Realm Wars

Chapter 136: Large Groups

"Have you met a woman called Cecily and Rosa?" Ryu asked with an eager face and tone.

Echbert took a step back when Ryu zoomed on his face. "I-I. . ." he shook his head. "I'm sorry. .. I haven't encountered anyone with that name."

Ryu's shoulders fell. It might also be possible that they were already on their second Islet, or it might be possible that they were resting on a sanctuary, and they were on their way here. 

Ryu sighed and scratched his head. All the possibilities and 'might' were giving him headaches.

Seraphina squeezed Ryu's shoulder and offered a comforting smile though she planted the two women's names into her memory. One of them might be his master, and the other was his mate. 

Seraphina then asked Echbert the most important question, "Who's the boss of this Islet?"

Echbert's expression fell, and his face turned gloomy. "It's. .. the legendary beast, Tiamat."

".. ."

".. ."

"The Queen of all dragons?!" Seraphina gasped and covered her mouth. Why is Tiamat here? Seraphina thought. "Isn't Tiamat rumored to be in the Beast Realm? Why is it here?"

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"Tiamat?" Ryu was confused but based on the others reaction, their situation wasn't looking good.

"If the Queen of Beast is the ruler of the Beast Realm, then Tiamat is the leader of the Dragons," explained Seraphina. "There are many species of beasts in the Beast Realm, and each has their own leader, and these leaders, in turn, follow the Queen of Beast."

Echbert nodded. "We were shocked too when we saw it flying in the sky one time. Fortunately, we were hidden behind rocks and carcasses of the dead beasts. But there was a group that was not so lucky that caught its attention." 

Echbert shook his head, voice laced in horror. "Everyone in that group, whether Rank-A demons or Elves or mercenaries, were all wiped out by just its single fire."

"Then, isn't it dangerous to congregate in that oasis?" Ryu asked.

"No. This area is the safest from Tiamat's lair. Tiamat couldn't enter hundreds of kilometers from within the starting point. It was her restriction. Upon laying sight of the Legendary Beast, all of us retreated here. It might not seem like it to you guys, but we've been stuck here for more than two months already! The only comfort we have is knowing that Tiamat doesn't fly over here."

Already two months?! Ryu was stunned. It felt like just two weeks. But since time was lost in the underwater, nobody could tell the exact date. 

Then in here, that meant that. "There's night and day," Ryu murmured.

Echbert nodded and beamed. "But anyway, are you interested in joining us? We have food, water, shelter, and everyone has a role while our leader and some of the strongest in the group are searching for the exit."

It wasn't a bad idea. Ryu and Seraphina thought. Considering that they couldn't just aimlessly wander in the desert with Tiamat lurking in the sky. Not to mention that they might be stuck in this place for years searching for the exit, it was a good idea to enter a large group. In that way, their chance to stay alive would increase. But they still needed to assess the situation first. They wanted to know the system of things and how the organization inside works. 

"Mind if we see what's inside first?" Seraphina asked.

Echbert nodded. "Of course! Come with me."

Upon walking closer towards the Oasis, Ryu and Seraphina noticed another oasis far to the north. 

"Are there three groups?" Ryu asked because not everyone was heading in the same Oasis.

Echbert nodded, and his voice turned low to a whisper. "Yes."

Ryu had a bad feeling when Echbert didn't offer further explanation.

"So you think it's a trap?" Seraphina asked in a hushed voice.

Ryu shook his head. "I don't sense that he was lying." He then looked over the three Oasis. "And everyone is heading in the Oasis."

Seraphina laughed a little. "It kinda' worried me that we're the only two who are walking to the left Oasis while the remaining newcomers went for the other two." 

"It must have to do something with race," Ryu replied since he saw a lot of mortals going towards the right Oasis while the rest were either going to the north or right.

And his theory was proven correct when they reached the left Oasis, passed the made-up wooden barricade. Ryu saw nothing but flocks of halfbreeds. There were some humans but only the Rank-B and below. Most were servants and slaves.

"Welcome to Marcus's Group," Echbert said in an optimistic tone, but his voice only appeared dead as his expectations.

Ryu and Seraphina looked around. The Oasis was quite large, with many varieties of trees and plants growing. There was also a pool of water surrounded by rocks with weird symbols on its surface and wooden-made shelters scattered across the trees.

Everyone was either cleaning, doing laundry, washing something, or cooking.

"Echbert!"

Ryu and Seraphina's attention was stolen by a lady with short red curly hair while freckles adorned her face.

"What did you bring this time?!"

Before Echbert could reply, he was hit by the lady's fist, and he rolled on the sand and smacked against a tree.

"Didn't I tell you to recruit only Rank-A mercs! Or higher beings! Why did you bring another halfbreed in here?!"

Echbert shook his head and rubbed his swollen cheek. "B-but master. No one would take them in."

"Shut up! We aren't a charity case! We don't have enough food for another halfling!" The lady snapped and turned to Ryu and Seraphina. "You two! Go somewhere else! This group is full!"

"Claire!"

Claire's shoulders hunched while Ryu and Seraphina looked at the newcomers.

A man with short dark hair and a stern appearance appeared together with a bunch of tall and sturdy halfbreeds behind him. The rippling muscles behind his armor were hardened by battle, and the aura emanating from him was cut above from everyone else.

Ryu's eyes rounded when he identified the man. He was the leader of Earth Guard, Marcus!

Jane's fianc!

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A/N

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