Critters

Monsters were first discovered in Nature-2's 4th Century on an ancient island located around the sections of the Western continent. Firstly, they were considered wild animals until the devastating behaviors of the creatures became more treacherous.

Knowing that they couldn't find enough prey to devour on the island, the monsters sneaked into the Airships of Dormant Academy students on the Moon Day, knowing that the students had gone to hunt for Unicorns. After hiding behind the trunks at the backside of the Airships, they secretly flee with the students to the mainland in other to devour and feast on the tasty flesh of Humans and Half-elves. 

But later on, when this seizure got more severe, the Lords and Magi were the ones who captured the monsters and defeated them with the help of their magical abilities. However, they still went into the island and captured the rest, locking them permanently within the strongest walls ever created in the history of the second universe. 

This place in which they were kept was called the Maze. However, there was a probability that the walls might fall in the future since it had been a long time since it was constructed. The most aggravating part was that these walls could not be renovated, based on the culture of Litchnigan, derived from the History Book. 

"No fallen walls will ever rise. A fallen wall is a perished creation," — derived from Part 34, Page 4904 of the History Book.

Now, nothing was going to make them doubt the fact that the walls of the Maze had finally fallen. What if these monsters destroy the whole continent? What if these monsters have gone high in population? What if the Colossus is not dead after eating the Poiko Portion for years? The whole of Nature-2 might plunge into complete chaos.

After returning to the Golden Fox Clan through the portal, Seth walked home immediately, cursing inside of him as the recollection of the Half-elven's slap came flooding in.

'She will surely pay for placing her decayed palms on my cheeks. She is a Newborn, so we would definitely meet at the Dormant Academy,' Seth thought and turned left facing the path which was leading to the Rotunda Family's territory. 

But after walking for some meters, Seth quickly discontinued his movement. Something strange seemed to have happened around the area — family territories around the path seemed to be deserted, or perhaps, might be said to be shut down.

'What happened?' Seth asked thoughtfully, glancing around as he began walking unhurriedly.

"Kill it! Use your abilities!"

"Ahhh! I'm dying!"

Bang! Bang!

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, Seth began to hear loud noises from the North — it was the Rotundas Home.

"Holy shit!" Seth exclaimed and charged towards the direction of their Type-2 bungalow. Walking forward, he grabbed a thick yet long stick lying by the side of a thin trench. Then rapidly, Seth ran towards the door and settled at the side. 

He inspected through the door, getting a sight of arrows as they fled from one spot to the other. His father was battling a Type-4 Monster. 

'Shit! It's a Critter.'

Critters are the strongest Type-4 Monsters ever recorded in Litchnigan. Though Type-4 might be the lowest of all Type-grades, but that never meant that Type-4 Monsters could not bring down a whole clan in just a day. 

Goblins and Boars could be easily killed without wasting much time, but Critters could only be killed using spears and swords. However, when these weapons become somewhat useless to the slay the craziest of them, abilities bring in the aid. 

Seth saw that his father was dealing with the two Critters inside the house, and also saw that his mother was fine. Fine enough to make him feel that her safety was guaranteed. With this, he was no longer terrified. 

However, his intent of opening the door and joining the fight never died, regardless of the fact that he was still a Dormant Being. 

"In my scene, Ryder killed a Critter today. So hopefully, I must kill one. Maybe, something can improve in my stats... My Market Value rate possibly," Seth muttered and gripped the door's handle, followed by a pull. Breathing softly, Seth dashed into the house. 

His first action was to attempt a bang on the Critter's back, but the rapid turn of the creature sent Seth frightened to the extent that he almost fell on another Critter lying lifelessly behind him. 

The Critter possessed a wood-like physique. Its fangs were as long as a half-meter length with its sharp curvy claws affixed at every tip of its seven fingers. Its height was about seven feet, though, its arms were short yet huge and sturdy. 

However, its single eye made it totally weird. A single eye? How can it possess a single eye and be so observant? This was what rang inside of Seth's mind. 

'Darn it.'

Seeing the killing intent in the eyes of the Critter, Seth had no choice but to run for his "dear important life". Actually, running seems to be a bad idea. The Critters are known for their fast legs and unrelenting chase. If he tries to run, he will surely get caught. 

The only difference was that he would only lengthen the time of being consumed by the creature. 

Looking at his father, Seth saw the exhausted act in him. He had been fighting these things since they attacked, probably for three hours, just to save his wife and home.

And now, he is still battling the other Critter who seems to have been getting the upper hand. Karl's face was bleeding, his arms were getting weak, making it too heavy for him to carry.

Seeing this, Seth had no other choice but to fight. 

'I must fight it! I will make sure I pull each and every part of its flesh, even if I have to die in the process.'

Shortly, Seth charged towards the Critter who had also dashed towards his direction. Its claws were aimed at Seth on Seth's ribs, and Seth's weapon was aimed at his skull. 

Seth quickly turned left as he got close to the Critter. Due to the dodge, the Critter's claws smashed the Type-2-made brick wall, causing it to shatter gradually at that instant. Its claws began to fall out, followed by the gushing green blood coming out from its fist.

However, this only made the Critter more outrageous. This time, it was about to crush Seth's skull with its wood-like fist. The Critter's hands luckily grabbed Seth's head, almost clenching its fist to crush Seth's skull like an egg. 

Seth felt his head shattering slowly, his screams replenishing the whole room. His father who was still battling the other Critter was willing to help, but he knew that losing focus was only going to make him get killed. 

All in all, they just have to hope for a miracle.

Seth tried to pull his grieving head from the destructive palms of the Critter, but it was as though he was pulling an arm from the shoulder socket. It seemed impossible. 

Luckily and abruptly, Seth saw the once-roaring Critter falling after a spear pierced through its skull. Green liquid filled that spot, almost making Seth throw up due to the distasteful scent of its blood.

Looking up to see his savior, Seth gazes placed on a young figure. Pale skin, blonde hair, lofty height, and a strong aura. 

It was a Newborn like him! 

Seth's eyes widened a bit, though he was not so surprised by the boy's action due to the fact that he never confronted the Critter directly. It was like an ambush attack. 

'He must be from the Penn Family.' 

"Hey," the boy said. 

"Hey," Seth replied, "thanks for that."

"Nah, it's nothing. It's good you are safe now," the boy said and walked towards Seth's father's battling direction. Before lifting his hands to use his golden spear, a big bang sounded in the room. The Critter who was battling with Seth's father was lying on the floor, dead.

Who killed it? Seth. 

"Hehe, I was faster," Seth teased, smiling.

"Yeah, I think so," the Penn Family's Newborn said and turned, aiming at the door. 

"Where are you going to? I owe you gratitude," said Father, Karl said.

"Don't worry Master Karl, you can do that another day."

The Newborn turned and opened the door. Before closing back after leaving the room, he spoke loud: "Prepare yourself, Newborn, we are going to the Dormant Academy tomorrow."

"Sure!" Seth spoke loudly and turned to his father. "He saved our sorry ass."

"No, he saved you. Then you saved me," Seth's father said. "But, you still have to explain how you sneak out from home."

'Gosh!'

Suddenly, his mother who was hiding behind the sofa came out from nowhere and clasped Seth's arm. 

"Where have you been?" Emily asked, putting on a serious countenance. 

Seth stood motionless for more than a minute. Nicky told him not to tell their parent about meeting The Eye. But why? Every parent would want their Newborns to know their future so that they could work towards it. But the Rotunda Family wants the opposite. 

Why? Nothing much, it's just that Seth's sorry-ass plotted that. 

Seeing the silence in Seth, his mother quickly said: 

"If you insist on not answering, it's fine. Thank your stars that you were not killed by that monster."

Seth nodded. 

"Anyways, let's continue with our conversation, your dad will call the White Cross to fix this mess," Emily said. 

Seth's eyes broadened. He knew it was about his God and Affinity. Right now, Seth was praying for a wing so he could fly out of the house. 

"Now tell me, Who is your God."