Chapter 16

The monsters suddenly came out and surrounded the two children hiding inside the shield. Slytherin stood up and glared back at the monsters as he kept on encouraging himself to defend Jess.

"I have to protect her! I need to protect her!" he mumbles to himself. Suddenly, his eyes that were filled with determination glowed blood red as he shouted, "No! I want to protect her!"

On the other hand, Kurohana was still looking for Rod's whereabouts. Every step she made was accompanied with her shouting his name. But to her utter dismay, she didn't receive any response from the man.

Her heart clenched at the thought of him being in danger making her unconsciously quicken her pace. She was about to call him again when she halted. Her senses are sharp and she can immediately detect any movements around her. And as soon as she reached the middle of the forest, she noticed the suspicious movements of the monsters, so she decided to follow those.

As she gets near the location, the smell of blood also intensifies. The urge for her savage nature intensified because of the scent but she quickly pulled herself together. She knew that she couldn't lose control otherwise, Rod and the children will be put at risk.

Her eyes widened when she finally reached the place.

Napapalibutan si Rod ng mga Grendel, isang klase ng mga higanteng may matatalim na ngipin, sungay, at mahahabang kuko. Kasalukuyan ang mga itong nakayuko sa tabi ni Rod. Maingat siyang lumapit sa mga ito at doon niya tuluyang nakita ang kalagayan ng lalaki.

Rod is currently unconscious and was being eaten by the monsters.

"Factum est autem in spinas obumbratio!" Kurohana chanted. Soon, a circle made formed beneath the monsters and the thorns made of shadow impaled those. Kurohana immediately took advantage of the fact that the monsters were being distracted to rescue him.

She tried to wake him up but to no avail. She took a deep breath to calm herself before mumbling, "Umbra onerariis," then a shadow engulfed them.

On the other hand, Slytherin is having difficulty protecting and defending Jess from the monster's attacks.

Using the knife left to him by Kurohana, he fiercely slashed the monster that has reached them making it writhe in pain before it dies.

"Sly?" 

The boy took a quick glance to the girl he was shielding. Her face is filled with worries. Slytherin smiled warmly before he took the next monster down.

"Don't worry," he whispered, trying to calm the little girl when he sensed another orc was about to attack him, he quickly fend it off using his sharp claws. "I won't let them touch you, not even your hair."

He turned towards the orc and thrust his knife on its chest, piercing its heart. Because of the powerful attack he made, the blood of the monster showered him. He could already feel how frightened Jess is on their current predicament although she's still forcing herself to give him a calm smile.

Suddenly, Slytherin sensed someone powerful approaching them at a frightening speed. He instinctively shielded Jess with his body as soon as a dark figure came out of the shadows. And with just a couple of seconds, the shadow that shrouded it dissipated, revealing Kurohana kneeling on the ground with Rod lying motionless on her thighs and bathing with his own blood.

The children were left speechless on the sight. Jess quickly ran towards the two as soon as she calmed down. Slytherin was about to stop her but she sprinted leaving the boy with no choice but to protect her from the assault of the orcs.

The little girl knelt beside the dying Rod. As she tried to suppress her cries, she raised her hands on the man's wounds. Both her small hands and Rod's body were covered with a blinding warm white light.

"Pull yourself together, mom!" Slytherin shouted. "We need to defend them."

Kurohana felt as if cold water was splashed at her not only on what the boy said but also on the way he called her. She gingerly transferred Rod to the little girl's lap before she stood up. With glaring eyes, she faced the remaining orcs who were about to devour them.

The almost visible aura coming out of her stunned the orcs. She took her sword and agilely slayed those monsters.

As soon as she finished cleaning them up, she rushed back to Rod to check on him. She almost lost herself again seeing that didn't improve even a bit.

"What's happening to me? Why can't I calm down?" Kurohana whispered to herself. This was the first time she felt so scared for someone else's life.

The two kids were astounded when they saw her slapping herself. Her eyes suddenly filled with determination as she said sternly, "We'll save him!"