I stood still surrounded by four identical Animalia, it was the cloning thing all over again, thinking about the knights, but these Animalia were not related in any way to Cathopia, but the real question was what were they doing her attacking a simple gathering village?

“I’ll ask one more time, why are you attacking this village?” Just like the first, none of them responded and the four standing here was causing the mist of darkness to thicken. I moved slightly to the left as a dagger shot past me. I glanced back to the one behind me, drawing Raziel and pointing it at them. “Answer me!”

“Perhaps they can’t,” suggested Arata.

“Why do they keep doing this?” whined Mila’s voice. “It destroyed so many lives.”

“It’s okay Mila,” I soothed, a part of me hoping this was just extras from the cloned knights I saw the day I received the lions, but considering these cloned warriors resembled more Lupus than Feles that theory went out the window.

I drew Arata’s sword as all twenty jumped out at me at the same time, this wasn’t good. I couldn’t call for back up, so I had to face them alone, but was I?

I allowed my wild instincts and clairvoyance to take control, ducking low to avoid a dagger, then elbowed that one in the stomach, twisted slicing that one upwards.

Standing up straight I stepped back avoiding another. I thrust Arata’s sword forward impaling him, then sent him flying with an electric pulse.

Raziel and Arata had me covered, attacking as well. I had learnt to trust them; their power and form was just an extension of myself.

“Master I suggest we regroup,” spoke Larana.

“I can handle twenty,” I commented.

“I know but there are always more.” I glanced at her bracelet. “They are far better made than those fake knights, it’ll take more than your power to stop them.”

“That may be the case, but I will take out most of them.” I smirked. “But that is why I have you here.”

I pivoted round on my right foot, sending out a gust of wind, separating my attackers up into smaller groups. Once that was done, I summoned walls of fire, enhanced by Larana’s wind, burning any of those unfortunate to be in their line of destruction.

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Even with the display of my elemental power, they did not hesitate to carry on with their attacks, more organised this time as a small group came for me next.

I lifted Raziel defending against one’s dagger, our eyes met, and I saw no real soul within them, just puppets used for the destructive needs of the darkness, but why choose this village to set up a base.

“Tell me who you are and why you are attacking this village?” I asked, even though I knew I would not receive any answers from them.

The clone cocked his head, almost like he did not understand the meaning of my question, were they really just tools for battle. My talismans had seen this before, clones produced for war, was that what was coming?

“If you take too long, the others will grow concerned.” I heard the adult voice of Mila wanting to let lose as I had slashed the clone with Arata’s sword, electrifying him out of commission.

“Not yet,” I responded lowing my body close to the ground to avoid the swiping blades of two others. Raziel and Arata took out the two who had attacked me. I caught a glimpse of ten others running towards me. “Alright Mila.”

I focused more of my energy into Arata, his body glowing. I took a breath sending Mila’s power down into his, her adult form appeared as her hands rested upon my shoulders.

“Do it master,” she whispered. I never unleashed her power unless I needed to, she could be the most dangerous.

I slowly dodged more incoming attacks, while taking steady breaths, building up a little more energy. I had to build this combo up just right for it to work successfully. I’d never done this move before, but it felt right as the energy flowed within me, growing.

Arata jumped in front of me and all at ones I released their power in a wave of electrified water. It spread out faster than a bolt of lightning, striking down all those who were too close, vaporising the closest as I had done before.

Two remained just out of reach of my attack. As I stood panting from using such an advanced combo skill. I had come a long way in using their power, but I still had much to master.

The two survivors glanced at one another realising they didn’t stand a chance against me; they quickly ran off back to hiding within the trees. I wanted to finish them off, but my body was still in a kind of cool down period, my fault for releasing so much power.

My body relaxed, Mila disappeared again as Raziel came up beside me, I climbed upon his back, and we headed back towards the village.

I held concern about what Larana had said, were there more hiding out somewhere within the area around the village and would the two survivors come back with them.

Unfortunately, this meant I would be staying here for the next few days, needing to investigate further until I knew the village of Panthera Pardus were safe from any danger and the reason they had set their sights on this peaceful place.