The Beyond

"Of course, tell me everything." Dodo insisted.

"Great, because for the first time in the history of the Continent, there's going to be a giant gathering that will include all the leading figures of the races that have 4th Realm Beings. Obviously, that includes you and I, so grab your so-called Guardians of Peace and let's go." Titania said. "I'll be bringing my Grand Elders, Drako will be bringing his Dragon Lords, and Raiko will be bringing his Kings and Queens."

"I…" Dodo's mind stalled as he processed the alarming information, but then his eyebrows rose as a thought struck him. "Am I the last one to know about all of this?"

"Obviously." Titania replied with a roll of her eyes. "The Dragon goddess told Jörma, Jörma told her brother Drako, Drako told his best friend Raiko, and they told me first because they're still somewhat scared of you."

"Unbelievable…" Dodo muttered as he facepalmed himself. That incident was over 100 years old and yet those boys still held qualms about him. Where was the spirit of a Predator Beast?!

"And wait, what do you mean by 'so-called'? My Guardians of Peace are 100% legitimate and have never strayed from their purpose." Dodo said, feeling a little insulted.

"Hmph, I just think that their names are a bit too grand for what they actually represent." Titania said with a snort.

"How so? Their purpose is to protect the peace of the rightful dwellers in my territory. Not too different from your Grand Elders, if I do say so myself."

"Do you not hear yourself?" Titania said before turning around and walking back to where she came from. "I would expect someone titled as a Guardian of Peace to be much like yourself, a powerful figure with mysterious powers but most importantly a person who would protect anyone, regardless of the affiliation, if it were for a noble cause… Not just an Elder, or Grand Elder for that matter."

Dodo eyed her back with narrowing eyes "I do not protect everyone."

"Yes you do." Titania responded.

"What about Igneel and his followers?"

"They deserved it."

"Baro?"

"Do I even need to reply?"

"..."

"You should start preparing now. I'll be leaving with Drako and Raiko in 3 hours. You know the usual spot. If you're not there with your people, that's your loss."

Leaves surrounded by mystical green light began to materialise around her body, swirling around her without any wind and emitting an intimidating aura.

"Wait!" Dodo called out, causing her to pause where she was. "...What about the Barbarians?"

She turned her head back to him and stared into his eyes, the glow from her own white eyes increasing with the Mana she was stimulating within her body. "What do you think?" And then she disappeared, leaving a bunch of glowing leaves that eventually vanished into thin air.

Dodo tilted his head up to the sky and sighed.

…

[East Continent, Yoloria Empire, Outskirts of Alphonse Forest]

Up above the sky, night had arrived and the Moon shone brightly. It was a beautiful and peaceful sight. But on the land below, In the very outskirts of the Alphonse Forest where the trees met the giant mountain that separated it from the Sea, there was no peace to be found.

The leaves shook wildly as a horde of shadowy figures with red glowing eyes descended from the mountain and began to bound from branch to branch, making their way deeper into the Forest. And at the head of these figures was what looked to be a man with malevolent eyes that were the brightest of all.

He came to a stop on a rather big branch and lifted up his clenched fist to the side of his head, causing the other figures to also stop where they were. And as a result, now that they had stopped moving so swiftly, it quickly became apparent what they were.

The human-like bodies, the unnaturally pale skin, the red irises and the aura of blood-thirstiness… Without a doubt, it was the Blood Fiends. And clearly, they were here on a mission.

Ghost turned back to his people and raised his arms.

"My people…" He began, using a concentration of Mana into his Larynx to increase the volume of his voice, but not so much that it would alert anybody else. With only the 300 people that he had brought with him today, it wasn't difficult.

"We are the almighty Blood Fiend race, a race so powerful that we once held an entire Continent at the cusp of our fingers. Even the Lord of all Monsters that owned 4 Demon King Armaments had to take care when facing us… But as you all know, in recent years, we have suffered setback after setback and have finally fallen to this state. And do you know why?" He paused for dramatic effect, but as expected, nobody was foolish enough to actually think that that was a window to speak.

"It is because of jealousy. Envy to be specific... But it's bigger than what you think. Has any of you ever asked why that abominable creature landed on our Continent, and actually pondered instead of asking out of helpless rage?

Have any of you ever genuinely wondered why Envy came for US? Because I can tell you right now, it is not coincidence.

The true reason… Is the jealousy of the Beyond!"

Gasps rang out in response to the shocking words.

"Yes. The Beyond that you fools idiotically worship. The faceless, bodiless entity that you Imbeciles desperately beseeched to nurture our lands and enrichen our strengths. That is the cause of our downfall.

I thought for a long time, and this is the only conclusion to the series of events that landed us in this situation. When you headless donkeys asked and asked and asked, begged and begged and begged… did you ever stop to think of what would happen to you when you gradually began to stop? When you forgot about the entity that must have gotten used to your senseless praisings and shifted your praises back to me, your true progenitor and creator?

My people… The answer is very simple. The Beyond is jealous and it wants us dead."