Chapter 31 – Tragedy

Arriving at the rest point, the scene was a tragedy.

It was obvious what happened. Based on the wounds and the rubbles in the area, the hunters in the rest point had battled something and lost. After checking the bodies, it also came to light they had died more than twelve hours ago. That meant that they did not even see the wolves rushing down the mountain.

The battle happened when they just went to this journey!

After searching the house, they saw more corpses, but they were no survivors. If there were any, they were too late.

Summing it up, fourteen people died. Some of them were normal hunters, but four of them were the cultivators of the managing club, contracted cultivators!

Inside the house….

The group consisted of 12 people.

The front group was five people. There were three additional veteran hunters with them. Then there was Jack, and Marvin, the less experienced hunters. Then there was Carl and Alex.

Sam, the one who had been dragged onto the dark by the wolves. They were no certainty if he was still alive.

Seeing the corpses in the rest point, the group was disheartened. Especially those who said to go down as soon as the real situation came to light. One look at their faces, and anyone could see what they were planning to do. They went onto the Captain.

"We need to go down." Jack said.

He was no veteran, but even he could see the seriousness of the situation. He had also gone to medium-tier hunting grounds already, and he never got involved in something like this. Contracted cultivators getting murdered was very rare in the Seventh mountains.

This place was supposed to be for those who were looking to add to their little hunting experience.

Hence, the members from the club who were assigned to this place should not be strong at all. Their might should be enough to handle the monsters in the area. They should be capable of defending their headquarters.

Looking at the portraits of the employees on the wall, they confirmed that none of the staff survived. All of them perished.

Also, a goddamn house weren't easily destroyed like this. Even earthquakes should not be enough to destroy a part of it. There was a reason it stood here for a long time, and so should there be a reason why those dead cultivators weren't in this world anymore.

"I have to agree. The boy also said it earlier, and I honestly thought it was an exaggeration, what did this and killed them is indeed like he said; an irregularity." A veteran then backed up Jack.

"Something that was out of the expectations of the club and the norms of the Seventh Mountains."

The guide did not talk and only looked at the captain. He had been a guide for raiding groups, and even he was shocked by this. He was even close to the contracted cultivators that died.

This was unnatural. Everyone knew.

Walking forward, Alex then spoke, seemingly pissed.

"Oi, old man, we're going down. I don't care what the hell your reasons for even thinking what to do."

Mason then shouted too, barking at Alex head-on.

"And who the hell do you think you are?! Do you want to go at it right now?" Mason bellowed, and blocked Alex.

Alex however wasn't in a good mood.

"Get out of my face."

Alex showed his dark expression again. There was no doubt in Carl's mind he would fight an adult. Even if Mason was taller, he already felt like Alex was the type of person that did not care.

Everyone was trying to stop the two, when a huge roar—as loud as a city horn—sounded from afar!

_RAAUUGGHOOO_

The group was immediately stunned, all turning silent, in fear of alerting the owner of the ominous roar. At night, what could be roaring so loudly?

Even Mason and Alex only glared at each other.

_RAAUUGGHOOO_

The sound resounded again, and since it was so loud, everyone slowly picked it up that it was from afar.

Since the rest point was at an elevated point where they could see the forest from above, they felt some assurance but could still feel the fear dangling on their heads.

Their heads was turning left and right.

"What the hell is that?"

"It seems a little bit far, but it certainly is out there somewhere."

"Is it the one that killed these people?"

Captain Austin then went in everyone's view along with the guide.

"It is probably already midnight. We talk about this tomorrow. We should take this time to rest now that we're here. I and my group would be responsible of keeping watch."

Austin was also worried about that noise. They hadn't told the others, but their group had already gone to green chasm before, and had passed through here. And that was just a few days ago. And in their memory, they never heard such sound.

Some didn't want to end the discussion yet, but most was indeed really exhausted. The moment their mind realized they could sleep, their bodies had relaxed and their eyes closed shut.

After some time, the Captain who was on the balcony to guard the center side of the house suddenly left his post and went somewhere. He was later seen heading towards the members of his group with the exception of the guide, who were also outside.

While they were walking, the unknown roar sounded in the dark background.

"Will we still proceed with the plan?" the scout asked.

The captain's voice was then heard.

"We see how things develop this morning. Going to our destination, we need to be on top condition. If things stay doubtful, you just say it to me."

The group talked secretly in the dark, even arguing at one time, and after five minutes, they returned to their positions.