Chapter 07: Errizel's death?

The mist continued to travel through the air, unnoticed. At least, the people within the room did not, but the King did.

He followed the mist movement from the corner of his eyes. It flew up to the ceiling, silently swaying the chandelier as it pass by. Then it stopped on top of his head as if teasing and challenging his authority as King.

The King made no reaction. His gaze was calm. He let the mist hover above his head as if he's not aware of its presence. However, his palm that was hidden from everyone's eyes turned to fist. Too much force was poured to the point where his veins bulged and threatened to burst.

The mist loomed for a little more while, then proceeded to the wall at the back of the King's throne. There, a painting was hung. It's a painting of a man with a blurred face. Nonetheless, his eyes were barely discernible. If you will examine this painting closely, you'll be able to find out that it's a hole in the painting's left eye. And this hole was at the size of a coin, enough for the mist to pass through.

After passing it through, the mist arrived in a dilapidated room. More than half of the room was occupied by deteriorating bookshelves which were also filled with millions of books. It was unknown for how long this was left untouched for it to be covered with thick dust; wherein, the book covers were no longer visible. Faint lines of spider webs between the book's edge and the shelves roof can be seen too. 

The source of light within the room was only a single window by its right side. With the sun setting, the room was a little dim. But it's enough to provide light on the table beside the window, where a middle-aged man sits leisurely and was playing a game of chess all by himself. His back was completely open from the mist's perspective.

About five meters away from the middle-aged man's back, the mist stopped. And then, a dagger popped up from it. Its tip was pointed in the direction of the unguarded middle-aged man.

'Swiiiiissshhh'

It's unknown if it's because of too much force or speed, but the dagger created a whistling noise while moving through the air. 

The middle-aged man, whether he heard it or not, seems to be not bothered in the least. He did not turn his head to look where the sound came from and only picked up a black queen piece, raised it in the air, and slowly put it to the square beside the white king chess piece. That move would mate the king and put this game to an end. However, before he can place the black queen in its destined square, the dagger arrived and slashed through his body.

At least, that's the result any spectators would foresee. After all, based on the speed of the dagger and the unaware demeanor of the middle-aged man, dodging seems to be an impossible feat. The middle-aged man's doom was an inevitable fact.

If there truly is a spectator, they were bound to be astounded. It was because just when the middle-aged man was about to put down the queen in its desired square, the dagger arrived and slashed through his body. No Rather, it passed through his body like he was some ghost, wind, or just an astral projection. Then buried himself on the wall in front. 

Anyone could imagine how much force was put in that dagger for it to have only the hilt remain visible. 

'Crrrkk'

Small pieces start to fall off from the wall. The middle-aged man, however, remains unconcerned as he was before. Finally, the black queen pieces base has landed on the board and the checkmate of the white king piece was done. Looking closely, you will find a dent on the middle part of the black queens body. The scrape was still glistening and anyone would be able to deduce how new it is. In fact, this dent is not present when the middle-aged man first raised it from the board.

Its fine that you havent gave up on your assassination yet, Erman, said the middle-aged man. 

But how will you answer on this damage done on my black queen piece? His gaze was on that little scrape. Seems like he noticed the dent. 

The mist gathered in one place and slowly formed a human silhouette. In not more than a minute, the silhouette slowly gained its flesh and colors. Starting from its feet, black fancy boots appeared. Followed by a skinny torso, slim body, hands with long nails, and a head with a black feather.

Right. This mist was no other than the man that was spying on Raze at the Ompus wilderness, Erman.

I see you havent changed, Great Elder,” Erman said in his coarse voice. He wasnt only referring to the middle-aged mans messy hair, unkempt shirt, and a slight stink he can smell even from this distance. Instead, he was referring to his skill. 

The middle-aged man, in fact, was not an astral projection nor a ghost. He has a physical form. As to why the dagger only passed through his body, thats nothing but an illusion to fool a mortals eye. But Erman was no mortal. Although he cant proudly say that he can see things in minute detail, he can at least see the shadows of the Great Elders movement.

Just before the dagger touch the middle-aged man's gray shirt, he tilted to the side and used the black queen to divert the direction of the dagger with a tap; that explains the dent on the black queens mid part. Those series of movement was done even before an eye can blink, thats why it created the illusion of not moving. 

The Great Elder turned his head to look at him. And he was astounded again by the beauty of the middle-aged man. An emerald green eyes partnered by a curly eyelash, pointed nose, and lush lips. If not because of those thick and slanted eyebrows, a menacing aura that seems to be lying in silence, and the lack of a bosom that a girl should possess, his gender would probably be questioned. 

Any news? said the Great Elder, cutting the chase.

Ermans face turned serious too and answered, Ompus wilderness.

It was only two words. But this information will put Raizel in another precarious situation.

…

Plop!

Thats the nth beast he killed. Coltons somber expression looked at the scattered corpses of the random beast he whipped to death, then look at the army of beasts still charging towards them. Hes a little exhausted now. But the killing and battle seems to be endless. The day has finally ended. Nightfall has begun. But the darkness is not enough to hinder or affect his fighting capabilities. Of course, the same goes for these beasts and monsters. 

He turned to look at the Young Miss and got ashamed. Erizel showed no fatigue or any signs of exhaustion on her face. She wields her sword with calmness and poise, slashing every enemy that comes her way. He shooked his head and smiled. 

The Young Miss has been taught well, he thought. 

He removed the slight feeling of helplessness and moved his whip into action. If a twelve-year-old kid can face this danger with calmness then he shouldnt feel distressed, or else he will shame his mentors and his years of training.

On the other hand, Errizel really wasnt as calm as she portrays to be. She can feel the fast depletion of her iev. Her hands were going numb. The exhaustion of her knees is starting to slow her down. It is not yet enough to affect her battle capabilities, but it surely will show its effect in the long term. 

Seeing the endless waves of beast and monster with a level you should never consider as a joke, she can only narrow her eyes and grit her teeth. 

While the three Kings of this wilderness hasnt arrived yet, they must lessen those numbers and save as much time as they can for the barrier. 

Her father wont be able to help them because he will focus on the sealing of her sisters pureblood ability. Because she's been taught of all the necessary things she need to fully function as a cultivator, she also knew the pros and cons of a pureblood. Its a heavenly treasure in a human form. So sealing it requires great focus. Any wrong move in the process might backfire on the person sealing it or would kill the purebloods' possessor. Neither of those things was acceptable. 

The maids wont be able to help too. It would at least take them three days to fully activate the runic portal. Her mother is in her weakest state due to birthing. In short, in this household, only she and Colton can stand up and do this task. It cant be helped, everyones hand was just too full to bother them and ask for assistance. 

While she was preoccupied with this thought, her feet were caught by a green tentacle and was dragged upward. But her reaction was fast. She flipped her body in the air and forcedly curved her body to deliver a slash towards the green tentacle.

Clank!

Sparks flew due to the collision. Her already numb hands nearly caused her to drop her sword due to the intense vibration. 

It wasnt slashed! The tentacle wasnt slashed. Not good! The owner of the tentacle was no ordinary beast. That metallic sound means that it was a plantea beast called.

“Strinthles,” said Errizel with a grave tone. Its a plantea that uses its tentacles to nourish itself instead of its roots. It's skin was as hard as metals. No sword can cut it.

If Raizel will see it, she'll be surprised how similar the appearance it has to an air plant called Tillandsia Bulbosa Guatemala in Earth. Only, it was larger in size, carnivorous, and have a fearsome mouth filled with razor-like teeth in its bulb.

Her calm facade was finally broken and a sign of distress can be seen between her eyebrows. But the richness of her training and battle experience made her immediately calm down and think of a way to get out of this danger. If her guess was right, this type of beast always comes in a group.

She doesnt have to guess that long before she saw sprouts of smaller tentacles shooting from the ground one after another. One strinthle is already dangerous enough to kill her for nth times. An additional of another one doesnt allow her to survive. And a group means certain death. 

This type of plantea beast is listed on the top threes most dangerous creature, below the three Kings, found in Ompus wilderness. Even Colton has only a .000001 percentage of survival if he faces this.

Speaking of Colton, he saw how his Young Miss was put in a dangerous situation. He immediately rushed to help. But the distance and the beasts he was fighting doesnt allow him to do it. He can only watch helplessly as shoots of tentacles crowded over the elegant Young Miss. The Miss would surely be turned into mincemeat. 

Colton became depressed of this realization.

If only there is fire- hey, thats it! The weakness of a strinthle is a fire. These seemingly undefeatable plantea fear seems invincible but they fear even a single dust of embers. In fact, they even fear the sun and only came out during night time. Only when they reach a certain level would they bath themselves in sunlight but with a limited time.

Hopefully, the beast isnt at that level yet.

Fire, Young Miss! They fear the fire! he shouted. If he cant reach her, then his voice can. He dont know how she will do it, but that is the least thing he can do.

…

Errizel was crazily combing every information about strinthles inside her mind. Her adrenaline was put to use and helps her mind to run at fast pace to the point that she was put in an illusion that her surrounding was in a slow motion. She was able to notice the fear and despair in Coltons eyes as he stares at her. His mouth opened and shouted,

Fire, Young Miss! They fear the fire!

Fire? But how can she generate a fire? All she have with her is a sword. It's not like she has never thought of it. Just that, her iev was nearly depleted. Its not enough to generate a fire. Generating a fire is impossible. But she can't think of any other solution.

Is this her end? Will she this be her death? It was at that moment when suddenly..