Partner?!

[[Host has been successful in picking a mission. Congratulations. The data has been loaded. Ready to leave as soon as host commands.]

The familiar message came.

Mina was unprepared the last time she went on the mission. This time she was going to learn anything and everything about the dimension she was going in.

After resting and meditating for the remaining time Mina commanded, "Let' go."

[As you wish.]

[Entering the new dimension. Loading the information.]

Mina felt her senses numbing as a sharp pain hit her brain. That was the familiar headache she felt when receiving the data about the world and mission.

[Welcome to Delorio.]

[This is the realm of Beast man.]

The cheerful voice of the system sounded in her head but to her dismay the scene before her was not so welcoming. This time the blue sky and beautiful forest didn't meet her sight. It was a completely ruined place, a wasteland. There was the strong stench of blood.

[This is the battlefield where the war between the two beast man tribe is going on.]

She knew without the system telling her. It was a battlefield and it was a devastating site. As a human she had never imagined the existence of Beast man and had always felt that they were myths and fairytale. But they existed and they were as the story mentioned: Savage.

[Host your mission this time is very important. You are to team up with someone and co ordinate your action with them to achieve your mission.[

[But they might have different mission than you so even though you might complete your mission, you can not leave until you help them fulfill their mission,]

Getting a partner was a surprise in itself but helping them was another thing. "My partner for this mission, is it a human or a beast man?" Mina asked again before the system could answer, "Or it may be a different species?"

[The identity of the partner can not be disclosed.]

[Host don't be fooled by their appearance. The book can never be judged by its cover.]

The system's words brought back her the memories of the night when she found the ragged brown book which led to her to where she was today. "You are that torn book, aren't you?"

[Host guessed correctly. I am the book who shouldn't have been judged by the cover.] The system seemed to be holding a small grudge over her for almost throwing it out and Mina couldn't help but laugh out as she understood it's meanings.

She felt her nerves calm down after that small interaction with the system. She was thankful she had such a wonderful system.

"Thank you fuzzy." Mina touched her mole where the system was currently residing.

System: [//^ ^ //]

[I know I m great.] The system was happy even though it wondered if it was just codes or real emotions .

This time the mission was not as hard as it sounded. It was simple just a few words.

[FORM A TRUCE BETWEEN TWO TRIBES.]

But how was she supposed to make the two tribes come in peace. Let alone the two tribes, she wouldn't even be able to form a truce between two beast men. But as the former office worker who spent making plans and negotiating she knew she could pull it off as long as she had a trustworthy partner.

The war was on a hold at the moment as both side were heavily injured and at loss. The only thing that kept them going was the blood of the beast and spirit of warrior inside them. The moment one side will falter from their determination or even a sign of small hesitation could cost them the war and their tribe.

The war started with the dispute between the two families of the two tribes whose son and daughter were in love with each other but marriage among the tribes were highly prohibited. Still their strong sense of love and bonding towards each other couldn't separate them and they ran away leaving their tribe somewhere far away.

Both the tribe claimed others to be the perpetrator. One of them asked to return their tribesman back while other side was not backing down and asked them to return their women to their clan.

Mina rubbed her head as she understood the main scenario. "Why does it look like a cliché storyline from a soap opera, the only difference is that they are not humans and their war is bloody."

"I wish I had seen that movie. At least I might get some idea as to how to solve this conflict and make a 'everyone lived happily ever after' ending." Mina sighed as she walked away from the battlefield towards a small clearing.

"When is my partner going to arrive?" Mina asked as she checked her reflection on the water puddle.

[Host your partner has already arrived.]

Mina flinched as she heard that her partner had already arrived. She was busy in her thoughts so she didn't realize someone had been following her at a close distance all along. She turned around as she met a pair of dark black eyes. She was stunned by the handsome face of the man. Since she was staring at him she felt it was rude so she hurriedly stood up.

"Hello. I am Mina." Mina extended her hand as she bowed a little. The man who was silent took out a dragger from his pocket and threw it at Mina. It was too fast and sudden for her to dodge to side.

[Host ] The system called her, it's voice sounding a little anxious.

Mina had closed her eyes as a response to sudden attack. She was expecting pain but it never came. She slowly opened her eyes one at a time. the man stood there guiltless. Mina fumbled around her body to see if there was any injury but there was nothing.

[Host look behind you.] The system urged her.

Mina slowly turned around and her eyes widened in surprise as her sight met a wriggling snake that was on the tree with a dragger inserted right at its heart. When she was not paying attention it had silently crept behind her from a tree. In other words this stranger just saved her life. Mina felt awkward as she misunderstood his kind intention and was at a loss of words.

"Thank you."

"It was no problem. By the way I am Max." The man shook her hand but she knew it was not his real name. It sounded more like a codename but decided not to pry further. She thought she should be careful in future about handing her personal information to strangers. She learnt important lesson today.

"Let's go." The man said in a deep voice which was commanding. It felt like he was dictating the pace so Mina felt a little annoyed at his bossy guy. She stomped forward and turned back, "Let's go." She wanted to show that he wasn't the one in charge.

The man sighed helplessly as he looked at the back of woman. She looked kind of older in age but still had the youthful aura around her but she looked stubborn. Although he was dragged into this mission he thought it won't be that bad.

"Looks like I finally have an interesting mission this time." A smug left his mouth. Mina shuddered as she felt cold behind her back.