As Skye made her way back to her fellow disciples to 'protect' them, the focus shifted to a different part of the Ancient Beast Mountain Range. Here, the night was lit up by a mesmerizing yet deadly battle between two figures and a myriad of savage beasts.
Celaine and Asami were both part of this mission. Despite not having fully recovered from their injuries with the Shadowfang yet, they only saw that as a positive in this situation. Rank 7 beasts were of little consequence with their strength. Only Rank 8 beasts could give them a challenge.
However, as they were still not in peak condition, they would rather not face off against any Rank 8 beasts right now.
"Can you feel it, Celaine?" Asami asked, her eyes glinting dangerously under the moonlight. She gracefully maneuvered her fans, her dark powers seeping into the beasts that dared to approach. Their movements became sluggish, their roars turning into confused grunts.
"I do," Celaine replied, her saber slicing through the wind as she cut down the beasts approaching her. "The energy in the air has changed. The beasts are becoming more aggressive."
Asami hummed in agreement. They were indeed deeper into the Ancient Beast Mountain Range, and unlike Skye and the Outer Court disciples, their task was more dangerous. They had to hold off these beasts while retreating back to the Sect, where 'reinforcements' awaited.
"Let's make this a performance they'll never forget," Celaine suggested, a smirk on her face. Asami laughed lightly, her fans flickering ominously.
"Let's put on a show, then," Asami agreed, her laugh barely audible over the roar of the beasts.
They had covered themselves in the elixir, attracting the attention of numerous Rank 7 beasts. Each strike they landed on the beasts was met with a cacophony of roars and growls. This was a different kind of battle - not one they were fighting to win, but one they were performing to draw attention.
Despite being surrounded, they executed their moves with an incredible precision that only came from years of training. The pain from their still-healing wounds was there, but they saw it as nothing more than an addition to their act.
Celaine, using her wind affinity, used her saber to whip up whirlwinds around them. Her swift, fluid movements created a spectacle of light and motion that deterred the beasts from getting too close while also making them appear to be holding their own against the onslaught.
Asami, on the other hand, was more focused on manipulating the beasts themselves. Her fans danced in her hands as she harnessed her dark powers, making the beasts hesitant and disoriented. She ensured that they stayed in the fight, preventing them from running off and adding more chaos to the scene.
Meanwhile, both of them were steadily moving towards the Sect, leading the beasts deeper into their territory.
"Can't believe we're doing this," Celaine grumbled in between her breaths, deflecting a beast's attack before launching a counterattack.
"Honestly, it's not the worst idea," Asami countered, her face a mask of concentration as she tried to control as many beasts as possible. "Back home, manipulation and betrayal were commonplace. I don't know what the Sect Master wants, but it's clearly big if she's willing to hand out so many previous bloodlines.
"I just hope the others are doing okay," Celaine expressed her concern, her face hardening as she thought of their fellow disciples who were also part of this grand plan.
"They will be. Skye will make sure that the least amount of Outer Court Disciples dies. While those Core Disciples… well, if they're anything like Nova, I'm sure they're fine," Asami reassured her friend. They continued their performance, each move of theirs bringing them closer to the Sect.
As they neared the Sect, they could see the reinforcements waiting. Celaine gave a glance toward Asami, and both of them knew it was time for the climax of their performance.
"Let's do this," Celaine murmured, determination set in her eyes.
With a roar, she plunged into the crowd of beasts, her saber flashing. Asami, matching her stride, danced among the beasts, her fans slashing through the air.
Their attacks, combined with their situation's 'desperate' nature, stirred up the beasts even further. The beasts were frenzied, their roars echoing through the night sky. The disciples fought back valiantly, holding the line while the reinforcements from the Sect arrived.
"Look! Over there! Now the Inner Court Disciples are in trouble!" A man yelled while pointing in their direction.
"Fuck! Are you serious?! What are those beasts doing, and why are they so angry?!" Another cursed, but his eyes glinted as his gaze wandered across their curvaceous bodies.
"Who cares, you idiots! Just go out there and save them! We have to prove ourselves to the Battle Maiden Sect!" The leader of this trio shouted righteously, but from the slight smirk on his face, one could see he also didn't have the purest of intentions.
If they truly wanted to "save" those girls, they wouldn't have been standing around doing nothing, waiting for them to get in danger. Instead, they would already be out there wandering the mountains.
However, unknowingly, this was better for Aelina.
As the reinforcements joined the battle, Celaine, and Asami moved deeper into the crowd of beasts, continuing their deadly dance. Their act had worked - the beasts were being held back, their attention was firmly on the disciples, and the Sect was safe.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the reinforcements arrived, joining the fight. Celaine and Asami, their act finally over, thanked the men and hurriedly retreated toward the Sect, their injuries apparent.
They didn't even allow those three to enter a conversation with them.
Despite their exhaustion, their faces were lit with satisfaction. Their plan had worked. Now it was time to return to the Sect and prepare for the next phase of their mission.
The 'reinforcements' looked a little downcast, angry even, but what could they do? This was the Battle Maiden Sect's territory. They wouldn't dare make a move unless they wanted their heads removed from their bodies today.
Still, a few people from the Luo and Zhang families couldn't help but find this whole situation a bit suspicious.
They were the Patriarchs of the Families who had responded to this call to action. Rather, the fact that they were called in the first place made them doubtful.
"I didn't know you were so close to Sect Master Aelina," said Luo Chen, the Patriarch of the Luo family.
"I could say the same to you, old bastard," Zhang Yun, the Patriarch of the Zhang family, responded.
"Something's not right," muttered Luo Chen, the Patriarch of the Luo family. He had been observing the whole scenario from afar, his brows furrowed in deep thought.
"I agree," Zhang Yun, the Patriarch of the Zhang family, replied, sharing the same concerns. His eyes darted around the area, taking in the sight of the 'struggling' disciples and the ferocious beasts.
The two patriarchs had known each other for years, their families often collaborating on various matters. They had been through numerous battles, weathered countless storms, and honed their instincts to a razor's edge.
The events unfolding before them felt too staged, too perfect, and that raised their suspicions.
"The injuries those girls sustained do not seem serious enough to warrant our intervention," Luo Chen pointed out. "And the beasts... they are out of their fucking minds. Almost like they've been drugged."
"Now that you mention it…" Zhang Yun's eyes narrowed, "I know that they're probably on edge because of what happened, but isn't this a bit much? They might be beasts, but at their level, they should be intelligent enough to, well… not do this."
"Not to mention, most of those girls… they should be able to handle this onslaught. Why would they need our help?" Luo Chen darted his eyes across the battlefield, sending out his Soul Sense to see everything that was going on.
However, the women from the Battle Maiden Sect were truly meticulous. Even without their 'help', the girls were slowly taking care of everything themselves.
Perhaps the only ones who were truly struggling were the Outer Sect Disciples. They had even caught a few of them dying, which showed that this situation was real and not some staged event. Unless Aelina suddenly lost all care for her own disciples, which they doubted.
But, there were a few things that made them especially suspicious of everything.
Where were the Elders? What about Nova, Seraphina, Eden, Everly, Rayna, and Mira? Just them alone could take care of everything here without any issues, much less the Sect Master.
They could understand it if the disciples were out on a mission or something, but every single Elder? Not a chance.
Zhang Yun nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. "Indeed, and the sudden aggression of the beasts does not fit their usual patterns. It is as if they were manipulated into this."
"Could it be the Battle Maiden Sect playing a game?" Luo Chen suggested, not liking where this train of thought was leading. If the Battle Maiden Sect was manipulating the situation for some unknown purpose, then it was a cause for concern.
"I wouldn't put it past them," Zhang Yun responded grimly. "However, we should be cautious in our assumptions. It is a dangerous game they are playing, if true."
"You're correct. You should be cautious with your words, Zhang Yun, Luo Chen. Who knows what might happen to your… little family if someone doesn't like the things you said." A chilling voice entered their ears, as if whoever said it was right next to them but so far away at the same time.
They both felt a chill run down their spines, cold sweat instantly covering their bodies as they stood there, frozen in fear. They knew whose voice that was, but before they could say anything-
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
*BOOOM!*
A cacophony of explosions went off in the background, reducing a few mountains to large hills and creating giant craters across the land. However, the destruction was still oddly close to the Battle Maiden Sect…
"Uh-oh. It seems like a few of my Elders are in danger because of these crazy beasts. Thankfully, I have two amazing heroes here, waiting to rescue them! How gallant! How noble! Truly dragon among men, you two are!" The voice teased, but despair quickly washed over them, feeling the dangerous auras in the distance.
They both glanced at each other, wanting to cry, thinking the same thing:
'FUCK!'
Unfortunately, they had dug their own grave and could only follow Aelina's will. That way, at least, they had a chance to live.
