Carl's face was ashen as he walked out of the Great Oasis. He limped out of the desert, having sustained a few fractures from a close encounter with a dangerous Magical Beast in the Nascent Soul Realm.
His bodyguards, who previously numbered in the dozens, had been reduced to a mere six during their excursion through the Inner Zones. The survivors walked at an even slower pace than Carl, suffering from various deep wounds that would become infected if not treated soon enough.
Many had died while protecting Carl, whose value was well above their own given his status. They didn't like the idea of laying down their lives for a spoiled young man, but they knew their heads would roll upon returning to their family headquarters regardless.
Even their healers, who were supposed to be carefully positioned in the center of the group with Carl, had made a mistake and allowed a Darkness-Elemental Magical Beast to sneak into their shadows and ambush them in broad daylight.
