The sound of the roosters resonating throughout the city of Kuala Terengganu signalling the rise of the morning sun. One by one the citizens of Kuala Terengganu open the door to hesitantly step out of their home. No one was able to keep their eyes shut thinking it would be the last moment of their lives yesterday. The deafening howl that smitten their soul, the terrifying tremor that shook the entire city and the blinding lights that brighten the night sky, all they could do was prayed in their heart hoping the nightmare would end.
Night finally turn to dusk. The orange-tinged sunrise brightens the sky covering the entire area of Kuala Terengganu. When the dark was seeping away, then they could see the horrifying scene of the unsurmountable amount of dead monsters lying on the ground. The smells of decaying bodies mixed with the lingering ashes from burnt corpses were floating around. No one would believe that this was the work of a single person.
After Kim came back to take Momo to their hotel with the rest of them, Larc quickly arrived at the scene. He thought that nothing could surprise him more after watching a mana user single-handedly defeated a mythical-rank monster. He was dead wrong.
The outrageous number of high-rank monsters that was coming should require a full well-equipped army of tens of thousands of mana users that are at least above C-rank and the battle could last for days. In a single night, Kim was able to take all of them on his own less than an hour. Not even a master like Sylva would be able to accomplish such a feat. He saw the state Kim was in when he came back to take Momo. It looked like he just went out for a short stroll.
For someone who was one of the people that carried the kingdom military flag for many years, he understood well how powerful the kingdom army really is. Even combined with mana users who work under the guild, Kim could possibly devastate all of them.
"Is he really going to go against the royal army?"
Larc continued to contemplate his messy thoughts as he looked toward the distance where the forest and mountains were at yesterday. A new valley has formed instead.
--
Breakfast was prepared as usual at Hamid's hotel. The duo was sitting on the table which was full of typical Malaysian morning dishes. Wong, Teng and Ling also joined them. Hamid offered them to stay at the hotel yesterday since it was closer to the mansion. It wasn't usual for them to eat with others since the calamity. Having others to eat with was not that bad.
However...
having kids running around fighting for food was another. Especially when they are werewolves. Albeit being little, their strength is not to be underestimated. They are agile enough to skillfully jump around the dining room with no hesitant. But of course, the room had become a wreck. To eat leisurely with this kind of atmosphere was close to impossible. Kim could stop them with his mana pressure, but seeing Momo smiling happily than usual made him chose not to. It was the first he saw Momo being this happy after spending six whole years with her.
"Now, now kids don't play around during mealtime."
Hamid tried to calm the kids down but they were still fighting each other for food. Not seeing any hints that they would stop, the face of a kind neighbour smiling uncle suddenly transformed into a monster.
'Oh, he could do partial transformation too' Kim thought.
Hamid then howled towards them "Sit down or no food till tomorrow!!!"
No matter how stubborn the werewolves kids were, the no food threat was always working to make them obedient. Even though it doesn't look like it but only Hamid could properly tame the werewolves kids. It may be due to his werewolf mana.
As the kids calm down, Hamid served them their food and joined others for breakfast.
"The food is delicious as always uncle Hamid!"
"I'm glad you like it Miss Momo."
With a slight chuckle, he looked toward Kim "Is it to your liking as well young master Kim?"
Kim wanted to slap himself in the face after hearing that. He needs to tell Momo not to teach others to call him master or he would live his life with embarrassment every single day. Nevertheless, the food was amazing he nods repeatedly showing his full satisfaction.
"So, Hamid...what are your plan after this? Did the guild master said anything to you?"
Knowing the long torturous years that the kids had forcefully gone through there was no possible way they could leave the kids alone. The three uncles and Hamid had explained everything to Guild Master Larc regarding the whole event that has been ongoing for months. Larc quickly understood the situation and let them stay in the city. But he added that it was best for them to leave the city.
"I do agree with what he said yesterday. Although I'm hoping the kids will not face any danger again their life, with the state they are in now, the city is not the best place to stay."
"You really going to live outside the city with them?"
"Yes. I have already been living in the forest with my dogs...well they are monster wolves now but what I want to say is that I already got used to it. It would be good for the three of them as well so they could learn how to live their life independently with what they gained..."
Hamid sounded a bit solemn when he was phrasing the last sentence. Saying something that was forcefully put upon them as a gained, even if it made them stronger they had lost their precious normal childhood and had lived their lives in fear for many years. Now that they are free, they couldn't even seek the comfort of having to call what was a place where they born and grew up as home. It was unfair, but time can't be unturned.
"It might be hard but I'll be there to support them. Could you please tell guild master of my decision today when you meet him?"
Kim received a call from the guild secretary, Leila, to meet guild master Larc later on that afternoon. After finishing their breakfast, Kim and Momo went back to their room to pack their things. They already decided on their next destination. After lunch, they bid their farewell to Hamid and went to the guild along with the three uncles.
--
Yesterday was the first life-threatening crisis ever happens since the city was rebuilt. During the post-Calamity, earthens were living their lives in constant fear and had been on alert all the time knowing that they could be greeted by monsters or getting eaten by them. But it didn't take long for the society to quickly adapted themselves with the norms.
When the city was rebuilt, everyone can finally sleep in a comfy home without worries. Years went by and nothing happened. Life just went on. Unless the person is a combat-type mana user chances are they will never see a monster again in their entire lives.
Since more people have become mana users, people feel more secured and prepared if another 'calamity' hits. However, no one imagined it could reach this extent.
Tens of thousands of rampaging monsters had forced all mana users within Kuala Terengganu to froze in fear. There was also the sudden appearance of a mythical-rank monster in the middle of the city which escaped everyone eyes. Lastly, the destruction of the mayor mansion along with the heartbreaking death of their beloved Mayor Byzark. The story of yesterday night hit everyone like a storm.
Kim was surprised to see how fast the news could spread even if it wasn't the full truth. The road was emptier than it was when he arrived on the first day even though it was already several hours past noon. There were no casualties last night but the sheer impact from yesterday fight actually destroyed some architectures within the city. There were cracks on the road and falling rubbles from buildings.
"Master, I think you used too much power."
"Who was the one fighting with a mythical-rank?"
"A cute girl like me couldn't possibly do this much damage. Tee-hee"
"..."
--
The moment they entered the guild building, the first thing they noticed was how quiet the mana user lounge was. Usually, it would be bustling with people shouting at each other throats, trading intel on monsters as well as reporting their job requests for rewards. Seems like it wasn't the case that day.
"Welcome, you are finally here. The guild master is waiting for both of you in his room."
Every mana users immediately turned their heads toward the entrance of their building when they heard Leila was welcoming them. There was no more reaction than that, only silence.
"Thank you for escorting them, B-ranker Wong, C-ranker Teng and Ling. I will handle it for now. Please take some rest."
As Leila took Kim and Momo to see Larc, the three uncles took a seat at the only empty table which was awkwardly in the middle of the room. The silence continued and only footsteps of Leila, Kim and Momo could be heard as they were approaching the guild master room. The moment their footsteps were too far away to be heard, the three uncles were swarmed by all the mana users that were sitting idly.
Caught off-guard they weren't able to circulate their mana for battles when suddenly a barrage of questions was thrown towards them!
"Who are the two of them?"
"How did the three of you get to know them?"
"I'm so jealous! The purple hair girl is so cute!!!"
"Can I have their autograph?"
"Why you? Not me! Life is unfair."
"Quiet!"
With a single shout, everyone became silent. They voluntarily open up a path for a man clad in full black armour with his helmet in his right hand. He was carrying a greatsword that looked like it could cut an orc in half. The man is also an A-rank from the otherworld. A man who said to rival even the mighty Kiria.
"Did he really defeated Kiria?"
He wasn't there during the commotion when Kim was fighting against Kiria. It was natural for someone who had Kiria as his rival would ask the said question after hearing the shocking news.
"Yes, he did."
"I see." There was no obvious reaction when he heard that answer. No one knows what the man was thinking. "Is he really an A-rank?"
Wong, Teng, and Ling knew both Kim and Momo are more powerful than any A-rank mana users they ever meet. In fact, their hearts are telling them that they are actually more powerful than any mana users ever lived. Even more than the so-called S-rank. But they were a bit hesitant to answer this question since Kim didn't like any information about him and Momo spread among the public. But everyone had witnessed the feat he did yesterday so what's the point in hiding anything now?
As the leader of the three, Wong was the first who opened his mouth "Officially they are both rank-A...but..."
Wong was still a bit hesitant to say his mind which him to stop in middle making everyone anxiously waiting for his answer.
"I do think his strength is above A-rank. The guild did say they are only allowed to give rank A to registered mana users."
When Wong said that, everyone was gasping for air. Is it possible that a S-rank had appeared in Kuala Terengganu?
"I see. Thank you for being honest. You guys shouldn't bother them too much. If you want to know more ask the man himself!"
Usually, otherworlder treats earthen with disrespect. Strangely, the man didn't say anything afterwards and went back to his table. He even thanked them for their answers. Thanks to him, no one was bothering the three uncles anymore and could finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Huu, the young master is really famous now."
"Well, that could be expected. In this age, both of them would eventually be known to others because of their massive strength."
"To kill a mythical-rank on her own, and slaughtered thousands of monsters by himself. Someone even mentioned that a legendary-rank was coming and he killed it with a single punch that blew up a whole mountain!"
"Seriously?!"
"Yeah. The mountain which was near the city gate has gone without a trace. Even the forest was obliterated. We now have a valley in front of the city!"
"N-no freaking way..."
"Anyhow...let's just wait for them to finish. I wonder what are they talking about."
--
Meanwhile, in the guild master room, Larc was pointing his sword towards Kim's neck. Leila was standing there with shock not knowing what to do. "G-g-guild master. Wh-what are you doing?!"
However, Kim expression was as calm as the still river. There was not even a single moment of him being unfazed. Momo was angered that someone actually dared to point a weapon toward her master but she remembered that Kim refrained her from doing anything ever since they were in the hotel. She didn't ask Kim anything about it but now she understands why. Knowing that her master already expected the situation she tried to calm herself down. Larc won't be able to hurt Kim anyway.
Kim looked directly into Larc eyes "What's the meaning of this guild master?"
"Tell me the truth. Where did the two of you come from?"
"Samarahan"
"I already got my intel there was no such city as Samarahan. I even had an earthen to look into it. They gave me the same answer." Actually, Larc was being half-honest. He actually knew where Samarahan is. Just that he couldn't believe that the two actually came from there. The only way to confirm it way by hearing the name from their mouth because he knew no one would casually say it with no particular reason.
"Guild master, you know so well that you can't hurt me."
"Are you willing to bet your life?"
Kim, of course, remained calm with his expressions. He took a short glimpse toward Leila who was still frozen in her place and then looked toward Larc once more. Larc noticed this and ordered Leila to go out. The moment Leila stepped out of the room, Larc produced a mana barrier so that none of the nearby mana users could sense what was happening in the room.
"Where do you come from?"
"Guild master, I might have to kill you if I tell you."
"Try me."
Kim and Momo looked toward each other and nodded. After taking a sip of the tea prepared by Leila, Kim finally gave Larc the answer he was waiting for. Even though he knew what the answer was he was hoping it would be a different one.
"Borneo"