[Narrator: Author]
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"In any case, did you say monsters are chasing him? I'll—" Reiji started to step forward, his hands hovering to the hilt of his dagger, but Kareus blocked his path, his eyes filled with the intent to kill.
Kareus extended its paw to his side where Daichi and the monkeys' direction, "Those things,", and retracted its paws towards its chest, "-let us take care of them."
Though, Reiji can't understand them verbally, he can at least get the gist of the gesture.
He nodded as opened his left palm towards that location, implying that Kareus can do as he pleases. As Kareus received the confirmation, he raised both his paws, prompting all of the Ashenbloods' that carries nothing to gather around him.
"Ashenblood Tribes, line up! We will rescue the human, and kill the Bladed Monkeys' Tribe. It's time for payback.", Kareus growled twice, and the Ashenbloods lined up to each of his sides.
There are about twenty-one of them, including Kareus in the middle. Ten Ashenbloods stood on each sides, readying themselves to lunged, while Kareus stood still in front.
Thump!
When he stomped his foot, all of them blurred in their previous location as they can be seen leaping briskly towards the monkeys. When they reached a certain range, all of them stopped at the same time. They opened their mouths, revealing cute buck-teeth, and puffed in air in their chest as they let out a high-pitched scream.
SHREEEEEEE!
The taunt made all creatures that is in front of them be stunned, including Daichi who did not expect that coming.
'W-What the hell…?! I… can't move.'
It didn't even take a second when the Ashenbloods started their offense again.
Visible sharp crescents hued in ash passed through Daichi's as they sliced through the neck of the Bladed Monkeys cleanly. However, there was a one male Bladed Monkey that did not any receive a one-hit attack as it was behind Daichi.
It shivered as it see its own kin die helplessly — it started scurrying backwards, but behind him, Kareus patiently stood.
Kareus' size was the same as the Bladed Monkey, but to the remaining survivor, he was like a tall boulder that is about fall into him. More in fact, Kareus launched himself in the air and was about to deliver the last hit. With his feet size comparable to the torso of the Bladed Monkey, it was big enough to crush them.
THUMP-CRUMBLE!
Kareus continued thumping his foot to the face of the Bladed Monkey as he cursed them to death.
"YOU CUNNING, YET UNEDUCATED CREATURES ALWAYS DARES TO DISRUPT OUR SLEEP WITH YOUR UGLY SHRIEKS! HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO REST WHEN YOU'RE MOUTHS ARE NOT SEALED PROPERLY, HUH?!"
Daichi, who was watching the scene, hugged himself that he was rather glad that he did not attract creatures like the ones he sees right now. He can hear the huge rabbit growling and hissing as it thumps its foot on the face of his pursuers.
Just then, a hand reached out onto his shoulder that made him let out a high-pitched scream.
SLAP!
But he was not able to lengthen his scream when the same hand that reached out to his shoulder suddenly reached out for his cheek instead.
"Don't yell, dumbass."
"Eh?", Daichi stroke his reddening cheek as it stung.
Turning behind, he saw his classmates his classmates with smiles on their faces… except Reiji who's annoyed by his sudden response.
"R-Reiji!", Daichi bailed as he lunged himself to hug his god-brother. But when Daichi exerted more strength, he repulsively removes his hand and staggers in pain. "O-Ooow... I completely forgot about the wound…"
Reiji's concern was evident in his eyes, and he asked Sayuri who was already near him to help. Apparently, Reiji told them about the existence of skills. Earlier, he was about to speak up about the skill catalog, but Jiyoo then chimed in of his skills listed on the Status Window itself; while Reiji was separated into another system panel, which was the Skill Catalog.
When he knew that, he decided not to reveal it furthermore.
In any case, Sayuri had read about her skills and it was,
"〔 Heal 〕."
"..."
The words she said somehow echoed like it carries power, but there was no such thing as results that they expected.
"E-Eh…?", with a sheepish response for what just happened, Sayuri then turned to Reiji to ask for what is happening.
"S-Shiroya—", to her surprise as she was cut off, she noticed a floating system panel in the corner of her eyes and averted her gaze intently into it. "…There's a screen in front of me."
Reiji was confused, both to why there's no effect to her skill and as to why she told him that there's a screen that she's seeing right now.
"Screen? A system panel?", he asked.
"Mhmm."
"What does it says?"
"Um… there are a bunch of words… combining for about two sentences…"
"Words…? Could it be incantations?"
If those words are incantations, then that must be the reason why the skill did not activate: it needs to be chanted first!
"Nakamura-san, can you say those words? Then say the word 'Heal' when you're done.", Reiji asked, excited to witness the first encounter of magic, though it's a skill.
"Okay, I will try…!", with eyes filled with both confusion and worry, Sayuri started. "Sympathize to those who are hurt, but do not pity them. Share your warmth, and comfort them. Mend these wounds so they may heal, but do not leave any scars as they can leave memories. 〔 Heal 〕."
With her hands reaching out towards Daichi's wound, a visible white light emitted from Sayuri's hands that soon engulfed the wounds from Daichi's arm. It didn't even take a second when the wound started closing, and the dried blood faintly vanished, leaving no scars.
"...WHOA, it healed!", they cheered in unison.
With the three — Daichi, Jiyoo, and Kaori — examined Daichi's arm in awe, Sayuri was hiding her embarrassed face with her hands; definitely because of the incantations.
Meanwhile, Reiji's mind is on work already. 'It's the real deal… In order to survive here, I need her…'
…
Resuming their journey, the group turned eastward; the canyon now a constant presence on their left. Its walls, once looming overhead, began to gradually rise as they ventured along the path. In time, a river came into view, its waters flowing diagonally upwards, a counterintuitive yet mesmerizing sight.
As the sun arced higher in the sky, fatigue tugged at their limbs, but with how excited they are as they see fascinating things on the way, it propelled them onward.
Reiji told Daichi all what happened to them, and so as the others sharing what happened to them. They would sometimes laugh as they walk, or worry with what they heard from their classmates.
Finally, after what felt like hours, a wide expanse opened up before them. And there it was – a scene that could steal anyone's breath away.
In front of them, a clearing stretched out expansively; a haven of open space framed by the undulating forest around it. On the right side, the trees gathered in a cluster, their canopies forming a natural parasol that cast dappled shadows upon the ground.
This provided a welcome respite from the sun's relentless rays, beckoning their weary legs to rest for a moment and catch their breaths. It was a sanctuary within a sanctuary – a place to pause and take in the beauty of their surroundings!
But the surprises didn't end there.
In the midst of the clearing, fruits that seemed to be watermelons from Earth were scattered like playful confetti, their presence a delightful anomaly against the backdrop of nature's solemnity.
Nestled to the left of the clearing lay a circular lake, calm and inviting. To the lake's north, a majestic waterfall tumbled from a great height. The crest was adorned with tall trees, their verdant canopies like crowns for the cascade.
To the west of the lake, towering rock walls guarded the lake, their summits shrouded in the embrace of dense forests. The sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds drifted down, inviting Reiji and his friends to explore the heights above, but… not for today.
On the shore of the lake between it and the clearing, near the rock wall that cradled the waterfall, stood enormous bamboo trees, their towering forms casting dappled shadows on the ground below.
And to the south of the lake, the lake spilled into a river, that's what they followed to reach the lake. The soft gurgles of the river blended harmoniously with the symphony of the waterfall, a soothing melody that resonated through the surroundings.
Their eyes widened with excitement and relief. The lake was a source of freshwater, a precious commodity in this world. The open space provided a sense of security, with a clear view of their surroundings.
It was the perfect place to set up their temporary shelter and make plans for the days ahead.
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|TO BE CONTINUED|