A Rock and A Hard Place

The beast was still a fair distance away when we reached the portal. Once we exited the realm, we would be saved. There is a high chance that the beast could not exit the realm on its own; if it was possible, then it might have already left the realm before.

But even if it was able to escape through the portal, there were many strong practitioners in the Highland Origin sect. They may even have a few with the cultivation above the realm of River Consolidation. So, after exiting the portal, we would be safe.

But the moment we reached the portal, many swords attacked us at the same time. Shields were created with our externalised energy to block the sword attacks. About fifteen people appeared and blocked the path to enter the portal.

What could be a worse time to meet past enemies than when one is already entangled in a big problem! 

The ones blocking were no other than Callum Regin and his lackeys. There were even more people with him than the last time. All of them were in the River Consolidation realm. 

Seeing them block our path, we had grim expressions on our faces. Alice's look was both of being betrayed and feeling helpless. She was the one to let them keep their lives only to be pushed by them into her own doom, along with others.

We didn't have much time as the beast was just on our tails. So, with no thoughts to spare, I rushed into the group and went all out. I threw the hidden blades infused with internal energy on them while rushing towards them. 

The ones in the front tried to block the surprise attack, but some blades cut some of them. And then, within no time, the ones getting cut became paralysed.

After getting the poisons and the poison book from one of Callum's lackeys, I studied it a little and covered a fast-acting paralysing poison on my hidden daggers. 

The formation being broken and in disarray, I didn't miss a beat and killed the easy targets by overpowering them. And then killed the paralysed ones. The girls also weren't far behind. They also understood the urgency of the situation and attacked the group. 

Seline and Elfie were somewhat accustomed to killing the enemies, a testament to their birth in a high-class family where internal strife, deception and killing were common. But Alice was not like them. Still, with the adrenaline rush present, she killed a couple of them. Her face turned pale with every kill, and she looked like she was trying her best to contain her nausea.

I acted as the spearhead and made a path for the portal while the girls cleared the ones I weakened and followed me. We had killed more than half of the group. There were only six remaining ones from the total of fifteen.

By then, the beast had reached near us and growled at us in anger, irrespective of the two groups' conflict. In its eyes, we were the same, ants to be crushed. But a few of them had squished one of its eyes. So, the beast's anger was palpable.

But the most baffling thing was that Callum and group were not focused on the beast but on us. Their eyes were bloodshot, like they were in a frenzy. They were clearly determined to kill us, irrespective of anything else happening. This was bad for us. We were forced between a rock and a hard place.

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Callum was furious. He never wished to kill anyone by his own hands as he wanted to do now. This guy first comes and beats him in front of the whole sect. And then even steals his girl. He prepared to ambush and humiliate this guy in the realm, but got ambushed himself. He even knocked him unconscious and looted his precious collection. 

Even this time, when he wanted to finish Lucas off with new reinforcement, he was still at a loss and most of his men were killed.

From the day Callum encountered Lucas, not a single thing went according to his wishes, and he was beaten and humiliated every time. Seeing Lucas's aggressiveness, he even feared him a little. But his desire to kill him overcame the fear. 

He wanted to kill Lucas at all costs. So, even if he was going to be killed, he would take Lucas and his group into the jaws of death along with him.

He wanted to see the despair in their eyes and understand that whatever they did, they would not be able to live and make merry anymore. 

Accepting the situation, Lucas pulled Elfie and Seline towards him. Elfie was startled as he was always taciturn with anyone other than Alice and had never touched her before. But Lucas didn't care about her thoughts and placed many talismans in their hands. He also put a fine needle into the hand of Elfie. 

He stared at them strictly and transmitted something in their ears. Elfie's eyes turned wide, and her mouth was hung open.

Lucas separated from Elfie and, looking at Alice, rushed into Callum's group. He let all his defence down and attacked recklessly at the group. He also shot poisoned needles at the group in between his attacks. Lucas unleashed all the stored energy inside him and attacked the group. 

With such heavy offence, they were tied down by him. Whenever one tried to escape from the range of his attacks, Lucas would shoot a few poisoned needles at him, making him stop in his tracks. It was an exhausting process, but he was sure that would be able to sustain for a few moments. 

Between his attacks, Lucas glared at Elfie, who was still baffled and kept staring at him. His glare broke her out of stupor, and she, along with Seline, started to drag Alice, who was going to join Lucas. Alice protested but was subdued by a prick in her neck by Elfie. 

They carried her and started running towards the portal and away from Lucas. The members tried to leave his attack zone and attack them. But he increased the ferocity of his attacks on them. This revealed a chance to deal heavy damage to Lucas, which was not missed by the group. They let the girls go and mounted their counterattack on him. 

Lucas sustained heavy damage, but he had a slight smile on his face as he saw the Luna sisters drag Alice into the portal.