Zara took a step backward, hurriedly releasing her grip. “I'm so sorry. My hands moved on their own,” she said, simultaneously wiping away the smears of blood from her face.
Instantly, Slim positioned himself between the two, his attention squarely on Scott. In that brief moment, the necromancer sensed an overwhelming aura emanating from the eldritch knight. Unlike before, the faint outline of the yellow sign flickered within the mask’s churning darkness.
“Are you guys good?” Slim inquired, shifting his focus between Scott and Zara.
“Yeah,” Scott responded softly, taking a step forward. “But there's something crucial we need to discuss if we're going to continue working together.” The half-human halted beside Slim, his gaze fixed on Zara, whose visage had yet to fully recover.
“Zara, why are you searching for the Varkham Hound? What's your relationship with it?” Scott asked bluntly.
“Buddy, c’mon, we all have our secrets. She'll tell us when she's comfortable,” Slim whispered from the side.
However, Scott paid the necromancer no mind. His focus remained on the seething brawler, who barely reined in her bloodlust.
Zara took a deep breath, her tensed visage relaxing slightly. “I sincerely apologize for what I did. I never meant to—"
“That's not what's important,” Scott interjected, taking another step forward. “I won't pretend to be a paragon of empathy; I only want to know if that Varkham Hound is someone you want dead or not.” He stopped in front of Zara. “I don’t care about the tragic history between you and them because it’s something I probably will never understand. I don't care who's right between you and them; all I want to know is if you need any help in sending them to hell.” Scott stretched out his hand, raising the brawler's chin. “Now, tell me, what do you want?”
You’re devouring the madness of your companion! The war-hammer of the Mad God is roaring in delight! The lesser feline war god is now watching you!
Zara’s lips quivered softly, her bloodshot eyes clearing as tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. “P-P-Please help me,” Zara whispered softly.
The lesser feline war god expresses their gratitude! The lesser feline war god has stopped watching you!
Scott ignored the system’s messages; instead, he slowly wiped off Zara’s tears. “Our leader should only shed tears when laughing,” he said before pulling the cat girl into his embrace. Zara sobbed silently, her grip tightening around Scott’s clothes. However, the eldritch knight said nothing, and neither did Slim, who stood next to the duo.
Five minutes elapsed, and Zara regained her composure. The feline brawler managed to muster a bashful smile as her gaze shifted between Scott and Slim. “Thank you; I'm fine now,” she said, wiping her swollen eyes. “I appreciate your goodwill, but I can't burden you two with my...”
This time, Slim interjected with a long sigh. “You don't get to decide what's a burden to us. Our party's name is literally the Hound Extermination Crew; this is what we're supposed to do.” The necromancer suddenly bear-hugged the feline, lifting her off the ground. “We always listen to your commands, but this time, we're revolting against you. Right, buddy?”
Scott wordlessly nodded.
Zara opened her mouth to speak, but Slim cut her off. “I don't want to hear it,” he said. “People might start thinking we're doing some weird play the longer we stay here.”
“You're the one being weird,” Zara muttered as she tried to free herself. “You could have made your point without grabbing me.”
“Then, how am I supposed to make people understand how much power these babies are packing?” Slim grinned, flexing his nonexistent muscles. Zara abruptly burst out laughing, leaning against Slim's chest. Despite the outward laughter, it couldn't mask the sadness in her voice.
“Let's go,” Scott announced mentally as he approached the entrance. Slim followed with Zara in his arms. The duo took measured steps as they approached the innocuous rain. Scott stared at the rain clouds, which seemed to stretch toward the very ends of the world. “Even if we had tens of thousands of elemental shards, it would be pointless in this place.”
The trio stepped into the rain, and like the champions before them, they disappeared. From the point of view of the other champions, they simply took a turn on the expansive road.
Welcome to Enchanted Heights, Togan’s 3rd District! You have received a new side quest! Side Quest: Integrate or Find ways to flee Togan!
The hound extermination crew materialized in the heart of a bustling city center. A gentle wind, fragrant with the scent of flowers, played with their clothes. Rather than fixating on the system's windows, they were captivated by the towering, almost otherworldly structures surrounding them. The aesthetics and architectural styles of the buildings hinted at inspiration drawn from a myriad of races.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
“Is this a dream, Buddy, or are my eyes playing tricks on me?” Slim muttered, clearly awestruck.
The skeletal figure fixated on the elaborate towers, some bearing graceful elven designs standing shoulder to shoulder with stately structures adorned in intricate carvings, showcasing the collaborative craftsmanship of humans and elves. Towers twisted like ivy-covered trees, their windows resembling sparkling gemstones that caught sunlight, casting prismatic hues onto the streets below.
Slim, in a state of disbelief, turned to find more buildings that defied logical explanation. Questions filled his mind. Why is the entrance of that building so gigantic? What kind of creature could live in such a structure?
It didn't take long for the trio to spot a group of cyclops, donned in plain white togas secured by golden beetle-shaped brooches. This massive procession gracefully entered the gigantic buildings, their smiles evident as they engaged in lively discussions.
The cyclops had left their mark with grand structures featuring colossal entrances, symbolizing both their strength and ancient heritage. The buildings' exteriors were adorned with vibrant murals, depicting mythical creatures, heroes, and mesmerizing landscapes, bringing life to the vibrant city.
The meticulously clean streets and expansive roads, as remarkable as the unique architecture, were lined with carefully crafted cobblestones forming intricate patterns. Amidst the stone and steel edifices, wind-tousled gardens adorned every street corner, tempting residents and visitors alike to explore the enchanting plants and flowers.
“Buddy, are you sure those guys weren’t saying nonsense?” Slim muttered, his gaze shifting from one happy resident to another.
Laughing elves and felines mingled with humans and oddly shaped humanoids with golden skins. Each race wore the same plain toga, the only difference being the type of brooches used. The cyclops mainly used golden beetles, the elves used amethyst lion heads, the humans used either a sapphire globe or a sapphire leaf, and the felines used an array of brooches synonymous to that of other races.
“Guys, I don’t know what you’re seeing but this place is…”
A system message suddenly rang out before Scott could deliver his message.
Your party communication channel is temporarily closed!
Scott’s countenance turned hideous, while Zara and Slim turned toward him, their faces painted with shock. They too had received the same system notification.
You’re being watched!
The new system notification only deepened their frowns. Albeit reluctantly, they had grown accustomed to being watched by the gods and lesser gods, but this was the first time the system announced such a message.
“Being watched by who?” Slim muttered softly, while turning from side to side, before raising his head. Apart from a few curious people who simply smiled at the trio, no one did anything overly suspicious. Then again, the fact that the surrounding people barely acknowledged their arrival left the group on guard.
“Buddy, what were you going to…” Zara punched the necromancer on his arm, silently glaring at him as if he were an idiot. Scott too, shared the same look, surprised Slim of all people hadn’t deduced the situation of things.
Slim pondered for a moment, then a sudden realization dawned on him. I’m such an idiot. We might be captured if we reveal more than we’re supposed to know. Slim frowned as he stared at his surroundings. Everything about this place is perfect. I can’t even begin to imagine what Scott is seeing right now.
Access to your inventory is temporarily restricted!
“Hello, newcomers!” A voice greeted from afar. “You have done well to arrive here. I sincerely welcome you to Enchanted Heights.”
The hound extermination crew turned toward a procession consisting of two humans, a feline, an elf, and two canines adorned with multiple piercings along their ears. The moment Zara caught sight of the canines, her features darkened, and blood erupted from her gauntlets, startling the approaching party. Without warning, a beam descended from the skies, striking the feline brawler squarely on her forehead. Her eyes dimmed as the clear skies momentarily reddened, and then an almighty voice resonated within the district.
“First-time offender! There won’t be a second warning!” the voice declared, and just as swiftly as it appeared, the skies returned to normal. Fear distorted the expressions of the once joyful people, but like the skies, their smiles returned. However, the way they stared at the hound extermination crew had changed.
Zara swayed from side to side before tumbling toward the ground; however, Scott caught the cat girl midway through the fall. It doesn’t look like she suffered any injuries, but what was that earlier? Scott pondered as he carried Zara.
“What was that?” Slim suddenly asked, breaking the tense silence.
The elf who led the procession wore a soft smile as he took a step forward. “She’ll be asleep for a couple of days, but generally, she should be fine,” he said. “My name is Vaeril, and I’m in charge of welcoming new champions to Enchanted Heights.” The soft-spoken elf motioned toward his companions and continued. “They are my assistants. We’re here to ensure you have a fruitful and productive stay. But first things first.” The elf paused, pointing toward Zara. “We can’t have a repeat of what happened earlier. Your companion was lucky she only exuded minimal bloodlust; otherwise, she would have perished on the spot.”
Scott and Slim's countenance darkened, and the duo subconsciously raised their heads.
“Let’s go to my office. We have much to discuss,” Vaeril said with a smile.
Scott and Slim exchanged glances before nodding. “All right, lead the way,” Slim said.
“Wise choice,” Vaeril laughed. “Follow me. There’s so much to say.”
Vaeril then turned toward the canines and humans. “Wait here. More people are bound to arrive soon. Lead them to the office as soon as they arrive. We can’t afford any mishaps, okay?”
The quartet agreed with a nod. Saying nothing further, Vaeril led the group deeper into the city, leaving his companions behind.
The two canines exchanged glances the moment the hound extermination crew was out of sight. “Do you know her?” the larger of the two asked.
“I have never seen her before. I thought she recognized you or something.”
“This is also my first time seeing her,” the canine said, a hint of confusion lingering in his voice.
“Maybe she’s confusing us for someone else,” his companion suggested.
“Yeah, maybe.” The champion’s gaze lingered in the direction where the hound extermination crew departed, and a crippling sense of unease filled his mind.
Is it possible one of them survived the Varkham massacre? The canine shook his head. That shouldn’t be possible. We ensured the city, and everything within it, was completely razed to the ground. Although the probability is low, I must inform the chief before the next full moon.