BACK TO ASH'S TEAM
A fierce fight was about to come alive in the Eastern South area of the forest. A hoard of Fluffbanes and Fangbanes surrounded the squad.
"Hmm, looks like we have to fight." Aeris warned, smiling as his nerves was set on fire from excitement.
"Haha, That's what I want!" Ash said after laughing Bumped his fists.
Nyro didn't say anything. Instead, he instantly summoned his violet karambit-like daggers. Shizuna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She straightened her arm forward and summoned her Golden darkness bow.
Ash summoned his dark gauntlets and Aeris unsheathed his sword.
The squad became ready, one assassin, one archer, and two fighters. but, who said that the banes would wait?
Five Fangbanes took the initial front of the hoard once they detected the squad.
Before Ash's gauntlets fully materialized around his hands, the five Fangbanes were already in front of them.
Shizuna took a dash backward, Nyro dissipated into his domain of invisibility, Ash and Aeris were the front fighters of the team.
"Ash, as planned." Aeris informed.
Ash didn't respond and drew a bigger smile on his face.
Aeris slashed the five Fangbanes that leapt toward them. That, was the signal Ash was waiting for.
He dashed toward them and caught two of them mid-air, rotated his body, and threw them in the air once more.
Shizuna took the signal and closed her left eye while pulling the string of her bow, aiming at one of the Fangbanes.
The arrow materialized out of no where, giving Shizuna the free will to shoot anytime she wants.
And so she did. Fortunately, the first day of her facing the reality of having a bow, made her a bit experienced in using it. She was a samurai after all.
The arrow shot with terrifying speed, penetrating one of the Fangbanes that flew in the air.
Though, the one that got hit wasn't the one she aimed for.
'Maa, iikedo' ('Well, it's fine though.') Shizuna thought while shrugging.
The other Fangbane dropped to the ground and staggered. Poor Fangbane couldn't even lift its head! Nyro's hand emerged from the invisible barrier and stung the Fangbane once it reached the ground.
He then pulled his dagger out of the corpse and slid back to his domain.
Meanwhile, Ash, after throwing the Fangbanes, rotated again and sprinted toward the other three Fangbanes.
Suddenly, Ash's nerves tensed and stopped amidst his track.
'That feeling...' Ash thought while looking everywhere around him. A second later, the presence vanished as if it never existed.
Someone or something was watching.
That second of delay made the Fangbanes recover and launch again. This time, Ash was alone.
The three Fangbanes along with 10 Fluffbanes, all leapt toward Ash.
"TCH!" Ash was irritated, taking a dash backward.
A figure was dashing form behind toward the hoard. Aeris sprinted with his sword illuminating blue hue, Met Ash mid-dash and simply winked.
'That bossy leader.' Ash thought, smiling as he stopped himself with his hand on the ground.
Aeris took Ash's place and swung his sword. The slash took three Fluffbanes' lives with it and injured a Fangbane. Dodging the others, Aeris leapt backward with a back flip and dashed toward them once more.
"Already three kills?! Fluffbanes, I think you should level up!" Aeris mocked the Fluffbanes. Fortunately, they didn't take his words personally.
Ash, still, looked around every corner of the area, but he couldn't find anything.
The presence he felt a while ago vanished completely.
Nyro emerged once more from behind a Fangbane, that was about to attack Aeris's blind spot, and killed it instantly.
Shizuna, from afar, came closer and shot the last Fangbane. The arrow landed on its eyes, the weakest point on the banes.
The creature surly died after getting a massive stun to its nerves.
Ash dashed once more and grabbed two Fluffbanes and... ate them.
The boy was hungry.
[You have slain a...]
[15 EXP gained!]
"You still eat them, Ash?" Aeris said with a slight tone of humor, finishing off the Fangbane he injured.
Ash kept catching another Fluffbanes and ate them all.
Shizuna saw that horrific scene and was about to vomit.
With the last Fluffbane getting devoured by Ash, the hoard has been annihilated. The group came closer to Ash to see if he was good.
"No... poisoning?" Nyro asked, curiosity killing him.
Ash looked at him with a hilarious expression.
"Don't underestimate the manipulator. I already ate so much of them yesterday." Ash said, a smile of pride crossed his face. "It's sweet, you know. You should try it, Hahaha."
Aeris laughed along with Ash. Nyro was genuinely surprised. And Shizuna... wasn't so good hearing that.
"Anyway, we have to collect the corpses of the Fangbanes so we cook them." Aeris said, making Nyro's stomach growl. "I know, we haven't eaten for so long. Well, except for Ash. Hahahaha."
With that, the squad continued their march toward the castle. They still have a long road ahead of them.
On their way, Ash looked at the ground, hoping that he would find some footsteps. Surprisingly, he found it.
Ash stopped and crouched to take a better look.
"Guys! Come look at this." Ash called.
The four travelers saw the footsteps and wondered who was it or... what was it.
Ash studied the footsteps for a moment and stood up instantly.
"I think... someone is in a huge problem." Ash informed, making the others tense.
"What did you see, Ash?" Aeris asked, taking a serious tone in his words.
"A girl... chased by a Hollowbane!" Ash said.
"Shit!" Nyro replied instantly.
"We must catch them as soon as possible." Aeris responded.
"Of course, let's not waste anytime--"
"Actually..." Ash interrupted Shizuna.
"It's... two Hollowbanes. Not just one." Ash informed with a more horrific information. Indeed, the footsteps indicated that of a girl and a Hollowbane. But the Hollowbane's footsteps wasn't for just one.
Ash took a moment, trying to think of a plan to counter the Hollowbanes in the most efficient way.
Opening his mouth slightly and touching his chin, Ash started brainstorming.
After nearly 30 seconds, Ash's eyes lit up and started sprinting.
"Let's dash! I will tell you all the plan while running."
Aeris, Nyro, and Shizuna follow Ash immediately without responding.
Together, they increased their speed while Ash was telling them the plan. A plan forming inside a manipulator's mind.