I was livid.

I have been following them for a week already. I barely ate, I barely slept, and my endurance for those went sky-high. But I didn’t even look at them, my focus was on not losing their tracks, no matter what, even when it stormed, even when they set traps on their path, even if I knew that they were aware of me following them.

I didn’t care.

I was a pure pool of lava boiling and wanting to explode.

I didn’t like needless killing, I really didn’t, but this humans were tempting fate.

I talked with the Voice of the Night yesterday, and there was no time to learn new skills; so we review what I had, forming plans on what to do.

We first watched the camp at night; and discovered that first, they had stopped to mount a trap for me, knowing that I would go save my brother.

The few seconds I passed at their presence revealed more of my skills that I felt comfortable with, but no good would come from overthinking it.

Second we discovered that they were drugging my brother meals, the bastards, but he wasn’t eating, the smart boy, though it was still bad since he will be weak from hunger…

Focus, focus.

I have been cracking my brain up this past few days thinking how to get him out of there. I gathered information on the humans passing, and most of them wouldn’t be a problem, especially for my speed combine with my sneak.

The biggest problem was if any of the humans were higher level than me, and stayed hidden inside the camp, and the other is if they found us out inside and my brother was too weak to move, and last but not least, how to open his cage, which seemed to be made from the same material than the net.

Other thing to search about later.

Bloody hell, there was only one way that I may have any chance in succeeding; and a very risky one at that. Trying to get in unnoticed, even if they were expecting me, and know some of my stealth skills.

Great, just great.

I hunted a little before tonight, staying in the same spot the rest of the day, watching once again the camp; the only good news is that they though I gave up, and weren’t exception me as much, after all, I tried my best to not let any tracks around by staying still a lot, and carcasses were few.

When the almost all black moon appeared, I moved. With my belly down, ears to the back, I walked slowly and in synch with the wind.

Step step, stop. Rustling, listen. No movement, paw paw.

The encampment wasn’t too well prepared, apparently it wasn’t a permanent one, using tents and some rudimentary wooden structures, like towers and whatnot. It was well illuminated though, but there were some blind spots here and there that I already memorized.

I didn’t use any of my magical abilities yet, with my MP and the numerous wrong things that could happen, I must be prepare to fight.

Against the entire camp.

Just great.

There were people talking inside the little tents, some snoring while others were drinking around and eating their fill. My brother was right at the center, below the biggest wooden tower out of five, and the most illuminated one as well.

It would be great if I could turn than off now wouldn’t it?

Ding – Magic learned – Fire Manipulation 1

Well, some surprises come for good, I suppose. Staring at the flames I was able to low the torches into an almost nonexistence flame, good enough for me to quickly pass.

When I arrived at the cage I used all my willpower to contain a growl. My brother was skin and bones, laying still in the middle of a bronze cage. There were other cages too, and other magical creatures, but most were sedated by whatever they putted on the food.

“Pss. Brother” I said low, receiving a blinking gesture in return from his motionless body. Well, seems like it didn’t matter if he ate or not at the end; but why treat him like this? To attract me here? Wasn’t he valuable as well?

I went close to the cage, but still far in the shadows. The only way to open it was using the padlock, but the same strange material was used in it. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy, otherwise my brother would have escaped on his on a long time ago.

Keys, I need to find them.

“Brother, brother, hey, I need your help little brother, were are the keys? Who has the things that open up the cage?”

He slowly opened his eyes and with a distaff voice answered. “The guard, up here, but it’s dangerous, it’s a trap.”

“I know, I know, but I will get you out of here somehow. Do you think you can run while I distract them?”

“I will try.”

“Good. Just a little longer little brother.”

Those humans… they should pay with their lives for what they did. But I shouldn’t kill them… they were trouble, they were needless killing… I lick my fangs as bloodlust starts to build up in me system.

I start to climb the wooden stairs, swearing mentally at every creak and squeak of the wood. Once I reach the top there was only one guard with his back to me, the keys dangling on his hips.

This is too easy, there is something wrong.

I received my answer once the guard turns around, as if already aware of my presence beforehand.

“So you are the little hound they are talking about?” He says, slowly circling me. I learned my lesson, no more talking, so I didn’t say anything. “They said you could talk, but that’s so rare that makes me think if they didn’t make it up only to impress me because of their last… mistakes.”

“But it seem I was wrong. You already evolved, and in a different kind than most.” He was staring at my crystal, which was black as my eyes at the moment for stealth reasons.

This guy… smelled wrong.

“You will be a fitting merchandise for the market, many will come with the expectation of a smart fire magical beast.”

He takes off a long whip made of some black leather out of his clothes, making the keys shake with the movement.

The wooden platform wasn’t very big, but gave me enough space to circle around him as well one more time and use appraisal.

-Appraisal completed-

Name: Konrad Von Richthofen

Gender: Male

Race: Half Demon/Human

Age: 31

Level: 45

Level 45?! That’s hardly fair! I couldn’t even see the rest of his skills. And I have never encountered a demon before so I don’t even know how that would affect his skills. He stops and for a second I see his eyes move to my back.

Without thinking I dodge, rolling sideways, and were I have been seconds ago stood a metal magical net.

That made me break in a nervous sweat, even more when two of the armored guys, full metal and helmet, climbed the outside of the tower.

Level’s 31 and 34. Shit.

I’m hunting in the wrong side of the map? Where is the noob area for the levels 10?

They had the advantage in numbers, level, even geographic, what the hell I’m goi- Wait, we were standing on wood…

Each of them choose a corner, the armored to the left and right, and the demon in the middle. I knew these strategies, cornering the prey so it cannot escape.

I’ve never felt so much like a prey before then I felt at that moment.

Shit.

~~~~

Whip, whip it good, watching Castlevania while I was thinking of this part ~~ Wo,wo!