Montaser Parada

After an arduous journey that stretched for over an hour, Fray and Montaser finally arrived before an imposing rock. Montaser, honing his spiritual senses, delved deeper into the mysterious aura emanating from the area. "The source of the aura is here," he stated with conviction. "The entrance must be nearby."

Fray's eyes narrowed as he realized that the rock before them matched the description in the Novel he took from That man's memories. Thus, without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful punch upon the colossal boulder, its impact resounding through the air. The once formidable mass shattered into mere fragments after the impact of this enormous power. Hence, revealing a hidden crevice beneath it.

"Let's proceed," Fray declared, leaping into the newly formed gap. Montaser followed suit, and together they descended into the abyss. To their surprise, the descent proved to be much deeper than expected, stretching more than fifty meters underground.

Crash!!!

A thunderous crash reverberated as Fray landed on the ground unscathed, leaving behind a gaping hole. Montaser, utilizing his powers, controlled his descent, gliding effortlessly toward the ground.

As they surveyed their surroundings, a wave of astonishment washed over Montaser. "Are these... houses?" he wondered, observing the stone structures that dotted the landscape. The village appeared quiet and creepy, illuminated by flickering magic lamps that were installed in the streets. 

Montaser's thoughts raced, contemplating the concealed headquarters of the serpent organization. It had remained hidden for ages, evading the pursuit of various powerful factions. How had his master, in such a short span, unveiled this secret location? A complex gaze settled upon Fray, questioning his uncanny abilities. Montaser is very close to his master and he knows every small detail about him, and he certainly doesn't remember Fray cherishing or having any previous experience with this organization, how Fray managed to find their headquarter is a mystery to Montaser. 

"Sentries, we have intruders!"

"Intruders spotted on the north side!"

"Inform the chiefs! All remaining forces must converge on the intruders!"

The echoes of urgent voices from the stone village reached Fray and Montaser's ears. "They found us swiftly," Fray mused with an emotionless face. His gaze hardened as he observed the tens of armed men converging upon them. In an instant, Fray and Montaser found themselves encircled by over a hundred devout zealots.

"Montaser," Fray called without diverting his attention from the masked throng.

"Understood, Sir," Montaser replied, his face an icy mask of resolve.

A captain among the masked warriors stepped forward cautiously, his voice laced with wariness. "Who are you, and what is your purpose in trespassing upon this domain?"

Though outnumbered, the masked men maintained their guard. Professional killers possessed an innate ability to perceive the threat posed by an adversary. Every fiber of their being warned them of the formidable danger emanating from the two figures standing before them.

Fray's indifferent tone held a command. "Leave that one alive," he directed, pointing to the captain.

"As you wish, Sir," Montaser acknowledged, advancing toward the armed men with a chilling composure.

The captain's bellow cut through the air. "Attack!" he cried, leading his troops in a fervent charge toward the intruders. However, their assault was abruptly halted.

"What...?" The captain's voice faltered, his body suspended in mid-air, restrained by an invisible force. A powerful pressure constricted his throat, gradually lifting him higher. He soon realized that his men shared the same fate, their bodies levitating against their will. Struggling to breathe, they comprehended the inevitability of their impending demise.

The captain's mind raced with terror. "Even the warriors of the three kingdoms would succumb to this... What rank does this old man possess?" A chilling realization gripped him as he beheld the enigmatic figure before him.

In a matter of moments, save for the commander, the lifeless bodies of the masked warriors plummeted to the ground. Montaser, without shifting his position, had extinguished over a hundred lives simultaneously. Even Fray, witnessing this macabre spectacle, felt an unsettling shiver creep down his spine.

Montaser hailed from the eighth kingdom, known as one of the mightiest warriors in the Parada lineage—a force to be reckoned with in the entire continent.

According to the chronicles, Montaser met his demise within the dungeon where Fray was moments ago. He had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect Fray, and his death proved to be a pivotal blow to the Parada family. It weakened them significantly, leading to their eventual downfall at the hands of the protagonist.

Under the influence of Montaser's profound abilities, the remaining captain floated toward Fray, a slow and deliberate approach.

"Where are the children?" Fray's voice pierced the air, icy and cold, fixated upon the masked man.

"I... I don't know... AAAAAHHH!" The captain's words were cut short, drowned by an invisible force that crushed him mercilessly. His anguished screams filled the atmosphere, a testament to his excruciating torment.

"I do not like to repeat my words," Fray intoned, his expression grave.

"They're...Not...Here.." The Captain struggled to mumble

But before the captain could offer any further information, a peculiar arrow materialized, piercing his skull from behind with a forceful impact. The resulting explosion obliterated his head, yet the arrow pressed on, only halted by the intervention of Montaser's abilities.