"I have taken this exam more than once."
The monotone statement rang in Samuel's head. More than once... Do they even allow that?
The pair, holding the stolen baggage, began walking side by side. Glancing to his left, Blepharo said, "I apologize for not inquiring yet, but what name do you go by?"
That's right, we haven't introduced ourselves.
"Samuel Juladee." Samuel introduced himself, trying not to stagger on his words.
"I am known as Blepharo Clemens. Pleased to be your acquaintance."
"Likewise..."
The pair went silent for a while, maneuvering through the forest. It wasn't until five minutes had passed that Samuel tried to engage in small talk.
"So, Blepharo, which city are you from?"
Blepharo paused for a while, looking at the ground. He then responded in a deadpan tone, "Frery."
Samuel's face twitched, Frery? Do you mean the city that had over 150,000 citizens massacred?
"Yes." Blepharo once again read Samuel's mind. "My father sacrificed himself to get me and my mother out of the city."
Blepharo didn't sob nor show any sadness. "I'm sorry to hear that. I hope he's in a better place now."
Despite having a bedridden sister, Samuel hasn't experienced the tragedy of losing a loved one.
Blepharo continued, "Thank you. I have applied to be a Protector to aid my mother financially and provide safety."
The participants were made aware that anyone who passes the Protector exam gets paid tremendously, one of the highest salaries in Lebrad.
Because there are four who pass every exam, you only get deployed for three months at a time, the rest is a break while others substitute.
Solely money vacation-wise, this was the best job in Lebrad. However, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. The three months that you are deployed are some of the most taxing months of your life.
"That's admirable. I applied to find a cure for my sick sister." Placing his hand on his heart, Samuel looked towards the sky. A warm smile spread itself across his face.
Blepharo's ear pricked up, "Which sickness has ailed her?"
The shade underneath his eyes darkened, "It was a mysterious sickness she caught a while ago. Then, she became paralyzed from the waist down."
Noticing he hit a hard spot, Blepharo's gaze shifted elsewhere, "I apologize."
Shaking his head left and right, Samuel assured his partner, "It's all right. That just means we can't lose this."
Blepharo nodded ever so slightly, "I am in agreement. Let us quickly find shelter."
The pair quickened their pace and ventured off even deeper into the woods.
. . .
The mysterious island of Preole Grye,
Alanus, Lluvia, and the Pansa twins were huddled beside a tree, formulating their plan of attack.
Pellio began, "I believe the most effective strategy is to split ourselves up."
His brother, Philto, picked up immediately, "Yes. The groups will be my brother, myself, and General Lluvia."
That meant Alanus would be by himself. The quartet was not surprised by this, Alanus' power was so staggeringly strong he could probably beat the two of the three by himself.
Looking at the handsome general, Pellio added, "If you find anything related to the riches or the visitor, please shoot an air current toward the sky."
Alanus didn't reply, only nodding calmly.
Philto spoke once more, "We will scour the west side of the island, General Alanus will scour the east."
The group confirmed quickly, "All right."
Before leaving, Lluvia's delicate fingers tapped Alanus' shoulder, "Be careful... If you run into him, please call me."
She was genuinely worried about her partner, and very evidently so. The fear plastered on his face before was no joke, especially to the distressed Lluvia.
Alanus smiled and reassured her, "I'll be all right. If you get into any trouble, I'll be there in an instant. Saving you heroically."
Lluvia rolled her eyes, "There's no time to be making jokes! This is serious."
A monotone voice interrupted them, "Apologies for interrupting your canoodling once more. Unfortunately, we must get going."
Alanus' ears turned a light shade of pink, "We're not 'canoodling'!"
Pellio didn't respond, instead, he and his group warped out of the area in an instant, leaving Alanus alone.
I guess I'll be alone... Unsheathing his weapon, Alanus began looking for any monsters to slay.
The trio of Lluvia and the Pansa twins landed southwest of the Preole Grye.
Immediately after, a large amount of red and purple monsters began circling them. They were muscular in all ways and foaming around the mouth.
They were no different from the ones Alanus had slain during the beginning, So the trio did not fret.
Around 43 minutes were remaining before Lluvia's Trusted Scroll abilities terminated, so she prepared herself for combat.
Before she could raise her hand, an axe was shot to the left of her face, puncturing one of the monster's heads up ahead.
Philto teleported directly on top of the monster, his hands slowly wrapped around the axe's handle. The monster shrieked a piercing cry that emanated from the island.
With a deliberately slow motion, Philto pulled the axe out of the forehead of the monster. The other monsters surrounding him tried to attack but were cut by a separate spinning axe circling the bunch.
It was Pellio who threw his axe towards the monsters. It spun in midair and managed to kill all the monsters surrounding it.
Lluvia stood in admiration, Is this their infamous chemistry?
The Pansa twins, when working together, had rarely lost a fight. They climbed the ranks of the Naval Military effortlessly and together each time.
They had even once received praise from their superior, Commander Flora Wales. Getting Flora to say anything about your abilities was the dream for any soldier.
I should help as well!
Lluvia spread her arms outward and to the side. "Demolish!" With a powerful motion, she clapped her hands. The ground and monsters in front of her began to twist and were lifted into the air.
A supersonic shockwave blasted the area. The monsters were instantly crushed, their cries drowned out by the blast.
As soon as the first batch of monsters were defeated, a stampede could be heard from all directions.
Philto's grip on his axe strengthened, "Brace yourselves."
Lluvia buckled her knees before launching herself into the air. With a clear overview of the part of the island, he pushed her hands outwards and shouted, "Grave!"
The monsters who were pursuing them fell into holes in the ground. Following their drop, dirt was shot inside, filling the holes to the top.
Then, with a snap of her fingers, she announced, "Crush!"
Beneath the ground, the twins felt a compressing motion take place in every 'grave'.
The monsters who were trapped were being crushed by the dirt. Faint blood was seeping from the ground, and Pellio grimaced.
"The Trusted Scroll is extremely useful in this expedition. I commend General Alanus for his choice."
He was correct, it was Alanus' idea to apply for Trusted Scroll 26A.
Pellio called out to the beautiful General hovering in the air. "This area is cleared. Let us move on."
"Right!" She slowly began descending to the ground.
Pellio and Philto's eyes suddenly constricted, just as Lluvia was about to land, they shouted in unison, "No!"
"Too late."
A figure emerged from the ground, wearing a brown suit. He teleported in front of the descending Lluvia. With a powerful motion, he kicked the side of her abdomen, launching her deep into the forest.
Scratching his head, the figure looked puzzled, "I thought there were four... Hehe! I only gotta kill three. The joke's on you, Mandate!" He pointed an obscene gesture toward the sky.
Without a second pause, Pellio and Philto launched at the intruder, aiming their axes toward both sides of his neck.
"Weaklings!" He cackled.
In a split second, he dropped into the ground, which turned liquid. It left Pellio and Philto's axes swinging in the air.
A few meters away, he emerged from the ground once more.
He extended his hand outwards, the air circulated before an axe emerged. He took one step, and the ground cratered as he did.
Opening his mouth, he roared. The area froze, including the twins. The man swiftly walked towards the twins, who after a couple of seconds, broke free from the petrification.
The grip on his axe was loose, swinging it around occasionally. From behind him, another figure rapidly emerged.
It was General Lluvia Verres.
Her fist was clenched and about to land on his neck. The man twitched before looking back, the expression on Lluvia's face was pure outrage.
Her punch landed on his nape, sending him back a couple of feet. As he fell, the twins instantaneously launched at him, targetting his limbs.
The man rubbed his bruise and groaned while lying on the ground,
"Ugh. This is gonna be hard as hell."