NEW COMPANIONS: PART IV

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"B*stards! What have you done to my father?" He cried furiously unable to comprehend his father's situation. He looked up at Lord Chad as he glared fearlessly at him.

"He's just a piece of sh*t." Lor Chad declared as he sip on the old man who was already badly wounded on the ground. He rolled the old man as if he was a piece of log.

"FATHER!"

"UNCLE!"

'I need to get up.' Despite the pain he was feeling, he could care less about his life as he needed to make sure they'll be able to survive. If he gives up now, his son will die, and the girls will surely be the man's play toys.

Even though he couldn't sense any mana on him, he desperately gathered his remaining strength. But, sadly, there were none to gather as he lost consciousness and was flat cold on the ground.

At that very moment, the two girls were able to escape the grasp of the man holding onto them as they ran to the old man's side. They both cried as they shook the old man to wake up.

"Uncle, Uncle!"

"Grandpa, wake up! Please, wake up!"

"Such a waste." Lord Chad said as he did found the old man to be a great worth to his collection of men. If he knew in the first place the old man was this talented he would have spared him, but he has stepped on his dignity by killing and making his men look weak.

Seeing the two girls crying over the old man, he found it irritating as he prompted the men to drag them away.

"You-" Lance glared at the man, with his little skills. He gathers enough energy to create a small wind blast towards the man.

The wind blast, was able to create a single burst of wind in a cone shape emanating from the man's outstretched hand. The blast of air was able to knock the man a few feet away, giving him some small paper cut-like wounds.

"That's it!" Lord Chad was even angrier as he didn't expect such weakling to be able to challenge him. "Get the girls!"

However, none of his subordinates seem to be listening to him. They were all frozen to the ground as if they were seeing a ghost. Each one of them were pale as they couldn't fathom on what was in front of them.

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU ALL IDIOTS STANDING THERE FOR?" He yelled furiously that not a single one of them said a word, "WHAT ARE YOU ALL LOOKING AT?"

Each one of them shakily points at the creature that has caused them to be all muted. Some couldn't even stay standing as they collapsed to their knees trembling at the sight of the beast.

...A Twilight Wild, what is it doing in this part of the north? We're all dead. My men are all wounded thanks to the old man, I- I need to run.

"Lord Chad, what should we do?"

"My Lord, isn't that a..."

"Don't worry, it's just a tiny wolf. Let me handle this." Proudly said the huge man as he covered his entire body with his aura doubling his strength and speed. "Come here!"

But in only a second, the man has been already on his knees as he crawled for his life.

"AH!"

"HELP ME!"

"GET AWAY!"

What were they supposed to expect, that an arrogant man like him could easily kill a twilight wolf. It takes a few skilled men to kill one, and who was he to challenge a growing twilight wolf.

The twilight wolf howled announcing his victory. He looked aggressively and viciously at them. They were all his prey and he won't let a single one escape his grasp. They have disrupted his territory, it furiate him such inferior life form dare trampled on his land.

The blood dripping off its mouth brought fear into everyone's heart, since their leader was easily killed. Who were they to expect such mercy and be able to survive?

"Lord Chad!"

"What should we do?"

Lord Chad was unable to grasp the situation, it took him a while to snap back to his sense as he realized there was only one way out. "RUN!"

Sadly, they were unable to run that far as the twilight wolf was faster than them. In no time, it was able to catch someone and bite it's fang deep into the man's bone, crashing it as the man screamed in pain.

The twilight wolf did not kill the man right away as he needed to catch all of them. He would only break their legs, making them unable to move, as he then continued to catch another person.

Esme watches in amazement as the twilight wolf slowly kills off each man he captures.

"Don't worry, I'm here."

A faint voice spoke which startled the girl.

"Father-" Lance crawled to his father's side as he held his father in his arms, who seems to have gained consciousness again.

When the old man opened his eyes and saw the wolf, it surprised him, for an even more fearsome beast had appeared. Compared to Lord Chad and his men, this beast was something he couldn't take down alone.

"Stay calm, don't make a sound."

Some of the men were indeed able to escape the twilight wolf grasp. He growled furiously as he decided to let them go. He turned his back and noticed there were four more who didn't decide to run away from him.

It confused the twilight wolf as he carefully approached them. As he was closing in, it stopped as he sensed and heard his name being called.

"Fuji, enough!"

The strong and firm command brought it back to its calm and natural state.

As Fuji walked passed them, all covered in blood of the men he had killed in a single blow. It made their stomach upset as the smell of blood was so strong.

"Calm down." The old man eases the girls and his son.

"Father?" Lance softly wondered if they'll be able to survive what's to happen next.

As they were about to face the master of such fearsome beast, they were startled when a soft angelic voice echoed in the air.

"Are you alright?" Athena slowly approached them as he commanded Fuji to stay behind in case he frightened them. He was covered in blood and did just kill the men right in front of them. She went down on her knees and said, "Are you all alright?"

The old man has served countless noblemen, and at his late age, he has served as a steward. He may not be acquainted with a lot of noble, but he was familiar with each noble familiar special trait. Just a glance at the girl's eyes, he right away knew she was a noble. "My Lady..."

Since the old man showed such respect towards the girl, they too followed as they respectfully greeted her despite their current circumstance.

"My Lady."

"Ah, no need for that." The girl went ahead as she checked on the arrow which was struck on the man's leg. She looked at the man, prompting him of what she was about to do, without any warning. She pulled the arrow out as the man screamed in agony. The man started to move in pain, which caused the blood to overflow. "Calm down."

'Maybe I should have warned him.' Athena thought as she realized her reckless action must have startled the man.

She started healing the man's leg as lumineux appeared all over his body, restoring the man's leg. Soon, the hole the arrow made to vanish as the blood stopped from flowing.

"A Healer?" Esme looked amazed for it was the first she witnessed such miraculous magic.

A soon as she healed the man, she went forth and started healing the old man.

The villager who accompanied Athena, helped the man and girls up. He handed his cape to the girl for them to keep warm.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"We thank you for your help." Lance said.

"Thank you." Esme too thanked the man for handing his cape to them.

It didn't take long for Athena to finish healing the old man, at the same time, she sensed the presence of familiar people approaching them as they yelled out her name.

"My Lady."

"Tina."

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