Chapter 393 - Igniting The Fires of War (Part-3)

"Where is Poontah? He and his team should have finished their scouting and would have arrived by now."

A large man with broad shoulders spoke with a gruff voice as he sipped from his goblet made out of a human skull.

"My Lord those newcomers are crafty, and it seems that the 'Sapphire Ash Clan' has also set their sights on them as well, as such I believe he is running interference, after all, we cannot let them steal our cattle before we got hold of them."

"Poontah better be doing something worthwhile then I do not like being kept waiting."

The person who spoke nodded at that as he spoke, "He is the child of the mighty 'Blessed Kudzu Tribe', he would rather die than bring dishonour to the tribe."

"I know that is why I entrusted the important mission to him, and I hope the newcomers have some spawns running around they are the most delicious and tender."

But before anyone could speak an alarm was sounded, as a man dashed inside the Chief's hut as he spoke with fear in his voice, "Chief, Chief the 'Blessed Kudzu', the 'Blessed Kudzu' is on fire."

The Chief of the 'Blessed Kudzu Tribe', snorted at that as he cast a bored look towards the person as he spoke with an arrogant tone in his voice, "If you have any problem with the fire douse it, there is no fire in this world that can damage the 'Blessed Kudzu'."

The messenger shook with fear as he spoke with dread in his voice, "The 'Blessed Kudzu' is dying. It is melting."

Chief Mingun stood up with anger blazing in his eyes before he dashed out of his hut shoving the messenger out of his way, as he looked at the direction of the 'Blessed Kudzu' of the night sky.

The night sky towards the direction of the 'Blessed Kudzu', seemed to have been painted by a bright purple colour which increased his unease as he ran towards it as fast as his legs could carry him.

As he neared the 'Blessed Kudzu', he could hear the scream of men, women, children, old, animals, and he could feel their anguish. His eyes blurred as tears of grief appeared, and he no longer cared who he trampled on his way to the tree all he wanted was to save it.

Mingun collapsed in grief at the sight of the once great tree that blessed them had almost melted with fire dancing around it.

Mingun was not the only one who acted as such, the other members of the 'Blessed Kudzu Tribe' were similarly on the ground or trying in vain with their lives to douse the flames, a sudden death rattle came to their ears as the once mighty and invincible 'Blessed Kudzu' was no more.

Time seemed to be meaningless to Mingun as he stared towards the murdered 'Blessed Kudzu' "Beloved", a soft and soothing voice came to his ears as he looked up he saw his beloved and beautiful wife standing by his side, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face.

"This was not an accident, but a deliberate attack by the 'Sapphire Ash Tribe' their markings is all over the place, Punta is still alive, but barely he wishes to speak with you."

Mingun stood up his hands clenched and his eyes shining with cold fury, since the first time when his ancestor had found the 'Blessed Kudzu' his people had always worshipped and took care of the sacred tree.

In return for their care, the tree would provide them with its fruit every decade that was consumed by his tribesman, but every other millennium it would give birth to an exotic fruit that Mingun had been waiting to eat it since he was but a small boy.

The exotic fruit rumoured to grant the one who has eaten it the strength and wisdom of a thousand men, and as such he had spent countless trying to take care of it without failure, day after day and he was so close only a few days left.

He walked towards Punta and winced at what he saw. Mingun knew him since they were just a child, his most trusted comrades he still remembered their first hunt together how they killed the member of the 'Sapphire Ash Clan' and how they ate him after.

"Old friend save your breath we will get you help soon and then we will kill those bastards from that wretched 'Sapphire Ash Tribe' "

"Sapphire they.... ", before he could say anything his eyes glazed over as he passed away.

Mingun closed his friend's eyes before he stood up and spoke with barely concealed anger, "To arms my fellow brothers and sisters to arms too long have we tolerated them, but no more we have reached our limit with their barbarism and tonight we feast on their flesh."

Their eyes were red, and their rage had reached their zenith their soul demanded justice and blood and they will receive them.

Their eyes were red not only because of their anger but as a side effect of inhaling the c.o.c.ktail of hallucinogenic and rage-inducing concoction.

Unknown to them a few arrays scattered around that were keeping an eye on them, fizzled out of existence as a redhead with heterochromia let a small unnoticeable smirk.

"I hope that the other teams bring some good news as well."

"They would brother Ryuu they would though please remember to send me a gentle warning if by mistake I find myself standing on a side opposite to you."

Ryuu looked confused at that as he spoke, "Why do say so?"

The fellow cultivator gave a nervous laugh as he spoke, "Well, the way you took down and tortured your opponent."

Ryuu snorted at that as he spoke, "Please! that mongrel had it coming who told him to eat a child alive, and I feel guilty of the fact that I was not fast enough to save the child."

Many of them nodded in agreement, as one of them spoke with a frown, "That child if I am not mistaken did not belong to that other tribe was he?"

Devaraj who was nearby frowned, his mind working hard for a brief moment before he spoke with an understanding nod, "Ah I see while trying to find them we found signs of other tribes who are much smaller and are often prey to these two."

"Hmm, if we could have gotten them involved then."

Ryuu shook his head as he spoke, "Then nothing, nothing would have happened except we might have failed by involving others who we know nothing about."

"They can replace them."

"And how do we know they are not as bad as these two?", with his piece said an impatient Ryuu began pacing in the clearing as he a spoke with a growl, "They surely are taking their time."

A rustle of leaves made them tensed for a moment, "Objective complete brother Ryuu."

True-Spear's voice came to the clearing, making everyone relaxed at that even more so when he appeared in front of them.

"Did anything interesting happened during your objective?"

True-Spear smirked as he pointed towards his martial sister as he spoke, "Sister Frost Flames got a bit angry with them and decided to torture one of them a little."

Sabering Saber snorted at that as he spoke with a sever, "A little I was feeling sorry for that bastard."

Chianyu laughed at that as he spoke, "It seems that there is a female version of Brother Ryuu out there never thought I would see two sadists at the same place."

Ryuu did not pay any heed to them though he noticed from the corner of his eye Frost Flames blushed for a split second.

"They are taking too long.", with Ryuu's words, an uncomfortable silence descended in the clearing.

Every second seemed to be an eternity to them many were meditating, some pacing around whereas others leaned against the tree stump trying to wait patiently.

True-Spear could no longer wait as he spoke, "I am going to check on them."

Ryuu nodded towards him only for the trees to rustle again as the other two teams appeared.

"Mission accomplished."

"Then let us leave, they can fight all they want we are leaving this level as soon as possible."

Ryuu could no longer wait they already have the ticket to the Fifth Level, and with the hope that it would not be as uncomfortable as the current level, he wished to move onto the next and hopefully, the poison would not trouble him much.

Chianyu pouted a bit as he spoke, "Aww, I wanted to witness their battle."

A few of them smirked having the same idea in their mind making Ryuu groan inwardly, as he was getting tired of their shenanigans, because of his current health condition.

"Maybe we can take a bit of a vacation before moving to the next level as I so do not wish to hurry and jump into a conflict between the Deva and Preta."

Ryuu snorted inwardly at that, 'The swamp is hardly any vacation spot, they are simply stalling as they do not wish to get involved in the feud before realms.'

He understood their motive and he, himself did not wish to get involved while their number was so low, but alas that would be akin to courting death for him.

"Whether we move or whether we do not the fact remains the same that we would face them sooner rather than later.", as he finished his speech Ryuu started to leave towards their base.

A few hours later, as they were preparing to leave a figure looked at his fellow Cultivators, he raised his hand as a pink pear-shaped fruit appeared in his hands. The fruit looked as if it was trying hard to maintain its shape as countless beings trying hard to claw their way out of it.

The figure smirked before consuming it with a gulp, 'Who would have thought I would be so lucky to find a 'Soul Trapping Pear' in this swamp and the best part no one knew about it, and now my Cultivation, as well as my Divine body, would benefit greatly."

"With the last of the piece of the puzzle assembled, the door is now open, let us venture forth."

Ryuu looked at his team as he shared a small nod with them as he ventured into the unknown, as everyone gambled their past, present and future with the hope they would survive.