“What…?”

“Cannibalism?”

“How do you think… a species that has… exterminated most of their habitat… survives?” Asked Alice then, who was now sitting on the ground with a hand over her heaving chest, her heart pounding, her head hurting, her breathing a mess.

The gazes of all present were fixed on the now aberrant look of the alpha, whose nose kept being dragged through the sharp and rough rock, and would have fallen completely if not for that last flap of skin that kept it attached. Its tusks were gone, cut cleanly at their base, and a stream of thick blood was starting to cover all of its surroundings, yet the source wasn’t only its wound.

In the midst of pain, rage and hunger, flat teeth cracked bone, and throat swallowed rivers of blood. The beast kept devouring all demon boars who had the lack of sense of getting near, spreading chunks of flesh and entrails all over, provoking sounds of torture and fear that seemed to ignore dimensions and directly shake everyone’s mind.

All the while, two powerful seventh senses enveloped the creature, and an owner of one grimaced when she caught the shadowy tendrils moving the beast like a puppet, having received damage, but far from being dead.

Alary’s skill hadn’t been enough to kill it, even though she had to use a drop of her own lifeforce to supply the necessary mana for its activation, as her own mana had been exhausted during the long struggle against the alpha.

“Squad leader… how come you didn’t use that before?!” Gallathorn shouted, almost resentful, unaware of her actual sacrifices.

“Gally… shut up. Don’t… ruin my impression of you.” Alice managed to say then, recovering slowly from her exertion.

“Don’t worry.” Alary sat straight, and turned towards her team, extending a hand towards her friend in a gesture that meant she should rest. “He has never been too bright.”

Nor Garry nor Harold inquired about it because they could guess why. Against a demon boar, a creature that normally wasn’t just one but two great realms beneath her, Why would she use such a powerful skill? Besides, even though its preparation was quite short compared to Erinyes, Alice’s spell, it still needed her to remain still and with enough leeway to focus, something she had sorely lacked since she encountered the alpha.

Gallathorn wanted to complain, yet a hand on his shoulder halted his attempt. Harold gripped it tightly, almost too much, but just enough to catch his attention, and sternly shook his head. Wincing at this, Gallathorn held his tongue and returned his gaze to the beast outside. “What now?”

“Now… “ Alice looked at her friend whose shoulders seemed unable to carry even a feather, knowing she had paid a part of a price that wasn’t hers to pay. “Now we wait.”

“Makes sense I don’t figure in that information of yours.” Avaln said with a slight nod, then answered with something which was true, in a way. “I was away, training my ‘advanced Spellcasting’ under my master. I was on my way to meet her when I was attacked by your men.”

Keiner’s eyes opened in realization. “To Greenleaf?”

Avaln nodded. “That’s right.”

“‘Her’? Your master wouldn’t happen to be Miss Lizbell, the Fifth Ascension alchemist residing there, would she?” One of his hands then found its way to his chin, as if pondering something. “So that’s why you were able to heal that girl’s wound. You are an alchemist!”

There were many questions going through Keiner’s mind. Spellcasting had never been a discipline he’d studied, much less Alchemy, yet he knew both were capable of strange yet miraculous effects if done by a true master. A severe wound may look like a great deal, yet a strong health potion could heal it in a matter of breaths, and if the one healing it was also an alchemist, he held no doubt some other methods were within their means.

But more than anything, right now he had an opportunity he never thought possible.

“Would you hear me out? I have a proposal.” He moved to the right, slowly, to achieve a more direct line of sight with Avaln, yet the latter, far from being distracted, slightly adjusted his stance and weight centre, prepared for anything. Keiner saw that, and approved of it. Not only was that the correct action for any martial artist, but he wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t been looking for it.

That young man… wasn’t so simple.

“What proposal?” Avaln asked.

“Why not join us?” Was his question, shocking all present. Teppei’s expression was clear to see, while Mira only sneered, as if what she just heard was the dumbest thing in the world.

Avaln lifted an eyebrow, and suddenly had an idea. “You can’t expect me to trust your words all of a sudden. You know that, right?”

Keiner nodded. “Of course, which is why I’m willing to explain.” He sheathed his sword then, and took a step back, forcing Teppei to make way. “But first, let me confirm. Are you really Miss Lizbell’s disciple?”

Before that question, rather than answering it directly, Avaln opted for revealing a truth. “I’ve been receiving potions from her since I was a child.” Then, he began to adorn it. “And I’ve had a book in my hands for as long as I can remember. If I were her disciple…” He shot a meaningful glance.“... it would be a secret I wouldn’t reveal to just anyone.”

His answer was a bet, and he could only wait to see if it would come to fruition.

“And this disciple… “ Continued Keiner. “Wouldn’t happen to know how to treat wounds on the spot, would he?”

Avaln smiled, and approached Mira, almost in an easy manner but always aware, always present. “Like this?”

He extended a hand, then drew a small regenerate rune over her shoulder wound, pouring some of his own Essence so that its load wasn’t carried by her alone. Mira at first couldn’t but squint her eyes, not sure what Avaln was playing at, yet that feeling was quickly replaced by shock when her sense of touch was overwhelmed by a creeping relief coming from her injury.

Keiner saw her expression, and could surmise what was happening. “How…?” He muttered the question even before thinking about it, something completely unlike him.

To see such a fast healing without any potions was just that astounding. And if he could get hold of such an ability…

One may always look straight ahead, until they catch something shiny through the corner of their eyes. Avaln knew the effect his skills may have on others thanks to Mira, and so he decided it may be worth a shot to show them and see if he could alter Keiner’s state of mind.

And maybe, get some information out of him too.

“Kid… ?” Grandma Mira muttered, taking control of her shock.

“Curious… “Avaln said then. “There is no demonic Essence in your wound. Given what that guy did, I thought you’d be infected.”

She raised an eyebrow, but soon shook her head after quickly checking with her own seventh sense. Despite having regained her stern expression, it was now once again replaced by disbelief as she noticed another fact outside her expectations. “Fusion stage?” She muttered, realizing only someone whose seventh sense was merged with one of the five senses, could distinguish different Essence attributes inside someone’s body.

That just shouldn’t be possible for an adventurer that has just reached the Tempered Essence realm.

Of course, she was completely unaware that Avaln’s circumstances weren’t precisely common, and that his seventh sense had already achieved the Fusion Stage since he awoke it.

“It seems you are indeed a capable alchemist.“ Keiner bowed again, this time with more respect. Avaln found it almost genuine, and so he felt almost guilty for lying. “I’m sorry for my rude behaviour from before, but I assure you, my proposal is real. You see, capable alchemists are rare, but even rarer are those who can defend themselves. That’s why you would be a great addition to our guild.”

“I thought you said there couldn’t be any witnesses left.” Avaln said then, having overheard part of their conversation as he stealthily approached them.

“Witnesses would mean outsiders, but if you join us… that’s another story.” Keiner cocked his head as he said this, pointing at the place where Jeff and Rei were, as if holding them hostage without even being near them. “There would be guarantees, I assure you.”

Avaln brought a hand to his chin, pondering.

“Kid, what are you thinking about?” Grandma Mira inquired then, still in a perturbed emotional state after so many ups and downs, as the regenerate rune kept working on her wound. “He is clearly lying! He did the same thing to me before, saying our lives weren't what he was really after, and look how I ended up!”

Avaln met her gaze, briefly, coldly. “Why are you comparing us? We are not equals, and so our opportunities are not the same.” He turned to Keiner. “But you did say something interesting, grandma. How come our lives are not your priority?”

“Well, for obvious reasons, I can’t answer that in detail.” Keiner crossed his arms behind his back. “Nevertheless, the effort of killing you both may endanger my real mission. As such, I prefer you on my side.”

Avaln smiled then, as the pieces began to fit together inside his mind…

They were here to kill the group of adventurers that answered Gale’s quest.

He didn’t know how, but his guess was that they’d been monitoring the state of the barrier somewhere between Greenleaf and Gale, and as soon as they noticed it being restored, they set out to start their mission and turn the village into the perfect place for an ambush, for as the quest giver, Gale was sure to be the first place they’d visit after finishing it, even more if they were to need some rest before setting out.

However, another question appeared in his mind then…

Isn’t this a little too much trouble for just a group of adventurers?

If his theory was right, given the demonic Essence running through their bodies, they were the cause of the quest arriving at the Greenleaf’s guild in the first place. Avaln doubted the necessary knowledge to alter a barrier that has existed for so long, was something that just any guild could obtain, let alone any adventurer. That would mean some important resources were moved in order to acquire said information, and put it to good use.

Who could be so important as to merit so much effort to end their life?

“It’s a promise!”

The voice, the warmth, the pounding inside his chest, it all converged into one image that froze his consciousness for an infinite breath.

A man Avaln couldn’t recognize, used his mouth to smile wide. He even chuckled a bit. “Yes. Indeed.” Mira looked at him confused, and Keiner couldn’t but furrow his brow. “I do think I’ll be joining you after all.”

“Really?” He asked then, not convinced.

“Well, I just realized why you are here. That’s why. I do have one condition, however.” The man who Avaln couldn’t recognize stared at the edge of his spear, caressing it, checking just how sharp it was. “You see, a month and a half or so ago, a group of adventurers came to Gale. They were arrogant, and didn’t even put the suffering of the villagers in their eyes. But I understood that. They didn’t live here, and I also wanted a way out, so I thought I’d offer my services as an alchemist and somewhat capable fighter. That way, maybe, I’d get a ticket into Greenleaf’s guild… “

“But to my surprise, they didn’t believe me, and I was rejected and shunned. They even laughed at my face, saying I was a worthless beggar who should stop dreaming of ever stepping one foot into their guild. There was a particularly nasty woman who wouldn’t stop meddling in my business, using her authority to make me promise shit I wouldn’t be able to keep.” The man who Avaln didn’t know met Keiner’s gaze then, sure of what he’d perceive on his own. “You wouldn’t happen to be here to kill them, would you?”

Murderous intent.

Keiner smiled then, finding a sort of kinship with the spoken words. “I’m guessing the latter has to do with your condition. Who was the woman?”

The man who Avaln couldn’t recognize in himself, answered, “Alary Greenleaf.”

Keiner’s smile widened. “It seems fate has brought us together then.” He even chuckled, covering his mouth, his eyes shining with a glint of gold. “Indeed, our target is Alary Gre-”

That phrase was never meant to be finished.

Killing intent flared. Dust was kicked with explosive momentum.

Then bone and rage met steel and instinct.

“Wha…!?” Keiner shouted in the midst of reflex and shock.

A man Avaln didn’t know performed Snake bites the neck, urging his Essence to swell from hip, to back, to arm in a full body thrust which covered the distance between him and his prey in a missed heartbeat. Keiner, however, managed to block the blow with the flat of his blade, yet the sheer force of the impact pushed him back, his feet leaving a trace three steps long on the trodden dirt, his legs trembling slightly before the exertion to remain standing.

A cold drop of sweat ran down his temple then, the bell of death still ringing in his ears, so, so clearly.

Teppei stared dumbfounded, as well as Mira.

“What happened to you?” The latter couldn’t help asking.

Yet she found no answer.