The High Priestess inhaled deeply, her chest rising as her lips parted. The blindfold over her eyes twitched faintly as she took in the deep and powerful scent.

"One of the two is close." The High Priestess muttered, surrounded by her Followers.

One of the two sources of Corruption. One of the two that held Azaroth's scent.

She exhaled slowly, fingers twitching. The scent felt much stronger now that it was being inhaled by her directly, and not felt by sharing another's senses.

The High Priestess lifted her hand, the faintest smile curving her lips. "The seven of you will go." The High Priestess' hand swept to the side, and the seven chosen Followers rose at once, while the remaining three kept kneeling.

"Bring me the Fox." Her words were soft but heavy, and the Followers moved instantly.

***

Akane's ears twitched. She could hear them before she could see them.

Syl instantly noticed her reaction and focused on her sense of hearing.

She was quickly able to detect the scrape of boots and the rustle of robes. Her hand shot to the spear she had placed in the ground and tugged it free in one smooth motion.

Akane turned, frowning. "Something is definitely coming after us."

Syl nodded, her mind racing to figure out who it could be. 'Amon must have dealt with Goblins as well as those traitors. The news couldn't have reached the Chief, since no Hobgoblin has made it back to camp. Even if someone somehow survived without my knowing, it's impossible to have made it back so quickly, which means that neither the Chief nor the Demons he deals with should know. Except if they have some sort of magic that lets them know… But if they did, they wouldn't have needed us to come check things. They can't be aware of what's happening here. Still, it was Demonic Magic of some kind, which means that a different group of Demons is coming after us.' The female Hobgoblin clicked her tongue. "We won't be able to sleep properly just yet." She said, raising her spear.

"Not a problem." Akane smiled, giving her a thumbs-up.

'Yeah… I guess she did nap…'

From the treeline, seven hooded silhouettes emerged, their steps perfectly in sync, their eyes glimmering faintly violet under their hoods.

"Humans…?" Syl muttered with a raised eyebrow.

From how they looked to how they smelled and to the hateful facial expressions on their faces, it was clear as day.

"Yes." Akane answered, her eyes momentarily widening. "They're after me…" She muttered. "Aren't they?"

"Do you have some beef I'm unaware of with Humans?" Syl asked as she glanced at the Fox with a confused expression.

Akane stared at the approaching Humans, and their murmurs reached her.

"The Fox."

"It's her."

"That's the one."

She stepped forward, leaving Syl behind.

"You go on ahead." Akane muttered, clenching her fists. "I'll deal with them." She proclaimed, and blazing flames instantly rose from her body, covering her arms.

"You too, huh?"

"It has nothing to do with you." Akane added.

The silence that followed was cut short by Syl's sigh.

"It makes me feel better," She whispered, spinning her spear. "Knowing there are some coming after you."

"Hm…?"

Syl stepped forward.

"Orcs have been at war with Hobgoblins forever due to needless and senseless pride. It's clear that they will come for me when they learn that I'm alive." She whispered. "The Demons will come for Amon to take that artefact for him." Syl joined Akane's side, staring at the approaching attackers. "We all have different groups coming after us."

"But this has nothing to do with you." The Fox muttered, glancing at the Hobgoblin.

"You'll have the opportunity to scratch my back later." Syl said with a smirk.

The Followers spread, moving to encircle them.

"Sure," Akane's gaze moved towards the Followers, and her round pupils immediately thinned. "We can do that."

Syl was curious what Akane's supposed beef with Humans was, but now wasn't the time to get into it.

Akane had assumed that the Humans had come for her before any real proof had been presented. Her natal village in the Arima Kingdom had been destroyed by Humans keen on hunting and slaughtering every single breathing Kitsune. The Werebeast village that welcomed her years later, in a completely different country, also hid from Humans who considered Werebeasts, such as Werewolves and Werecats, to be Beasts and, as such, could freely be captured and forced into slavery.

In her mind, there was no possible reason for Humans to appear other than to capture or kill her.

Syl thought about the Humans that the other Hobgoblins had given Akane to, but she quickly understood that the 'beef' had started way before that, as those Humans had been killed before they could lay a hand on Akane.

"They want me alive." She whispered, her ears able to detect the murmurs and whispers.

"That helps." Syl nodded as she turned around. "They will try to kill me first, then." The Hobgoblin added, her back inches away from the Fox's. "Capturing something is often more complicated than killing it."

"Is that so?"

While Akane was very powerful, she wasn't used to fighting. Not with her body, nor with her Magic.

Syl, on the other hand, was weaker but had fought for the entirety of her life.

"They'll attack me and try to deal fatal injuries," Syl whispered, noticing the attackers leaning forward and bending at the knees. "You're going to have to protect me."

"I thought you were the one helping me, not the other way around?"

Syl took a deep breath.

"Follow my lead, alright?" She muttered as the Followers grabbed their daggers and maces.

***

"It's too bad you're so big." Amon muttered as he cracked his neck. "Making your whole body disappear cannot be done stealthily. Just had to get them away… If I want to Devour you."

The Golem bellowed as it turned, lumbering forward, each step smashing down trees, and its chest flared violet

[Name: Amon

-Species: Dark Elite Beastly Hobgoblin [D+ Rank]

-Stats:

Strength: 28

Agility: 25

Perception: 35

Endurance: 20

Vigor: 24

Mana: 53 (+3)

]

[Species: Superior Conjured Golem[D+ Rank]

-Stats:

Strength: 38

Agility: 20

Perception: 15

Endurance: 40

Vigor: 40

]

"Let's get to it then." Amon chuckled, the Black Stone on the back of his hand pulsing with threads of purple light.

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