Bigfoot’s empowered blow was blocked by a Mothman who stepped in just in time, stunning everyone.

  "What? Tara, are you helping the enemy?" the Bigfoot roared, indignant.

  Tara answered with a series of strange chirps, a language that, apparently, the rest of the cryptids were able to understand.

  "They hurt us and took your husband," growled another of the White Thangs.

  Edward and Carlo snapped out of their shock and slowly began backing away.

  "Hey! They’re getting away!" another White Thang shouted, leaping powerfully in front of the two boys. The impact made the ground tremble slightly.

  Damn it… if only Carlo weren’t so badly injured, Edward thought.

  Tara can’t protect us forever…

  While the White Thang gathered cold Koa to strike, Carlo drew together what little strength he had left.

  "Lion’s Roar!"

  He unleashed his Beast Koa, releasing a sonic wave that paralyzed the monster for a few moments. Because of his injuries, it only worked for seconds.

  "Sorry, buddy… this is the best I can do like this…" he exhaled before passing out.

  Tara flew forward and hurled the White Thang away, knocking it unconscious before it could counterattack. Still, the remaining cryptids were determined to keep attacking.

  "Carlo… you just shut me up…" Edward muttered.

  He forced himself upright.

  "Listen to me, beasts! Even if I fall here, I’ll go down fighting!"

  He gathered all his Koa for a final strike.

  "Mario… I wish I could’ve seen you one last time… Friends, take care of Albert…"

  Tara wouldn’t make it in time to stop the attack.

  "Blade of the Lake."

  A blue energy slash cut through the air, striking both creatures and sending them flying several meters back. Damien stood before them, sword in hand.

  "Edward, Carlo… are you okay?" Yulian approached, hatred boiling inside him as he saw their condition.

  "Grr… more humans. They came. I want to fight," one of the creatures growled as it rose again.

  "Yulian, how are they?" Damien asked, holding Arondight toward the monsters.

  Yulian didn’t answer.

  Edward could barely stand, exhausted from his wounds and excessive Koa usage. Carlo remained unconscious.

  "Yulian?" Damien pressed.

  The air grew heavy. Yulian’s rage exploded as he released 5% more Bear Beast Koa than his current limit allowed. He entered a frenzy and lunged at the beasts.

  "Human… you come to your death."

  The creatures reinforced their Koa, but before they could even strike, Yulian tore their arms apart in two swift Bear Claw movements.

  "Aaargh! Damn human!" they screamed as blood poured from their wounds.

  "Die, vile spawn!"

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Tara intercepted him, landing a blow that forced him back. While she used her strange language to drive the wounded beasts into retreat, she failed to account for Yulian’s speed.

  A Bear Claw slashed across her torso.

  Tara fell.

  Yulian grabbed her by the neck and hurled her against a massive rock, smashing her back-first. He advanced slowly, his right hand glowing with Beast Koa.

  The other cryptids fled.

  "You don’t," he said in a dark voice.

  "Damien… help her… she’s not evil, she saved us," Edward pleaded, collapsing to his knees.

  Damien intercepted Yulian with Arondight.

  "Grrr… what’s wrong with you? Don’t you see the damage they cause?" Yulian snarled.

  They struggled briefly. Though Damien was powerful with his Legend Koa, Yulian’s Beast Koa overwhelmed him and threw him aside.

  Yulian stood face to face with the wounded Mothman.

  "Yulian… I know that incident still haunts you, but I also know you don’t truly want to do this," Damien shouted as he stood again.

  His words pierced Yulian’s mind. He was no longer fighting only in Apalacide… but within himself.

  He let out a low cry and swung his bear claw under Damien and Edward’s shocked gazes.

  The rock shattered—

  but Tara remained unharmed.

  Yulian turned away. Tears streamed from his eyes: anger, sorrow… perhaps a lack of understanding of himself.

  "Whatever!" he snapped without looking back, kneeling to tend to Carlo.

  Damien approached Tara.

  "My esteemed insect lady, I believe you should leave," he said with a faint smile.

  "Thank you, child."

  The strange voice startled Damien.

  "I would like to speak with you first."

  "Hey, she can speak our language?" Damien exclaimed.

  "What? I only hear those weird chirps," Edward said, confused.

  "Damien inspires trust," Yulian said without turning. "The only way to understand a Mothman is to learn their language… or be chosen by one. Library data."

  "Ah… that explains it. She says she needs to tell me something… I’ll find out."

  The Mothman chirped again. Edward understood nothing. Damien listened with growing surprise—almost fear. Yulian remained indifferent.

  "Our friend says that the night before we arrived, a shadowy being appeared as if by magic… and it was brutal," Damien explained.

  "A shadow being?" Yulian turned, alarmed.

  "Brutal how?" Edward asked.

  "In short… it killed many cryptids and then kidnapped her husband, Shrir. And here’s the shocking part: Shrir is the king of this land—the one known as the ‘Destroyer of Humans.’"

  "Ask her why they took it out on César," Yulian urged angrily.

  "Ah… she says they didn’t attack César. The shadow being did, when he ‘got too close.’"

  "Wait—so it attacked beasts and humans alike? What happened when it captured the king?" Edward pressed.

  "Just as suddenly as it appeared… it vanished with him."

  A roar interrupted them. A massive humanoid Wampus feline landed in the center of the clearing. It was bulkier than the previous one, its Koa far stronger.

  "Humans… are you still attacking us? Was kidnapping Shrir not enough?"

  "Damien… let me handle this," Yulian stepped forward firmly.

  "Yulian, don’t look for more trouble… Mrs. Bug, help us," Edward said nervously.

  Tara spoke to the feline—only he and Damien understood.

  "Lady Tara, I’m sorry for disobeying you, but… there is too much resentment in my heart. I do this for Shrir, for my fallen brothers, for our pride," the Wampus said emotionally.

  Damien, who had silently observed, spoke words sharp enough to cut the air.

  "So that’s it? You both want to vent your hatred? Fine. Do it. Right now. One versus one. Fight until your rage burns out."

  He released his Dragon Koa, exceeding his limit by 5%—just like Yulian.

  "And if anyone hiding nearby interferes, I will kill them myself!"

  Growls, footsteps, and snapping branches echoed from all around. They were surrounded.

  "Da… Damien…" Edward whispered, stunned.

  "This boy… he’s a Dragon," the Wampus observed. "It’s been a long time since one set foot on these lands."

  "Good. Begin," Damien ordered.

  Yulian turned and smiled.

  This idiot… where does he get these moments of “wisdom”?

  He unleashed his Bear Koa.

  The Wampus took a combat stance and the battle began.

  Claw against claw. Yulian attacked with brute force; the feline dodged and countered with jaguar, lion, and tiger strikes.

  Both were injured, but accumulated exhaustion and the Wampus’s experience prevailed. Yulian was slammed to the ground by a tiger swipe.

  "You won… well done… do what you must…" Yulian murmured calmly.

  Edward looked to Damien, expecting him to intervene, but Damien only watched with a faint smile.

  "Boy… I don’t know if it was the Dragon kid’s words or the fight itself, but as we fought… my hatred faded."

  The Wampus extended his hand.

  "Strange… I felt the same."

  "My name is Ja-tul," he introduced himself. "I hope we fight again someday… and you as well," he added, pointing at Damien.

  "Heh, I’d like that," Damien replied.

  Still confused, Edward suggested they return and bring Carlo to the master.

  Tara indicated the way back, and Ja-tul offered to escort them.

  "From here on, you’ll be safe. If you learn anything about my friend Shrir, let us know. Farewell."

  He leapt away, vanishing into the mist.

  They headed back, taking turns carrying Carlo.

  "Hey, Damien… how did you know that would happen?" Edward asked.

  "Yulian acts tough, but we all know he’s the kindest guy there is," Damien smiled.

  Yulian blushed and said nothing.

  "Yeah, but… what about the cat?"

  "A hunch," he replied, still smiling.

  "You get stranger every day…" Edward muttered.

  And they continued on their way.