Too fast.'
He couldn't see it. Although they were separated by tens of meters, the time it took for the arrow to reach him was even less than a second.
He's scared. Extremely scared. Even more than the pig that ruined his childhood. His pupils constrict and trembled staring at the monster below him. As if his life would end in a single blink of an eye.
Although he obtain power, he never knew how to use it. He never fought anyone. He have no battle experience. There is no way he can fight him, not to mention the group of knights beside him.
There is only one thing in his mind at the moment... and that's to escape as fast as he could.
'RUN!!!'
Jack didn't hesitated for a second and immediately jumped with all his force. Planning to land on another tree. His heart feels like it's going to explode in his chest. His overflowing andrenaline made him forgot the pain of his ripped mouth flowing with blood. All he wants is to get away from that demon.
Yet it seems he overestimated his abilities...
Just as he's going to land on another branch, he miscalculated his jump causing his feet to miss the branch and have his face smashed to it and spiral downwards.
Commander Mendelev will never miss this opportunity.
An arrow even faster than before followed Jack's trajectory and pierced directly through his abdomen. Another arrow followed right after ripping his previous wound wider with explosive force and knocking him back.
Jack bounced back from the force and rolled down while vomitting blood. In his abdomen, a fist size wound concaving inwards with an arrow stuck can be seen overflowing with blood.
'I'm dead.'
Jack is trembling from pain. He can't move. Andrenaline immediately wore off and got replaced by despair.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
Jack can't even look up but he already knows he's surrounded.
'I'm sorry Sera...'
"I thought this is going to be harder from the briefing."
Commander Mendelev's metal sabatons stopped infront of Jack.
"Let me ask you..."
He squatted down and his smile vanished.
"What are you?"
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In a noble household inside the Kingdom of Azalea, a young lady by the age of 12 seems to be busy cooking in their kitchen, however the kitchen is a mess and ingredients scattered everywhere. It's better to call it a warzone.
"Y-young lady, you really don't need to do this! I can do it for you."
Beside her, a maid is panicking and doesn't know what to do. Her missus is holding a knife trying to cut the vegetables, albeit roughly. It's her first time cooking and yet, she's adamant in doing it on her own.
"It's fine Lora, just tell me what to do. I wanna do it on my own."
"All right my lady, but please do be careful not to cut yourself."
"Okay!"
A few minutes passed and Elise managed to create a simple meal. It was an achievement for her although the taste is quite average.
"Congratulations Young Lady! You made your first dish. I'm proud of you."
"I-it's just a simple meal... no need to praise me that much."
Elise immediately grew embarrassed from compliment. But still packed the meal carefully and put it in a basket. She's a little excited today to give the meal she cooked by herself to her new friend.
'I wonder if he'd like it... Will I also be able to meet the Sera he mentioned?'
The more she think of meeting another new friend, she grew more excited. She hurriedly went out towards her father's study room with the basket.
*knock* *knock* *knock*
"Father? Father are you there?"
A few seconds later, a voice sounded from inside.
"Come in Elise."
She hurriedly opened the door and excitedly went in front of her father. Duke Dmittri Von de la Cruex, the head of the Creux family. He's wearing glasses and reading what seems to be a letter.
"What is it my little sunshine?"
"Father! Stop calling me like that... I'm not that small anymore."
She said with a pout and yet, she still sat on her father's lap while he gently caress her hair.
"Father can I go to the magical tree again? A-also I want to go there by myself I don't want to go with Uncle Morris."
"Hm? But you already went there recently didn't you? I even repriminded Captain Morris. That might be part of our territory that no bandits can get in, but it still wrong for him to leave you alone."
"But... can't you just give me a defensive scroll father? Please?"
Seeing her daughter pleading, he can't help but just give in.
"If it were other times, I'd even give you a saving scroll but not now."
"But why father?"
"It's too dangerous."
He just received a letter from the Grand Order. There was a sighting of a bloodthirsty demon who annihilated a bandit camp south of Gullibean Forest. They would be conducting a thorough search to eliminate the threat for the kingdom's citizens. In the meantime, all operations concerning the Gullibean forest will be halted.
As a duke of the Kingdom of Azalea, he's obligated to help and send some foot soldiers to surround the Gullibean forest. He sent Morris, also a peak B-class alongside some men.
Noone is allowed to enter the forest for now.
"Father-"
"There is nothing I can really do. This is an order from the Grand Order."
Dejectively, she went down holding the basket and returned to her room.
Duke Dmittri felt saddened seeing his daughter dejected. He knew she must be excited for something but he can't let her go there for her safety.
Sitting on her bed holding the basket, Elise stared at it. Seems like noone will be able to taste the first dish she ever made.
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"Where are we going big sister?"
"To the Kingdom of Azalea! Don't you like food? There's a lot of delicious food there!"
A figure can be seen leisurely strolling through the forest. On her arms, she holds a little girl. They were Ellie and Sera.
"But why are we leaving?"
"Because it was too dangerous! There was a monster roaming the forest and if he sees you, he's going to eat you!"
Ellie made a sudden a sudden movement, clamping her hands referencing a biting motion and making Sera jump.
"That's why we are here to kill the baddie so the people will be safe again."
"Monster...?"
Sera thought of Jack. Is Jack a monster? To her, he isn't. But to others, they might think he is a baddie.
Sera made a shocking realization. If Jack looks like a monster and people think all monsters are baddies and Big Sis Ellie is here to kill baddies, they might kill Jack!
After realizing this, Sera suddenly jumped out of Ellie's arms and immediately sprinted back deeper to the forest.
"JACKIE!!! Uuuuu..."
Tears started to fall from her eyes and her lips crooked down to a crying face. Her short legs running as fast as it could even though she's just as fast as an adult's jog.
Ellie got surprised at Sera's sudden change of mood but immediately run after her and caught her.
"What's wrong Sera? Don't cry, tell big sis what made you cry. Did I said something wrong?"
"No... *sniff* I need to go to Jackie... Uuuu... I wanna go to Jackie..."
"But you'll see him later. My friends will be looking for him so don't cry."
Ellie tried wiping Sera's tears but it just feels like a dam overflowing.
"No... Uuuu..."
Ellie thought for a moment before getting an idea.
"Look here Sera, Jackie would be even more worried about you if you keep on staying here even though it's very dangerous. He'd be more than happy to know that you are safe. Do you wan't Jackie to get worried about you."
"No..."
"Then let's get to a safe place first. How about after we got back, I personally go look for Jackie?"
"N-no... you might not like Jackie if you see him."
Sera strongly shook her head.
"How can I not like someone who takes care of a sweet child like you? I'm sure he's a good person."
"He might look ugly that you wan't to hurt him..."
Ugly to the point of getting smacked? Ellie was speechless.
"It doesn't matter however he looks. The fact that he cares for you is enough for me to like him."
Sera's eyes immediately lit up and she got happy again.
"Really?!"
"Really, Really!"
Ellie was happy at this development. It seems that Sera has a family that she thinks nobody likes because of his appearance.
Ellie picked Sera up again and resumed walking back to the kingdom.
"So what does Jackie look like?"
Sera opened her mouth as if wanting to say something but is hesitating. Ellie knew she still thinks she might hurt Jackie.
"It's fine Sera. I too have a friend who got his face burned so now he looks horrifying. Whenever a kid sees his face, they will cry of terror, forcing him to wear a mask. But he is a good person! And he's strong too! He protects the kingdom from the baddies who wants to harm the citizens."
"Oh! Jackie is strong too! He can lift two big boxes stacked together!"
"Exactly! They're the same so how can I not like Jackie?"
Sera vigorously nodded her head. She's happy that she share the same opinion with Ellie.
"Well, Jackie once looks the same as normal but an accident happened and we got kidnap by a BIG BIG Lizard!"
"A big lizard?"
'Is she talking about the bipedal lizard monsters? What do you call them again?'
"Un! And and now his hair became white and his teeth were very-very-very sharp! Oh, his arms became black too and he got some scales and his nails were also very-very-very-very sharp! But I never get scared! I am very brave!"
Sera pumped out her chest as if very proud of her bravery.
However, Ellie stopped in shock.
'Did he got experimented on by those lizards trying to turn him to their kind? That's horrible!'
More importantly, she remembered her previous mission here.
Before getting sent here, they got briefed about the appearance of the monster. He looks like a kid with white hair and arms with black scales and sharp claws possessing strength around rank d to rank c. They classified him as of demon origins.
Uncannily the same description Sera gave to Jackie. There is a good chance they're the same person!
Turns out the person she's trying to kill might be a survivor of inhumane experimentations! She can't help but feel saddened by such tragedy.
Normally, she wouldn't question the orders given by the Grand Order, however, she knew that the kingdom discriminates against the monster race and would anihhilate them without an excuse.
That is why they are on bad terms with another kingdom ruled by beastfolks and why you won't see a single citizen with an animalistic feature since beastfolks are banned in the kingdom.
If she was right, Jackie is in grave danger if the kingdom found him first. He's a hundred percent going to die.
Although it is forbidden to have any kind of relationship with a beastfolk, she had friends of such kind outside the kingdom. That's why she emphatizes a lot with Sera's sentiments.
This is also one of the reasons why she's here. To minimize this kind of massacre from happening.
"What's wrong Big sis? Ah-!"
Ellie suddenly sped up and directly sprinted. She can't waste anytime and at the very least try to save a suffering soul before the kingdom finds him.
Truth to be told, she's no match from the whole Kingdom of Azalea much more the forces from The Grand Order.
She's weak. Pathetically weak.
She knew that herself... but she knew someone strong.
Enough to contend with the main forces of The Grand Order.
She just hope he would reach there in time.