Lord Of Beasts

For a few seconds, nobody outside the Gate moved.

The massive distortion that had occupied the clearing for so long continued to shrink until, with one final pulse of unstable mana, it disappeared completely. The oppressive presence that had hung over the area vanished with it, leaving behind an eerie emptiness.

The Gate was gone.

Silence settled over the Canadian Association’s forces.

Several Titled lowered their weapons while others simply stared at the empty space where the Gate had been, their expressions heavy with the realisation of what had likely happened.

They had lost people.

The two scouting teams had never returned, and the allied clearing squad had entered knowing that the Gate was unusually dangerous. Everyone had understood the risks, but that didn’t make the waiting any easier.

Now that the Gate had finally disappeared, the Canadian operatives could only assume the worst.

”They’re not coming back.”

The words were spoken quietly.

Nobody responded.

There was nothing to say.

The people inside had done their jobs, cleared the Gate, and, as far as everyone outside knew, paid the ultimate price for it.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

Then something moved.

A figure suddenly burst from the empty space where the Gate had been.

The Canadian Titled immediately snapped to attention.

”What the-?”

Elara stumbled forward, carrying two bodies.

She barely managed to remain upright as she emerged from the vanished Gate, her breathing ragged and uneven. Cold sweat covered her forehead, and her crimson aura flickered weakly around her body as the immense strain of what she had just accomplished finally caught up with her.

She had made it.

Somehow, she had actually made it.

The miniature remains of the Gate closed behind her almost immediately, leaving no trace of the insane battlefield that had existed on the other side.

Elara looked down at the two people in her arms.

Mark and Kaela were both practically naked.

Their clothes had been destroyed during their battles, leaving Elara to maintain a crimson Mana Construct around their bodies to preserve what little dignity they had left.

At this point, she wasn’t even surprised anymore.

Between Ethan, Kaela, Mark, and herself, somehow losing their clothes had become almost a tradition.

’We’re seriously going to have to start carrying spare clothes.’

She pushed the thought aside.

Right now, there were more important things to worry about.

The Canadian Association operatives quickly surrounded them, but there was no hostility in their movements. Instead, relief spread across their faces as they realised the people they had been mourning were actually alive.

”They’re alive!”

”Get medical support!”

”Someone notify the Association!”

Several people rushed toward Elara, their expressions filled with gratitude.

”You made it out!”

”Thank you!”

”We thought the entire squad was gone!”

Elara barely had enough energy to stand, but she managed a tired smile.

”I’m just doing my job.”

She shifted Mark slightly in her arms before continuing.

”And I’m sorry about the scouts. We didn’t come across them, and can only assume they were...”

The Canadians immediately shook their heads.

”Don’t apologise for that.”

”They entered knowing the risks.”

”You already did more than enough.”

Their friendliness caught Elara slightly off guard.

There was no accusation or attempt to blame her for the missing scouts. If anything, they seemed genuinely grateful simply to see members of the clearing squad alive.

Elara nodded.

”Thanks.”

One of the senior operatives stepped forward.

”We can arrange transportation back to the airfield. We’ll also need to take a report about what happened inside, but that can wait until you’ve recovered.”

Elara opened her mouth.

”Sorry, I gotta go.”

The operative blinked.

”Oh. Okay.”

He looked slightly confused, but didn’t press her.

The Canadians remained respectful and immediately began offering to arrange whatever transportation she needed.

Elara, however, had already made up her mind.

She couldn’t waste time.

Mark needed urgent medical attention, and while his body had recovered itself, he needed help in controlling this monstrous power that was festering in his body.

’Time to use that again.’

Just as she began to focus her mind on the place she had grown most accustomed to, a voice resounded in her mind.

”You’re in no condition to try that again, but I’ll help you out.”

She didn’t even flinch as she heard the demon’s hoarse voice.

’Why?’

”Just think of it as a reward for unlocking Spatial Leap on your own. That was impressive, kid.”

’Spatial Leap... I like it.’

It didn’t seem to be toying with her, and whatever ulterior motives it might have, Elara gratefully accepted its help.

Swoosh!

There was a sudden influx of crimson mana in her body that seemed to appear out of nowhere and unleashed a powerful aura, one that frightened the surrounding people. Planning on making the most of it, she refocused on the place she had spent the most time in.

She carefully adjusted her grip on both bodies as she began gathering mana.

An absurd amount of it.

The atmosphere around Elara immediately changed.

Crimson energy began swirling around her body, growing denser by the second until the air itself seemed to vibrate beneath the pressure.

One of the Titled stared in disbelief as they all backed away.

”She’s gathering that much mana?”

Elara ignored him and closed her eyes.

’Time to try this again.’

Only this time, she wasn’t standing inside a collapsing Gate.

She wasn’t trying to tear through an unstable world to reach an entrance.

This time, she was trying to cross an entire country, which seemed to be the easier feat. Be it because she had used it once already, because she had a name for the ability to fixate on, or because of the lack of pressure, she wasn’t complaining.

Elara focused on a single point.

The Black Howl.

She pictured it in her mind: the location, the distance, and its position relative to where she was. She imagined herself already standing there and worked backwards from that image, pouring even more energy into the ability.

’I just need to connect the two points.’

Her crimson aura exploded outward.

Space warped around her as the air in front of her twisted violently, forming a massive crimson distortion.

Elara gritted her teeth.

The strain and mana cost were far greater than before.

But she refused to stop.

The distortion slowly widened.

Then it tore open.

For a moment, the Canadians could see something on the other side.

The interior of what looked to be a bar.

Elara’s eyes opened.

”There.”

She stepped forward with Kaela and Mark in tow.

The world twisted.

And just like that, she was gone, leaving the Canadian Operatives speechless.