The scene was horrifying. Something had pierced his back and come out of his stomach. The chimera was badly wounded, its body scorched by Rian's breath. But what was even more terrifying was the drill that had torn through its body. It had neither the strength nor the time to figure out who had done this to it, but the voice it heard was enough to make it realize everything.
"Hahahahahaha! Didn't I tell you, stubborn beast, that your blood would be spilled by my hand today?"
That person was Teel, who fulfilled his promise and shed the monster's blood. As the chimera lay dying, its last words were: "Hhhgghhhhaaahhh… coughs blood …you mutant… it was truly wonderful, but beware of…"
Before the chimera could finish, Teel pulled back his hand, which was gradually returning to its normal state. All traces of mutation disappeared from him, and he reverted to his ordinary human form before collapsing to the ground.
Rian: "You're really stubborn. Didn't I tell you to leave him to me?"
Teel listened to Rian's words without answering. By then, the sun had begun to set, and night was about to fall. They needed to find shelter and food.
Rian: "Hey Teel, stay here and rest a little. I'll go search for food and come back, so don't wander too far."
Teel: "Alright, alright, I'll stay here. Go and try to catch something good for us to eat. I don't want to eat insects and monster leftovers like the past nights."
Rian scratched his head: "Heeeh… pessimistic. I don't think tonight will be any different either."
Meanwhile, the other duo of the team were confused. Carlos and Tala were truly lost in the mountains. They stopped searching for the night, lit a fire, and Carlos carved out a hollow in the trunk of a massive tree so they could spend the night inside.
Tala spoke while Carlos listened and cooked some fish they had found in a small lake they had stumbled upon by chance. Seeing the lake was a blessing for them, and they thought it might help them figure out their location, but the map didn't show any lakes. At that moment, Tala wondered about the fate of Rian and Teel:
"I really don't think they'd die at the hands of a monster, but I'm certain they lost their way. I'm also sure they haven't eaten any proper food until now."
She said this while drawing lines in the dirt with a stick.
Carlos replied: "Well, I think it's just as you said. But the real problem would be if they got caught in a fight with a strong monster like the one we encountered in the labyrinth. I don't doubt even one percent that they've faced one. I'm sure they just ran into the mountains like maniacs, looking for a strong monster to fight. So don't worry about them. I'm sure they'll find a way out of any problem they fall into. Don't forget—they're both at the peak of the second stage of transformation. Who knows, maybe they can even advance toward the third stage in this crisis."
Tala replied passionately: "But you know it's impossible! At their young age, reaching the third stage requires at least being thirteen years old, and their control over Aether must have already reached the Flare Stage—when a mutant becomes able to manifest the Aether that lies deep within their being. In reality, that's extremely difficult."
Carlos answered with a sarcastic smile: "But don't forget, Tala, you've reached the Flare Stage yourself. I know you're an exception. Still, I don't think they'll face that much trouble. Don't forget—one of them carries the genes of the Crimson Dragon, and the other bears the genes of the Fallen Celestial race. From the start, their potential far exceeds mine. So I'm sure one day they might even surpass me."
As Tala and Carlos exchanged words, two others elsewhere were eating monster meat.
Teel: "Ughhh this is so disgusting! Didn't I tell you to find something edible?"
Rian: "Haaaah, this is what I found. If you've got a problem, go and get something better yourself."
Teel: "Haaah, do you really think I can't do that?!"
Teel threw the rotten meat from his hand, stood up, and stormed off into the thick forest searching for something better. At that moment, Rian clenched the meat in his hand tighter and began devouring it ravenously.
Rian: "Well, even if it tastes terrible, it's better than starving to death."
He then shouted toward Teel, who had already vanished among the trees: "I won't leave you a single bite when you come back empty-handed!"
After a while, Teel returned carrying a massive fish, as big as a sheep and nearly a meter long. He dropped it in front of Rian and, with a proud tone, said: "Look what I found. There was a river nearby, and I caught this fish."
Rian stared at the fish in surprise: Boing, boing (he poked it). Its shape looked a bit strange.
Rian: "Hey Teel, how long has this fish been out of the water?"
Teel: "Hmm, I'd say about ten minutes. Why such a silly question? What does it matter how long it's been out?"
Rian: "But Teel, I think there's a problem."
Teel: "Haaah, what is it now? Rian, don't tell me you're jealous of my catch. Don't worry, I'll let you have a little."
He spoke arrogantly, as if he'd won a prize.
Rian: "But Teel, look! Look! It's moving! I think it's alive! And why does this fish have red eyes? Its shape is really strange too!"
Teel's anger flared: "Rian, do you think your words will make me change my mind?!"
But suddenly, in the middle of their argument, the fish leapt up and started thrashing about wildly.
Teel: "Haaaaaah! Grab it! Don't let our dinner escape!"
Both Rian and Teel dashed after it.
Rian: "Teel, what the hell is this thing you brought? How can a fish leap across the ground and move this fast?"
Teel: "Haaah, is that all you care about? Don't let it get away—catch it!"
They struggled desperately to grab it, but soon they found themselves standing before a medium-sized lake. The strange fish plunged back into the water. The two of them stopped at the shore for a moment.
Rian: "What do we do now?"
Teel: "Haaah, what kind of question is that? We follow it!"
Teel jumped first, and Rian followed him into the lake. But the bizarre fish was faster than both of them, diving deeper into the depths. That didn't stop them, and the two pursued it like maniacs.
End of Chapter