Chapter 7

  Drakkel walked alone towards Densai Forest appreciating the scenery along the way. He was now 15 so he no longer needed a chaperone to travel around.

  This was good since it was getting colder and Aurien Wavel was needed to help his master deal with the sickness currently spreading in Immortal Peak.

  As Drakkel approached the entrance to the village which was now abandoned, he met several younger disciples from other Swords Clans.

  Many of them he had met before at the Golden Peak Swords Clan and even before then.

  As they saw him approaching, some couldn't help but sneer and the one who had taken the lead in bullying him back then, Daimon Ortos stepped forward again.

  “Is this Drakkel Fin of the Sacred Sword Swords Clan?”

  Whispers erupted from the crowd.

  “Wow, that's the pampered princess? He looks quite handsome now!”

  “Yes, like an immortal! Very heavenly!”

  “Psh! He isn't so great! Besides, good looks mean nothing in Sword Fighting!”

  “Just say you're jealous and move on!”

  Drakkel didn’t flinch at their words. He had grown taller, getting a growth spurt around the time he turned 15 and his voice even deepened a bit. A pretty persimmon turned into a sharp and elegant sword.

  If he looked better, he wasn't surprised. Even the citizens of Immortal Peak stopped treating him like a child and addressed him with more respect.

  But the one who now stood in front of him didn't seem so happy about the comments.

  “So you’re handsome, refined, and strong. Do you think you’re better than all of us? We’ve all improved too!”

  Drakkel couldn't believe the ability of this man to put words he hadn't said into his mouth!

  He smiled unwaveringly. “No one is better than anyone else. Aren't we all here to learn about fighting Sacred Beasts? Why don't we get along?”

  Some in the crowd said,

  “Yes! Give it a rest Daimon!”

  “Let's just work together to defeat the Sacred Beast now! If there are any other grievances, you can voice them later!”

  “Just because you're the favorite of your Clan Leader doesn't mean you can put on airs with the rest of us!”

  Daimon Ortos seemed upset, but in the end he gave up.

  “Fine,” He said. “But you take the lead. Unlike all of us, I hear you have experience taking down Sacred Beasts.”

  Drakkel could hear the displeasure in his voice, but he ignored it and nodded.

  He walked past all of the disciples and entered the village.

  As he did, he said, “Since you’ve all chosen to follow me, you must do as I say.”

  The group silently nodded as they followed after him.

  When they stepped inside the village, not a sound could be heard.

  The houses were still in good condition, but the place was quiet.

  Drakkel had been practicing, so he was sure he could do it well enough. He shot a sword energy enhanced message to all the disciples, “Stay close!”

  After some time, they came across a baby animal lying out in the open between two buildings fast asleep.

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  As they got closer, they saw that the baby animal was a white nine-tailed fox, one of the rarest Sacred Beasts. But, it was also very small for a fox cub, normal or otherwise.

  Daimon Ortos laughed. “Is that all? The villages nearby had been complaining of noises and destruction! Their chickens and cattle were even being eaten! This little thing is what did all that damage? It's no wonder our Seniors let us go alone!”

  Drakkel didn't think that sounded right. Baby sacred beasts were weak. If it weren't for their parents, they could even be beaten by ordinary animals. Even if one was causing all that damage, it wouldn’t be this one as it was especially smaller than most.

  “I say we take it in! I heard if you domesticate one, it could become your companion! Or, it's a nine-tailed fox! We could sell it for parts and create weapons or medicine!”

  Drakkel shook his head.

  “Don't! Does that story sound right to you?” He asked with sword energy.

  Some disciples shook their heads while others nodded.

  “Honestly, why question it? It's parent is probably dead or it wouldn't be here alone.” Daimon Ortos shot back. “We can attack first and ask questions later!”

  He ran out from the crowd and struck at the fox cub.

  With the impending attack, The fox cub twitched its ears before suddenly waking up and dodging the move.

  Once it realized it was surrounded by enemies, it let out several cries.

  Drakkel's heart pounded in his chest. Something really wasn't right.

  Baby Sacred Beasts weren't usually left alone. If one was left alone it was because of one of two things. Either, its parent was dead or… It was in its nest and its parent was nearby!

  From the dense trees behind Densai Forest, came a large creature. It had white fur, sharp teeth, claws, and nine tails.

  It towered over the small village homes and each of its claws and teeth were as sharp as blades.

  Its angry red eyes locked onto Daimon Ortos’s fearful face and with one swipe, sword energy rushed out of its claws hitting him right in the chest.

  After only a single attack, his chest was ripped to shreds and with one scream, he fell to the ground, his eyes stuck open in an expression of terror.

  Sweat fell from Drakkel's forehead.

  That must have been the Sacred Beast Cub's mother and the true cause of the disturbances!

  “Calm down everyone!” He said. “Don't make any sudden movements!”

  The Sacred Beast was likely only here because it knew that its baby was threatened. If they showed that they meant no harm, they might still make it out alive. After all, it was this powerful, but no humans had been harmed by it- only cattle. Perhaps it was using the village as a nest for its baby which was weaker than even other baby sacred beasts.

  If they stood still, it should take its baby and leave. But the disciples didn't listen. They were already too scared.

  They shouted and screamed.

  “Daimon Ortos!”

  “He’s dead!”

  “We can't handle this! We can't!”

  “Let's go back and call our Seniors!”

  ‘Wait!” Drakkel shouted. However the disciples were already thrown out of order. They ran for the exit to the village, despite Drakkel’s warnings.

  Because of this, the Nine-tailed fox saw them as a threat.

  After the fox cub left, the Sacred Beast chased after them. Even if they used their sword step techniques, the beast was faster. It went around severely harming or killing the many disciples.

  Cries of fear and anguish rung out from all around as the Sacred Beast went on a rampage.

  With bloody bodies beginning to quickly litter the field, Drakkel knew he had to do something.

  In the commotion, he located the fox cub and picked it up.

  It had been crying quietly as its mother fought off the disciples, but these quiet cries grew louder as it was gathered in Drakkel’s hands.

  A couple of moments after he picked it up, the attention of the mother turned to him and after growling loudly, it began to dash towards him with it's teeth bared.

  He said to the remaining unharmed disciples, “Gather the wounded and make your escape!”

  No one questioned him this time.

  One by one, they found the disciples that were still alive but couldn't move on their own, and dragged them out of the village.

  All the while, Drakkel had been keeping the Sacred Beast distracted and dodging its moves. But, even as he dodged, he couldn't stop some hits from landing.

  His body was covered in cuts and the place smelled of blood and sweat, but he still had to stay focused.

  When he thought the disciples had enough time to escape, he implemented an idea that had been forming in his head.

  Still alert, he stopped in a place far away from the village, but still within a safe distance from the Forest and held out the nine-tailed fox cub in front of the mother. Seeing this, the mother immediately stopped attacking.

  At first it growled, but Drakkel lowered his head to show that he meant no harm.

  Then the mother slowly inched closer. Once it reached Drakkel, it sniffed the cub, then gently grabbed it by the scruff of its neck.

  With one final look and a snort of the nose, it hastily left the village with the cub in its mouth.

  With the beast gone, Drakkel was able to properly take in the surroundings. The village was destroyed and stains of blood and dead bodies were spread throughout the field.

  He sighed.

  After making sure the beast wasn't coming back, he walked out of the village. There, he found that those disciples who were harmed were already getting their wounds treated.

  Luckily, it was the first mission for many, so they had each brought a lot of healing items. Also amongst them were a few disciples of the Powdered Vessel Swords Clan.

  Some of the disciples had issues with him at first. But after seeing how this handsome man with a calm and confident aura made it out of that horrifying situation by himself and even managed to save many of them in the process, they had nothing else to say.