Chapter 32: Who's Behind This?
What just happened has left everyone speechless, even Osa. He never saw this coming. "I thought possessed hybrids were quite stupid and couldn't think for themselves, that's why they're seen as beasts. But why did this Bat King decide to target the weaker hybrids?" Osa wondered.
The Bat King let out a sharp cry again and dove down, its target a group of seven hybrids using formation to fight off five bats. Jack, the person closest to the group, acted quickly, creating a ring of flames and throwing it at the Bat King. Instead of evading, the Bat King met it head-on, gathering a pool of its greenish acid and spitting it at the incoming ring of flames. The ring of flames was extinguished, but the hybrids took advantage of the brief reprieve to launch a counterattack.
"Dean, what's going on?" Osa called out telepathically.
"Yes, Osa," Dean replied.
"Why isn't the old man at the Kenoly Pavilion intervening?" Osa asked doubtfully.
"Osa, let me ask you," Dean said. "If these beasts have been in the godforsaken mountain all this while, wouldn't you have noticed them, especially when they're this numerous?"
Osa thought for a moment. "I would have indeed noticed them, and they would have also attacked this city a long time ago.
Now, think about it. What if this beast were brought here by someone? Someone who's been holding back the old man from intervening in this crisis?"
Osa's eyes widened as the realization hit him. "If indeed someone brought them here, just how strong are they?" he thought, as he beheading a bat with his sharp claws.
Dean chuckled. "For someone to be able to bring all these beasts here, just imagine how powerful that person needs to be. And if they've been targeting this city for a long time, they would have definitely known about that old man and looked for ways to hold him back from intervening in this crisis.
So, what you're trying to say is that the old man's hands are tied, right?" Osa asked for confirmation.
"It's just a guess, but the chances are pretty high," Dean said.
"Dean, isn't this surprising?" Osa asked. "I thought the total number of hybrids in this city was no more than a hundred. But if I had to guess now, there are almost, if not more than, three hundred hybrids fighting off this creature. How come?"
Dean laughed. "You're still too ignorant, kid. How can a city like Blue Fur City have only a hundred hybrids? Let me tell you now, the total number of hybrids in this battle is four hundred. One hundred should be unaffiliated, while the others are city lord warriors.
Why is it that? Everything I know is so wrong."Osa declared to himself solemnly, "After everything is over, I'll have to go and read about the history of this city."
While Osa and Dean were conversing, the battle between the top ten and the Bat King had finally reached its climax. The Bat King, though still as agile, had finally started showing signs of weakness, with black blood oozing from its body. However, the top ten were also starting to show signs of fatigue, their attacks becoming less fierce and their movements slower.
A moment of carelessness, one of the top ten hybrids made a mistake that would cost it its life. The Bat King seized the opportunity, spitting its acid onto the hybrid's body. The corrosion was so strong that it dissolved the hybrid's body into a gooey mess, a terrifying sight that sent shockwaves through the remaining hybrids. They had thought that the Bat King's acid was not as effective against the powerful top ten as it was against the weaker hybrids, but now they realized that no one was safe from its corrosive power.
"Foolish!" Dean exclaimed telepathically. "Kid, let me tell you, that Bat King may look weak, but it's a mortal realm beast. And to kill it, you'll need a mortal realm hybrid. Out of the nine remaining, only the City Lord is almost there, but even he can barely leave a scratch on its body. So, what chance do the other eight hybrids have against it?"
After listening to Dean's words, Osa was astonished and asked, "You mean the Bat King is not even taking them seriously? That's incredible. Just how strong can creatures be after evolving into the mortal realm?"
"They are very strong," Dean replied. "So strong that they can dominate all Awakening Realm existence."
As they spoke, the ground trembled, and another hybrid—an amalgam of shark and serpent—was sent flying into the city by the Bat King. Osa watched as the hybrid crashed into the city buildings, and said, "This one is out of the battle."
Finally, Osa decided to focus on his own battle and try to reduce the numbers of the Bat King's minions as much as he could.
Meanwhile, on top of a cliff on the godforsaken mountain, a figure wrapped in black appeared. It was difficult to discern their gender, as their black clothing blended perfectly into the environment, except for their glowing red eyes. They gazed out at Blue Fur City, seemingly able to see the chaos unfolding below.
"How long would it take for the South District to fall?" the black-clothed figure asked in a voice that could tempt any man into bringing out his lust.
like a phantom a appear kneeling before them and replied, "Half an hour from now, every existence in this whole city would be destroyed."
The black-clothed figure nodded, "Not bad. But why would it take you this long?
Sir the South District is full of hidden tigers and crushing dragons. There are two mortal realm hybrids in the South District, and a lord-level hybrid as well." The kneeling figure reported, "The lord-level hybrid is the chief ancestor of the Kenoly Pavilion, a merchant guild. And the two mortal realm hybrids are Force King and the City Lord of the South District."
The black-clothed figure exclaimed, "Whoa, that's incredible. If that lord-level hybrid tries to intervene, waste him. As for those two mortal realm hybrids, send Tallest to finish them off."
The black-clothed figure's red eyes narrowed into slits as they gazed at the North District, thinking, "According to the region chief, a powerful artifact is buried in that city, and our priest said that someone with a powerful talent might also have been born there. Before those ants start coming, it would be best to wrap things up."