IMP ATTACK AND NEW MEMBERS

"What's that?"

For a split second, his eyes couldn't stop staring at the squirming foreign object, slowly approaching the threshold of Fenrir's mouth. The goblin's forehead wrinkled, and his eyes suddenly wide open.

"Argh!"

Bayrak was swarmed by dozens of tiny creatures that crammed out of Fenrir's mouth. Black feathers were scattered on the ground, leaving an intense commotion in the air.

These creatures, they have a pair of crow's wings on their backs, and hooked snouts. Bayrak was powerless to resist as soon as his skin was scratched by sharp claws. On and on, as if endless, the horde of little monsters flew from the guts of the now-defunct predator.

"What's that?!"

"Chief Bayrak!"

Despite turning the huge dagger repeatedly, the goblin was still overwhelmed. Moreover, his back was gnawed by razor-sharp fangs. Two-three seconds later, Bayrak fell. He was forced to remain silent, allowing the monsters to do as they pleased.

"Imp!?" Kron was taken aback. "How could that be?"

"Kron!" shouted Rio from the sky. He spurred Frig a little low. "We must help Bayrak!"

"Yeah, b-but that Imp is too many. They keep coming out of Fenrir's mouth." Kron was pensive, trying to find a way to save the Alpha who was too weak to fight. "What did you see?! help Bayrak, quick! Shoot the Imps!"

The goblin soldiers who had been gawking, moved quickly. They didn't think that victory could still not be achieved, even after the struggle that spilled blood and enthusiasm. Were the goblins really not meant to survive?

"Shoot!"

The goblins moved forward while throwing fire from their fists. The battle this time was clearly unbalanced. After being drained by Fenrir's awakening, now they had to contend with too many small creatures. In addition, major aggression was also difficult to carry out for fear that Bayrak would also be injured.

One by one the imps fell on fire. However, every one that fell, five creatures came to replace it. The fireballs that the goblins shot began to dim from their drained magic energy. On the other hand, imps have spread everywhere.

"Look, Kron!" Rio's forefinger pointed at Fenrir's deflated corpse. The wolf looked like a furry carpet.

"Whoever did this must have very strong black magic."

"HUAAA!!!"

"HELP!"

"HELP ME!!!"

The situation immediately reversed. The imps, satisfied with ganging up on Bayrak, suddenly turned to attack the goblins. They grabbed the necks of the soldiers, then sucked the blood. It's a terrible sight.

Lying covered in blood, Bayrak was still able to maintain a sliver of consciousness. The goblin insisted on getting up, even though he fell several times. The only thing he did when he got to his knees was to look at Kron and give him a signal.

"Come on!" said Kron.

"What is it?" Rio was surprised.

"We have to go."

"B-but—"

"This is Bayrak's order! He wants us to take Kholoros away."

"A-alright. Come on, Frig!" Rio shot up into the sky, out of the noise of war in the Nyx forest.

Kron dashed through the tall trees. He had no idea where they were going. The only thing he did was escort an equally confused Rio.

The leaves shook violently when Kron found several imps trailing him. The little creatures were flying fast, trying to reach the giant. Kron knew very well what would happen if he gave in and allowed them to run rampant.

The Imp has the ability to divide, that's the information he got from an old scholar during a visit to Lerion. One imp that managed to suck blood would give birth to two to five of its kind. They were creatures of darkness, acting like parasites, and their ferocity was unstoppable.

Kron picked up a handful of pebbles on the ground, then threw it and said: "Re-size: Enlarge!"

The boulder instantly expanded to the size of a bowling ball and pressed on top of several imps. However, not even a second, Rio's scream suddenly broke out. He was shocked when a number of imps chased Frig from behind. Their teeth clenched as if ready to pierce through the winter griffin's skin.

"Hold on, Rio!"

"Hurry up, Kron! There are lots of them!" Rio exclaimed as Frig maneuvered as best he could through the trees to dodge the imps.

Kron slashed through the bushes that were in front of him in order to catch up with Rio. They weren't really that far apart, but the dark forest limited Kron's view.

At this rate, the imps would definitely catch up with Rio quickly. Kron had to do something. A crazy idea suddenly entered his mind. Kron groaned uncomfortably, because this plan was truly tinged with sacrifice. Its pillar is sorrow and its essence is regret.

"By the ear of a flying elephant! Kron son of Vron never leaves his comrade." The giant muttered. "Rio! You hear me?!" he shouted as loud as he could.

"Yes!" Rio's screams were just as loud.

"Bring them here!"

"Are you sure?"

"Hurry up! Before I change my mind!"

"All right. Come on, Frig!" Rio guided Frig to turn around. Now they are flying towards Kron.

As soon as possible, Kron quickly took off the mole coat he loved so much. The long hair giant then spreads it like a net ready to trap a group of fish.

"Get ready, Kron!" Rio warned.

"Here he is." Kron smiled firmly. "Re-size: Enlarge!" he chanted, turning the mole coat instantly into a giant net.

Rio who realized Kron's plan immediately took Frig swooping up, while the belated imps finally took turns colliding with the giant coat. Kron immediately wrapped them up, then used large stones to pound the hordes of parasites.

Feeling that the situation was under control, Frig slowly landed on the ground. They had just gone through a terrifying chase. Kron and Rio, both fell silent. However, the silence was broken as Revan coughed. The blood didn't dry up.

"Revan! We have to treat your wound," said Rio panicked.

"Julius, you must endure." Kron is worried. "I'll find something to dry your wound."

Before Kron's feet could take a step, suddenly the large mole coat creaked and wanted to break. The threads are broken one after another, peeling off, giving off a rancid smell. A split second later, a swarm of imps screeched like a herd of bats leaving a cave.

"RUN!" Kron scream.

Rio spontaneously guided Frig to return to the air. They moved as fast as they could to leave the swarm of furious imps. Kron cursed himself when he realized that in his coat pocket was a bottle of rattlesnake blood. There must be an imp sucking it in so it can multiply quickly.

"Get away from me! Arghh!" The giant was bouncing on the steep ground as an imp grabbed its back.

Kron tumbled downwards, tumbling in the thick mud of the forest, until he finally landed on the bank of Nyx river. The imp swarms were still not satisfied with pursuing him.

"You stupid creatures!" The frightened Kron immediately jumped into the river.

Rio who was being chased by the other imps took a different path from Kron, but in the end he also arrived at the bank of the Nyx river. The two imp groups met and became one.

"What we gonna do?" Rio trembled in fear. Frig took a slow step back.

"Banish!" Kron jumps out of the water hurling a glowing stone. "Re-size: Enlarged!"

Sapphire blue light spread freely as the stone Kron threw grew bigger. The imps who couldn't stand the light began to scream, some of them charred and melted. Kron managed to pick up momentum at the last second. Kron son of Vron, the savior giant is his title now.

"Go far, faithful slave of darkness!" he sprayed, laughing triumphantly.

"What rock is that?" Rio asked then.

"River sapphire, the finest mineral of Nyx," said Kron. "Those imps won't mess around anymore."

"Thank God." Rio let out a sigh of relief, followed by Frig's gleeful shriek. "I thought I was going to die here."

"Come on, we have to treat Julius. Around here there must be—"

"What's that sound?" Rio was surprised to find a bat squeak from a distance.

"Oh my gosh! They're back. The naughty imp is back!" grumbled Kron. "But they won't dare come any closer. We have a giant river sapphire here."

For a moment Rio could breathe a sigh of relief, but as soon as the imps arrived, they were made to flee because the imps were carrying Kron's mole coat to protect them from the river sapphire light.

"Stupid mole coat plan!" lamented Kron. "My legs are numb," he protested.

"Kron! Kholoros won't shine anymore!" said Rio who intended to use his last ten seconds.

"Keep running! You can't be caught." Kron stopped and turned to block the imps.

"Kron! What are you doing?!" shouted Rio.

"I said run! You have to take the armor away. Heal Julius and take care of Frig. I'll end it all here." Kron closed his eyes as he stretched out his arms.

"You can't—"

"Go! Go, O my King. This land needs you," interrupted Kron. "Sorry for underestimating you, Rio. Now I'm sure you do have the heart of the King."

"Kron," Rio whispered. Frig began to flap his wings to carry away the two humans above him.

Kron's heart was steady. For the sake of the sacred journey to reclaim the throne of truth, he is willing to sacrifice anything, including his own life. The imp swarm drew closer, more and more eager to suck up the giant blood tank in front of them. The owner of the tank also seemed to be ready to offer the tastiest and bitterest taste of blood that he splashed in the name of the King.

"Come here!' shouted Kron.

The imps squeaked loudly, competing to devour their prey. As soon as the leading imp with Kron was four flaps of wings remaining, suddenly a miracle came.

"On behalf of the light guards, I order you to get out of here!" A white light flashedwas so fierce before Kron's eyes.

The imps repulsed in an instant. Those who had not given up came back to attack.

"I order you to get out of here!" Once more, white light like the most precious jewel illuminates the dark forest.

The imps melted like iron dough in a furnace. Kron fell down after the beautiful light was extinguished. His breath was panting in disbelief. He thought a few seconds ago was his last time.

"Kron!" called Rio who flew closer with Frig.

"I'm safe, " said Kron. "I survived."

"Yes, you survived!" Rio replied enthusiastically.

"But who? Who is the owner of that beautiful light? The savior light that saved my life."

"That's my light." Someone came out from behind a dense tree. He seemed to have been hiding there for a long time.

Kron looked up to see the appearance of the person who had saved his life today. Really, at first time, the giant wanted to hug that guy and and raised him to be a loyal friend. However, what happened instead was Kron's eyes widened. His mouth was wide open, his ears were smoking. This person wasn't only known as a savior figure, but there was the title of the highest honor of Nefertyland pinned in front of his name. Definitely, without even having to ask.

"LORD AARON!" said Kron.

(To be continued)