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Chapter 31 - The Encounter II

The reppit, startled by the commotion, let out a sharp squeak and darted away into the bushes. The sound of the fleeing creature caught the attention of the other soldiers.

Garron was the first to arrive, his sword drawn, ready for anything. But what he saw sent a wave of fury through him. There, in the clearing, was the black goo, still feeding on Ryn's body.

Without hesitation, Garron swung his sword, channeling his mana into the blade to cast a fiery slash toward the creature. The flaming arc of energy struck the goo squarely, but instead of being destroyed, the creature absorbed the spell. The flames disappeared into its inky mass without leaving so much as a scorch mark.

Garron's eyes widened in shock. "Impossible…" he muttered. No creature in the world could absorb magic in such a way. Mana-infused attacks contained the will and imagination of the caster, making them impervious to being absorbed by living beings. 

The rest of the squad arrived just as Garron ordered a new approach. "Attack it physically! Magic won't work!"

One of the soldiers, his spear glowing with ice mana, charged forward and thrust his weapon at the creature. At the same time, the mage cast a fireball from above, hoping to catch the creature off guard. But just like before, the ice lance and the fireball were absorbed into the goo's body without leaving a trace.

Frustrated, the soldier swung his spear in a wide arc, hoping to strike the creature with brute force. But the black goo, now disturbed from its feeding, reacted violently. It extended a part of its body like a spike, shooting forward with blinding speed. The spike pierced Garron's stomach, shattering his sword and sending him crashing to the ground.

The other soldier, enraged by the sight of his captain being impaled, rushed forward with his spear. But the goo detached from Ryn's body and shot another spike toward the charging soldier. The black tendril pierced through his skull, splattering blood and brain matter across the forest floor.

The mage, now terrified, tried to escape, his mind filled with panic. But the creature's detached spike, still slick with blood, slithered through the air and impaled the mage through the heart. His body fell limply from the sky, landing with a thud in the bushes as blood rained down on Garron's face.

Garron, clutching his stomach, realized with horror that he was the last one left. Knowing his time was short, Garron fumbled for his communication device. He pressed it into the grass, pouring the last of his mana into it as the black goo reformed its mass and began moving toward him.

"We found the creature… resembles black goo… absorbs our magic attacks… killed all my squad… it's coming to feed on…"

Before Garron could finish, the black goo surged forward, beheading him in one swift motion. The device went silent as the mana was cut off. The creature slithered over Garron's lifeless body, and the last of Squad 16 fell into the growing darkness.

The message traveled through the roots and trees, reaching the base at the foot of the mountain, where the commanders listened in horror, knowing that they were facing something far more dangerous than they had ever anticipated.

 *__________________________*

The early morning sun bathed the camp in a golden glow as Vorian and his companions gathered around the long table for breakfast. The atmosphere was calm, and the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling meats filled the air.

Vorian sat at the head of the table, calmly slicing into his meal while his companions chatted softly around him. Anastasia sat nearby, deep in conversation with Selena, while Elara doted on little Zeph, who was resting in a cradle beside her and Eregon was focused in eating while listening to Anastasia's and Selena's conversation .

Their peaceful morning was suddenly interrupted when the door to the inn was flung open. The general, Rubios strode in with urgency. His armor clinked softly with each step, but what caught everyone's attention was his unusually serious demeanor. Without hesitation, Rubios knelt before Vorian, his head bowed.

"My lord," the general began, his voice steady but filled with tension, "last night, one of our squads encountered the creature responsible for the massacre in Perey."

At the mention of the creature, the entire table fell silent. The soft clinking of utensils stopped as everyone turned to listen. Vorian's companions exchanged concerned glances, the weight of the general's words sinking in.

The general continued, "The creature appears to be made of black goo, and from the final report we received from the squad's captain, it seems capable of absorbing magical attacks."

Vorian's eyes narrowed. He had heard of strange beasts and powerful creatures before, but one that could absorb magic was almost unheard of. His mind quickly processed the implications. "Are you certain?" Vorian asked, his tone measured but serious. "It absorbed magical attacks?"

The general nodded grimly. "Yes, my lord. That was the captain's final report before we lost contact with them. We fear the entire squad has been wiped out."

The gravity of the situation settled in the air, and a moment of heavy silence followed. Vorian leaned back slightly in his chair, his sharp gaze fixed on the general. The thought of a creature that could neutralize magic was troubling.

Magic was often the empire's most powerful tool, and if this creature could render it useless, they were facing a threat unlike any other.

The general cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "My lord," he began again, "we have formed a task force to hunt down and eliminate the creature. However, given what we've learned from the report, we believe it may be nearly impossible to capture it alive. But… if we could capture it, even at great risk, the empire's scholars could study it. There may be a way to harness the creature's abilities to create powerful new weapons, ones that could give the empire an advantage in future conflicts."

The general's voice was steady but laced with urgency. He had laid out the stakes clearly. Bringing the creature back alive could provide immense benefits to the empire, possibly shifting the balance of power. But it would be dangerous—potentially fatal for anyone involved.

Seeing the merit in the general's words, Vorian set down his knife and fork. He had long been the strongest warrior in the empire, and this mission could prove crucial to maintaining the empire's dominance.

After a brief moment of consideration, he nodded. "Very well," Vorian said, his tone decisive. "Prepare the task force. We'll leave as soon as I've finished my breakfast."

The general's shoulders relaxed slightly, the relief clear on his face. Securing Vorian's participation was the key to the mission's success.

The empire's mightiest warrior was now leading the charge. The general stood up from his kneeling position and gave a formal salute. "Understood, my lord," he said, turning to leave.

Just as the general was about to exit, Vorian called out to him, stopping him in his tracks. "Also," Vorian added, "ensure that Anastasia can see the viscount's body while we're gone."

The general nodded firmly. "Understood, sir," he replied before leaving the tent, his footsteps quickly fading into the distance as he went to prepare for the mission.

As the general's presence faded, Anastasia, who had been listening quietly, turned to Selena. There was a quiet resolve in her voice as she spoke. "Would you come with me to see my grandfather's body?"

Selena, always a source of support for Anastasia, nodded compassionately. "Of course, Anastasia. I will stay by your side for as long as you need me."

Anastasia gave a small, grateful smile, and the two women exchanged a look of mutual understanding. Anastasia's heart was heavy with the loss of her grandfather, the viscount.

Selena then turned toward Elara, who was gently rocking Zeph's cradle. "Elara, could you take care of Zeph while I'm gone?" Selena asked kindly. "Make sure he has his breakfast, prepare some baby soup in the kitchen. He loves that."

Elara smiled warmly. "Don't worry, Mistress. I'll take good care of him," she assured.

After everyone left the table to their respective duties, Elara took Zeph to his room and laid him down on his cradle. she then went downstairs to prepare the baby soup for Zeph. A dark shadow on the nearby tree was observing these actions.