As the lack of green colouring on his body implied, he nor any of his brethren bore the strange influence of Envy. In fact, up until recently the Death Howlers had been avoiding everything related to Envy completely. They were a very solitary race and perpetually kept to themselves even when Asura the lord of monsters was in charge.
Naturally, they were even more unwilling to expose themselves when a greater threat than Asura appeared, however, that all changed a few weeks ago when they had been visited by Envy himself for the second time.
The first time Envy had visited them was when he had first appeared on the Continent and was gathering subordinates. He had been far less dangerous at that time and the only shock that his presence provided them was his ability to find their hidden territory.
Upon his arrival, he had immediately asked them to submit to him and follow his cause, but as one would expect, the Death Howlers refused. On top of that, they weren't so kind as to leave free meals that were unlucky enough to wander into their territory, so they tried to surround and kill him.
But contrary to expectations, it was they themselves that were met with a swift tragedy. Their prized sound attack was ineffective and the power of Envy's flames were terrifying. But instead of Envy pressing his assault or demanding submission once again, he left without causing any further trouble.
Many years filled with Envy's harrowing domination across the Continent, they would meet again.
Like the previous time he once again asked the Death Howlers to join their cause, but unlike the previous time, he did not take no for an answer. Not that he had to. Kigiisa and the other Elders had long heard of Envy's exploits; they didn't need to see anybody die to understand that resisting was futile, so they submitted immediately.
But contrary to their expectations, Envy did not bless them with his strange power like he had done to almost everyone else. At the time, it had been a relief to Kigiisa. His scrutiny was greater than most and he could tell that Envy's 'blessings' did not come without a price. Although the price was unknown to him, the erratic behavioural patterns that were common amongst the freaks that received Envy's 'blessing' was not something he wanted to see in himself or his people.
However, not everyone felt this way.
An Elder actually decided to speak up and ask if they would receive Envy's 'blessing'. He had been uncharacteristically timid and polite with his request, reminiscent of a weak child - contrasting his advanced age, and clearly pandering to the much greater being.
But before the Elder could even finish speaking, he abruptly shone with a green light and was reduced to ashes half a second later.
'A gift refused once, is a gift refused forever.'
Those were the only words Envy gave them as an explanation before he talked to them about their 'mission' in a quiet and calm manner, ignoring the people that he had been shocked into silence as if it were nothing.
It was very surreal. A 4th Realm being had been killed in an instant. Although the Elder was on the weaker side of his peers, being only at the 1st Stage, it was still too stupendous for him to just die like that. How strong did that make Envy?
It was because of terror created by that sight that it took Kigiisa an entire week to realise the desperate predicament they were in.
The more he thought about the situation, the more he began to realise that Envy did not recruit them to be used as tactical fighters. No. In reality, it was more like they were to be used as fodder. Special fodder, but fodder nonetheless. Fodder that was supposed to take themselves out along with the enemy.
A sign to all about Envy's influence and what happened to those that rejected him.
When this possibility emerged in Kigiisa's mind, he was devastated. But what could he do? What could any of them do? Hide from Envy? What a joke.
Years ago, Envy had found them when even Asura couldn't. Years later, despite them changing location Envy had found them once again.
It was very clear that they could not hide from Envy - at least within the continent. That was an irrefutable fact.
The only thing they could do was enact preventive measures to reduce the chances of complete extermination, and that was what they had done. They had selected 1 Elder and a few individuals to leave the Continent and look for a new place to call home.
But that was as far as the plan had gone.
Although it was very likely that there was land outside of this Continent since foreign creatures kept coming to this one from who knows where, the Death Howlers did not have a single idea of where those lands were.
They could only choose a random direction and wish that their refugees could find salvation.
But in all honesty, Kigiisa had never bared much hope for that possibility. Although Death Howlers could fly using wind magic, such a thing was reliant on having mana - a resource that was not infinite. They could fly for some time but it was impossible to avoid exhaustion.
Sooner or later they would have to stop whether they wished to or not, and if they hadn't found land by then they would be in serious danger. Death Howlers were not compatible with water at all. They had very heavy bodies and no limbs that could help them swim. Furthermore, the chances of being attacked out in the open Sea was so high that it was almost a guarantee.
Kigiisa could only hope that the rumours that the stronger Sea dwellers stayed at the bottom of the sea. Otherwise even if sound attacks were more effective in the water, a single Elder will not be able to protect the group from certain death.
But even if it were true, the situation was still perilous.
All this because they had rejected Envy that one time. How unfair. How ridiculously unfair.
*WU… WU… WU, WU, WU*
Hearing the sound of the heavy wings coming closer and knowing that his own time had come, the despair in his heart finally reached breaking point and his mind fractured.
"AAAHHHHHHHH! HATE! I HATE YOU ALL! ENVY AND HIS ACCURSED GREEN COLOUR! THIS CONTINENT AND IT'S STINKING STENCH! AND YOU, YOU FI-"
*KSSSSHH!*
Pain of the likes he had never experienced before bloomed throughout his midriff, but a second later he lost all feeling and his consciousness faded into darkness.