Chapter 08 – Encounters

Just before the explosion, when Zuusha left Kalpa on her own, she released her own mana into the atmosphere to check for the intruders. Unlike Zuusha, she didn't have her own domain that she would control. She would only have to rely on extending her mana and sensing through them. Soon enough, her mana started to run rampant in the air and finally fused with earth. But her initial goal was fulfilled when she found a group of humans just outside of Zuusha's fog.

She didn't waste any time and went in their direction. Just as she took several steps opposite the temple, the spell exploded and she was thrown away a little by the shock wave. Though the explosion didn't even put a scratch on her body, its impact was enough to off-throw her senses for a little while. But just after a few seconds, she regained her senses and a frown appeared on her beautiful face as she got up.

"Those detestable creatures who can't even wield magic, they made me fall and brought dust to my body!!"

Gritting her teeth, she rushed towards those humans with hatred filling her every core and just when she was nearing them, she stopped in her tracks and looked to her right. More precisely to the tree that was on her right.

"Come out, you filthy ape!!"

Clenching her fist, she stroked that tree and brought it down without causing any more damage. She wouldn't want the person who was hiding behind it to die so easily. She would make everyone suffer as much as she can until they die miserably. That was the punishment she thought after the explosion.

"I didn't expect much, but still, I thought I was well hidden. You have good eyes miss"

A man wearing a black hood and pants came out raising his empty hands from the next tree. He also wore a black mask that covered his half-face, revealing only brown eyes. There was also a hunter's rifle hanging behind his back.

When Kalpa passed through the tree, she sensed some mana that was being absorbed by that tree and when she stopped and took in some smell, she figured it was a human.

"What sorcery are you using to wield mana? Worm-like you should just die like the rest of the worms"

After seeing him, Kalpa just wouldn't tolerate an insignificant existence like him causing trouble for her. It was beyond the level of idiocy. But even if he was like that, she wouldn't move a step towards him. Something was telling her that to be careful in front of him. And sensing that he can wield magic, caused her to stay vigilant.

"Don't be like that. I wasn't the one who caused that explosion. It was others. I was just watching what was going on"

It was an obvious lie and a divine demon like her can spot one out easily.

"You filthy mongrel! Drop the act"

Finding out that every line that came out of his mouth was a lie, she couldn't hold her temper and lashed out at him. Her fingernails grew more than five centimetres and turned into like claws. Her speed was so fast that she closed the distance between them in an instant and strike down where he was standing. Her hit was delivered on his chest area and expected that blood would flow out, but to her surprise, her attack was met by nothing but air.

Disturbed by this, she looked around the place and tried to sense him again, but there was no existence other than her in this place. When she spread her mana and tried to track those humans again, she found only one of them standing there. But soon, her nose caught up the scent of that man in the black and a devious smile appeared on her striking face.

"hehehe, you finally dropped that act hm. Yes, run for your life until I came and finish you off"

With just the scent, she figured out the location he was running and started to follow him.

***

'That Sage's magic rings really saved my life'

Ida thought as he saw Kalpa go toward the place where he put a magical straw doll that was given by Sage. One of the rings he wore turned to dust after a few seconds. It was the same ring that saved his ass from Kalpa. That green ring had the power to make a person entirely undetectable for a few moments before running out of power and reducing to dust. It was one life-saving chance and he regretted using it too early in the fight, but he didn't have any choice. If he hadn't activated it after Kalpa asked that question, he may have never gotten the chance to use it ever again. He was now hiding on top of the tree that was near her. The first time he laid his eyes on her, his whole body would have instinctively started to kneel if not for the fact that he was protected by the chain he wore on his neck.

He arrived at the mansion a week before when Raahi called for aid on his hunt. He always covered his face with a mask so no one other than Raahi knew what he looked like and his first encounter with the Sage also went smoothly as he believed in Raahi and he was the only person who calls Raahi 'boss'. Raahi didn't like to keep secrets that much and briefed the story and the importance of nagmani, but it was a hard pill for him to swallow. He also got that enchanted equipment like the rings from Sage.

Ida waited for a few moments after Kalpa disappeared in the woods and took out a radio transceiver and started to report it to his boss.

"Ida here; Target B is now moving to blB (bait location B). Are you in your position boss? Over"

"Well, we wouldn't need to go be in our positions right now"

Raahi replied with a low voice on the other end of the transceiver. Ida wondered what does his boss mean by that so he asked him what was the situation. But he didn't expect it to be this worse.

"We already met with the target and she took out Jacob"

"Wait a bit boss, I'll come right away"

Ida knew how strong Kalpa was so he didn't waste a single second and started to descend from the tree he was teleported. His job was to assist Lucifer who was dealing with Target A, but he couldn't care less about him. The twins had the most important job so asking for their help would only ruin the plan.

'There is no choice. I am the only one who can reach the boss fast enough and assist him'

When Ida was about to run towards the direction where Kalpa went, he received a message or more like an order from Raahi that sent shivers all around his spine.

"Finish your role. I can take care of her all by myself"

'Is he out of his mind?'

If Ida wasn't protected by the chain, he wouldn't even be able to lift a finger in her presence. That was how strong she was and now, his boss is telling him to stay away from them and he can handle her all by himself? Bullshit! He knew Raahi only took a single blue ring that can restore health and the Talwar that was enchanted by Sage. He also gave his pistols to the twins. There was no way he can handle her, but his next words made him stop.

"It's an order"

Ida turned away and went to the direction where the temple is located and where Lucifer is fighting against Zuusha. 'Hang in there boss! I'll come as soon as I deal with Target A'

***

Meanwhile, just as Lucifer got a rock that was attracted to Zuusha, the twins Vinay and Vivek also got a rock that was attracted to Nagmani. Their mission was to avoid contact with the Targets, find Nagmani, attach it to the amulet and recharge it. but now, the enchanted stone that was tied to the string was pointing to the place where Zuusha was dealing with Lucifer as if he was a newborn baby and beating him to death.

"Look, bro!! are those scales that are covering his body?"

"Yes, and those scales are even protecting all the vital points"

"Yeah. I wonder how Lucifer will defeat him if he ends up dead"

"We just have to wait and see. If it comes to us, we run"

Those twins, Vinay and Vivek sat behind a fallen tree, hiding from Zuusha. Even though they are twins, they don't look identical. The brother Vinay was a slim tall man whereas Vivek, who was shorter even compared to average adults had a fit body. At first glance, no one can tell them they are twins, nor even if they are brothers but there was one thing that made Raahi respect them and that was their 'luck'.

They live in Las Vegas and make money only by gambling. That was their occupation and by the rumour that they never lost a bet, made them famously known as 'The Lucky V Brothers'