The Crimson Crane had been a group that had been going on for a long time. Although they didn't look particularly old due to their cultivation and their Qi, they had a youthful radiance about them.
They were a group unlike others that didn't have a history, which was what was so impressive about them in this day and age.
They had to build up their clan's reputation and their name from scratch. It was one of the reasons why they fought so well together.
Going through the hard trials they had also achieved this together. During this time, they had run into those known as Hybrids.
They were people who got trapped in other worlds, the other dimensions that were just full of beasts. Once in a while, a partial portal would open. People got sucked in, or they wandered in with the portal closing on the other side. When the dimension fully opened, there would be warriors that would come across them.
This situation was a rare one, and no one really knew if there were more hybrids. Because after all, if a portal door did close, after a dimension opened, how would one venture inside and find out.
However, there was one thing that was known about Hybrids, and that was their vast strength. The powers of the beasts they hunted.
A strong essence of the beast crystals inside their bodies, along with the Pagna warriors who cultivated.
Everything about Hybrids was improved. If a cultivator had a strong body, then their body would be improved further.
The super strength of beasts would be added to the already strong cultivator, and their already strong Qi would be further enhanced.
The thing was, there was another trait that was passed on with hybrids, and that was their bloodthirstiness. Beasts attacked each other on sight.
They attacked humans and anything they could see. It was why portal breaks were so dangerous, and it was why Hybrids were even more dangerous.
"He turned into a Hybrid, everyone be careful!" Alba shouted.
After finishing his transformation, Amir moved from his position, and with the large cleaved hand, he whacked it right against Kizer.
The sword had been lifted up, and protected him, but his whole body went flying back in the air. Tilon tried his best to grab him, but he too was pushed back, and the two of them tumbled across the ground.
Froma pulled several of her arrows and fired them toward Amir. When the arrows came close, the hard outer skin moved over Amir's body.
It was as if it had a mind of its own. When it moved, it went to block each of the arrows. They didn't pierce the skin and just fell onto the floor.
Seeing what had happened to Kizer, Alba moved towards him in frustration. She placed both of her swords in the X formation, and when getting close, unleashed her strike.
Lifting his clawed hand, Amir stopped it, the blades moving in between his fingers; he held her there still as if it was nothing.
"You might not know a lot about hybrids considering there aren't so many that are out there," Amir commented. "There are a number of factors that make one hybrid even stronger."
"One of them is the level of the Pagna warrior. No matter what stage, if a warrior is made into a hybrid, both parts of the body will support each other."
"A second-stage warrior would even be able to best a fourth-stage warrior. But you see, there are other factors as well."
"The beast that has merged with the body, how strong is it? And what about the mind and skills of the user is part of the question," Amir explained.
Alba's eyes were opening so wide she thought that they were going to pop out of her head. She couldn't believe it. All of the information she had heard about Hybrids, all of them had lost their minds, yet here Amir was able to speak.
"You're shocked, aren't you? This is just a small part of the world that you know nothing about!" Amir stated as he pushed her away with his strength.
When Alba skidded across the ground, she could see Elvlin going in with her glaive.
"Elvlin!" Alba called out. After witnessing a small part of his strength, she could already tell this wasn't like the time they had gone up against the Light Faction Elder.
It was as clear as day; they weren't able to win this.
The glaive was swung from above, but Amir used his leg, and he kicked it hard to the point where it had gone out of her hands. It went flying out into the distance and lost in the sand somewhere.
"I still have my warrior techniques as well; don't you forget. Me, who perfected attacking with my foot techniques, was blessed with strong Hybrid upper body parts, the perfect combo."
The giant cleaved hand went striking down. It was ready to go right across Elvlin's chest. At this point, it felt like it was the end, and no one could reach her.
However, the cleaved hand started to change, breaking down into tentacles, and had formed around her, grabbing onto different parts of her body, attaching, sticking like glue to her throat and hands.
"I told you all before that we didn't have to fight," Amir said. "All of you were the ones that brought it on yourselves."
"If you are working for coin, for Alter, then it is not worth risking your life. Just tell me where the boy is. I promise him I will do
him no harm, I just have to ask some questions."
Alba was wondering what to do; she didn't want her clan members to die, especially now one of them was held in the enemy's hands.
But how much could she trust this stranger? She didn't want to do anything without Raze, but was it worth losing someone?
In the middle of her thoughts, a large arrow came out striking the substance between Amir and Elvlin.
At the same time, Kizer had come back, fiercer than ever, his sword glowing. This time, he thrust it forward as his two feet shifted.
The visual Qi made it look like there was fire in the air. At the same time, Tilon had smashed the ground, bringing up dust everywhere in the area.
From the other side, Lilly also relentlessly stabbed at the arm bit by bit, until all parts connected to Elvlin were let go.
Immediately, Alba snapped out of her daze, dashed forward, and grabbed Elvlin.
"Crimson Crane, everyone, this is not a fight we can win; disband and regroup!" Alba shouted.
Everyone knew what to do; it was their last hurrah because they had all come to the same conclusion as well, that they weren't able to win this fight.
Running off, they had split up into different directions, and Amir could see this. He looked at the back of them all but didn't do anything.
"Well, I at least was able to confirm one thing," Amir stated. "That Raze is here somewhere."
Slowly his body started to revert back to the way it was. The hard black skin was shrinking, the color in his eye was reverting to the way it is.
When he was finally back to his normal human state, instead of chasing after the others, he looked at the sky.
"We've all run out of time."
