Chapter 145: Unnatural events.

Chapter 145: Unnatural events."It’s probably not the worst place to be." Deen pondered out loud.

"Compared to Ashland? No." Edward agreed.

The two sat next to a couple of larger rocks where they decided to camp for the night. The place gave them partial natural protection and if dreadtalons attacked, at least they didn’t need to watch their backs.

During the past days they tried to rush through this barren region, but after spending a year in Ashland they wouldn’t become depressed even if they had to live here. It was just tiring.

Munching on the last pieces of the dried bread he still had, Deen said, "We’re lucky she tries to take care of us."

"Lucky?" Edward repeated, deep in thought, "I don’t think so."

"What do you mean? Among the outer disciples we’re probably the oldest people who were allowed to come!" Deen said, "And I’m surely the only elemental warrior among them!"

"That part is correct." Edward agreed, "That’s why I feel there is something wrong with the whole situation."

"Sigh ... how come you can’t acknowledge that Senior Sister Victoria is just trying to make sure we’re doing good?" Deen asked.

"Because she never would." Edward said, "I know she pulled some strings to get us in here, but I don’t like it!"

"I do like it!" Deen said, "Me and you, we will always remain outer disciples and you saw how they had to work till the end of their days. Sigh ... I really miss home ..."



"Are you sure you don’t miss lazing around all day, doing nothing?" Edward grinned, but this time Deen didn’t even try to refute.

"Brown dreadtalons!" Edward said, pulled his sword out, and Deen turned serious as well.

"Good thing you’ve become so strong during the past two years." He said to Edward, preparing for the pack of eight brown raptors running their way, "Otherwise I would’ve had to use my spark and probably die in the process."

"I practice a lot!" Edward said, and attacked the closest dreadtalon first. After killing it, he paused, and said, "You know you can train your abilities, right? It’s not like there is much else we can do!"

For the next fifteen breaths they both were busy with the beasts, but this wasn’t their first fight. In fact, it lasted so long because both took their time, making sure neither was in danger of getting injured.

"Don’t you think this is weird?" Edward asked.

"What?" Deen said.

"The packs never come one after another in succession!" Edward said, and pointed in the distance where six more dreadtalons were rushing their way.

The numbers weren’t scary – it was just annoying. They were tired after running for half a day and wanted to rest.

"I wish Senior Sister Victoria was here." Deen looked at the approaching pack, then at his sword, then at the pack again, sighed, and prepared for the next fight.

"You do realize she never thought of herself as your Senior Sister?" Edward asked, "She’s still the same haughty princess who thinks she’s above anyone else."

"But she is!" Deen said, "And they say she has divine body. In fact, that body kind of had to be yours, right? You were her finace!"

During the past year he teased Edward in this manner, but the latter knew there was no malice behind Deen’s words. The guy was exhausted and tried to be funny in his own stupid way.

When the pack arrived, it took a while for the two to clean it up. There were only few beasts, but with the initial charge, one managed to bump in Deen’s chest, throwing him on the ground.

Only by miraculous coincidence Edward managed to jump over to his side and kill the two nearest dreadtalons, giving Deen the time to get back on his feet. With the other four they dealt slowly and patiently like always, except both knew they were getting more and more tired.



"There are too many dead bodies here. The smell of blood might attract more beasts." Edward said, "Let’s move out before it gets too dark."

"Sure!" Deen agreed, "Let’s just get the claws first ... right ... Edward. I always wanted to ask you. Did you know Victoria actually ignited her own spark and wasn’t a crappy elemental warrior like I am?"

"What do you think?" Edward said, his expression turning complicated, "I was supposed to be father of the next emperor so it’s only natural this secret was shared with me. Why do you think Vallen Sunwell was as strong? The Sunwell royal family carefully guarded this secret for generations."

"Fuck!" Deen cursed, ignoring what Edward said, "Another pack!"

"Something’s wrong!" Edward said, "Let’s go! We’ll kill them while retreating!"

Since the day they arrived, there had never been a situation that two packs in succession attacked while they camped for the night. And normally the dreadtalons were going to sleep with the sunset, but now another pack of eight was about to attack.

If they met random eight beasts during the day, they would’ve never complained. On the contrary – those would’ve been seen as living and breathing contribution points. The problem was – they were not capable to keep on fighting for long.

"Look! There’s a something like a cliff in the distance!" Deen said, "Let’s go there and try to climb up. It surely has to be safer than here."

"That’s the first good idea you had in months!" Edward said with a grin, and they both met the eight incoming dreadtalons."

This time it took them over thirty breaths to deal with the beasts. After the last one fell, Deen’s left arm was bleeding, but after crudely bandaging it with the already bloodied sleeve, he followed Edward toward the cliff in the distance.

On the way they were caught by another dreadtalon pack, this time a smaller one – only with five beasts. But this time they even continued to move towards the cliff while fighting.

Neither had the idea of cutting off beast claws since it would only waste their time. The current attacks were clearly unnatural, and both got this ominous feeling that something bad was about to happen.

Fortunately there were no more attacks till they got to the cliff.

It turned out to be more like a rock formation, and with how dark the stones were it was hard climb up. Neither complained about the bruises they got, though.

The sun had set and it was hard to see in the darkness, but even under the weak lighting of the stars they felt they could discern dreadtalons moving below. Or maybe that was only an illusion.



"I think we’re good here." Edward said when they were around fifteen feet above the ground.

"One of us should stay awake, just in case." Deen said.

"Ye, like we’ll be able to sleep now." Edward forced a laugh, but then got serious, and asked, "How’s your arm?"

"I’ll live." Deen said, "But I should get it properly bandaged first. Could you help me to ... fuck! ... arhh ..."

The moment Deen began to take off the bandage, something jumped on his back and bit his shoulder. And while trying to shake the thing off, he slipped.

Before Edward managed to say or ask anything, he noticed few more shadows moving behind him, and immediately slashed his sword in that direction. He was in a slight panic mode not knowing what happened to his buddy, but the next moment the panic turned into despair.

Down below Deen lit up in red flames, shouting, "You motherfuckers!" I’ll kill every last one of you!"

Edward didn’t have time to even glance his way, because he was surrounded by more than ten dark colored dreadtalons some of which already were jumping at him.

Deen continued to loudly curse, while Edward killed a couple of beasts and retreated to the edge of the rock. After weighing his options, he decisively jumped down and recovered with a roll, on the way bumping into a fist size rock. His cracked rib was nothing compared to the injuries Deen had sustained, though.

Of the first raptor who leapt at him atop the rock, only the head was left. But even though it was burnt to a crisp, it still dangled biting Deen’s shoulder.

His left leg was awkwardly bent, but he ignored the pain and was currently fighting off six or seven brown dreadtalons who apparently were waiting for them below. Several were already dead, and their burn bodies lie nearby, filling the air with the smell of burned meat.

Edward didn’t think much and dived into the pack. Even if he wanted to retreat he had no place to run to. Thus his only option was to try and save his comrade in hopes they could survive the ordeal.