I kept to the upper branches, weaving through leaves and broken sightlines while the humans picked their way through the forest below.
They were careful now.
Too careful.
Smoke drifted between the trees in thin, pale veils, still clinging to the air.
The one bonded to the fire dragon kept glancing around.
His shoulders were tight, his steps uncertain.
"Are we sure this is the right way?" he asked quietly.
He swallowed.
"All I see is proof of… crazy battles."
The leader didn't slow.
"Faren," he said flatly, "I do not want to hear another word out of you."
Faren nodded stiffly.
"I've walked this path many times," the leader continued. "There is nothing here worth fearing."
He paused just long enough to look back.
"Get a grip."
They moved on.
A few minutes later, Kael jogged back from scouting ahead.
"Sir."
The leader turned.
"There appears to have been a fire ahead," Kael reported. "The smoke is still rising."
The leader considered this for a moment.
"Scout it."
Kael raised his hand.
Light flared.
Talvyr burst into existence on a rush of wind, wings unfolding as Kael leapt onto its back.
They lifted into the air and vanished above the canopy.
"We'll wait," the leader said.
Minutes passed.
Then Talvyr descended again, Kael guiding it down before dismissing the creature in a flash of light.
Kael dropped to one knee.
"Sir. There's been a major fight ahead. Severe environmental damage. Scorched trees. Cratered ground."
"No sign of monsters."
The leader's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
He turned toward the drifting smoke.
"It's directly on the path to the lord's den."
He straightened.
"We'll inspect it."
They moved again.
I followed.
The battlefield opened before us.
Charred trees.
Splintered earth.
Long scorch marks carved through the forest floor.
And still swaying in the breeze—
thin, radiant threads.
Sunlight caught them, making them gleam faintly.
The leader stopped.
He stepped closer and carefully pinched one of the threads between his fingers.
His expression shifted.
"This is…" he murmured. "A powerful ability."
He released it and scanned the ground.
Then he noticed the earth.
Too deliberate.
Too neat.
He crouched and brushed dirt aside with his hand.
Fur.
Dark green.
Coarse.
His breath caught.
"Youichi."
"Yes, sir."
"There's a dead monster buried here."
He stood.
"I want it uncovered."
"Yes, sir."
Youichi raised his hand.
Light shimmered.
A creature emerged—lean, long-bodied, translucent membrane-fins rippling along its neck and spine.
Its chest expanded far beyond natural limits as it inhaled.
I focused Sovereign's Sight.
Aeralisk — Level 12
The creature exhaled in controlled pulses.
Dirt peeled away in waves.
Dust lifted, then scattered.
Another breath.
The remaining earth vanished.
The body was revealed.
Tharnok.
Even from here, I felt it.
I've never seen an ability like that before.
There are so many kinds of monsters…
Youichi dismissed the creature.
The leader approached the corpse.
For the first time, surprise cracked his expression.
He knelt beside it.
Kael stepped closer.
"Sir?"
The leader exhaled slowly.
"This is a Tharnok."
Kael stiffened.
"That's… the Lord's rival."
"Yes," the leader said. "Normally passive."
He studied the body.
"Whatever killed it was extremely powerful."
He stood.
"We don't linger."
He scanned the forest.
"There are too many unknown variables."
"Rovan."
"Yes, sir."
"Haul the Tharnok with us. It's valuable."
Rovan raised his hand.
Light flared.
Another creature emerged—stocky, low to the ground, stone-plated shoulders and spine, four thick legs built for traction.
Dull, unfocused eyes.
I checked it.
Karneth — Level 8
They strapped Tharnok's body onto its back.
My chest tightened.
How dare they.
They dug up its burial without hesitation.
No respect.
No restraint.
Just resources.
Monsters deserve burial too.
Anger coiled inside me.
They would get what was coming.
I felt it settle in—
not as a choice,
but as something my body accepted before my mind caught up.
A responsibility I hadn't asked for.
A Monster Lord.
They moved again.
The cave loomed ahead, carved into the cliff near the ledge.
The air was thick with warning.
Growls.
Low snarls.
Howls echoing from within.
The humans slowed.
Rovan glanced around nervously.
"Are you sure about this, sir?"
The leader didn't hesitate.
"They won't attack."
They approached the entrance.
A wolf stepped forward, snarling.
Then another appeared—larger, older, feminine in shape.
Her presence was commanding.
Hostility rolled off her, barely restrained.
"You know you cannot harm me," the leader said calmly. "I need to see the lord."
The growls intensified.
The older wolf bristled.
The group shifted nervously, eyes flicking between the wolves and the dark beyond them.
A few raised their hands, fingers tensing—ready to summon their monsters the instant the pack lunged.
The leader sighed.
Light flared.
A wolf appeared beside him—similar in size to the older one.
She stepped forward instinctively—
then stopped.
Her eyes met the leader's.
Cold.
"You know you cannot save him," the leader said softly.
"But you can obey—and he can live."
The older wolf snarled.
Then turned away.
She disappeared into the cave.
Minutes passed.
She returned, dragging a body.
The humans froze.
The leader stared.
"What—"
Kael whispered, "Sir?"
The leader swallowed.
"This can't be…"
His voice dropped.
"This is the Lord."
"He's dead."
Fear rippled through the group.
But the leader steadied them.
"Even dead, they will not attack. Stay calm."
Under his breath:
"This complicates things."
He pointed at the corpse.
"What did this?"
The wolf looked down.
Then howled.
Another wolf emerged, carrying something in its jaws.
It dropped it at the leader's feet.
The leader recoiled.
"What is that?"
He nudged it with a stick.
"…Flesh?"
His voice lowered.
"Why does it look familiar?"
Faren swallowed.
"Sir."
"What is it, Faren?"
"I know what that is."
The leader gestured him closer.
"Speak."
"It's mimic flesh."
Silence.
The leader's voice went cold.
"This would be a very good time to tell me you're joking."
"I'm not," Faren said quickly. "It's exactly like before."
The leader muttered,
"He hasn't lied yet."
He pointed between the flesh and the corpse.
"Is this the killer?"
The wolf howled once.
Agreement.
The leader straightened.
"…Impossible."
"You expect me to believe a mimic larva killed a Lord?"
He looked down at the flesh again, eyes narrowing.
"Is it mutated?"
He paused.
Then shook his head.
"No."
He nudged the flesh once more with the stick.
"There's no residue. No distortion. Nothing that would indicate mutation."
He stopped.
Then dismissed his summoned wolf.
"We're leaving."
Kael protested, "Sir—we haven't—"
"Now."
They retreated.
The wolves withdrew into the cave, the older one lingering at the entrance—
watching until the humans vanished from sight.
The leader looked ahead, eyes sharp.
I've been exposed.
If this information escapes, more will come.
To kill me.
Or worse—
to capture me.