"It's hard to tell whether Leopold will send any men after us considering the risk this place has." Ender mused as his dark obsidian eyes gleamed in the dark.
"Let's hope not. And besides, we can leave traps all over the places given that they too will be turned into humans, they'll have no way of telling their there." Boone added as a smile washed upon his face.
"The more I think about it, the more unlikely he'll do it as I assume that we'd do such a thing but we can't be careless because of this. Let's move farther away from Aewdwen before we plant those traps."
"We also can't go back as he'd expect us to do that as well, the only chance that we have is heading towards Miragestia however considering that Leopold sent us, it is safe to assume that something dangerous is lurking over there."
They had just settled here thus if they placed any traps here, it would be too obvious thus they had to venture a little deeper. "This must be a stroke of luck." One of them mused with joy on his face.
To think that they would go unpunished for the crimes they had committed was something they viewed as a stroke of pure luck. "Very well, we have to rely on our wits since we no longer have our tier ranking."
"Some of you plant traps all over the camp while others go watch our surroundings." Ender ordered to which the men got to work. A couple of hours later were they done. "Okay, we'll advance tomorrow."
Ender mused as he readied himself to head back to bed. 'To think that I would revert back to being a mortal.' Trinkets and artifacts that reduced the ranking of someone was something that had never been heard off not to mention a use for it wouldn't be all that beneficial.
Sure for planting moles however that also depended on other factors as well thus such means were not that important to anyone. After a few minutes of silence, the sounds of crickets and other insignificant insects could be heard.
Given that now he lacked his tier, Ender similar to his men didn't drop their guard. Sure they had their freedom but it would be a pity if they did only to die right after.
*BOOOOOOOOM*
The sounds of a loud explosion could be heard reverberating through the air which woke the squad up. With how loud it was, it was impossible for one to not hear it unless they were deaf.
Ender hastily rose to his feet as he looked at the direction. He realized where it was. "It seems to have come where the second party was!" Boone pointed out which made Ender slightly wary.
He was glad that the distance between the two was monumental however what caused the explosion was what worried him. "It would seem that they encountered a stray group or ran into a creature that utilizes fire."
Boone posed however Ender dismissed it. "Given that the strange effects work even to animals provided they have a mana disc core, the chances are that they ran into a group."
"That would explain why there are no creatures in this area. Because they all shifted to another place if what happened to us affects them as well." At first, he was glad that he hadn't ran into any wild beasts however the more it went on, the more ominous it was.
'That would mean that either there was an apex predator about, a demon that roamed or that the environment wasn't suitable but given how lush this place is, it can't be the last.' That was his conclusion before he lost his tier ranking.
"So should we move or stay. Estimating the distance, it would take them at least five hours to get here considering they were on foot, five on pack animals." Boone estimated.
Either way, they had a lot of time on their hands before the same party arrived where they were. Considering that they would have to face the members of that party first under the assumption that they were still mortals would add more time to them.
"Provided they aren't high in number and place traps, we should be able to kill them eas-" Before Boone could finish off his sentence, the last thing he saw was a dark gleam of a blade.
*Plop*
Boone's head was cut clean off his body, right through his eyes which exposed his brain matter and his lower jaw perfectly. The rest grew wary as they gathered to form a ball, their back facing the other having a good scope of their surroundings.
"With how fast Boone died, it seemed that he was cut in half by a sword but for one to cut that fast, they would need to- Orrgghhh!!!!"
One who was analyzing Boone's head had something lodged in his mouth. "Orrgghh!!" The remaining three grew wary as they cast him out of the circle. Fearful of what or who was out there, he tried to crawl back to his comrades however...
*BOOM*
And just like a pimple, the bomb that was lodged in his mouth went off ending his life but what took the three remaining by surprise was the materials that constituted the bomb leapt back into the shadowy foliage of the jungle.
"What was that?!" Their faces were shook as beads of sweat coated their bodies, wondering what had killed off one of their own. "We're going to die if we stay here!!!"
Another commented as they tried to preserve their life, his figure masked by the foliage. "Arghhh!!!!" The sounds of his screams followed shortly after leaving two in their back to back circle.
With their ranking gone, they were basically sitting ducks waiting for death. They weren't given any weapons when they embarked on his journey thus what they had were their wits and their fists.
"Since it seems that we're going to meet out end here-" The man brushing Ender's back was shot down by a spear that melded itself into the ground vanishing without a trace leaving Ender alone.
His breathes grew more and more anxious as his eyes tried to find the source as strange black shadowy figures appeared at the edges of his eyes but once looking, there was no one there.
He constantly shifted around to see but given how dark it was and the clouds were obstructing the light of the moon, he was as blind as a bat. The sounds of his breathing grew so loud that it was the only thing that he could hear.
Realizing that getting tense was probably the first step of dying, he tried to calm himself down until he felt something at the back of his head. It was cold however it wasn't a sword or a spear.
Before having the chance of knowing what it was...
*BANG*
A bullet sized hole appeared in his head ending his life as his body fell to the ground. The image of the one that had killed off the five was finally revealed. A sleek black suit that gleamed faintly in the moonlight as the matter imbedded in Ender's skull crawled out and attached itself back with his suit.
It was a member of the hundred elite of Sevyn's army.
*Whoosh*
And just like that, his figure vanished once more.
*The next day*
Leopold was woken up by his beautiful wife which was something he hadn't expected. "Darling, there is something on the castle walls!" Wondering what the issue was, he readied himself as he switched out of his night clothing and into something more fitting.
Stepping right outside of the castle, he was both horrified and disgusted with what he saw. Ten figures were crucified, their bodies flayed as their appendages were supported by metal beams.
Looking closer, one could see flies already gathering as they started to feast on the exposed rotting flesh. Their bones were bent in weird ways which seemed rather bizarre.
"Father, it's a message!" Torin pointed out as he looked at the blood that was smeared on his walls.
"STAY AWAY FROM MIRAGESTIA"
It read clearly however he was shocked with what he heard next. "It would seem that these are the convicts that we had lost yesterday last night." Torin added which baffled him.
What did this implicate, it was a threat however it would seem that it leaned more into being a warning than an actual threat. Some of those present were disgusted as they saw it.
"Well what are you waiting for? Take those bodies down!" A voice echoed aiming towards the guards however Leopold was in distraught as he was trapped in his own mind.
'For them to waltz in my kingdom so brazenly and do this? How little do they think of me? This is no doubt the work of those vile demons! The demonic queen has no doubt crossed the lines this time!'
Leopold charged back into his castle, it was an understatement to say that he was furious. Of course he was rational as he knew that doing anything when blinded by rage would be pure folly.
He calmed down as he leaned into his chair. 'For that bitch to do something like this, she definitely has her reasons.'
*Meanwhile In Sablestone*
A small rose manifested in Sevyn's hand as her figure was facing towards a window that overlooked the kingdom. A figure flashed, similar to the one that had made quick work of the convicts.
"My Queen. We have been able to finish off the final details of your base in Miragestia." The voice was hollow and robotic as its owner fell to one knee. "As for those fools that were trespassing have been disposed off as well."
The rose in her hand however wasn't a regular one as it was constituted of a strange alien slime. "Nice work." And just as silent as the figure appeared did it take it's leave.
'The meeting is only two weeks away. I'm sure that Leopold will think that it was the demons that did that thus I'll clear the matter by declaring Sablestone claims Miragestia. A shock to the world no doubt.'
She had already sent caravans and traders over to Miragestia as she would declare her ownership later that day. 'The demonic queen, I am truly intrigued of your presence.'
She had been informed before hand that she wouldn't be that much of a problem to deal with and with her hosting her, it would no doubt make others suspicious of her.
But that was it, suspicions and nothing more of it. 'So what if I talk with the demonic queen? What can they do?' The rose in her hand sunk into her palm as she swiveled her chair around exposing her figure.
Her purple hair dropping in a majestic manner as her entire figure was covered in a strange black slime that she had getting accustomed to. Her eyes now landed on the back of her castle, not far from it, there was a fresh batch of soldiers that were under training.
Given that she currently "lacked" a proper army as her general "passed" away in battle, she was already training the next batch of elites however in terms of prowess, her personal army would be far superior.
*Meanwhile In Bramblewood*
Inside a calmly dead room was a gorgeous lady who sat in front of a mirror as she inspected herself. It was Vivienne and she had gotten accustomed to the light as she could now see with no problems.
Her golden locks which had a hazel nut tint at the end as her golden eyes radiated a mystical and otherworldly aura however she was the only one who could see them.
"Vivienne, darling. You have your next match today." The sound of Narandial echoed through the room as her sparkling lively eyes landed on her daughter's figure.
Vivienne had grown more apathetic to the sport as nothing posed as a challenge for her. Either her opponents forfeiting or falling even before they could react to what happened.
"..." She calmly stood up as she made her way towards the carriage. Her eyes landed watching the outside world pass by her.
"So are you excited sweetie?" Narandial asked as she saw Vivienne engrossed with the window outside. "To think that you would be facing Lirale Frostbloom!" Julian added to spice it up however his attempts fell flat.
"There's no excitement if you already know who is going to win." Her hand supporting her head at the window frame as she didn't even cast a single glance at the two. Her tone apathetic as always.