Chapter 41 Monster Elders

Before heading back to Tenebrosity, Grand Darkness wanted to visit Dawn. He and Starlight meet with Forest Fire outside of the cabins, while Dawn and Felix were sparing in the forest.

“Forest Fire, how has Dawn been doing?” {Grand Darkness}

“Great, she and Felix are getting along just fine.” {Forest Fire}

“Ah yes, your new apprentice. The boy around the same age as her that you keep around her.” {Grand Darkness}

“It is fine. They will not do anything. I trust them, but even so, I still keep my eye on them.” {Forest Fire}

“Like what you are doing now?” {Grand Darkness}

“Anyway, their Cultivations are going great. Felix has already just reached High Mortal Core while Dawn has just reached the peak and will soon be ready to break into Nascent Soul.” {Forest Fire}

“I know. You said that last time I contacted you. What are you trying to hide?” {Grand Darkness}

“Alright fine. I think they have feelings for each other.” {Forest Fire}

Grand Darkness’s Aura rose and applied pressure to the area, but Forest Fire and Starlight looked unfazed.

“You better give a good explanation as to why I should not kill you for keeping this from me.” {Grand Darkness}

“Because I knew you would get like this, and you would come demanding to see her. Which could have broken the treaty. Just meet Felix and you will see how good they are together. Besides, I do not even think they know it yet.” {Forest Fire}

“You better be right.” {Grand Darkness}

Dawn and Felix were felt by Grand Darkness’s divine sense. He pulled back his Aura as he felt Dawn. When he moved to study Felix, he got confused. They ran out of the forest and towards the group.

“DAD! You are here!” {Dawn}

Dawn hugged her dad. Grand Darkness hugged her back. Soon the two of them separated.

“Dawn, how have you been? Did you get hurt at all?” {Grand Darkness}

“I am fine. Felix and I have gotten much stronger together.” {Dawn}

“Speaking of him, hello.” {Grand Darkness}

“Greet…ings… Grand… Dark…Ness.” {Felix}

“You look familiar, where have we meet?” {Grand Darkness}

“He went by Torch and was the one who fought Mercury on that day.” {Starlight}

“Oh, I see it now… I am glad to see that you have gotten a lot better, but why has your voice not healed yet?” {Grand Darkness}

“I… will… do…it… when… I… am… ready… Al…so… Thank… you.” {Torch}

“Thank me for what?” {Grand Darkness}

“Fire…light… money.” {Felix}

“Oh, I guess I did do that.”

“…”

“See what did I tell you? How can you dislike him?” {Forest Fire}

“Fine. But keep an eye on them.” {Grand Darkness}

“Will do!” {Forest Fire}

“?” {Felix and Dawn}

After talking for a little while Starlight and Grand Darkness left to return to Tenebrosity. A few days passed, when in the early morning Forest Fire forced Felix and Dawn up. Luckly for them they had spent the night Cultivating.

(“Felix, Dawn, get up and get ready for a battle. NOW!”) {Forest Fire}

They both were confused but quickly did as they were told. They meet up with Forest Fire and Purelight outside.

“What is going on?” {Dawn}

“We have visitors.” {Forest Fire}

“I do not feel anything.” {Dawn}

“It is three monsters. Two Shadow Lizards and one Light Bird. One of the Lizards and the bird are at Dao Palace. The last one is at Nascent Soul.” {Purelight}

Before anything else could be said a man with white hair and black eyes wearing a white feathered coat appeared in the air.

“It seems that a sneak attack is unavailable. So be it then. I would even prefer it this way.” {???}

Another appeared on one of the roofs of the cabins. He had black hair and yellow eyes. He wore a sleeveless leather vest and pants, while carrying a large black lizard on his back. When he spoke, it relieved his teeth were pointed into fangs.

“You dumb bird, they only had guesses not our exeact location.” {???}

“What a minute? Lucky!?” {Forest Fire}

“DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I NEVER WANTED TO BE YOUR PET!” {Lucky?}

“What about all the good times we had?” {Forest Fire}

“SHUT UP! I am Hollow! Not your dumb pet!” {Hollow}

“Hollow, remember what we are here for.” {???}

“Shut up bird brain, I know.” {Hollow}

“What are elders of the Monster races doing here?” {Purelight}

“We learned that you humans have teamed up. Given time we will be your next targets. We are here to stop that.” {Light Bird Elder}

Purelight made sure to keep Dawn and Felix close behind her. Felix and Dawn made sure to have their weapons ready.

“Nothing we can say to stop you?” {Forest Fire}

“No.” {Hollow}

Forest Fire pulled out his twin hand axes.

“Well then, how should we do this?” {Forest Fire}

“You cannot be considering this?” {Purelight}

“They brought three fighters. Two ruffly the same Cultivation as us and one strong enough to fight both Felix and Dawn. They knew about us. There is a traitor. We need to get this over with as soon as possible.” {Forest Fire}

“WHAT!?” {Purelight}

The Light Bird Elder and Hollow rushed at the group. Forest Fire quickly reacted and manifested a wall of fire to force them back.

“Purelight, we need to fight NOW! Dawn, Felix hold nothing back if you want to live! Dawn use that if you need to.” {Forest Fire}

The wall of flames dissipated and Forest Fire jumped to fight Hollow. Purelight, seeing no other option, pulled out her spear.

“Dawn, Felix, he is right.” {Purelight}

(“Both of you when you see an opening, try to run to the sect and get help. It is far but better than staying here.”) {Purelight}

(“Got it!”) {Felix}

Purelight rushed to the Light Bird Elder and started fighting them. As she did this Felix realized that the lizard on Hollow’s back was not there anymore. Dawn and Felix went back to back as they looked around.

(“What do you know about Shadow Lizards?”) {Felix}

(“Not much, I fought a few Foundation Establishment ones that Dad caught for me to fight, but not one on this level before. LOOK OUT!”) {Dawn}

Felix realized that the lizard was in fount of him and attacking. It stood on its hind legs and swung with its front claw. Felix blocked with his sword, but the lizard was ready to fire its tongue.

(“Dodge!”) {Felix}

Felix moved his head while Dawn spun around ready to attack with her sword. They both dodged but as Dawn went to attack the lizard leaned back and used the recoil of its tongue to flip back and avoid the attack while landing back on its feet.

“This is going to be a hard fight.” {Dawn}

While Felix and Dawn fought the lizard, Forest Fire was fighting Hollow. Forest Fire swung his axe at Hollow’s neck and it passed through it like nothing was there. Hollow reappeared behind Forest Fire and swung with his claws, but Forest Fire easily dodged.

“I have to say, best pet ever!” {Forest Fire}

“I AM NOT YOUR PET! You nearly took everything from me!” {Hollow}

“What happened? I just took you in for a few years while you grew up.” {Forest Fire}

“HAHA! I was the strongest Shadow Lizard of my generation. I WAS SUPPOSED TO LEAD THEM! But you! Your stunt almost cost me my rule! They thought I was dead and had my sister take the spot that should have been mine!” {Hollow}

“Why not kill her and take it back?” {Forest Fire}

“It is not that simple. She is stronger than me now and she had a child of a rare affinity, so much so that every one of our elders agrees that they will be the next ruler. No matter what I would do, I would not be able to take my rightful spot. Unless perhaps, they were to be killed by you humans.” {Hollow}

“Good plan, but it has a number of problems.” {Forest Fire}

“It does not need to be perfect. I only need war to break out and go from there.” {Hollow}

“I mean that Dawn and Felix will not lose to that lizard that you brought.” {Forest Fire}

“Oh. We will see about that!” {Hollow}

Hollow launched another attack at Forest Fire. While this was happening, Purelight and the Light Bird Elder were fighting in the air. The Elder had a pair of folding fans made out feathers that he used to block and parry Purelight’s attacks. The Elder and Purelight both created a larger version of their weapons out of Light and struck each other’s projection, forcing the two apart.

“Why? I thought that we had an overall good relationship. Why have all out war!?” {Purelight}

“Why? You of all people asking why? You, who trapped some of our young in a cage and used them as feed for your warriors, are asking about why?” {Light Bird Elder}

“Fine, I will remove the Formations keeping them there. We can go back to how it was before.” {Purelight}

“A good jester, but not good enough. We can see that we will be forever at your mercy if we do not do something about this problem now. Perhaps later, we can find peace, but for now that girl must die.” {Light Bird Elder}

“If even a hair is harmed on her, I will personally end your race myself!” {Purelight}

“So be it then.” {Light Bird Elder}

As the battle of Dao Palace Cultivators raged around them, Dawn and Felix were holding their own against the lizard but just barely. They were beginning to get tired while the lizard looked like they could keep going. Dawn threw some knives at the lizard, who easily dodged but Felix was ready with his sword. The lizard, knowing that it could not dodge, used its tail to grab Felix’s leg and trip him face first. Felix’s sword just missed the Lizard’s head. The lizard grabbed one of Dawn’s thrown knives next to it and swung it at the back of Felix’s head.

“NO!” {Dawn}

Felix rolled around to have his back on the ground. The lizard moved his attack but Felix was now able to use his hands to grab the lizards, holding them back with all his strength. The lizard was still stronger and slowly pushed the knife closer to Felix’s face, more specially his right eye. However, it stopped as it sensed Dawn’s Aura. Everyone stopped.

“DRAGON AURA!?” {Hollow}

“Hollow! We have misjudged! We need to kill them now!” {Light Bird Elder}

 Before the Monster Elders could move, they were stopped by Purelight and Forest Fire attacking them.

The lizard wanted to run away from Dawn but as he loosened the pressure on Felix, he grabbed the lizard’s arms.

(“NOW!”) {Felix}

In almost a spilt second, Dawn pulled out her spear and appeared before the lizard. Her spear went straight through its skull and brain. Felix let go and rolled to allow for Dawn to swipe down threw its body and the Dantian.

“NO!” {Hollow}

 Felix got up and looked at Dawn and they both nodded. They started running to the sect as fast as they could.

“Hollow, they are getting away!” {Light Bird Elder}

“I know that!” {Hollow}

The two groups fought but neither were able to gain an advantage over the other. So, Hollow fell back next to the Light Bird Elder while Purelight fell back to Forest Fire. Purelight and the Light Bird Elder were still in the air. It was around mid-morning and neither group were prepared for what was about to happen.

(“What is our next move?”) {Forest Fire}

(“Stall until back up can come.”) {Purelight}

(“Can you catch up to them!?”) {Hollow}

(“Not before Purelight would catch up with me.”) {Light Bird Elder}

Then without warning, the world shook and creation moaned. Purelight and the Light Bird Elder lost all strength and fell out down. Forest Fire and Hollow lost all strength as well but Forest Fire was able to catch Purelight before falling himself. The Light Bird Elder was not so lucky with Hollow and hit the ground hard, severely injuring him. Not enough to kill him but enough to take him out of the fight. After a few moments everything was back to normal.

Purelight, Forest Fire, and Hollow were able to slowly stand up, but the Light Bird Elder had too bad of an injury. Hollow weighed his options for a moment before picking up the Light Bird Elder and running off in the opposite direction of Felix and Dawn. Purelight was about to go after them but Forest Fire grabbed her arm.

“We need to check if they are safe. As well as find out what the f*ck that just was!” {Forest Fire}

Purelight nodded and they tried to fly but found that they could not, so instead they ran to where Dawn and Felix should be. They found Felix carrying Dawn who had clearly just thrown up. Felix was looking around and saw them running up to him. When he tried to use his divine sense to talk, he got a splitting headache and stopped.

“What… hap…” {Felix}

“We do not know. Hand Dawn to Purelight while I carry you. We need to get to the sect as soon as possible. Purelight how is Dawn?” {Forest Fire}

“I’m… awake… Just…” {Dawn}

“She is shaken up but should otherwise be fine. I will do some more tests once we are safe.” {Purelight}

Purelight carried Dawn in her arms while Felix got on Forest Fire’s back. As they ran, they slowly got their divine sense back. It was late when they got to the city around the Sacred Light Sect. They were quickly able to make it to the entrance of the sect where they found Starlight standing on the wall over it.

“Open the gates!” {Starlight}

The guards followed orders and slowly opened the gates to let the group in. Starlight used what flight he could do to fall down before the group.

“Forest Fire, Purelight, what happened? What do you know?” {Starlight}

“About this weird event, nothing. But about Monster Elders attacking us, a lot.” {Forest Fire}

“What!?” {Starlight}

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Thank you for reading.