Realm Wars

"Grindylows!"

"S-shit!" Kai almost wet his pants from the sheer amount of ugly little monsters chasing after them. Those sharp teeth and claws could shred skin, and with thousands and thousands of them, he'd be nothing but bones within seconds.

"Don't stop! And move to the drylands fast!" Lucian shouted and took to the back to hold the Grindylows while the other ran to the safety of the lands. 

Grindylows could only hold their breath out of water for ten minutes. They were persistent little creatures that were out for blood. They were weak but using their number, they could quickly overwhelm a party.

[?]

Lucian's long sword struck forward, and the force from its strike cleaved everything in its path, including the Grindylows. But no matter how much he killed the little boogers, more and more took their place and continued to chase after them.

Rosa twirled midair and faced the Grindylows with her staff. "Burn to Ashes!"

[Explosion]

A beam of red light shot from Rosa's staff, and upon contact at the Grindylows, it glowed bright and exploded. The explosion was so enormous that anything within a fifty-meter radius was burned scorch, taking with it the life of hundreds of Grindylows.

Kai whistled. "What magic power."

Rosa smirked, but her smirked was soon followed by a frown when the Grindylows appeared once more, never ceasing. Never-ending.

[Ice Divider]

Blocks of ice erupted from the swamp, forming a barrier between them and the Grindylows.

"It won't last! We have to run for it!" Kai shouted and dashed forward.

Lucian and Rosa looked at each other before they, too, sprinted forward to the others. Fighting the Grindylows on their turf was a bad idea.

Soon, the Grindylows were jumping over the block of ice and swarmed the swamped once more in pursuit of Lucian and the others.

"So damn persists!" Rosa hissed and cast another explosion just to delay the Grindylows advance. Those tiny monsters were agile like they were swimming in water.

While Lucian, Rsa, and Kai were delaying the Grindylows, Cecily was leading the escape. 

"Were almost at the land!" Cecily hollered back.

The dry lands were in sight, but Ferris's visions started to blur. Shit! She was getting sleepy again. Damn this body!

Ferris's head swayed back and forth, and she tumbled as she ran, and she almost fell on the swamp if not for Ryu, who held her and flung her on his shoulder like a sack of bag.

Ferris was getting dizzy at the sudden contact of their skin, and she burst red and stammered. "L-let go!"

"Shut up! And hold on tight." Ryu clutched Ferris's butt, his claws digging on her flesh, and she couldn't help but groan.

"Y-you. . ." Ferris didn't know what to say. Ryu already saw and touched everything there is to touch. But it felt like it was only her first time being held under his coarse hand.

Damn that mate thing. And Damn that lizard. But for now, Ferris enjoyed the ride over Ryu's shoulder. However, it was a bumpy ride since the boy barely had an ounce of delicacy in his bones.

Ferris had to grab on tight to his clothes so she would not sway back and forth from his speed and all the leaping he was making.

Eventually, the group made it to drylands. They slowed their pace and looked at the Grindylows, who ceased chasing after them. 

Some were still persistent and attempted to chase them on drylands, but before they could leap forward, Rosa burned them to crisp.

Making sure that they had enough distance between the little creatures, that was when they slowed their pace and took in a breather.

"Finally!" Kai slumped on the ground and almost kissed it if not for whatever unidentified things were on the dirt.

"Don't rest yet, be on alert," Lucian said and looked over at their surroundings before he flicked his hand, and the map appeared.

According to it, they just needed to follow the dense canopies leading into the bloody lagoon. And from there. .. they'll know if they have to abort the mission or not.

There was still light, and Lucian breathed easy. He looked at the others and a headache hammered in his head.

Rosa and Cecily were arguing as always. Ryu was looking and sniffing like a lost pup. Ferris was on the verge of dozing off while Kai was complaining about his wet feet.

Lucian rubbed his temples and looked into the canopy-covered sky. This was not exactly the party he had in mind.

"Oh, yah?"

Everybody snapped in the direction of the voice. In the densely covered trees, humans spread with weapons in tow.

"I thought I saw a familiar face," said a man with dotted brows, and a fan covered his lips as he revealed himself from the shadows. "If it isn't my darling pet."

Lucian's sweat dropped to the ground. How could he not sense them? Looking at the new arrivals, Lucian knew at a glance that they were strong, especially that man with dotted brows. The only comfort Lucian had was knowing that they were mortals.

But still. . .

Everyone was silent and gauged the other side, but only Ryu and Cecily felt unease. They knew who that dotted brow man was. 

It was the Owner.

"Now. Now. Drop your weapons," the Owner said and smiled. His already slanted eyes turned crescent. "No need to be so hostile."

What is he doing here?! Cecily screamed in her head. It was a good thing that she changed her appearance. But Ryu. . . 

Cecily gulped when the Owner's eyes dropped at Ryu. 

"What are you doing here, my pet?" the Owner asked Ryu, and everyone eyed the halfbreed.

"Where's the Princess? Have you been lost? But that's odd, you still had your seal, meaning. . ." the Owner chuckled, and Cecily felt her heart in her throat when the Owner skimmed his eyes over her.

"The princess must not be far."

Lucian frowned and asked. "Who are you?" 

The Owner bowed and apologized. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? I am a nobody in these realms, but they call me the Owner in the Mortal Realm."