"They've split into two groups and are getting away. I'll go after one side while some of you go after the other," Leif said, his sharp eyes tracking the movements of the Pixies from a distance as he gestured towards the two directions they had split up to.
He then secured his Gearweaver sword to his back before leaping out the window and swiftly pursued the Pixies. Behind him, Leona and Carl followed suit. Meanwhile, the other three gods' chosen split off to chase the Pixies on the opposite side.
"We're coming too," Lyndon yelled, hastily adjusting his leaf-crafted sleeves before joining Leif and the others in their pursuit.
"Count me in," Isadora yelled, not wanting to be left behind as she followed suit.
Patriarch Rylan, on the verge of calling out to his children to stop, paused in astonishment as he witnessed the scene unfolding before him.
He couldn't discern whether they were genuinely serious about catching the tiny intruders, simply excited about getting some action, or perhaps both. However, with the gods' chosen accompanying them, he didn't worry about their safety, especially after assessing the strength of the tiny intruders and confirming they posed no threat to the gods' chosens.
Nonetheless, he decided to discuss the matter with Village Chief Brane to learn more about the identity of this unfamiliar race.
Patriarch Rylan sighed heavily before focusing on the two children before him.
Austin and Eyva gripped each other in fear, beads of sweat forming at the back of their heads as they felt the weight of the old man's gaze upon them.
They took several steps backwards until their backs collided with the wall, causing them to halt abruptly and tremble in fright.
Observing their reaction, Patriarch Rylan remained unamused. "Since this room is a total mess, let's get you a new one," he said, turning around and gesturing for the two children to follow him.
Austin and Eyva exchanged a brief glance before shaking in disagreement, both choosing to remain in their current position.
Patriarch Rylan halted his steps and glanced behind him, raising a brow at the children's fearful expressions.
He pondered whether their fear stemmed from his position as Patriarch of the Four-eared Elves race, a title commanding respect and fear, or simply from his unfriendly and intimidating appearance.
"Ahem! If you follow me, I promise to give you some of those fruits you've been enjoying since you arrived," Patriarch Rylan said with a warm smile.
Since his children had decided to go out on their own, why not take advantage of the opportunity to bond with the ones who were present besides him?
As expected, their eyes brightened with excitement when he mentioned the fruits.
"Are you sure?" Eyva asked, her voice still tinged with doubt.
Patriarch Rylan nodded in response, "As the Patriarch of the Four-eared elven race, how could I lie about such a situation?" he replied, snorting slightly as he walked forward.
"Now, come along before I change my mind," he added jokingly.
Eyva and Austin exchanged nods of agreement and immediately chased after him, their eyes filled with happiness and expectation.
….…....
Leif, Leona, and Carl darted from roof to roof with incredible speed, crossing vast distances in mere minutes and leaving only a blur of their afterimages. Lyndon and Isadora did their best to catch up from behind.
Despite their speed, they lost track of the Pixies multiple times, much to their growing frustration. It was obvious that they were being toyed with, and the tiny winged individual knew more about this environment than them.
"Tch! There they are," Leif growled as he spotted the two Pixies again.
"They're not getting away this time," Leona said, her annoyance apparent as she summoned one of her spirits with her glyphs.
An inky black figure emerged from her arms, transforming into a towering five-meter (16ft) four-winged bird with razor-sharp teeth and talons.
The shadowy four-wing bird swiftly soared through the air, following its directives with eerie precision. Within seconds, it intercepted the fleeing Pixies, trapping them within its talons before descending onto the roof of a nearby building.
Leona couldn't help but grin at the successful capture.
"Good work," Leif commended Leona as they approached the bird, which trembled slightly as the trapped individuals struggled within its grasp.
Carl scanned their surroundings vigilantly, ensuring they weren't caught off guard by any unexpected surprises.
Soon, Lyndon and Isadora arrived at the scene, breathing heavily from the exertion of their pursuit.
"Haaa... Finally caught them," Lyndon gasped, his breath ragged.
Despite his speed, he couldn't help but be reminded again of the vast gap in abilities between the gods' chosen and themselves.
Isadora nodded in agreement, taking a moment to catch her breath.
"Let's head back so we can find out who they are," Leif suggested, wanting to uncover the identity and motives of their intruders. He was confident the others would capture the remaining two, so there was no need to worry about them.
Leona nodded and commanded her to summon the captured intruders back to their residence, with the group following closely behind.
However, Carl's voice trembled urgently as they were about to leave. "Captain, you need to see this."
Hearing Carl's unusual trembling voice, a deep frown appeared on Leif's face. "What is it?" he asked, walking over to Carl. But before he could finish his sentence, his words caught in his throat, and his body froze in place.
Almost instantly, Leif's body began to tremble with rage, his eyes blazing with fury.
Witnessing this scene, Leona, Lyndon, and Isadora couldn't help but be curious about what had captured their captain's attention, so they approached and turned their gaze to where the two men were looking.
"Captain, what is going o--" Leona began, but her words froze in her mouth as she observed the scene before her.
Isadora and Lyndon also froze, their eyes transfixed on the unfolding scene before them.
"What is he doing here?" Leif asked, his voice tinged with anger.
His Devourer's bracelet roared to life, gears shifting and stabilizing the dense output of Vylkr energy as it surged toward the Devourer's heart, causing it to drum fiercely as it infused the Vylkr energy into his entire being.
