Oli had seen Rathe get serious before, like when he met the Frost-fang Panther. This was different.
Rathe's face wasn't serious, it was terrified. That kind of expression could only come from an expert that far outclassed himself and Dioro. Oli took note that whatever it was that flew past them should not be disturbed in any way.
"Should we head back to the clan, Uncle Rathe?"
"Let's rest for a little bit," Rathe's nerves were still tense. Unlike Oli, he sensed that thing's aura directly with his own and truly understood how far apart their abilities were.
"Okay, if you say so. I'm going to have some of that fruit, want some?" Oli shuffled to the nearby tree, never getting a response. "Maybe a bite to eat will help calm you down."
"Hmm?" Rathe tried to shake off his nervousness, "Sorry about that. What did you say?"
"Here, have some," Oli let Rathe catch some of the fruit as he ate some himself.
"Not bad," Rathe relaxed slightly thanks to that. "Let's head back to the clan, Oli. Although I'm sure Dioro felt that, it's still best if we joined up with them."
"Okay, I'm ready when you are."
ROOOOAAARR!!!
Both Oli and Rathe opened their eyes wide. They instantly recognized Dioro's roar and quickly hopped back onto the path to regroup.
"What's going on Rathe?" Oli was in the dark.
"I'm not sure, but that was Dioro calling for us. We just need to hurry back," Rathe's seriousness returned.
While returning to the clan, countless beasts either flew past them or climbed up the face of the mountain, as if running from something. Rathe and Oli had a good idea of what they were running away from.
Some beasts acted out of fear and attacked Rathe and Oli, but Rathe managed to protect him without much trouble. The only issue was that they were being slowed down thanks to all of the beasts that got in their way.
Finally, after nearly twenty minutes they were able to reach the clan's location, or at least where they were at when Dioro called them back. Rathe took note of the many tracks, those from the clan and many from some other species.
"What happened Rathe? Where did they go?" Oli started to panic.
"Calm down, Oli. The clan is fine," Rathe's seriousness had its advantages, like being able to calm any situation. "They were driven away though."
"What do you mean?"
"It looks like they were ambushed and driven into the valley."
"You mean—"
All of a sudden, the sky above the valley turned red. They looked into the distance to see the center of the massive valley in flames.
"Uncle Rathe, you think..." Oli couldn't bring himself to imagine the clan running into that expert from before.
"You're overthinking kid. Dioro would sooner confront any ambush before facing someone like that. But it does seem like the clan is in trouble, being stuck between that ambush and that expert," Rathe grabbed Oli and held him up against his chest. "Grab hold kid. We've got to hurry, so I can't have you holding me back. I'm going in at full speed."
Oli tried to say something but Rathe had already taken off. If Rathe hadn't warned him, Oli would've fallen off easily as Rathe moved with incredible speed, covering almost two krin with each step.
"Don't let go brat!" Rathe yelled, causing Oli to flinch.
In a single step, Rathe ground to a stop. Oli didn't understand what was happening and was thrown from Rathe's chest due to the momentum, but Rathe caught him easily.
"Uncle Rathe," Oli was disoriented and lost for a moment, "what was that for?"
"Hmm, so you're an uncle now?"
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Oli paid more attention to his surroundings and noticed a beast standing a few krin in front of Rathe.
It seemed to be from a feline race but was long and almost as big as Rathe. Its fur was pitch black, easily able to blend into the shadows. The only revealing quality he showed were blood-red spots that were splattered across his body, his piercing red eyes, and the silver choker he wore around his neck.
"Uncle Rathe, what is he? Do you know him?" asked Oli.
Rathe showed a slight smile and said. "I sure do. Brat, say, 'Hello,' to your Uncle Vloz, the Blood-spotted Leopard."
Oli was at a loss for words and looked at Rathe like he was an idiot. "Oh, that's right! You've never heard of him yet. Vloz, say, 'Hi,' to your Nephew Oli."
"Ha, you always knew how to joke Rathe," Vloz chuckled.
"So, you are the same old Vloz. What brings a pussycat like you all the way out here?" Rathe's eyes revealed his casual self.
"You don't remember the promise we made?" Vloz's gaze seemed far more serious compared to Rathe's, making Oli tense up a bit.
"Of course, I remember! How could this powerful cultivator ever forget?" Rathe pounded his chest as a show of pride in himself.
"Is that so? Then you already know what I'm here for," Vloz cut right to the chase.
"What do you mean? I haven't broken our promise," Rathe tilted his head like Vloz's comment was unwarranted. "If anything, I'm even closer to achieving it!"
"Really? And how is that?" Vloz expressed his disinterest in excuses. "Back when we traveled together, weren't you always the stronger of us and always a level ahead? And now I've not only caught up but far surpassed you."
"What do you mean? Of course, I'm stronger than you! I always will be!" Rathe refused to back down, even if Oli was cowering behind him.
"I've had my eye on you for a while now. You can't deceive me with that false bravado of yours."
"You always were a sly, little kitty. No one hides better in the shadows that you, right?"
"Ha, at least you remembered something," Vloz showed a smile that wasn't a smile. "We may both be perennials, but you're only a low-perennial, right?"
"For a pussycat afraid to fight, at least you've got your facts straight," stated Rathe.
"Any guesses as to what I am?" asked Vloz
"Hmm…" Rathe stroked his chin, appearing intellectual, "Knowing your cowardice, you wouldn't have tried a stunt like this unless you were a full tier higher, so you're a mid-perennial."
"Only you would know that much about me, I guess. You're right, I'm a mid-perennial," Vloz shrugged, looking reluctant to act. "Why don't you just had over your core like you promised way back then? It'd make things a lot easier for both of us."
"Umm… Can someone explain this please?"
The old friends both blinked and looked to the left of Rathe and remembered that Oli was still present. Before Rathe could do anything, Vloz disappeared and reappeared directly in front of Oli, scaring him off of his feet.
"It was Oli, right?" Vloz's eyes carried a hint of hypnosis, undetectable to Oli. "You're Dioro's boy."
"Yeah, that's right…" Oli quieted down with the hypnosis in effect.
"Thanks for that, Vloz. The kid tends to panic and not know when to shut up."
Vloz grunted and reappeared where he was originally standing. He was still reluctant to act on what he asked of Rathe, almost like he despised to do so.
"We can catch up later, Vloz. I've got to hurry and catch up to my clan and—"
"I can't let you do that, Rathe," Vloz cut him. "I promised Zetro that I wouldn't let you reach them, and he promised me that I'd be able to get to you alone without interference."
"Zetro? That lying coward is behind all of this? No wonder those tracks looked familiar," stated Rathe. "But why do you need to work with him? If you wanted to talk with me, just say so! I'm not stopping you and neither is Dioro. Why would I turn away such a cute kitty when he wants to chat with me?"
"Cut the crap, Rathe," that kitty joke seemed to be the last straw. "You and I both know that it was because of Dioro that you left me, your partner for almost a century, and started to babysit a clan that has gone nowhere fast. I still don't understand how he convinced you to do that, but I do know one thing. You're not Rathe, not the Rathe I know. The Rathe I know sought battle at every waking moment, always in search of the best opponents and the greatest challenges in order to grow stronger. What I see now, makes me sick. You're just a soft shell of your former self. You're no longer hungry for growth and survival."
Rathe casually cracked his neck as he said, "Oh? Is that so? What gives you that idea?"
Vloz was bewildered with Rathe's calmness despite his knowledge of being outclassed. "You think I'm some low-life thug you can one-up with brute force? You know you can't win. Or is this just the classic Rathe-level stupidity rearing its ugly head again after so long?"
"Funny, but you know I never back down from a challenge. And if what you said is correct, you've become quite the challenge yourself," Rathe displayed unbridled confidence. "Besides you said you said you never figured out how Dioro convinced me to join him, right?"
"That's right," Vloz lifted his brows in interest.
"Well, the only way to truly understand for yourself is to experience it firsthand," Rathe turned Oli and poked him, waking him from the trance. "Hey brat, which way do the tracks lead?"
"Huh? Th-they lead that way," Oli replied while still a little out of it.
"Good. Make sure you follow those tracks without fail. I'll be right behind you."
"What do you mean by—"
Without warning, Rathe gave Oli a good kick, launching him far in that direction.
"Ha. Trying to save the boy?" Vloz understood Rathe too well not to understand his intentions. "It won't work. Zetro has plans for him too."
"That doesn't matter, Zetro will never beat Dioro."
"What?" Vloz was caught off guard but had no time to ask more as Rathe lunged straight at him at full power. With ease, Vloz evaded but was shocked at the crater Rathe's fist had caused.
"Vloz, it's time I convince you just as Dioro convinced myself. Brace yourself!"