Yadha Dakhak
Since when were they so strong!? What happened in the last month? How did they become so powerful? And who was that guy who had just transformed into a bear?
My eyes widened as I watched the scene unfold. The man stood in the middle of a sea of creatures, easily slicing down any attackers who dared to approach him.
Honestly, it was terrifying to watch. He and his followers—Rakahn, Dahlia, and two other soldiers—stood at the front lines, relentlessly slaughtering the creatures that tried to breach their barricade. The few that managed to slip past their defenses were swiftly finished off by the rest of the clan, and to show their nonchalance, they even formed teams to collect the essence stones.
Since their arrival, the number of enemies had been decreasing at breakneck speed, leaving me speechless.
It took just five people to decimate these vicious creatures, yet I noticed that even when cornered, the creatures did not back down. Even if they lacked intelligence, their animal instincts should have warned them to flee from their impending doom.
"It was like being thrown into the den of a wolf," I thought.
In the mouth of the wolf? I was in there too. I could never have predicted such a turnaround; Rakahn was strong enough to compete with me, yet I had always won our duels. How could I escape this situation? How could I prevent the wolf from clamping down on its prey?
I remained hidden in the far corner of the village while the man called for a gathering to discuss the upcoming battles—or at least, that's what he claimed...
Later that night, when Viola came to keep me company, she wore a dark expression. As I tried to understand what troubled her, she explained that the Orleth clan had undergone significant changes.
Apparently, the man with them was their master, and it was he who had made them so strong.
"It makes sense!" I thought to myself. "Why else would they become so powerful? Normally, they would need to ally with two clans to have a chance against us, but now, in terms of pure physical strength, which we prided ourselves on in the Dhakat clan, we would be overwhelmed by them—if my clan still existed."
A sudden noise broke my focus, and my dull expression turned to suspicion.
Someone was approaching my position.
As I heightened my mana senses, a cold sensation washed over me, and my hair stood on end, sending goosebumps racing across my skin.
"What is that? What is that feeling?" Viola asked, her voice tense. "I sense someone approaching."
"Me too," I replied. "Maybe it's Sir Akumu?"
"I think you're wrong," she declared, trembling as she stroked her arm.
I had heard that Sir Akumu possessed enough mana to rival monster-class creatures. Perhaps it was him who was releasing an "aura" he had hidden until now?
"We elves are sensitive to mana and can distinguish the signature emitted by every person or demonic creature," she explained, her expression growing darker. "I know Sir Akumu's mana signature well."
I looked at her; her beautiful face twisted with terror. I swallowed hard as she continued.
"The aura is much denser and more refined than Sir Akumu's, and it seems the owner isn't even trying to hide it."
If it wasn't Sir Akumu, then who could it be?
A shiver ran down my spine as I realized I had been spotted.
"How does he know I'm here? I concealed my mana!" I muttered to Viola as we crouched behind the hedge to hide.
A whistle followed by a thunderous crash made me flinch as a sharply sliced tree trunk fell near me, shaking the ground beneath my feet.
I wanted to scream, but no sound came out. I was paralyzed, my eyes wide with terror, my lips numb as the man lowered himself in front of me.
"You're from the Dhakat clan, aren't you?" he asked, his voice contrasting sharply with the presence he radiated.
I could only nod; that was all I could manage as I assessed his figure.
He was a striking dark-haired man. His black hair hung over his face, giving him an air of both youth and maturity. His face twisted into a smile as he regarded me with a dangerously lustful look.
"Well, I'm going to ask you to follow me," he declared.
"Shit, I'm done for!!"
I squeezed Viola's hand tightly as I rose to comply.
"What was he going to do to me? Torture me? Abuse me? Judging by his perverted look, he likely had many unsavory things in mind," I thought.
I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to chase away the racing thoughts as I held on tightly to Viola.