Chapter 62 - Manners

"We are here..."

Michael and Winter were elegantly falling from down from the sky. descending into a small flatland they were both rather familiar with. For it was here the old cave monkey hideout laid.

Michael landed in the previous camp and looked around the earthy environment covered by stones and trees. Was this where Winter and her people had stayd?

"Why isn't there anyone here, Winter?" Michael tried asking her, as even with his bestial senses he was unable to find anyone nearby.

She also eyed down the area, not sure where everyone had gone to.

"Uhm. I remember we all went into the cave nearby and placed down all our supplies." Winter felt a bad premonition roll over her head as she eyed down the stone tunnel carved in a nearby boulder.

Michael looked around the barren land and felt a small tingling sensation travel down his neck.

'Feels like I just walked into a dining hall.'

He didn't bother much about the rest, only looking down at the girl resting in his arms with a smile.

"Fine. I just want that map, Winter darling."

She made a sour face after hearing him. Spitefully snapping back at the man with an aggressive tone.

"Please...don't call me darl.." However, before she could finish, several knights suddenly materialized out of thin air. All clad in some neat iron armour covered by different insignias, and holding their own jagged longswords. Each one different in length and size.

"FREEZE!" The male knight closest to them barked at the two. Engulfing their bodies in an energy peaking at the higher general layer.

Winter was the first one to react to this man's provocation. Feeling that she had met him before.

"C...Commander?!"

The knight captain eyed down the crippled girl inside the beast's arms. Looking down at the blood patches and tear stains falling from her head and body only further fueld his anger. Making him impulsively snap at Michael with his covered eyes.

"Looks like Mr Wilsen was right..." He sighted. Letting his rough and icy voice cover the surrounding soil with a layer of frost.

He looked back up at the two with a newfound determination. Not willing to let this freak torture the innocent girl any longer.

"Worry not, Professor Winter! We will save you!" His voice boomed out with a cold aura, causing the surrounding temperature to drop even further.

"Unhand her, beast!"

"Let miss winter go!"

"I will deliver the final strike!"

Several other soldiers all shouted at Michael after seeing their commander so boldy go on the offensive. Now having complete faith in their triumph.

Sadly, as they all hyped themselvs up, Winter only grew more desperate and unwilling. Wildy fighting herself out of Michael's embrace and heavily dropping to the ground whilst crying.

"NO!! PLEASE PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPONS!! I BEG OF YOU.." But even with the agony squeezing her heart, she was not even allowed a single moment of attention.

"Is...Is this for me?!" Michael looked at the knight squadron with an almost ecstatic smile. Feeling like he had just arrived home right at the moment christmas had begun.

However, none of them cared for his grin. Only trying to further agitate him with a nasty round of insults and a pair of reassuring lines for Winter.

"Calm down Mrs Winter! We will gut this dog and free you!"

Michael's smile seemed to grow more stable as he looked at them. Confidently taking a step forward while walking straight past the crying and wriggling girl beneath his feet.

'Mabye santa sendt me this gift from earth?'

The knight commander once more shouted at Michael while he proceeded towards them. Forever sure of his victory even with the arrogant demeanor of this thing.

"Any last words before we send you of, you filthy stray?"

However, as the knight was prepared for a violent cry for battle, he was left rather speechless by the casual answer the beastlord gave him. Not finding any sense in this, as he had never encountered an animal with such a easy going personality.

"Yeah, actually, I was wondering about something."

"Your final rites will be given." The knight commander starred him down from behind his armour. Hidding his wrath underneath the jagged metal helmet.

"Are you married?"

Michael's answer seemed to have greatly shocked him. Not completely sure how this guy would just waste his last words on such a dumb question.

"What? What are you....Forget it. Yes, I am. How about it?"

Hearing his answer only made Michael's smile deepen. Further spiking up the knight's uncertainty.

"Well, your wife just got cucked."

The commander only seemed more dumbstruck by each word this wolf humanoid muttered. Now really wondering if the world had turned around on its head.

"Excuse me?"

Michael's eyes began to glitter with a chaotic stream of red and yellow. Almost as if his intent to attack would manifest itself before their eyes.

The commander looked at his dark red fur which began to spike up with a lighter glint. Unsure of how this weird aura was created, and where it belonged to.

"Hmpf! You talk big for someone on the lower ladder of the food chain, Beastmaster!"

"Elemental Art!"

The knight raised the his silver balde overhead. Focusing a pure flow of energy into the sharp pole.

Michael looked at the leader and the other soldiers follow suit. Feeling the previous chill attack his body grow even stronger.

'Elemental arts? Yes, these are battle arts and martial arts infused with an element! Hope they have more than just maps back at their place.'

He eyed down the commander with a crazed expression while releasing his own energy. Planning on grinding these fools into mincemeat with a swift strike.

"How amusing. Very well, I shall play with you..!"

However, to his provocation, the knight only gave of a weak chuckle. Even more confident now that the beast would stick with its primitive ways against him.

"Ignorant even in death!"

The knight leader's sword began to cover itself in a layer of frost and hail. Turning the entire blade into a freezing azure color.

"Art of Frost: Icicle's Hail!"

Michael saw his feat and inwardly sighed. Wishing to also be able to fully wield such a beautiful technique one day.

"Anyhow.."

The beastlord sendt his arms wide out with a powerful push. Allowing the energy of chaos to cover every fiber of his being. Oozing out of his fur like a crazed geyser shooting out red and purple steam.

"You are still sheep, even with a pair of fancy armour!"

.....

"I bet that filthy beast is begging and covering In defeat!"

Right now, Wilsen could be found running in the direction Winter and Michael had jumped towards. Not wishin to miss the sight of the human sized rat getting butchered.

'This better be good..'

He quickly traversed through the untouched jungle land. Soon feeling some of his surroundings become more and more familiar.

"There...Let's see here.."

Finally, he had arrived near the camp they had set up. Impatiently looking around the empty area which was as silent as the path here.

"Wait, what is that?" However, as he was unable to find anything close by, Wilsen picked up some small movements not too far away.

'Hmpf! Those guys took care of the monster too quick.'

What else could be here, right? A single beastmaster fighting an elite squadron of highly trained officers? No way they would lose.

'I'm sure Winter will thank me too!' Unable to feel anything wrongx he just continued forward. Strolling towards the nearby cave entrance with an unbreakable confidence. Letting the weak jungle breeze flutter against his white lab coat l like a flag.

'The other's should have evacuated as soon as I sendt the message. Now, let's see if those guys saved something for me...'

But as he closed further in, a familiar voice entered his ears. Making the man halt mid step.

"The eyes taste a little weird. Or is that how this stuff is supposed to work, Winter?"

Only a couple of meters before him was Michael. Casually sitting on the ground while having several different organs attatched to his long nails, and multiple mutilated human bodies spread around him. The beastlord could be seen ripping of new pieces each time he pulled swallowed down a round. Grotesquely feasting upon the shredded corpses.

"AAAAHHHH!!!! AAAAHHH!!!"

And of course, not too far away from him laid the ceying Winter. Banging her head against the ground while helplessly being beaten from the inside by the feeling of guilt.

She had started to beg and cry ever since the knights engaged Michael. However, neither side would listen as she saw him shout out chaotic streams of energy into their bodies. Causing all the blood wessels and skin covering them to turn into mush.

"I...I don't wanna live any longer!!! I...I have brought the death of so many innocent.." She kept banging her head against the stiffened earth. Not wishing to see any other peeson die because of her.

Michael just gave her a weak glance from time to time. He was not sure of how to calm this girl down and only tried improvising some funny yet logical minds in his head.

"Dammit woman, why all this sobbing? What me and the boys did was consensual! Did you not see how that guy ran at me with his rod?"

'OH F****....' Wilsen felt his eyes almost fly at from his head this time. Now fully aware of the disaster he had provoked.

"I..I need to report this to headquarters or else..." He took a step back with one of his trembling legs. Wanting to run away and never come back to this accursed place ever again.

But as he stepped back, a towering set of invisible chains bound him in place. No, that was not only it. The sudden flows of air traveling down his neck shut down his body. Not daring to move one step, lest he feared it would cost him his life.

And as the breathing ceased, the voice of the devil once more forced it's way into his head. Making him further regret every action he ever made.

"Hey, you are still here! Walson, right? You wouldn't know where the headquarters you just spoke of lies? Winter seems to be a little out of it nowadays."

He did not turn around to face the monster. Only feeling the death yellow rays of death shoot into every cell was enough the discipline him into obedience.

"Please... Please spare my life, esteemed lord! I...I will bring you there, so..." His voice displayed non of the previous arrogance he had built up on the way here. Leaving only a shaken and defeated tone behind in it's wake.

Michael smiled even more crazily form behind him. Strengthening the mad rays of sunshine flowing from his eyes.

"Now, that is what I like! Did you hear that Winter darling? What a lad! What a lad indeed!"

He placed his large demi-human hand on top of the scientist's head. Inching slightly closer to his head as he whispered into his ear.

"Let's get down to business then, professor. Or would you rather want to send those boys of yours my regards down in hell?"