Chapter 11: A Sinister Intent

[Quan Valley - East of Sanctuary]

"And that's the last of them!" Harper stabbed the last Bezil-Bub fly with his wooden arm. Harper, Malery and Mason found each other roughly 3 hours after -Onslaught- had begun.

"S-so what's the plan from here? We can't just sit around and play the waiting game. Mosong will probably just kill us after the 24 hours..." Mason lampooned.

"We'll spread out and look for the others. I'll take a few hours, but we're bound to find them s-"

-BAM-

A large discharge of energy at the sanctuary rung throughout the entire mountain range. The energy was a familiar purple with the animosity of a certain king. Malery jerked her head towards the epicenter of the blast.

"That energy...it's Gilsong isn't it? Pam's partner!"

Malery immediately picked up on the disorder the blast of energy created between the party and intervened. "Everyone, collect yourselves. The energy signature from the blast has to be Pam's, so this makes our job far easier than before." She maintained her calm, machine-like demeaner despite knowing what that explosion could imply.

Harper interjected; "She's never released power like that before. She could have easily gone berserk, or even worse, have run into a Heavenly King..."

"And what about it? Do you think she is so weak that she couldn't even face a measily foot soldier?"

"That's not what I meant..." His tone became docile like a lost dog.

"Rest assured, Harper. Pam is much stronger than she thinks herself to be." Her aura was much more intense from before, but in a much more obscure manner than the fear imposed by Mosong. It reflected an absolute resolve in her sister, one that couldn't be broken even in life or death scenarios.

Harper had always carried a subconscious fear of women, but Malery had only accentuate the problem tenfold. Her steadfast and resolute personality had been her most endearing, yet scary aspect of her character.

"I didn't think you'd be so easily intimidated..." Mason playfully teased as the intimidated Harper averted his eyes.

"Shut it electro-boy."

____

It had roughly been 5 minutes since the initial explosion as Malery's company approached the site. Strewn across the thick trees were bodies hanging from thin needles. Their black suits were torn to pieces with the number "5" plastered on their shoulder.

Their deaths were gruesome, yet unique. Some were impaled in the face and died upon impact, while others were left to hang from vines as they slowly bled out.

Malery's face was as monotone as usual, yet her tone had been just slightly shaky. "...Squad 5 has been eliminated. I will report this incident to the lieutenant."

Malery suddenly sensed a malicious presence to her left and instinctively lowered her head. A thin needle flew past her head and split a tree in two. "Eh? You actually dodged that?"

A large, lanky monkey with a body akin to a spider dipped his head out of the thick forage. On his back was another, smaller monkey. They carried the sinister and irredeemable smiles of monsters. This relieved Malery a bit.

The smaller monkey snickered and pointed at Malery. "Why do you seem so calm? You're in the presence of Daka and Durma, the Heavenly General of resent!"

Daka's body moved with contorted and disgusting expressions as he made his declaration. His erratic mannerisms made it all the more apparent that these were not humans. They were beasts.

"Oh? I didn't recall asking for your names." Malery replied.

His smile quickly soured into a mean glare. It was like that of a child denied their favorite toy or food. "That one is rather shrill, Daka thinks…"

"So does Durma…the lady must be cut in two."

"Cut in two! Cut in two! Daka agrees. Save other two for food."

"Yes, Durma will attack."

Malery placed her index finger and thumb on her chin, contemplating with a suitable response. "If you're so eager to fight, then I will oblige. However, you will both die without me lifting a single finger."

"What was that?!"

-POW-

A chain of electricity shot out from Mason's hands and charred the trunk of the tree next to Daka and Durma. Even the twin generals couldn't react in time.

"It's rather rude that you

[Players 3 and 4 have announced their intent to attack a Heavenly General!]

[A barrier has been enacted.]

"Damn you! Get back here!" The twins shot a an arrow directly between Malery's eyes, but the barrier brought the attack to a screeching halt.

"I trust that this is more than enough to handle the two of you. Am I wrong, Mason, Harper?"

They responded with a resolute cry. "No maam!"

"You…think lightly of Durma and Daka??? We'll tear you apart! Part part part!" Daka's frustration had reached it's boiling and his temper filled the area with intense heat. It was likely an ability.

Harper and Mason maintained a perfectly calm composure in the chaotic environment, casually stretching in the midst of battle.

"We can't keep her waiting. It's our trusty captain after all." Harper lampooned.

"If it's her, then there is no reason to worry about someone like them getting in her way."Mason replied in kind.

Durma and Daka drew their blood red cleavers and sliced away at the air, creating energy projections capable of rending apart steel.

"I extend the authority of the contract." The duo said in perfect synch. A veil of blue lightning surrounded Mason as his typically half-opened eyes and messy hair awakened with excitement. "Strike them down, Belial."

Harper's skin, muscle and bone had transformed into a thick body of wood with a rough, green bark. His transformation extended from his left arm to around his chest area and left eye. The roots of the trees around him instinctively protected him from the attack. "Open the kingdom of wisdom and austerity, Solomon!

"Troublesome…they're all troublesome humans!" The twins screeched as their voices creeked.

The stage was now set for the their apt execution.