Chapter 26: Danger
Even before the iron-ranked beast arrived, Ember felt the upheaval in the air. There seemed to be some kind of putrid scent in the ambient mana, announcing its presence as it rushed through the thick forest.
Without a sound or disturbance, Zephyr’s figure appeared before them, a shadowy cloak trailing behind her, her face solemn as she peered into the distance.
“Everyone, withdraw,” she commanded, before eyeing the guards. “Protect the kids.”
Their formation broke as they withdrew, with the two guards taking positions on either side, when a giant centipede with a dark scarlet carapace broke into the expanse. Standing over a metre tall, the monster was several metres long, its exterior rigid, and its maw horrifying, filled with jagged teeth. It let out a piercing cry, working its dozens of appendages to lunge at his aunt, as if to devour her whole.
Zephyr’s figure vanished in a blur the moment it drove towards her. With shadow tendrils swaying about her form, she appeared above it, crashing with her sword into its back.
With its tough exoskeleton, the blade was almost deflected, indicating the creature was well into its iron rank.
The demonic creature wasn’t fixated on her. After Zephyr evaded its advances, it ignored her to bolt towards them.
“Withdraw further,” she shouted. “This is going to take a while.”
Ember found himself holding his breath, mana surging, his palm clenched the hilt of his sword. The other kids were much the same, though their strongest attacks would do little against its thick carapace.