Kyle wasn't happy when Lana left his side but knew the dangers of getting flanked against such a large a powerful beast and large it was. The level-7 stood 15 feet tall, almost twice as tall as the level-6. The exoskeleton looked harder, thicker, and had spikes in some areas. Lana had already killed two level-6's so he expected her to be back quick. The bigger threat was in front of him and her brother.
As soon as the beast approached them within range for the breath weapon, they both threw out a bunch of earth walls. At this point, the weaker beasts didn't demonstrate huge capabilities from behind. Their strengths seemed to be their hard shell, speed, claws and fire. Which, quite frankly, was plenty.
Just after the fire died down, Jessy came in from the right with his spear. They knew the previous beasts followed fire with a claw attack on the foe in front of them, choosing to focus on the one foe before moving on. Just as he approached the beast, it turned. He managed to score a hit in between two segments on the body but he paid a heavy price. His spear was lodged there and the beast hit him with its powerful leg. Jessy went flying back and wasn't moving.
Paul's laser was charging.
Karlen realized this beast was a difficult one. He poured blood on his sword and it started to glow red.
Dobin soon realized his earth ability did absolutely nothing against this subterranean creature. He couldn't get anything to penetrate the exoskeleton or any of the joints. All he could do was provide Kyle with earth walls while Kyle used something else.
The beast suddenly turned toward Paul who was preparing to fire his laser. It promptly missed as the beast moved ever so slightly. The only threat that had actually scored at hit at this point that remained with Karlen with that glowing sword. With the beast being so tall, it was harder to hit with melee weapons which was all this group was equipped with.
Karlen had hacked off a claw but it was toward the bottom. The leg was not really affected by the injury. Placing the injury against the ground filled it with dirt which stopped the bleeding.
Kyle threw out water strikes which also did nothing. He then needed to go through his book. He equipped wind and metal next, starting with a wind strike. It created a small cut near the ear. Not good enough.
With the right side not having anyone with the absence of Jessy, Kyle created a tornado to come in from that direction. It had to be small to not affect the humans. However, with Kyle's power, he was able to put more power in the small cyclone. He then summoned metal fragments he could sense in the sand from broken weapons. He added these to the tornado to add a destructive force.
Karlen cut off another clawed foot while Paul managed to hit with his laser but it took too long to channel enough MC into it to make it effective in a high-paced fight. That or he needed more experience, he wasn't sure.
The metal fragments mixed with the tornado managed to do some damage to the whole side of the beast. It was bleeding but it didn't seem to notice the level of damage yet. Kyle was starting to get tired which is a feeling he wasn't very familiar with.
Paul decided to focus harder on charging his laser and noticed it did speed up some. He decided he needed to practice this to make the weapon more useful.
Suddenly Kyle heard the voice of an angel.
"Kyle! Telekinesis! Vine wall, vine wall, vine wall!" then Lana fell to the ground.
This was the biggest, sharpest vine wall she had created. She lay there and watched as Kyle used telekinesis and wind to push the triple-vinewall into the beast with such ferocity, it penetrated the skull of the beast. It collapsed, dead.
Kyle ran over to Lana and pulled her close to him. "You need to quit pushing yourself!"
Now that the fight was over and he no longer needed to cover his future brother-in-law, Dobin joined him at his sister's side. "I agree."
Lana smiled, "you seemed to be in trouble, so I needed to help."
Kyle chuckled, "we made progress. There was enough damage on the side, I think Dobin could have used his earth and Karlen was chopping off the sharp points so that was a huge help."
Kyle healed Dobin knowing Lana was pretty spent after what she had done.
Paul approached them with the crystal. Chekof and Karlen were talking while Chekof carved out the crystal of the beast Lana killed. Lana wondered what they were talking about, but she felt it was something to do with them hiding who they were. She knew they were both stronger than they let on.
"We need to check on Jessy. He went flying that way."
Karlen finished talking to Chekof and ran toward Jessy. He was breathing and appeared to just be knocked out but wanted Lana or Kyle to look at him anyway.
Lana was handed all the crystals to hold. The count at this point was 6 level-6 lioants and one level 7. Lana decided to report in to Sergeant Rage then head to a safer place to spend the night. They were all exhausted. Kyle checked out Jessy and discovered some healing wouldn't hurt so he provided enough to wake him up. Tomorrow's battles were expected to be easier.
Kyle insisted once again on carrying Lana even though he was tired as well. From what he remembered of the map, the edge of the desert wasn't too from where they were. He was right.
The group ran into the three students they saved, arguing with another group. Lana asked Kyle to put her down. She walked over to the two groups to assess the situation.
"What's going on here?"
A snotty level-5 rolled his eyes, "what, because you have a higher number than me, you think I can be bullied?"
Lana took a deep breath then asked one of the three she had helped.
"We were trying to walk through here in accordance with Sergeant Rage's instructions and this group said we couldn't trespass on their hunting grounds."
Lana laughed then looked at the other group, "you own the grounds now, do you?"
Before they could even answer, Lana waved to her friends, "this way, guys!" and proceeded to go the direction the three people were supposed to go.
Not long later, they found a clearing that was safe to put up their shelter in. She called Sergeant rage one more time to update him. His team would be there in an hour to collect the students. Lana cooked for everyone and the meal just finished when the sergeant's team got there. The two teams wished each other luck and parted ways once more but in less of an emergency this time.
Lana and Kyle were in their room. Meditation and shower were done. Kent was fed. They were comforting each other in a way only they could, which involved very little clothing. She was in his lap facing him, kissing passionately, when there was a knock at the door.
Kyle threw a blanket around her shoulders which covered them both. He held her close.
"Yes?"
Chekof opened the door slowly, tentatively. "I don't mean to interrupt but I was wondering if we could talk?"
"Give us just a second."
Chekof closed the door and waited just outside.
"Okay, come in now."
When he entered the room, the blanket was still in place but Lana was now facing the other direction.
Chekof smirked, "you guys make me miss my wife so much! I have to say though, this is going to be a heavy conversation."
Lana nodded and Kyle frowned then nodded as well.
Chekof sat on the floor against the wall opposite the bed.
"First off, I'm a werewolf, not a person who can transform into a wolf."
Lana smiled and Kyle looked shocked.
Chekof continued, ignoring the reaction, "About 14 years ago, werewolves started going missing when they were in certain parts of the world. We've been investigating the disappearances. My brother was in charge of the investigation until he vanished 4 years ago. I took over. What I've been able to determine is Able Genetics, in some capacity, is responsible for the missing werewolves as well as the abuses at four different orphanages, including the one Lana grew up in. What I need to know Kyle, is this."
He took a deep breath, "do you believe your family is involved and if they are, what action would you take, if any."
Kyle didn't even skip a beat. "My grandmother is as evil as they come. She probably knows, maybe is even orchestrating it. I've pledged myself to Lana. The bitch has to fall."
Lana leaned back against him, feeling all the emotions and how much his protective instincts just kicked in.
"Chekof, would it help your investigation if I tell you everything I know that happened there?"
He nodded.
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