Gracius The Minotaur

His overwhelming physique felt intimidating in the eyes of Axel, While Erza performed a stance and formed two swords with both of her hands.

Gracius glanced at Erza and said, "Relax wolf girl. I do not wish to fight you both."

Erza gulped and did not falter from his words, She stood silently and was ready to attack anytime.

While Axel deformed his Gun into strings and made it disappear.

"Hey why did you remove your weapon? I was just about to examine it." Gracius said, Curious to know about Axel's weaponry.

"Um, Its nothing. That was just a toy." Axel replied.

Gracius stared intently at Axel, His gaze made him feel unease, "Why are you staring at me like that..." Axel mumbled.

"Please step away from the child, Minotaurian." Erza said in a serious tone, Raising her swords at Gracius.

Gracius then took some steps back and shrugged his shoulders, "Happy?" He said.

Erza then lowered her swords while Axel started immersing himself at conversing with Greed.

Hey greed? Was the disappearing movement he used, A skill?" Axel said through telepathy.

[No, It was not a Skill.]

So what was it?" Axel asked.

[I think it was Mana enhancements.]

A movement like that, Even ignoring detections, Is amongst the Mana Enhancement Techniques?"

[Yes. As you've known, Mana Enhancements has four techniques. Mana Armament, Mana coating, Mana zone and Mana force. That movement he just displayed... I'm certain it was Mana zone.]

Mana Zone, A Technique which an individual could only attain once your Understanding about Mana has overlapped the basic fundamentals.

The Mana Zone makes the User able to foresee future events within several seconds in a certain radius, And increases the User's awareness and heightens the senses to its maximum potential.

But some can also use it as a misdirection technique, Just what he just did. A technique which averts an Individual's attention in mere seconds that completely overshadows the Mana zone user's movements. Making it seem like he had just disappeared and teleported. But ofcourse this only works within a certain radius of his Mana Zone.

But for a person like him to fully utilize its misdirection features. He sure has knowledge about Mana." Axel mumbled through his head.

"So, Why is a human here in Laplace? And how can you speak our language fluently?" Gracius asked, Showing hints of curiosity.

Axel glanced at Erza, While Erza nodded. "I suddenly got teleported here, And we're on our way to the western region since Erza said that there are remnants of human settlements being located at that place." He said whilst pointing at erza.

"Remnants? Its been decades. There is no human in Laplace now. Especially that area." Gracius said.

"What do you mean 'That Area'? Erza asked.

"You haven't known? I thought you already knew since you're a wolf girl." Gracius responded, Thinking that Erza had already knew about the Situation in the Western Region.

Erza did not respond and kept quiet, To remove any suspicions that might arise.

While Axel bluntly asked, "Is there something happening in the western part of Laplace?"

Gracius looked at Erza and glanced at Axel, "Well.... If you really wanna know, I can tell you." He said.

"Then...?" Axel said, Curious about it.

"But ofcourse, You'll have to let me examine the thing you showed earlier." Gracius stated and smirked.

"About my toy?" Axel mumbled.

"Yes, That toy that somehow feels dangerous." Gracius uttered in a serious demeanor.

[Exchanging informations might be a blunder since Guns being known can change everything there is within the entirety of Laplace. But for some reason I feel like we should know something about the Western region.] Greed said.

I see." Axel responded through telepathy.

Axel slowly covered his head with his hood and said, "Sure I'll let you examine it. But first, You should tell us about what's currently happening in the western region."

"Sure sure, Come on and follow me. We can talk at my place." He said and led Axel and Erza to his house.

Their village had a different atmosphere than the previous village. All of the villagers were minotaurians and had serious intimidating faces. They did their own thing without even batting an eye at Axel and Erza who passed through the road. Tall concrete houses were displayed in rows while the road was completely paved, The environment in their village was truly more extravagant than the Previous village.

Just as they took a left turn, A huge concrete manor was seen dyed in skin tone colored painting. It was tall, And had almost three floors in it, While having a steel bar fence circling around its territory. Axel and Erza went inside the manor as they followed Gracius who were greeted by Minotaur servants that formed two lines infront of the manor's entrance.

"Feel free to look around. I will just grab something." Gracius said and left the two inside the Living room.

The area was spacious and had different craftsmanship antique weapons displayed all over the corners. Unlike the usual household Axel had been, This felt new to him since he only noticed portraits being displayed in the mansions he had visited back at Helium.

"There's alot of weapons being displayed." Axel mumbled, Staring at the weapons that were displayed as decorations.

"Minotaurs are known as the best craftsman and blacksmiths in all of Laplace." Erza said, Staring at some small daggers inside the displayers.

"I see, So They're very talented when it comes to creations. They're similar to the dwarves that lived in Helium." He replied, Getting reminded about the books he had read when he was still a child.

Then after several minutes passed, Gracius returned and was holding several rolled letters in his hand.

"Please be seated." He said and sat at the cushion. While the two also sat infront of him.

"Ahem, As I've said... There are things happening in the Western region right now. And these are the letters I've received from the Minotaurians that were in charge somewhere near the barrier." Gracius said and handed Axel the letters.

Barrier...?" Axel wondered, Clueless to what Gracius was talking about.

He then opened the letters that Gracius handed and read the contents of it one by one.

The western region, Has been severely breached by Monstrous beings that are fully aggressive upon seeing any beings. They have different appearances, Some of them attacked by groups and some of them attacked individually. But thanks to the Emperor's grace, He somehow restored the crack in the barrier and prevented the monstrous beings from entering Laplace. For now, Nothing has changed. But somehow we feel that the Barrier might collapse. In regards of this letter, Please tell my family that I am still alive and doing well. Thankyou!"

Axel wondered after reading the letter.

Monstrous beings that are extremely aggressive." He mumbled through his head.

"Somehow the barrier is quite holding, But who knows when it might suddenly break. And that place has been restricted after the humans left decades ago. So there's no way that you'll find any humans in that area." Gracius said, Telling Axel the truth.

Somehow I feel something, Its as if..."

[Monster beasts... Is what he might be talking about.]

Yes, That maybe possible. And the barrier, It might be the one that surrounds Helium and excludes them from the outside world." Axel mumbled through his head.

Axel wandered in thoughts wearing a serious expression, While Erza and Gracius kept silent whilst staring at Axel.

"If somehow its connected to my hometown, Then its possible... That beyond that Barrier you speak of is the continent of Helium..." He uttered, Staring intently at Gracius.

"Helium... I never heard about it." Gracius responded, Rubbing his chin.

*Growl*

"But first I think you two should eat up." Gracius said and chuckled after hearing Axel's and Erza's stomach growl at the same time.

Axel and Erza felt embarrassed and wore a forced smile while Gracius laughed openly infront of them.

Chapter End.