Chapter 323 Pulling The Strings



Grant stared at Arad. ^Something is off.^ He as well, could feel that something wasn't adding up with Arad.

^A vampire dragon werewolf hybrid traveling with a Deianira. It's all as I learned from observing those naked apes.^ Grant stared at Arad, opening his eyes. "How was your trip so far?"

^I lost track of them right after they crossed the border. What could have happened?^ He started walking to the side, "You look exhausted,"

Arad stared at the monk, suspicious. ^Something is off about this elf. Something inside me is telling me he should die right here and now. I know. It's that smile and confidence standing before me that's so alerting.^

Grant smiled, "Come on, you can finally rest. I'm here to take the elves back to the capital. You can go home and rest." He opened his arms. ^I don't to fight him with this feeling. I must give up on taking his head,^

Arad sighed, ^It's better to avoid clashing with someone like him,^

"Fine, you can take them. Won't mind going home a bit early," He turned toward the carriage and approached Aella, "We're going back home," He smiled.

"I'm to deliver all the elves back to the capital, her included," Grant smiled, "She isn't going back with you."

"Huh?" Arad turned around, glaring at the monk with glowing purple eyes and veins bulging on his forehead. "Say that again?"

"Don't worry. I will only escort her to the capital where she can be identified and returned to her family," Grant smiled, "I can see a slave seal on her. That's not something we elves don't like to see on our people."

"That's none of your business," Aella growled.

"It's of my business. I know you're speaking against your will. That won't deter me to free you," The monk shifted his attention toward Aella.

^Starting a war can come later. That's something for Vars to think about. I only need to gather the spirits around me, and her wind isn't something I can miss,^

Thud! Arad started walking toward the monk. "[Don't attack him. He can't attack first.]"

[Doma is right. Ignore his taunts. We don't know what he really wants,]

Arad looked at the monk's face. ^Something is off. I never had such a feeling coming from a man before. He must die.^

Grant stopped smiling, lifting his hand and looking around, "There is nothing I can do besides asking you to hand them over. Otherwise, I would have to kill you,"

^Something is off.^ He grunted inside. ^It's like I'm staring at a loaded bomb.^ He looked at his side. ^Arethusa and Atlanteia are strong enough to kill him even without me fighting, but should I call Aron the purple dragon? No, he's too injured to help,^

"Atlanteia, come here for a second," He looked at the Dryad, gripping her wrist. [Forest Sense]

Grant blinked, ^I see. This must be the reason for my strange feeling, we're being watched.^

He could see a red drakaina sitting beside the mountains to the east, watching them from afar. ^The one who escaped Aron,^ He then looked to the other side, ^And she's the second problem.^ He smiled, seeing a large green dragon prowling the forest. "Ancient, but I should be able to handle her with ease,^

"Move out of the way. You aren't taking anyone with you," Arad growled, cracking his fists.

Grant could still feel that something was off, ^The two dragons aren't the only unwanted observers. A third feeling is coming from the sky, and the last one is from his body. A powerful monster is lurking within his body,^

"Did you make a pact with a devil or something?" Grant smiled, "I can't let anyone leave then. You all must die here," DING! He rang his bell with a smile. "You two, kill them," opened one eye.

CRACK! The ground cracked beneath Arad's feet as he got ready to charge. "[The Nymph's mental attacks rely on the target seeing her, and the Dryad isn't weak to fire magic. Her body is full of fluid. Hit her with ice and lightning instead.]"I think you should take a look at

^Got it!^ Thud! Arad lunged at the Nymph first, clenching his fist and swinging at her face.

"You're slow," She smiled, opening her palm. SLAP! SLAP! She slapped him in the face twice.

Arad didn't care, charging at her with a hug. The moment he grabbed her between his arms. [Void Step]

The scenery changed around the Nymph, seeing herself with Arad in the middle of the sky, between mountains and above a large river.

"Teleportation! Get me back you monster!" She growled, but Arad smiled as she thrashed on his face. "See you later," He dropped her in the river and teleported back.

ZON! When Arad reappeared, he could see the carriage had already been flipped upside down. Jack is nowhere to be found.

CRACK! Massive tree roots rose from the ground, flying around. Thud! Aella ran across the roots, aiming her bow at the center of the trees. "She's in the middle!" She shouted.

CRACK! "I know!" Lydia growled, swinging her sword on the ground and cutting the roots, "I can't get to her. Swords aren't designed to cut wood,"

DING! DING! Isdis pulled the strings of her biwa, sending waves of magic toward Lydia, "I will support you. Swing as hard as you can,"

^I can't see Jack,^

[He's probably sneaking toward the Dryad or the monk.]

BAM! Arad expanded his wings and blasted toward the Dryad, clenching his right fist with lightning and his left one with ice. "If I killed her, we can ignore the monk and leave,"

CREEK! The Dryad turned around, seeing Arad flying toward her at an incredible speed. "What happened to Arethusa?"

"Who knows!" Arad grunted, swinging his fist.

Thud! The monk rushed ahead of him, smiling as he stood between Arad and the Dryad. "Hit me,"

"[Don't touch him!]"

"Gih!" Arad flapped his right wing, switching his direction, and crashed on the ground. "You bastard,"

The monk smiled, "You will hit me, and that's the moment you lose."

Thud! KA-BOOM! Jack stood behind the Dryad, pointing his arm cannon at her head, and blasted.

As the monk turned around surprised, the Dryad fell to the ground. Jack sighed, pulling a bottle from his pocket and pouring the content on the dryad body.

"Burning oil, time to make firewood," He threw a match at her, setting her ablaze.

"It's your loss, Monk," Arad smiled. ^Something is off,^

The monk giggled, opening his arms, "Let's fight," and the forest started crying.