it took the opportunity and launched one of the green liquid stakes at Usaki, who couldn't dodge it in time, falling defeated.

When it was about to deliver the final blow, I bit its leg just before it could pierce Usaki, not letting it react I tore off the front leg it had left. This wasn't enough, also being hit by one of the stakes, ignoring how bad I was getting, I grabbed Usaki like a mother cat would with her kitten and threw him far, to then turn towards the spider to launch a Fireball that before launching burned the inside of my mouth.

When unleashing my attack I generated a great explosion that sent me flying harshly backwards.

[Fiery ardenya Source goes up from lv1 to lv2]

[Fire resistance goes up from lv1 to lv2]

[Poison resistance goes up from lv1 to lv2]

I got up with difficulty and saw the spider with a large part of its face charred and barely standing on its hind legs, while Shina was focused on healing Usaki, he was so weak I could barely feel his presence, although I wasn't any better so to say. To my disgrace the spider started moving towards Usaki and Shina, Shina noticed this and started throwing Shadowlight Blades at it repeatedly, the spider didn't seem fazed by this at all, reaching right next to them, but falling just before it could do anything.

[You have killed a Venidra]

[You have leveled up from lv8 to lv18]

[Scale Reinforcement goes up from lv6 to lv8]

[Detect presence sub...

While the notifications came I couldn't resist anymore and passed out.

[You have killed a Venidra]

[You have leveled up from lv15 to lv18]

[Shadowlight ardenya Source goes up from lv2 to lv3]

[Shadowlight Blade goes up from lv3 to lv5]

[Ardenya control goes up from lv3 to lv4]

I could feel my heart beating as if it wanted to separate from my body, I couldn't help but lay on the ground from the physical and mental exhaustion coursing through my whole body, but even though I wanted to, I couldn't just lay there doing nothing, getting up to grab Usaki by the nape of his neck, lifting him up with difficulty.

Getting close to Arusai, who had part of his body burned and you could see the bite bones from that Venidra. My heart sank seeing him in that state, having to ignore that feeling to put Usaki by his side, then I focused and started healing them both at the same time.

This tired me out more than I already was, but I didn't care at all and kept treating them.

—This is quite an interesting sight —the fur on my back stood on end when I heard a voice behind me.

Without taking my eyes completely off them, I turned in the direction of the voice, seeing a kind of very large monster with red fur that was standing on two legs, its large and sturdy body contrasted with its relaxed expression as it leaned on a nearby tree. Still propped on the tree, it raised one of its paws and delicately waved at me, the owl noticed this and turned to look at us with a threatening expression.

—You seem very tense, relax I won't do anything to you, or your friends —it said before getting on all fours and approaching me.

Its words didn't entirely convince me, preparing four Shadowlight Blades, this didn't seem to bother it and it kept on its way towards us. Before I could do anything, my body was abruptly immobilized against the ground.

—Until we caught up to you, cursed variant —said what had paralyzed me against the floor— and don't even think about launching your attack, I could crush your head before you could do it" it said putting a bit of pressure with its paw that was on top of my head.

—Come on Alba, calm down —said the other monster casually.

—Why do you want me to calm down, she's the cursed variant, we can kill her here and now —it complained to him.

—Alba release her —it ordered— you and I both know that if she were the cursed variant she wouldn't be healing these monsters.

—But...

—Right now! —It interrupted brusquely.

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Alba was limited to getting off of me, I was about to attack at that moment, but I remembered I had something more important to do, continuing the treatment of Arusai and Usaki.

—She's seriously healing them —said Alba incredulous.

With it no longer on top of me I could see a feathered monster like the one we saw take the Terrondingos, with the difference that this one looked more sturdy and was bigger, she noticed I was watching her and threw an angry look at me.

—What are you looking at, cursed variant —she said aggressively. At this I just turned my gaze towards Usaki and Arusai.

—Sorry for my companion's attitude, I wouldn't like calling you cursed variant, so what's your name —said the other monster kindly. At first I didn't know whether to answer the question, it was the first monster that knew about the cursed variant and asked my name.

—My name is Shina —I said hesitantly.

—Shina, what a beautiful name —it exclaimed with a smile.

—Thanks, I guess —Although the mood had improved, I still didn't feel entirely comfortable, apart from that I was using the little energy I had left to heal Arusai and Usaki.

—But now what are we going to do, we can't just let them go because, from what we know they've been the cause of many deaths of our companions —said Alba angrily.

—That's true, even if you don't like it they have to come with us to the village —I sighed when I heard this, the last time I set foot in a village it didn't go so well for me.

—Alright, but wait until they wake up —I said firmly.

—Arusai are you okay —I heard Shina worried, I had the sensation that she was far from me, but when I opened my eyes I see her in front of me. Giving a sigh of relief upon seeing me wake up.

When I look to my side I see Usak getting up, it seems he also just woke up and for some reason was shocked when he observed something. When I look where he's looking, I see a red furred bear and an Owl that reached up to the bear's chest, which was standing on its two legs. Still leaning on the tree, it raised one of its paws and delicately waved at me, the owl noticed this and turned to look at us with a threatening expression.

—Am I still sleeping? —I thought, puzzled by what I was seeing.

—Shina? Who are they? —Usaki asked somewhat disoriented.

—They, the one waving at us is Ruit and the other is Alba —said Shina calmly.

—I think what Usaki meant is, what are they doing here and why aren't they attacking us —I said just as lost as Usaki.

—You see —said Shina with a sigh— they found us after you guys passed out and let me heal you so we could go to their village —she explained to us.

I was surprised to hear they wanted to take us to a village, which I suppose is full of other monsters, although I noticed Usaki's feelings showed he wasn't very happy about the news.

—I'm not too sure going to their village is a good idea —Usaki expressed.

—Me neither —I agreed— what if they punish us for having killed so many monsters —I said somewhat fearfully.

—That's likely the case, but we have no other option. If they had wanted to they would have killed us, however we're still here —Shina clarified to us.

She had a point, they look even stronger than the spider, if we barely managed with it, it scares me to imagine what would happen if we faced them.

—Alright, we'll go with them to the village —I said hesitantly "What do you say Usaki?.

—Well we have no other option, right? —he said somewhat hopefully about not going to that place.

—In the position we're in, it's our only option —said Shian somewhat dismayed.

We gave a long sigh before approaching Ruit and Alba, who seemed satisfied, surely they were listening to our conversation.

—I'm glad you accepted coming with us willingly —said Ruit before getting on all fours— the village is a few days away so we better get moving —he said in what seemed an attempt to relax us— Alba go ahead and report the cursed variant notice is false —Alba seemed to hesitate a bit before flying off.

—Wait, what do you mean the notice is false, you knew I was heading this way —she said insecurely.

—That's right, yours notified that an escaped cursed variant was heading this way —Shina was shocked by this information.

—How did they send the notice exactly? —I thought, somewhat curious.

—I'll explain more later —he assured us— from how young you look I'm sure you know nothing about how we communicate" he said before starting to move forward.

Unable to properly analyze his words, we had to keep up with him, luckily he adapted to our speed.

—We look that young to you? —I asked Ruit.

—Of course, you can't be more than 4 months old —he clarified.

—He's partly right —said Usaki sarcastically— although one of us is younger than he seems.

—Interesting. Who is it and how long have they lived exactly? —He asked curiously while giving us a look.

—It's me —I said without much interest— I must be at most a week old.

—Wait, that's impossible —he assured shocked— there's no way you're only a week old.

{You are no longer the God of war's piece}

{Removing blessing…}

Before I could respond a notification with a somewhat strange warning came out.

—Wait, what do you mean removing blessing? —I thought alarmed.

[Blessing of the God of war has been snatched away by Hitsil]

{Incoming message from the God of war Hitsil}

{You must wonder why you are no longer my piece, you see: I no longer need you. I found a better soul than yours, so good luck defeating what I sent especially to eliminate you}

—Aru is something wrong? —Usaki asked somewhat worried.

I couldn't respond, when in front of us a magic circle appeared, we all stopped abruptly so as not to touch it. I could feel how much absurd magic it was expelling. Almost an instant later a kind of full armor started coming out, blood red that was holding an ax, without even letting it finish coming out, Ruit attacked it with one of his claws wrapped in fire and instead of falling apart it went flying, crashing against a tree and almost knocking it down, it was noticeable that blow was serious.

Surprisingly the armor got up and came at us at an absurd speed to almost compare in size to Ruit, and instead of going for him it pointed its large ax towards me, I activated my Scale Reinforcement instinctively, knowing it wasn't going to be effective, but before it could swing the blow, Ruit sent it another swipe at its head, however this time it barely made it move back.

Shina got out of her surprise and launched five Shadowlight Blades at its chest, barely lodging into its armor.

—What kind of thing is that? —said Ruit enveloping his whole body in flames before launching himself against the armor, which took a step back to dodge another Ruit attack to swiftly attack with its ax, barely managing to pierce his skin and pushing him a bit to the side— Let's see how many of my attacks you can withstand —said Riut angrily.