Chapter-29
In a dense forest full of tall and broad trees, a group of magical beasts known as Monthers were eating grass peacefully.
These magical beasts had a colossal body structure equal to or bigger than that of an African Savannah elephant. Their green skin with a mix of blue shades on their back was as tough as a 3-inch steel plate.
Standing proudly on a pair of six small but thick legs: four in front and two in rear. These magical beasts' heads were similar to those of rhinoceroses, except for having larger eyes and longer horns. The group was a small pack consisting of four Monthers.
As they peacefully ate, the largest of them, which seems to be the only male and also their pack leader, stuck one of the trees with its horn. Due to this, the tree shook and from its crown fruits fell on the ground like raindrops.
Seeing this, the two smallest Monthers, who seem to be the children in the pack, started to eat the fallen fruits enthusiastically.
Karna, who was crouching a little far away, hiding behind a tree, was looking at all of this with a childlike expression. Seeing the first magical beast of his life, one that was not a carnivore, was a good thing for him.
He looked at the peaceful scene in front of him and felt a little calmness in his heart that he had lost since his arrival in this world.
But unbeknownst to these creatures and Karna, there were two sets of eyes looking towards the Monthers from a distance. Both sets of eyes belonged to a single creature; it was a magical beast, but not like the Monthers, but a ferocious predator.
The predator was crouching down behind bushes; its body was similar to that of a tiger in size, except it was far more ferocious and stronger than a tiger.
Its skin bore a gruesome blend of crimson and viridian, devoid of fur, hinting at its sinister nature. Four sets of eyes, gleaming with malevolence, fixated intently on a solitary figure among the group of children: Monthers.
With a mouth elongated like that of a wolf, the creature began to unhurriedly part its jaws, a grotesque display as its maw divided into five distinct sections.
The upper portion arched skyward, while the middle and lower sections unfurled like the petals of a sinister, nightmarish flower, unveiling its razor-edged of its shark-like teeth.
Within its cavernous mouth lay four long, sinuous tongues, each terminating in a wickedly hooked tooth, adding to the creature's dreadful countenance.
Just as it was about to pounce on its prey, the pack leader of Monthers raised his head and looked in its direction.
Realizing that somehow the Monther's pack leader had sensed its presence, the predator, without any care, pounced on its target with a roar that shook the area.
"ROOOAARR..."
The three Monthers and even Karna, who was far away, were surprised by the sudden attack, except for one: the pack leader, who moved his colossal body toward the predator, saving the little Monthers while using his body as a shield.
The two hook-like limbs unwrapped from the predator's back and dug themselves into the pack leader's back.
With its other four limbs also taking a good hold, it placed its horrifying mouth on the pack leader's back.
And with that, the pack leader howled in pain and started to shudder. The female Monther made her children back away hurriedly in horror, trying to hide her children behind herself.
The pack leader howled again in pain, but this time his howl contained his anger towards the predator.
Getting a hold of his body, he ran with all his might and crashed his back with the predator into a tree; due to the sheer force, the thick tree trunk shattered.
The predator on his back also winced in pain and soon fell to the ground. The leader, taking this chance, thrust his long horns towards the predator.
The predator, being quicker tried to dodge the attack by moving backward but was still scraped by the horn. The wound was not deep like the one the pack leader now bore on its back.
The predator's blood- and flesh-filled mouth was still wide open, and he roared in irritation and anger.
Again, the pack leader howled in anger and then tried to attack. The female Monther also came to his aid. The predator, feeling intimidated by all this, backed away, glancing at the wounded Monther leader.
All of this happened in less than two minutes.
With this small exchange ending, the pack leader's body suddenly fell to the ground. There was a bloody hole on its back where the predator had placed its mouth.
Blood continues to gush out of it. One could see that the tough skin of the Monther's pack leader had been ripped apart by the sharp, hook-like tongues of the predator.
The female and child Monthers approached the wounded Monther. The children were howling in sadness. While the female Monther was using her tongue to lick the wounded Monther's wounds.
The wounded Monther raised his neck and then howled toward the female Monther, who looked toward the children and then howled in return. She then pushed and tugged the children away from the pack leader and left the place.
Seeing this, Karna realized that they had left because of the predator, who might return at any given moment to complete it kill.
He also realized that the wounded Monther must have made the female Monther leave with the children.
Karna, seeing all this, sighed in sadness. He got up to also leave. Just then, he saw that the wounded leader was trying to get up from the ground, only to fall again, howling in pain.
Seeing this, he bit his lips and turned away. Clenching his jaw, Karna felt extremely uncomfortable with the situation that had taken place in front of him.
He knew that what had just happened now was natural, but it felt very wrong to him. His insides churned upon seeing the wailing children, Monthers.
Sighing again, he was about to leave when a memory of the past resurfaced in the sea of his consciousness.