Chapter 89

The Wandering Calamity, known as Dash, was darting through the forest at high speeds, with a very annoyed man cradled in his arms like a princess. "You couldn't have carried me in a more normal way?" Elanor asked, his tone resigned and irritated.

"This is the best way to carry a person!" Dash exclaimed in his usual hyperactive voice before adding, "Also, that's the fifth time you've asked that."

Elanor grumbled as he looked up at the sky and the strange phenomenon of red rain that seemed to fall and yet not fall at the same time. *What happened here?* he wondered, feeling a sense of unease wash over him.

Meanwhile, Dash dashed through the trees, running as fast as he could without harming Elanor. Why was Elanor here with Dash? Well, that's because Dash, The Wandering Calamity himself, was notoriously horrible with directions, barely able to distinguish right from left and up from down. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but that's certainly how Elanor felt. In any case, that was the reason Dash had Elanor in his arms—to guide him to Wolfdale. However, after seeing the ominous appearance of the sky over the Rasanto estate, they had decided to head there first instead of dropping Elanor off at Wolfdale.

"Are the people here strong?" Dash asked eagerly as he jumped down a hill, his excitement palpable in the air.

"Strong for someone like me, but I doubt they're strong enough for someone like you or Lennix," Elanor replied, his arms tightening around Dash's neck as they descended. His heart raced with a mixture of exhilaration and fear.

"If they're strong for you, then they must be crazy strong!" Dash exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious as he effortlessly leaped over a small lake, Elanor closing his eyes momentarily in response.

"I don't think you heard what I just said," Elanor remarked, his tone cautious as Dash landed gracefully on the other side.

"No, no, I completely heard you! I just mean..." Dash suddenly changed course, his excitement rising as he continued, "You left your village to look for help despite knowing you could die. That takes some serious strength!" Dash finished, his words catching Elanor off guard.

*Does this guy.... actually have higher brain functions!?* he wondered in astonishment before refocusing on the present. "Wait a minute, where are we going?" he asked, realizing that Dash had changed course.

Dash smirked in response. "To fight someone strong!"

Elanor didn't have time to ask Dash what he meant by that as Dash leaped through a bunch of trees and into a clearing. Immediately upon entering the clearing, the smell of blood, guts, and death assaulted Elanor's senses. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of various animal carcasses strewn around the area. There were birds, rodents, snakes, deer, wolves, and even a few bears, all killed brutally.

Their blood and organs created a vicious display—not artful, not respectful, nor ritualistic. Just plain cruel and violent, done by someone who took pleasure in torturing, killing, and violating the lives of those they deemed lesser than themselves. That someone stood in the middle of the clearing, turning to face Elanor and Dash after they had finished desecrating the body of an innocent fawn.

"Oh, hello! I wondered who I sensed coming here," said a swirling mass of darkness adorned with a bright red robe. It wore a near-blank white mask with a permanent smiley face, speaking in a cheerful tone as it waved at them. Elanor stared at the creature with fear and confusion in his eyes.

"What... what are you? Did you do this?" he asked, his voice trembling with a mixture of horror and disbelief. The creature tilted the part of its smoky body that would be called a head, seemingly confused, before jolting as if realizing something.

"Do you mean all these dead animals? Yeah! I killed them," the creature admitted cheerfully.

Elanor couldn't believe what he was hearing or seeing. He didn't understand what was even standing in front of him. Then Dash suddenly, yet gently, put him down on the ground. Elanor was unable to even stand anymore due to the sheer fear he felt from looking at this creature.

"Why did you kill these animals?" Dash asked, his face and tone filled with confusion.

"Because it's fun," the creature replied without missing a beat.

"But they're not strong, so how could you have fun fighting them?" Dash scratched his head as he posed the question.

"Are you seriously asking that... thing these questions?" Elanor interjected, looking at Dash with shock.

"Hmm, I get it. You think it's only fun when something's fighting back, right?" the creature asked, ignoring Elanor's derogatory remark. Dash nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and I felt like there was someone strong here, so I came," he replied.

The creature clasped its hands together shyly. "Aww, you think I'm strong. Thank you," it said in a singsong voice before leaning forward. "So, what? You want to fight me?" it asked. Dash looked around the clearing, his uncertainty obvious. "I don't know," he said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Elanor exclaimed, his voice laced with astonishment and anger. "You have to fight it! Or else, who knows what it'll do. It could even kill..." Elanor choked on his words before finally managing to say, "My friends."

Dash stopped rubbing the back of his neck and turned back around to face the creature. "I guess I have to fight you," he said, his voice tinged with uncertainty. The creature bounced on its feet excitedly. "Yay! It's been a while since I killed a human!" it exclaimed eagerly. "Oh, and don't worry, I'm stronger than I look, so I'm sure you'll have fun," it added reassuringly.

Dash assumed his fighting stance, announcing, "Dash Ardent, but people call me The Wandering Calamity." There was little excitement in his voice. The creature, Reykur, clapped its smoky hands together, though it made no sound. "That's cool! I'm Reykur, just Reykur! I don't have a cool nickname, sadly," it announced with mock sadness, remaining unphased as it didn't take a fighting stance.

Elanor watched with a mix of fear and anticipation as the battle between two inhuman beings was about to unfold.