Chapter 196 Unidentified Threat Approaching!

Outside the city were what they called the outlands and the dragon territory(ies). It was a place of the unknown, a place said to be void of civilization or those who had lost their humanity.

Those sent to the outlands to keep the city safe from threats far bigger than raenz and rumics were few as only a minute set ever returned to tell the tale.

They had maintained the balance of keeping away from the dragon territory, steering clear of this mythical creature was the one step toward maintaining peace between barriers.

This was also the perfect site for some rogues to flee, banished citizens charged with serious crimes lurked.

Whoever managed to survive in this area would be considered a formidable foe among the gifted and mages.

This was the very place that the coordinates had directed Zephyr to as they teleported onto rocky terrain, sparsely filled with strangely twisted trees that grew irrespective of the floor's make.

Nix's eyes were glued to a distant place that he only knew too well. The tall grasses that looked normal a first glance 150 feet away only brought nothing but memories he had tried to bury in his heart.

'At least here it isn't muddy.' Nix tried to lighten the mood in his heart as he tore away his gaze from that direction.

<That brings good memories for you and me, doesn't it? We had so much to converse personally in there while bringing on the heat, remember?> Raiken mocked Nix in his thoughts.

'You tried to kill me on several occasions, you reptile!' Nix retorted, shaking his head.

<It was all part of the game, I haven't had that much fun in years!>

<Don't be so self-conceited, you black demon!> Red snapped, ready to antagonize Raiken with every fire left in him.

<Nix, let us out...> Rekor paused, waiting for his twin to complete the sentence.

<...we promise to be good> Raz completed as planned.

'Just because I had a flashback that involves Raiken, doesn't mean you make some ruckus in my thoughts. I never brought you all to the party, why did you suddenly pop into my thoughts?'

<What triggers one, triggers all of us!> Red deadpanned.

'I am your master, so shut the hell up!'

<Oooo we are so scared!> Raiken taunted.

The others chuckled to Raiken's words, happy about his little comeback on their behalf.

Cross popping veins made their way to Nix's forehead, they were making fun of him and he couldn't summon them out and teach them a good lesson without scaring the shit out of the others.

Deep down, he was a little glad that he was speaking with the dragons, he had missed their annoying voices, but the timing they had chosen was a bit random.

Taking a breather, he blocked out their communication before he got sucked into their depraved and manipulative speech.

"We're here, now what?" Zephyr looked around them, pushing away a tree branch that had latched onto his hair, pulling hard on his scalp.

To his dismay, a few of his strands hung loosely on the branch the moment he was able to break free from its grasp.

"You're the babysitter, you tell us." Obsidian snapped, a mischievous smirk on his lips.

"We were taken to the outskirts of the barrier that surrounds the city. That would mean right now, we are in the outlands." Solis calmly muttered to himself.

He had always wanted to know what the outside world looked like, apart from the little glimpse they got from the television back in their home.

Being in the very place he had been curious about did no justice to where they were currently standing in.

"What exactly is this mission about? Who the hell are we meant to go against?" Lank pulled on his hair in frustration at the variety of unknowns he would have no answers to.

He looked wearily to Obsidian, cautious of what he might do if they encountered a threat.

'Would another head roll? Or would it be Nix who is going to be the one that carries this out?'

"Shhh!" Nix hushed them all.

[Hearing augmentation activated]

Going on one knee, he placed his hands on the rocky floor.

[Danger: Unidentified threat approaching, 50 feet away]

'Well, that's new information. Real helpful.' Nix noticed, confident about the reconstruction his system had undergone.

Slight trembling on the ground made some pebbles roll out of the way, some were thrown up slightly.

Getting up to his feet, he looked behind him as a snarling sound could be heard from a distance.

"That doesn't sound friendly at all." Solis pointed out, taking a step back. His eyes glowed as he activated his ability.

"Solis... Don't!" Nix yelled but was already too late to stop the shot of the light ball in the dark direction of the approaching threat.

The light ball traveled a little distance before it was met with obstruction and scattered into tiny sparkles.

Rrrriiii!!!!

The trembling of the floor intensified as the threat intensified its pace.

Rushing towards the others, Nix yelled for them to get to a substantial cover before he devised their next attack.

[Warning: Acid fluid detected]

"Everyone! Duck!" Nix yelled in a manner of urgency.

At the last minute, they leaped forward with their hands outstretched in front of them as they jumped behind a thick bush.

Their back against trees, they hyperventilated as they all shared a look, mentally taking note that they were all alright.

"What the hell is that?" Zephyr hissed, his hand on his chest as he tried to calm his racing heart. Apart from teleporting, he still couldn't understand what else he could do with his ability.

He could recall Rumi had tried to jog his supposed memory of him being proficient in weapon handling. The katana strapped to his back was as good as useless if he couldn't remember the basic techniques.

Kak! Krrrr!

"What was that?" Solis slowly said, his voice rocking in a panic to the sound behind them.