Chapter 122: Inviting The Group leaders [3]

Dust and stone shards fell as Tarun climbed a flat cliff.He was at the sharp mountain about two kilometres east of the camp of the central campsite at the periphery of the purple fog forest, and was climbing the cliff to the settlement of the group leader, Drokan.

Sweat drenched him, and dust clung to him, but he continued to climb while shivering under the abuse of the cold wind.

After a few minutes, his hands finally reached the top, and a groan slid out as he pushed himself up.

He dragged himself a few steps away from the edge and sprawled on the ground.

Tired breaths escaped him, and he muttered, "That was fun..."

"You are still the same."

His eyes widened as the words reached him. He struggled to sit up and turned his head towards the voice.

A few steps away from him stood a broad-shouldered man with a body full of dense muscles perfected by the restless combat, and the scars across his body were highlighted due to his bronze-tanned skin.

His amber-gold eyes had an experienced sharpness, and his dark braided hair was pulled back from his face, resembling a crown.

Just as that man fell into Tarun’s vision, Tarun’s lips stretched into a wide smile, and he muttered, "Drokan."

Drokan’s lips arched upwards, and he asked, "What are you lying here, lamb?"

Tarun’s grin faltered; he gritted his teeth and growled, "Shut up!" His aura flared, and he continued, "I am not a lamb!"

Drokan’s eyebrow rose in surprise, and he mumbled, "You have awakened your aura?"

A smug look appeared on Tarun’s face, and he answered, "I awakened it a few months back. Why? Shocked that I did it before you had awakened yours, huh?"

Drokan’s eyes shone with curiosity, and he muttered, "Indeed... I awakened my at the age of twenty-two." He smiled warmly and added, "You’ve always been a talented one."

Tarun smiled sheepishly and remarked in his head, ’I wonder how he would react after finding out about the others...’

Thud!

A tremor ran through the ground as he placed down his heavy battle axe and asked while holding the end of its handle with both of his hands, "Why are you here? I don’t believe it’s to join my group."

Tarun rose from the ground, wiped off the dust clinging to his body and answered with a shake of his head, "Join your group? Heh. You wish. I am here to give you my liege’s invite."

Drokan’s brows knit together, and he asked, "Your *liege*? Are you under some other group leader?"

A smile appeared on Tarun’s face, and he answered with a prideful gleam in his eyes, "I am."

The corners of Drokan’s lips arched upwards, and he mumbled under his breath, "Looks like he is living a better life without you."

Tarun frowned, stepped closer to him and asked with a tilted head, "Did you say something?"

Drokan stared into his eyes for a few moments before he nodded.

He lifted his heavy battle axe, rested it on his shoulder and said evenly, "Follow me."

A puzzled expression appeared on Tarun’s face but he didn’t ask anything and remarked inwardly, ’Something’s wrong...’

As they walked towards the settlement, Drokan spoke, "I haven’t received any mission or order in the past month."

Tarun’s frown deepened. "What?"

Noticing his confusion, Drokan asked, "Is something going on at the tribe?"

Tarun nodded and began to tell him about everything that had happened in the past few weeks.

"So, first, that wretch was killed by the ruler of the purple forest, then Rion fought against that bastard, and the sovereign killed him. After that, Rion was appointed as Tarek’s successor because of his monstrous talent and strength. Did I get something wrong?" Drokan asked while rubbing his chin.

Tarun shook his head, and both of them reached his group’s settlement.

His group members walked out to greet him, but he lifted his hand to stop them. Their eyes shifted towards Tarun, and one of them mumbled, "Would he be fine...?"

Even though the words were barely audible, Tarun heard them, and his expression darkened even further.

After a few moments, they stepped inside Drokan’s hut and just as he looked inside, his eyes fell on two women lying asleep in a fur bed.

Seeing that, Tarun shook his head and muttered, "You are actually planning to have two wives?"

"Mhm," Drokan nodded, silently placed his axe by the wall so as not to wake them up and said, "I love them too much to leave any of them."

Tarun chuckled, and Drokan mumbled with a serious expression, "Follow me."

Tarun gave him a faint nod and followed behind him.

They walked out of the door and made their way towards a cave that was covered with thick wooden planks.

Drokan grabbed two of the planks and muttered darkly while throwing them aside, "I knew that you would be coming."

A bad premonition shrouded Tarun, and the ground shook.

Thud!

The heavy planks hit the ground, and Tarun froze in his spot.

His knees gave out, his heart began to beat wildly, and his eyes trembled in shock and fear.

His lips quivered violently, and he lifted his trembling hand and pointed at the cave’s entrance.

"W-Why is h-he here...?"

Within the cave sat a single person or... body, and Tarun knew that body very well. It’s of the person who had once commanded him like a puppet — Kiroa.

Drokan didn’t say anything, and Tarun bawled, "W-Why is he d-dead?"

His face contorted in fury as he roared with tears streaming down his face, "I should’ve been the one to kill that fucker! SO WHY?!"

Drokan patted his shoulder and mumbled, "I know how much you wanted to rip him apart with your own fists, but I had no other choice but to put him down."

Tarun turned his head towards him like a broken toy, his lips parted slowly, and he muttered, "What?"

Drokan’s jaw hardened at his hollow eyes, and he stated, "We thought too little of the ruler of the purple... They were always with us... playing the role of our friends or family."

His eyes shifted towards Kiroa’s body, which had multiple thick purple veins, and he added, "Waiting for the right moment to attack us."

A broken chuckle escaped Tarun.