Meanwhile, a few thousand kilometers from the southern border…

  A pack of Viridian Wolves circled a group of desperate merchants. Their guards were bloodied, some barely standing, others already dead.

  High above, five figures dove from the sky.

  “Liliya!” Nerva barked.

  “Relax, I’ve got it,” she called back, already chanting.

  A shimmering veil fell over the group mid-dive. In an instant, their majestic gryphons appeared as ordinary Black Hawks, and the riders themselves took on the illusion of common infantry soldiers.

  No one could know who they truly were.

  Nerva leaped from his mount, his body cloaked in a thick layer of silver aura that shimmered like liquid mercury. He didn’t draw a weapon. He didn’t need one.

  He landed on the back of a wolf and began pummeling its skull with his fists. Each blow echoed like thunder. After just two strikes, the beast collapsed, unmoving.

  Above him, Zara and Xarion descended like twin storms.

  Xarion’s heated blades danced in wide arcs, slicing through two wolves in a single motion.

  Zara moved like the wind, her daggers flashing as she struck vital points with surgical precision. The wolves howled in pain before falling silent.

  Liliya and Lucius were the last to land.

  Lucius sprinted toward the surviving merchants, four traders and three wounded guards.

  “To me, men! I’ll protect you with my life!” he shouted, raising his shield high. A radiant lion emblem roared to life across its surface, and a thick golden barrier enveloped the group.

  “Who are you people? We are beyond grateful!” one merchant cried.

  “Just soldiers from Fallhaven,” Lucius replied, as instructed. “We were on patrol and saw your distress.”

  “You must be elite knights to handle these beasts so easily,” one of the guards muttered, still in disbelief.

  “We trained in the capital,” Lucius said, offering no more.

  The guards exchanged glances. If they were from the capital… then they were likely trained by the infamous demon trainer Nerva.

  They gulped. The stories they heard were terrifying.

  One of the wolves lunged at the barrier, claws raking against the golden light. Lucius gritted his teeth and channeled mana into his mace. It glowed with holy light as he struck the beast through the barrier, hammering its face again and again.

  The wolf howled and staggered back, only to unleash a beam of deep green energy from its maw.

  The barrier shattered.

  Lucius managed to deflect part of the blast, shielding the men behind him, but the force numbed his arms.

  Is this it? Is this all I can do? he thought, despair creeping in.

  Then, a thin red beam sliced through the wolf like a laser.

  Liliya hovered behind the corpse, smiling brightly. Her white teeth gleamed in the morning sun.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” she said with a wink.

  “Focus, boy!” Nerva shouted. “Raise another barrier and push more mana into your shield!”

  Lucius staggered to his feet, heart pounding. He poured everything he had into the shield, and a new barrier flared to life.

  “This is my limit!” he cried.

  Zara laughed as she danced between wolves. “Good enough. We’re almost done.”

  Lucius blinked. Almost? But there are still eight left!

  Then Xarion let out a draconic roar. The wolves froze, trembling, and retreated toward their leader, a massive, emerald-furred alpha.

  “Liliya, now!” Nerva commanded.

  “All set. Watch and worship me!” she grinned.

  “Freezing ice, slow down my enemies, Frozen Ground!”

  A wave of frost erupted beneath the wolves, encasing their legs in thick, unbreakable ice.

  “The rest, with me!” Nerva ordered.

  He, Zara, and Xarion charged into the frozen zone. The spell ignored them completely. Liliya’s control was flawless.

  The trio tore through the immobilized wolves with brutal efficiency.

  After just a few breaths, only the alpha remained.

  It roared, shattering the ice around its legs, and leaped into the air. A green whirlwind formed around it, launching a barrage of emerald arrows.

  “Ooh, a bloodline ability,” Liliya said, intrigued. “Leave him to me!”

  The others sighed and stepped back. Nerva and Xarion knew her eccentricities well.

  Liliya summoned a whirlwind of her own. “Gust of Wind, bind him!”

  A simple one-circle spell, powered by her immense mana, clashed with the alpha’s storm. Her wind swallowed his, canceling the attack.

  The wolf thrashed inside the swirling grey barrier, unable to escape. Then the air inside vanished.

  It choked, gasped, and collapsed to the ground, barely alive.

  Liliya floated down beside it, pulling out a golden collar etched with a grimoire emblem.

  She snapped it around the wolf’s neck. The collar glowed, binding the beast.

  “Healing Light, Heal.”

  The wolf stirred, fully restored, and lunged at her, only to be yanked back by the collar’s magic.

  It growled in frustration, unable to move.

  “Now, now. Be a good boy,” Liliya cooed. “I’ll feed you and treat you well. Just let me study your abilities when I have time.”

  The wolf whimpered, then lay down in defeat.

  “Good boy! Now go inside, you’ll meet lots of new friends.”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  She pulled out a small blue orb inscribed with ancient runes, her personal Arcanum. With a flash of light, the wolf vanished inside.

  Nerva sighed. “You’re insane. Using an Arcanum for that…”

  Xarion nodded in agreement.

  Zara blinked. “Wait… that was an Arcanum? And she uses it to store beasts?”

  Xarion chuckled. “She even remodeled the inside. Lakes, forests, training grounds… It’s probably the most unique Arcanum ever made.”

  Liliya floated over, beaming. “What a great start to our trip!”

  Nerva shook his head and turned to Lucius. “Everyone alright?”

  Lucius lowered his barrier and nodded. “These seven are safe. Three guards are injured, though.”

  Liliya cast Heal, restoring them instantly.

  The guards stared in awe. Only royal healers or high priests could use that spell.

  They said nothing. Best not to ask questions.

  The merchants, four rotund beastmen with canine ears, approached, laughing heartily. “Thank you, kind warriors! Can we repay you somehow?”

  “No need, just doing our jobs,” Nerva replied. “Stay safe.”

  He waved and walked toward the camouflaged gryphons, who were happily feasting on wolf remains.

  “Everyone, mount up. We’ve got more work to do.”

  The team climbed onto their beasts, who reluctantly left their meals behind, and soared southward.

  The rescued men watched them vanish into the sky, grateful to be alive, and stunned by what they had witnessed.

  It had been a terrifying morning… but one they would never forget.

  ***

  The group flew further south, their invisibility restored by Liliya’s magic.

  “That was fun,” Zara chuckled.

  Xarion glanced at Lucius with a smirk. “Well, not for everyone.”

  Nerva responded with a stern tone. “He did well. At least he didn’t pee his pants… this time.”

  Lucius flushed with embarrassment. “Master, please. Let’s not talk about that.”

  Zara laughed warmly. “No shame in that. I did that, and worse, multiple times while training under Father,” she admitted. “His methods are terrifying, but they work. Look at me now.” She flexed her biceps proudly.

  Liliya hummed a cheerful tune, lost in thought. She couldn’t wait to study the wolf’s skills.

  “I’m only harsh because it’s better than dying on the battlefield,” Nerva said firmly. “Hard work makes strong warriors.”

  He softened slightly. “Anyway, you did well. I mean it. You held your ground against a stronger enemy. Next time, reinforce your barrier earlier, don’t repeat the same mistakes.” He continued, “Also, focus your mana into your mace more precisely. Make it firmer. That’ll help you prepare for aura training down the line.”

  Lucius felt his heart tighten. Nerva was more of a father to him than his own had ever been. “Thank you, Master. I’ll do as you say.”

  They continued flying for a while, crossing the border without encountering any more beasts. Soon, they exited the Fallhaven Kingdom.

  Not even half an hour later, they spotted a pride of Bloodmane Lions heading toward the kingdom. Behind them trailed a pack of snickering Aardwolves, scavengers that fed on the lions’ leftovers.

  “If they reach the villages beyond the border, there’ll be bloodshed,” Xarion warned.

  Nerva frowned. “Why are they all moving this way? And why do they look afraid?” He couldn’t make sense of it.

  “Alright, we need to move quickly. Liliya, can you handle the Aardwolves? The three of us will take the lions. Lucius, stay airborne this time,” he ordered.

  Lucius nodded. “Yes, Master.”

  The trio dove toward the lions while Liliya soared above the Aardwolves.

  Lucius watched in awe as Nerva and the others clashed with the pride. The lions roared, their blood-red manes blazing like fire as their bloodwave attacks crashed into the group.

  Nerva’s aura flared, shattering the incoming skill. Zara and Xarion moved with deadly precision, slicing through the beasts and casually storing their remains and cores.

  Meanwhile, Liliya made short work of the Aardwolves. Her fireballs rained down, reducing them to ash.

  The group regrouped in the sky and resumed their journey, flying faster than before. They had to reach the deep south and uncover the source of this madness.

  ***

  In the dark castle deep in the southern lands, Florian walked in his new body toward a locked underground chamber.

  His red scales shimmered beneath the flickering torchlight as he crushed the thick, heavy chains sealing the entrance.

  Inside the vast chamber hung a hulking figure, its body a grotesque mass of mutated muscle, each limb as thick as a tree trunk. Despite its monstrous form, its head remained oddly human. Silver hair glinted in the escaping light.

  As Florian approached, the creature roared and strained against its bindings, but the chains held firm.

  Chimaera Florian smiled maliciously. “There, there,” he said, voice dripping with mockery. “You were one of the last Higher Ones I created. Now only you and that coward Viper still live.”

  Ptooey!

  He spat at the memory. She would pay for hiding back then.

  “I remember your spirit, strong, proud. A Master Knight, wasn’t it? Shame you were mortally wounded by those humans... such a shame.” His grin twisted into something monstrous. “I gave you a new life, didn’t I? I found you when you were dying, alone. I helped you.” He snickered.

  The monster roared in fury.

  “Yes, yes, you're angry. Big mad baby.” Florian leaned in, screaming like a lunatic into the creature’s face.

  The monster quieted slightly. Something deep within it feared Florian.

  “That’s better,” he whispered. “Now listen. I need your help. When we’re done, I’ll help you destroy your murderers. How does that sound?”

  The creature was silent, then grunted in agreement.

  “Perfect. But you’re still too weak. If I could only unlock your full power when you were alive, and then enhance it,” Florian’s eyes gleamed. “You see, I’ve gained new insights... after what I went through.” He laughed, a broken, eerie sound that echoed through the chamber.

  “Here. A gift.” He pulled out a syringe filled with green liquid, streaked with ominous red.

  “Let’s try it out, shall we?” He stabbed the needle into the creature’s chest.

  The monster screamed as the liquid surged into its heart and spread through its bloodstream. Fire scorched its insides. Its soul roared. Then its body grew, once three meters tall, now doubled in size. Its skin turned silver, matching its hair. Blood-red pupils glowed in its eyes. Green veins bulged across its body, and a shimmering silver aura layered over its skin.

  It looked like a mountain of metal.

  “Perfect,” Florian whispered. “Let’s see if you’ll behave now.”

  He stepped closer to the twitching mass of muscle and released its chains.

  “What to call you... Ah, yes, I used Metalhead Rhino for your soul merge. Rhino it is!" But his inner voice gnawed at him. Even without a horn? "Hmm... never mind. Rhino, kneel!”

  His mind was somewhat broken, a jumbled mess.

  The silver beast roared in defiance, trying to smash the monstrous man in front of him, but resistance was futile.

  It struggled, but in the end, it knelt.

  “Excellent. Looks like adding my blood to the mix made you stronger and easier to control. Just perfect.” He laughed maniacally.

  “Now, I just need more. Many more. Then we’ll find the young dragon boy.” He licked his lips.

  “Perhaps it’s time the world met the genius of Chimaera Lord Florian... their NEW GOD!” he screamed as he ascended the stairs.

  Rhino followed, his silver human face twisted in excruciating pain.

  ***

  Back in the Arcanum, the others remained unaware, unaware that elsewhere, powers were rising beyond imagination, and a certain party was already drawing near, ever closer to the Southern Desolation.?