Chapter 174 - Hello

Near Hakone, in the middle of a private property owned by the Homuras, there was a raging inferno.

WHOOSH!

The roaring blaze ate away at almost everything it came across. The foliage surrounding the area turned into crisps, only to tumble amongst the ashes on the ground as the wind blew.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

An unearthly growl echoed, making each and every warrior in the vicinity cringe. Within their sights was a monster only heard of in myths and legends: a chimera.

It's a bizarre fire-breathing creature with the body and head of a lion, a goat's head rising from its back, the udders of a goat, and a serpent for a tail. Strange and fearsome.

It had appeared so suddenly without warning. There were not even the usual changes the portal underwent before it brought in anything from the other world. In fact, the portal had been eerily quiet the past few days after the incident with the arachnids.

Then again, due to the previous incident, even if the portal was calm, they had taken precautions and increased the people guarding the dimensional gate. However…

It's not enough.

"DODGE!

The team leader screamed as he and his men dropped on the ground just in time for the chimera to breathe out flames towards them like a beam. Terror enveloped their core, but as warriors, they had to persevere and face this monstrosity heads on while their Young Master Aoi went to get help.

Among all of them, only Kazehaya Aoi had the ability to fly, thus the only one who could fetch the Koutaishidenka and the Young Master Gin. They had no choice as modern technology didn't apply in this piece of protected land. No mobile phones, no radios – nothing. The Young Master Aoi, however, had been hit by the chimera's fire earlier up in the air. He was able to fend some of the fire off with his wind, but not all and had been injured. Still, they knew he would do everything in his power to reach the Cedar Palace.

So, all warriors had to do everything in their power to keep the monsters from moving elsewhere while they waited. It would be more dangerous if these creatures escaped.

Then again…

"LEADER, LOOK OUT!"

The team leader turned just in time to see something slithering his way, and he closed his eyes to avoid being petrified. But this made him unaware of the elongated body of the snake coming for him fast, hitting him like a giant whip, making him catapult several meters away into the wall of fire.

DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

Because of the fire that the chimera was attacking them with, they had almost forgotten about the secondary monster that appeared.

Basilisk.

The creature was a huge reptile reputed to be a serpent king, which was hybrid from a rooster and a serpent, and could cause death with a single glance.

They were already at their wits' end trying to fend off the chimera. With the basilisk joining the fray, the battle was totally one-sided. It was strange, however, as both creatures were independent and were hostile to each other normally. For the two monsters to team up against them, were unheard of.

Then again, deep within their hearts, they knew the reason why two strong creatures which normally loathed each other on sight would team-up. Both were underlings of something more sinister.

A third monster.

A much stronger creature that could control both these monsters easily must be somewhere lurking in the shadows, watching them. Just the thought of it sent horrors to their core. They all prayed the Young Masters would come fast.

The team leader glanced to his right and saw some of their fallen comrades. They all had thought they would just be dealing with the chimera tonight. But the sudden appearance of the basilisk took them all by surprise and most of his men were petrified instantly.

WHOOSH

Another sea of flames came their way and everyone scrambled to their feet. The monsters attacked simultaneously like a good team that it was hard for them to attack right back. Due to the basilisk's ability to petrify, they couldn't see very well and were barely landing attacks.

"Leader, we're almost done here!" A voice called over, and the leader turned in time to see one of the water casters which put up the barrier to contain the fire collapsed, and the fire escaped.

BOOM!

The small hole in the barrier that appeared when the water caster collapsed increased due to the explosion, the pressure of the heat absconding wildly out of the chasm.

"FALL BACK!"

The leader had no choice but to ask them to retreat or they would be burnt into crisps, and they needed to water casters for protection. They needed to be saved in turn. It would be a difficult feat to fight without them, but they had to make do until the masters arrived.

The leader was already at his wits'end trying to figure out a way to get through, or at least land an attack that would stop the monsters from attacking, when a squeal of a huge bird could be heard above.

Everyone looked up just in time to see a crimson demon bird falling from the sky.

SQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWRK!

The cry of the harpy alerted everyone and they all scattered away, leaving the fray. The masters had arrived. They did their jobs well, they thought, as new people arrived to snatch them from the battlefield and hauled them to safety.

FUUMA. 

"Sorry we're late," Kuro apologized as he and his brothers took the men as far away as possible before Aello landed and immediately kicked the chimera with one clawed foot and scratched the basilisk's eye with another, and proceeded on pummeling both monsters happily.

AAAAAAAARGH…

HIIIIISSSSSSSSSSS…

The cries of the elementals echoed in the place, but they were no longer afraid.

The chimera and the basilisk both tried to escape but Aello's claws were fast. She didn't give them time to even move away from her. Each time any of the two monsters tried to get away, she'd snatch them immediately and slam it on the ground.

It was the very first time the warriors were glad to see the wild, murderous look on Aello's face as she went berserk on the enemies.

Unlike Aello, Mavara wasn't really bloodthirsty, and he was amicable to do the cleanup. Besides, letting Aello go wild like this from time to time would help Gin control her as her bloodthirst would be satiated for a while.

"Situation?" Kazehaya Gin asked immediately as he and the Koutaishidenka landed. He talked to the people while Ryuu called forth Mavara to eat the chimera's flames.

The leader was too happy to be saved, but then again he remembered something important. "Young Masters, there's a third one!"

"WHAT?"Kazehaya Gin tried to look around but couldn't see another one around. "Are you sure?"

Homura Ryuu, on the other hand, looked grim, his ice-blue eyes turning into slits. "Of course. Since when do chimeras and basilisks work together? Without a leader, these two would have tried killing each other already."

All of them turned to their surroundings vigilantly. Their eyes scanned the environs for a third monster.

They were standing there when a woman's laughter rang in their ears and they whipped their heads to follow the sound.

Several meters away stood a lone figure in all black wearing a mask of a fox god.

"Who are you?"Homura Ryuu demanded, but the figure didn't respond.

Instead, a black mist started to surround her and Ryuu raised his hand to signal his men to stand back. His gaze murderous at the figure. "What is the Black God doing here?"

Everyone's eyes widened in horror upon hearing the name.

Czernobog? He was a dark demonic deity that caused calamity and disaster, brought bad luck and misfortune wherever he turned. There was no hidden agenda — this deity just enjoyed being a black-hearted villain.

But what was he doing in this world?

Wait… Wasn't Czernobog a man?

The figure laughed again, the female voice sweet. "Black God? You only got that half correct, Kresnik, my love," she scoffed as she disappeared, only to reappear behind them, where the elementals were still fighting.

The figure raised a hand and it was too late for Gin to call Aello back before the deity called forth black lightning that hit the ground. Fortunately, Mavara was there and was able to pull the harpy away just in time. 

"I'm just saying hello for now," she said. "As to what I want, you will know soon," she promised just as the portal changed in color, and the figure took the weakened chimera and basilisk with her there, and everyone was not able to do anything but watch them leave.