An unknown beast

The troops of Reigner were pretty strong.

He had commoners clad in heavy armor, metal horse creation, and powerful lances! They were kitted out in strong equipment from top to bottom! Not every commoner could be lucky or blessed enough though.

A lot of soldiers were moving on their feet, carrying the weapons on their back or hip.

Most of them were around Soldier III when it comes to the strength which shows that no one is really a meat shield in Reigner's troops.

The troops had a long way to go through, so there were a lot of breaks. A few days passed yet their destination hadn't even loomed a little.

"It is time to sleep."

"Yes."

Reigner usually trained on his journey. He had been staying up late, so Paula usually slept next to him within the carriage, then in the morning, she would find herself in the comfy sleeping bag. The lady was already used to it.

However, the night is going to be a different one.

Unbeknownst to the lady, both man, Reigner and Johne exchanged looks. The latter then nodded and left the carriage to perform the 'watch' or so everyone thought. The night seemed to be like any others yet the first change finally appeared.

Of course, Johne was already back within the carriage.

[Khhhhhhhhhhwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

The atrocious voice swept through the dark forest. People who were sleeping momentarily could see the black monster appearing within their dreams, their eyes opening instantly. The red strands crept onto their eyeballs as they did it abruptly.

With their hearts palpitating from the fear, the soldiers rushed out from their sleeping backs while the ones on the watch gathered around Reigner. Their weapons, training, and lives changed bountifully after meeting Reigner.

He was harsh as he instructed Bitch Unni to be stricter, but their environment was far better compared to others!

The weapons in their hands and heavy armors prepared by Noble Medusa had given them hope to survive as much as possible, but also fueled their desire to serve him!

The Mells troops also narrowed their distance and joined up.

The lady from Mells household used her owl to scout the surroundings, but nothing could be seen! Her owl creation only passed her pointless information...

"It is as if the sound... comes from within my heart..."

She muttered, her eyes furtively glancing on Reigner. The new noble was close to his wife, trying to comprehend the new phenomenon as well! At least, that's what she saw. His closest 'general' nodded to her words, confirming that the sound truly comes from within the heart.

Then, Johne spoke out.

"I believe Miss Mells is the only one who can solve this mystery."

"That... might be true."

"Stay close to us. We will focus on protecting you, so just fly above us freely."

Reigner then chimed in. He reassured the lady, then the tension slowly calmed down... But as the hearts of the, both troops finally returned to their usual state...

[KHWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!]

The scream of the beast rang out. It was even scarier, influencing the common horses! The pitiful animals howled, then began escaping in a fear! The metal creation horse is useful for battle, but for a long journey, it is not!

So the importance of these animals is high.

The soldiers rushed after those!

Then, Reigner and his people escaped from the rampaging carriage. He found himself in the cold forest shrouded in the mystery! Of course, unlike him, the rest was shocked to see the situation turning worse.

What if those horses enter the mouth of the unknown beast unknowingly?

If the horses fall, then the soldiers are guaranteed to at least experience some deaths and wounds as well! The lady quickly ordered her people to halt, but they couldn't hear her voice laced in anxiousness.

It was the same with Reigner's troops, but his expression was as if he was fine with it.

"Miss Mells, I believe we should do our best to resolve the situation quickly. Let's split our forces."

"That would be the worst, Noble Medusa! Your people had yet to experience the real battle, the real danger. If you do that, then they might even lose their consciousness from the fear alone."

"If someone is bound to fall, then he will eventually fall. I have never expected this expedition to be without casualties, you know? If your forces are experienced, then they should lead my people and help them."

Reigner was calm and confident. He didn't seem like the rest of his generals... The man behind him was the same, looking like the experienced soldier who had already seen a lot of mysterious phenomenons.

Both of them pressured Miss Mells, and she eventually gave up. Her forces split, then search for the unknown beast began.

Its screams were assaulting them from time to time.

"This is really... disgusting monsters... How can it affect our hearts?"

Miss Mells was someone well-versed in the mental attacks. She could tell that the monster is way more unique than Reigner and his people make it out to be. Her beautiful eyes were dilated so that nothing slipped out from her reach!

Furthermore, her lips were bitting her thumb so much she had to gulp down her own blood.

Their situation is not that nice.

[Khhhhhhhhhhwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

"Ah!"

"Calm down, Miss Mells."

"Yes... I am sorry..."

Even the fourth princess was calm as she clung to her husband. The lady blushed and focused on her current task to hide the shame. The lady's bashful face was kinda cute right now. Unknowingly, she stopped leading the party.

It was Reigner's turn.

Soon enough, the split-up party could hear the voice of the beast from the external source. It was not coming from their hearts! With her eyes opened with the resolution, Miss Mells ordered and already practiced formation spread around her.

Her troops were well-trained indeed.

They were also protecting Reigner and Johne by encircling them.

"Where is that beast? Just where?"

Miss Mells thought. Her whole back was drenched in a cold sweat and she was not the only one to be in such state. Her troops along with Reigner's people were slouching with their weapons ready to fight!

[Khwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

As the beast's voice rang out, the special phenomenon unfolded. It was a scream coming from external and internal sources! The soldiers of Reigner fall onto their knees, then their foreheads struck the soil strongly.

Tud! Tud! Tud!

It was as if someone poked the domino.

The Reigner forces were the first part of that domino. Following that, Miss Mells' troops also began losing their consciousness. Though their will was far stronger... They could hold somehow and on their knees, they were forcing the unknown pressure coming from the inside of their formation!

"Noble Medusa?!"

"Hey, it's not really me, you know. There is someone who hates your household within me... That's it."

Reigner muttered with his eyes slightly narrowed. Within his arms, the sleeping princess was tightly under his protection. He was not worried ever since the beginning because the source of these screams was him.

Or more like Nightmare.

"Ughhhhhhh! You!"

Then, Johne began killing off the troops of the mells household. Their lady was immobilized by Reigner whose metal creation coiled around his whole body. She was also under Nightmare's influence the most.

It was the bloodline that he hates the most.

Because of them, he has to feed on the trashcans!

So before Reigner gathers her blood...

[You will experience your worst nightmares anew! From childhood all the way to adulthood! Khhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

"I refuse to fall!"

"Hah."

Reigner's metal creation was his strongest weapon. He had modified it as well! The veins around its body were modified so that the more metal energy, the bigger the creation. Right now, Reigner's metal creation was that of a four-meter long snake.

Its sharp fangs were also modified with sharp metal aura.

Poh!

The flying owl was descending to initiate the attack and save its master from Nightmare's influence. However, Reigner's snake proved to be faster. It extended its head, then ripped apart the metal creation, gulping it down as if alive.

[You have cleared one of the needed prerequisites.

- Metal Owl Creation of Mells Household acquired.]

"You... traitor!"

"Oh, bitch, please. Isn't that how the world works?"

"Ughhh!"

The sword then pierced her from behind. The loyal subordinate of Reigner, Johne, had killed the troops of Mells Household, then was ready to get rid of the descendant! His sword went through her body, splashing a little blood on Reigner's clothes.

"If you want better reasoning, then look at her."

Reigner gestured at the sleeping princess. His finger was gently caressing her smooth and soft cheeks as she slept. It was kinda cute how she blushed while sleeping just from his touch alone. Then, Reigner continued as he noticed the eyes of Miss Mells, that was losing its glitter, on the fourth princess.

"A royal descendant, the royal bloodline... Or you, a woman who is not even the direct lineage of Mells Household... Who is more important to the kingdom once the potential is unleashed?"

"She is... the failure!"

"Metal Sphere will change her."

That's what Reigner believed. If she could connect to nature, then why not the royal bloodline? It doesn't have to be necessary for the lion metal creation, but her own. She just needs a power that will give her possibilities.

The Metal Sphere is the answer. It will begin with Paula being able to move independently as her cane would be constantly utilizing the sphere. She will be able to perceive the world anew. Then, Reigner would make sure to give her metal creation.

The one that suits her and her connection to nature.

"Too preposterous..."

Miss Mells muttered as she had no more strength to speak. She was losing too much blood! Her eyes glanced below, only to see the jaw of the snake and its body taking all the blood as if the greediest animal!

She coughed some more, then her eyes became lifeless.

[Fuck!]

"Johne, good job."

"It is for the future... right?"

"For the future... You and Unni will be the direct people below Paula as she regains her status."

"..."

In that future, Reigner is already in his homeworld. He wasn't a part of The Perante Kingdom and Paula was the 'pure' and independent woman with her status topping over her sisters. Reigner smiled while thinking about that!

If it was the usual killing, then he would be cursing and swearing at the dead bodies and disgusting world. But with the princess by his side, he had another, smaller goal that filled him with happiness. He was happy as he thought about an independent princess.

[Kwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]

"Seriously, what is this item? I would've been already mad if I had to listen to it every day!"

Johne spoke loudly as he kicked the small item. This item had been placed here by him earlier on! It was the speaker created by the item creation system!

Little did he know that Reigner has to listen to such a voice every day.

And it is way too maddening.

[You have acquired 4L of Mells Blood!]

'2nd stage of metal origin now.'

Reigner felt like he is close to it. There were also a lot of victims with the metal armors, so thanks to the abundance of metal aura, Reigner believed that Metal Sphere will be already ready for Paula tomorrow.