Creatures!

The Rechanguard Kingdom had been at war with the Inolid Kingdom for years with no chance of peace in sight. They settled on doing light skirmishes, like fighting over resources, land and so on.

Recently these small fights have been getting worse and worse. Lives were being lost and territories stolen.

In the Inolid Kingdom, King Xardas's rage was growing by the day, as displeasing news kept on coming. The Rechanguard Kingdom was getting more bold by the day and he couldn't do anything about it. They were more developed than his own Kingdom, which was why they were slowly getting pushed back.

The details were unknown, but officials could guess what happened. Xardas knew he couldn't fight back, so he signed a deal with the worst kind. A deal that might lead to great disasters to himself and others.

The Evil God.

One of the most famous deities and the one which is hated the most. The Evil God name is not its real name, but one given to it by the people.

What else would a being that takes more than it gives be called? One that solicits sin and evil? The god worshiped by the treacherous Dark Demons?

After this foolish King's deal, all worshipers and followers of this being took refuge in the Inolid Kingdom. They advertised their religion and forced the residents of this Kingdom's territory to join, and for those that refused faced the most horrifying outcomes.

Although some managed to escape and seek refuge in other Kingdoms, but leaving their homes and everything they had caused them to become homeless beggars. Some started doing odd jobs and took anything that came to them, while others had no choice but to become bandits. Anything is better than being looked down on and begging others for a few coins.

While all of this was happening. The Inolid Kingdom's strength grew, and their army became formidable. After each member signed a contract with the Evil God, they changed, turning into what could only be called, Creatures. For such a forbidden power to grow, they needed human souls, and what's the best place to get some other than their enemy Kingdom?

Each one of the villages at the borders were targeted and to each one, a pawn was sent to blend in, and to report back.

Little did they know, Link's fight with Peter at the time alerted the Rechanguard Kingdom. They sent Royal Guards and kept an eye out for the area. Although their attempt was futile as the enemies' power surprised them and that led to them failing to properly win and secure the territory. They couldn't say they won, but they successfully managed to push out the enemy with great losses on both sides.

The letter the Lord of Hundei City sent, reached the Royals and an answer was sent back, explaining the situation, which led to the City Lord taking measure to prepare. He was unsure if his city would be attacked or not, but such a thing must not happen.

He alerted his guards and started preparing, even hired a Mage to assist in case anything were to occur.

Link and Samuel heard everything and their worry and anger have not subsided but only grew. They asked about the survivors and Olly explained that the Royal Guards managed to save some people, but deaths were unavoidable. From the report sent by the Royal Guards that were at the scene, the enemies seemed like they were covered by a layer of black ink. They moved and fought like beasts, with every time they took a life, the darkness of whatever substance that covered them would swallow some sort of light orb that left the deceased's bodies. The people that managed to survive were escorted back to the Royal Guard's camp, but its location was not shared in the letter.

Link and Samuel now finally saw some hope. Even if their families were not one of the few that survived, it was still a thread they gladly hung onto.

Luke and the others sat back and listened to Olly as he explained things to them, but this time none of them did or said anything. Luke was a Mage, one who lived and trained for far longer than a 15 year old kid, but the Barrier spell that he took pride in was destroyed easily. That spell was something he created himself after years of experiments and research, but in front of a kid it did not stand a chance. This frustrated Luke and a lot of questions kept trying to force themselves out. What was that spell you used? Who was your master? How old are you really? And so on..

Although he had a lot to say, he stopped himself. The two kids did not look to be in any condition to tolerate this old man's curiosity and calmly answer or have a conversation with him. He could see their clenched fists and serious faces as they listened to Olly.

Link and Samuel heard everything there was to be heard and left. Their plan for now was to find the Royal Guard's camp, which might not be as easy as it sounds.

Olly explained a few things to them, and one of them was that the Royal Guard's camp would not be left out in the open. They had the Kingdom's backing with the latest Magical Technologies. Hiding and erasing every spec of their existence would not be hard for such a force.

Link was walking out though with a smile. "What's the Skill's name?" He whispered.

<Time Leap> Zero spoke <I found many Skills that would have completed your task with ease, but if these Royal Guards used some sort of devices and spells that might interfere with the Skill's investigative uses, then that would only be a waste of Skill Points. So I picked one that does not rely on such elements>

"Show me the Skill's description" Link said, still walking.

<Time Leap: Opposite to the name, this skill does not allow for physical time travel, but only simulates the events that occurred in the past on the time specified by the user. (1 Second per 100 Mana)>

"Good" Link muttered, before turning to Samuel "Hey, I have a spell I would like to test, wanna tag along?"

"Yeah" Samuel answered, he did not look very motivated, but he trusted that Link wouldn't be wasting time on meager matters.

With a quick shoulder tap, Link and Samuel were in their village. Samuel was a bit startled, he didn't know that Link could perform long distance teleportation, which was not something anyone can learn. This quick surprise woke Samuel up and he seemed a bit lively again. "I'll definitely catch up!" He muttered to himself.

Link walked forward and stood in the middle of the village. He took a Mana potion out of his Inventory and drank it. "Alright!" He said a bit loudly.

The surrounding area started to morph, like he was looking at a clear water surface that was disturbed. Waves passed onto everything, and Link could see what seemed like everything going backwards. The clouds moved and in an instant, he could see it.

Villagers were walking around, as shops opened and people left their homes. Link could even see Sal, Gail and Robart walking, heading somewhere as they chatted and laughed.

The place looked lively like nothing happened or will happen. Birds sang while the trees and grass danced with the wind.

Boom!

An ear deafening sound roared from somewhere. The villagers covered their ears and huddled on the ground, before slowly lifting their heads.

"What in god's name is that?" One of them yelled, making all the people that heard him look in the same direction as him. In the previously crystal blue sky, a tear could be seen. It looked odd, like some sort of cloth getting ripped, revealing nothing but black.

As the people kept staring at the scene, a combination of sounds was heard from within the darkness.

"Rejoice, bugs" the voice boomed. It was not a single person speaking, but sounded like thousands were talking and saying the same thing at the same time. "Your lives will finally have purpose"

After the ominous voice stopped speaking, something that made the hairs on everyone present stand happened.

Heads.. They looked like shadows peaking in. The darkness behind them made it hard for someone to see them clearly if it were not for their blood red eyes and shark like teeth that greeted the people with terrifying grins.

With what sounded like a whistle, they jumped out, landing on houses and stores, destroying their roofs, while others aimed at people as they crushed them with sinister laughs.

"By the god and the great mother of all beings, please protect your loyal servants and worshipers from any m..zdf..zf" An old man started praying, but did not manage to finish as blood clogged his throat. A hand protruded from his back that slowly started to break and tear into him. A bit later, an orb of light flew out of the disturbingly deformed body and with a quick move, the creature grabbed it. "De..licious" The intangible voice spoke as the creature moved to another victim.

A child was crying loudly between his mother's embrace. She squeezed as hard as she could, trying to keep her son safe, but her efforts were for nothing. A mouth opened, biting the mother's head clean off. Blood cascaded down onto the child, covering him in red.

"M..mom?" He looked up, making the blood cover his face and get into his eyes. "Mommy!" He yelled, but that only led to him receiving the same fate.

Two more light orbs flew up and were grabbed by the creatures..

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