Clop Clop Clop Clop

  Hurried footsteps echoed in the dark hallways, rocks rolling around as they were kicked and disturbed. The eerie and tranquil silence is no more, only panting breaths and panicked voices to be heard.

  Two figures wore pale expressions on their faces as they rushed out of the dimly lit cavern, ing closer and closer to the entrance. Faces end worries were unveiled as the magic light's gentle rays graced their figures.

  Everyone, how's the situatiohere? ［Grey］

  Nothing out of the ordinary has happened so far, Master. ［Sirius］

  Good! Because we'll need your help right now! ［Grey］

  There was o expiuation any longer. As soon as they felt the sense en Grey's voice, the familiars quickly pieced the situation together, raising their guards and alertness in the same moment, a fierd serious glow glimmering in their eyes.

  But Grey, how about the port and the sea? We still 't leave them unmanned. Beasts could still appear any moment. ［Yuna］

  Don't worry, Mistress, you leave it to us! ［Vega］

  Y-Yes! We'll do our best! ［Capel］

  There was a slight problem with who would be guarding the fishermen and sailors, but with Vega and Capel volunteering, it was quickly resolved. Their numbers might have dwindled down to two, but they were still not oo be messed with.

  Thank you. We'll be leaving it to you then. ［Yuna］

  Yes! Rest assured, Master, Mistress! ［Vega］

  The problems were quickly erased, and though they hadn't heard the others' voices, they could feel that they were raring to go, only waiting to be summoned. Now, there's only ohio deal with.

  A couple seds ter and the end of the cavern was in sight. The sun's gentle rays colored the viridest forest with life and peace, beauty and wonders everywhere to be seen, a refreshing wind blowing ever so softly.

  "Now! Everyone!" ［Grey］

  But there was no time to admire such beautiful sery. As soon as they were out of the cavern and into the open, Grey and Yuna quickly summohe familiars. Their shadows trembled once again as fnifit figures appeared out of thin air.

  Scales of ptinum, prettier than any gem, eyes like jewels glimmering with fierd domineering light, and two pairs of wings enpassing the widest of spaces. These fh Dragons didn't fail to show their majesty, exuding a domineering presence.

  "The enemy is due southwest! Go first, we'll follow you ter!" ［Grey］

  "Uood!" ［Sirius］

  A single word echoed in the air. What followed after were the howling of the winds and the trembling of the earth. The moment Sirius! voices echoed, they had already fpped their wings, s high and swiftly like bullets fired.

  Sonis echoed throughout the sky as fures bolted throughout the sky's vast blueness, parting the slow-drifting clouds and streaking like shooting stars. Sirius was especially speedy, darting like a raging lightning bolt.

  "Huff... Huff... Lrey... Lady Yuna... Wha... What's happening..." ［Manelo］

  Soon after Grey and Yu off the familiars, awo figures exited the cavern. They were her than the Great Chief and Marika who are noing for their breaths, obviously exhausted after chasing after the two.

  They haven't grasped the situatio after Grey and Yuna suddenly started dashing out of nowhere. But hearing what Grey said from before, they couldn't help but be worried, faces full of and ay.

  "Is... Is it true..? Has the Evil Beast shown up once again?" ［Manelo］

  "Unfortunately, yes." ［Grey］

  At Grey's words, the Great Chief and Marika immediately flihey don't know how Grey and Yuna khat the Evil Beast had appeared, but they also khat they weren't ones who'd lie needlessly, especially regarding such a serious topic.

  It has been so peaceful in the past few days that they had almost fotten about the terror which y waste to their Chiefdom and took the lives of many. Hearing the Evil Beast be mentioned once again, a strong sense of dear and despair started to creep iheir hearts.

  "Great Chief, Marika, I know how you feel right now, but this is no time to feel down. We o prioritize everyone's safety." ［Grey］

  "A-Ah... You're right... I apologize for making you worry..." ［Manelo］

  Thankfully, with Grey shaking their shoulders and a little remihey quickly snapped back to reality, quickly regaining their cool. They were still anxious, but now, they could think much clearer than before.

  "Then, Lrey, Lady Yuna, what do you need us to do?" ［Manelo］

  "Don't worry, it's only a simple task. We just sent our familiars out, so I'm sure the vilgers must be very fused. I hope you calm them down." ［Grey］

  "Ah! And if possible, we'd also like you to prepare a refugee camp for ter. We'll probably sooner or ter." ［Yuna］

  With the threat getting direr by the sed, there was no time to waste. Grey and Yuna quickly expiheir instrus to the Great Chief and Marika as cise and quickly as they could, the tter two listening attentively,

  From what to prepare, how to expin things to people, where the attack is at, some estimates, and many more. As for the finer and more plex details, they left it to the Great Chief and Marika's judgement. They aren't leaders for nothing, after all.

  "Then, that should be all. We'll leave the rest to you." ［Grey］

  "You rest assured, Lrey, Lady Yuna. We'll make sure to carry out your wishes as thhly as possible," ［Manelo］

  "Alright, then we'll see you ter, and don't worry... We'll make sure to finish everything today, ond for all." ［Grey］

  A determined glint in their eyes, Grey's voice echoed a final time in the air. What followed after were strong bursts of winds as they swiftly bolted across the vast and verdant forest, the winds howling at their wake.

  Though Grey could simply use "Gate", they have yet to step foot in the part of the isnd the enemy has appeared at. It was unfortunate, but all they could do was try their best, leaving the Great Chief and Marika aside.

  Seeing how Grey and Yuna vanished before their very eyes. The Great Chief and Marika could only stand in shod silehey khe two were powerful, but never in their imagination did they think it would be to su extent they'll leave big craters on the ground as they ran. They were in awe.

  "Papa... Would they be alright?" ［Marika］

  Yet despite the awe in their heart, a greater feeling of worry and engulfed them. Marika, in particur, had her eyes still looking at the dire Grey and Yuna bolted to. She was visibly trembling.

  "Marika, who do you think you are talking about?" ［Manelo］

  "Ummm... Big Brrey and Big Sister Yuna...?" ［Marika］

  "That's correct, but... have you fotten? They're also the prophesied Emissaries of God. I'm sure they would defeat the Evil Beast as they promised... Marika, you should put more trust in them." ［Manelo］

  "Y... Yes... I will..." ［Marika］

  Worry still looming in her heart, Marika was relut to agree to her father's words. Still, her trust in Grey and Yuna was much strohan his worries. All she could do was ch her fists and pray for their safety.

  'Big Brrey... Big Sister Yuna... Please be safe...' ［Marika］

  Silent and sihoughts drifted in the air, the leaves rustling as the dust settled. Footsteps soon echoed once again as two figures started to move. They may not be capable of fighting the enemy, but there was still something they could do.

  ...

  Spsh Slosh Spsh

  The spshing waves, the howling winds, and the shifting sands. A peaceful orchestra drifted afloat the salty breeze, apanied by the bustling and hustling of the busy people by the shores.

  The children ran around the pce, tripping and tumbling. The farmers, young and old, carried their harvest and reined in the livestock. The merts brought their wares in and out of the vilge, bright and cheery smiles painted on their faces.

  "Hey, have you heard about the Emissaries of Gods?"

  "Of course, who hasn't? It's beealk of the vilge these days."

  "That's right. I heard everyone who was graced by the Holy Light has been healed."

  Of course, like every settlement there is, rumors spread around the vilge like wildfire. Everyone, whilst moving their hands and legs, talked endlessly about the most ret and hottest news in the Chiefdom.

  "Ahh～... I wish they'll also visit our vilge... I want to see them."

  "Hahaha, you bet. I heard they were kind and generous."

  "Well, we could only hope they do. Hahaha."

  Everyone was cheerful and happy, smiles and ughter to be seen and heard all over the pce. There was not a sirace of worry nor to be seen in their faces as they went about their daily lives.

  Though they settled on the seashore, they weren't worried in the slightest. After all, not only had the Evil Beast only appeared oher side of the isnd, the sea is also riddled with stranger currents and reefs. Going around from one side to the other ractically impossible.

  But supcy was their very problem. Though it was impossible for boats and ships to traverse the harsh and unfathomable sea of fog, the same couldn't be said for beasts, especially one so overwhelmingly powerful.

  "Hey, hurry up! We'll end up missing the tides with how slow you are!"

  "Yeah, yeah, ... ing..... Hmm?!"

  One of the fishermen suddenly stopped on his tracks, his steps frozen on the sandy shore. His eyes were fixed on the blue sea before him, mouth slowly opening from agape, his body getting stiffer and stiffer by the moment.

  "Hey, what are you standing in a daze for? Do you really not want to work that much? You're a fisherman, fod's sake."

  "N-No... It's just that... Aren't the waves getting bigger...?"

  "Huh? What are you... talking... ab... out..."

  The same man poiowards the sea, and the others followed. As soon as the other saw what he was talking about, he also stood in a daze, unsciously letting go of the fishi he was talking about.

  The wave only grew bigger and bigger, and soon enough, sharp and massive spikes resurfaced oers. What followed after were massive fins, deep blue scales, and finally, a massive jaw. A beast of nightmares has appeared.

  "I-It's the Evil Beast! The Evil Beast has appeared!"

  "Ruuuunnn! Run for your lives!"

  Panic struck the people from where they didn't expect it, spreading like a ferocious wildfire and dev them whole. In just a single moment, the ever so peaceful vilge has turned into a plete and utter pandemonium, cries and screams eg all over the pce.

  The vilgers all ran for their lives, wagons and carriages rag as quickly as they could. Be it the livestock, their homes, or their boats, they abandoned everything with pale white plexions painted on their faces.

  "Mama... Papa... Hic... Mama... Hic..."

  A single child, once pying happily by the shores, now standing alone, frozen in fear as tears and snot filled her face. She could barely utter a single word as she watched the fearful beast before her.

  CRASSSHHHHH

  Loud crashes boomed throughout the air as the beast devoured boats whole with its massive maws, ches eg in the air as pnks and poles were broken like mere twigs, spshing ringing as they dropped back to the sea.

  The beast raised its head, gallons upon gallons of seawater trig back dower surface, ripples and spshes eg as it watched the people run away in fear, looking at them like small ants running away from their y.

  "Ta! Ta! e here!"

  "Papa... Hic... Papa..."

  "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I'll make sure you're safe."

  Said the man as he embraced his g daughter. Unfortunately for him, it was already far too te. The moment he raised his head, his eyes met the beasts, stu a deadly staring test and uo move his body.

  Fear dev his heart, the beast opes massive jaw, blue light illuminating the vilge whole as mana swirled around like a raging stathering in its mouth like a voracious vortex. Soon, a sphere of pressed water was formed.

  'God... At least my child... Please let her live...'

  His final words eg in his heart, the man closed his eyes and at the same time, blue light shone brightly once again as a beam of extremely pressurized water came surging towards the man and the child. The man had braced himself for death, yet it never came...

  BOOOOOOMMMMMM

  Rather, what came was a loud, resounding, and ear-deafening boom which ruptured the sound barrier. The moment he opened his eyes, a beam of radiant light g against the Evil Beast's, fierce shockwaves eg time and time again.

  The explosion was soon over, and as the fog of mist dissipated, the sound of fpping reverberated throughout the whole vilge. As the people looked up, they could see a ptinum figure h ever so gracefully, shining brighter than the sun.

  Such a beautiful figure slowly desded towards the ground, the Evil Beast's eyes full of wariness as it measured the creature before it. Not only that, the people also looked at her with fear, trembling and g.

  "Fear not, people of Ti. I will make sure not a single hair on your bodies will be touched. I swear it upon my name and honor." ［Sirius］

  Her voice was gentle and warm, yet at the same time, fierd boiling in rage. Her eyes gleamed brightly like a polished diamond, yet sharp like a deadly sword.

  ROOAAARRRRR

  Sirius opened her wings, a loud roar echoed towards the blue sky. In respohe evil beast roared back at her, opening its massive mouth. Seeing such beasts roar at each other, all the people could do was run with all their might.

  WHOOONGGG WHOOOOMMMM BOOOOOOMMMMM

  Beams were fired once again and shockwaves echoed as soon as they cshed. The waves roared and the winds bellowed at the might of their force, trees toppling over and houses being bloithout much effort.

  Brilliant light shone upon the sea as two beams collided, the people running for their dear life. The vilge which was once peaceful and lively was now in plete ruins, devastated in just mere seds.

  As soon as the people were out of sight, Sirius quickly took off once again, s in the sky like a ptinum shooting star. Soon, she closed her mouth and stopped firing her beam, evading the enemy's attack skillfully.

  Using the sun's radiance, Sirius blihe enemy before her, forcefully stopping its attack. But the same couldn't be said for her. As soon as the opportunity preseself, she released a volley of silver bolts towards it.

  BOOM SPLASH BOOM SPLASH

  Unfortunately for Sirius, the enemy was not a stupid foe. As soon as it saw the torrent of attacks heading towards it, it raised the seawater and created a shield of blue, successfully stopping Sirius' attacks.

  But Sitius didn't give up, as soon as she saw her attacks were iive, she quickly stopped the volley, once again gathering all the mana into a single beam, firing it without a sed thought.

  BOOOOOOMMMMM

  The beam was shot, but the enemy didn't flinch. Just like Sirius did, it also gathered the surroundier and tur into a massive, trated shield. It started boiling away, but with it residing in the sea, it was not too hard to resupply it.

  It didn't just wait either. As it created a shield in front of it, it also made tless spears of seawater and unched a terattack towards Sirius. An uing oppo in both defense and offense.

  "Tsk! How impudent!" ［Sirius］

  Unfortunately for it, its spears were far slower than Sirius. The enemy may have the advantage in the sea, but with the vast blue sky above her, Sirius was undoubtedly unrivaled as well.

  Sirius shot a bolt of mana and the enemy blocked it with its shield. The ehen terattacked, but Sirius would then dodge it with ease. It was an endless cycle which could only be seen as a stalemate, until....

  BOOOOOMMMMM GRROOAAARRRR

  A thundering bolt of mana struck the Evil Beast's side, a loud roar eg all over the pce as it shrieked in pain and agony, hatred and rage burning fiercely in its eyes as it looked at the one who struck it.

  And no, it was not Sirius who made the strike. Before the enemy even noticed, three more ptinum figures appeared from nowhere, shining just as brightly as the one before it. Their eyes gleamed radiantly as they hovered in the sky.

  "Eldest Sister, let us assist you." ［Arcturus］

  "Hahaha. You're not going to hog all the fun now, are you?" ［Kentaurus］

  "Hmm... So this is the Evil Beast they're talking about, huh..." ［opus］

  Though she was the one who arrived first, it didn't take too long before the others also caught up to her. opus, Kentaurus, and Arcturus now arrived in the se, ready to engage in battle in a moment's notice.

  Yet despite the arrival of the other familiars, Sirius felt no joy nor relief. Rather, she was a little disappointed and flicted, only turning her eyes back to the enemy without uttering a single word.

  FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH

  There was no time for chitchat. As soon as the enemy saw the new arrivals, it didn't waste a single moment and immediately unched a merciless barrage of spears towards them, each pag enough power to blow away vilges in an instant.

  Both Kentaurus and opus quickly flew up and dodged the volley, but the same couldn't be said for Arcturus. He remained firm and stood his ground, not budging a single in front of the enemy.

  "Not! So! Fast!" ［Arcturus］

  The spears soon reached Arcturusー or so the ehought, but before it could even do so much as to graze him, they suddenly exploded just a couple meters away from him, loud booms soon dang in the air.

  In just a single moment, Arcturus mao erect the stro barrier he could, proteg not only himself but the isnd and the esg vilgers behind him. He didn't even flinch or blink. A dragon with a heart of steel.

  "Hahaha! Now it's our turn!" ［Kentaurus］

  "Don't hate us too much." ［opus］

  With the enemy's attack missing, everyohen started the party and shot an endless barrage of beams and explosions towards the enemy. Be it from the sky, the seas, or the isnd, all dires were covered without room to escape.

  All the enemy could do was go on the defensive, surrounding itself with a thick barrier of water from all sides. A barrier whily received attacks, evaporating slowly but surely from the heat of the impacts.

  ROOOAAARRRRR

  It tried to terattack from time to time, but with how agile the familiars were, it was but futile effort. It tried spears, waves, beams, shes, and all sorts of things, but it was useless. The results remaihe same.

  Oher hand, the familiars couldn't damage it either. If it was on nd, it would have been an easy feat, but with it in the sea, its very domain, its defense was nigh imperableー of course, to the familiars' attacks that is.

  ??Southern Wind: Notus!?? ［Grey］

  The winds howled and the sea trembled, a massive spear of wind bolting through the air at breakneck speeds. Just the mere sight of it alone and the enemy could tell it was dangerous. Its instincts were screaming at it.

  There was no time to waste. As quickly as could, the beast tried to gather as much water in one spot to create the stro shield it could. Yet even with all its efforts, it was quickly broken in just mere fras of a sed.

  Fortunately, it was intelligent enough to know its shield would st very long, dodging even before it broke. Though the spear grazed it, blood trig down its scales, it still sidered itself fortunate.

  BOOOOMMMMM

  Else, had it failed evading the spear, it would have ended up like the rocky isnds behind it, mercilessly blown away to bits and pieces, barely reizable anymore. The spear was certaih.

  "Haah... So it really was a Leviathan, after all..." ［Grey］

  The battle had just begun.

  CHAPTER 236 END