CH120

“Wait what? Do demons take prisoners?” He asked in shock.

<Not that we’ve ever seen. Anailia is talking to Thera now and it seems the other two are unconscious but it looks like they’re trapped in a cave filled with them. Frankly, we don’t know if they’re just being saved to eat later or if there’s something else going on.>

“Then we have to save them!” He yelled, getting a look from Will as he did and quickly explaining what he’d learned.

<They went the opposite way you ran off. It would take at least a day to get there if you run, I’m sorry Ben but the risk is too great, they’ll likely be dead by the time you can do anything.>

“That doesn’t mean we can just do nothing! I’ll follow my skill and we’ll figure something out on the way so warn us if you see anything ahead. If they die before we can get there then we’ll leave. Will, come on, we need to get going.”

They started running but it was apparent that Ben couldn’t keep up with Will’s speed so again his friend carried him as Ben passed on the information he’d gotten from his god. It looked like there was forty of them in a deep cave system and they were being left alone, save for small, snake like creatures the demons had feeding off them, with Thera getting the worst of it, five being attached to her unlike the others who got one each, and hers were being changed out frequently.

But why is she getting the worst of it? He thought to his god. Are they trying to poison or kill her in particular?

<We can only make assumptions, but since it doesn’t seem to be affecting her health we’ve established another theory. The three of your group who they made sure to secure first were all mages, and from what Thera said the first creature they attached to her exploded like a staff that had too much mana being forced through it, so we think they suck out an organism’s mana. It would explain why she has so many feeding off of her in particular, as well as why the other two were being kept unconscious if they were both constantly left without mana, we just don’t know why.”

So you don’t know what these things are?

<We’ve never seen animals like these before, but there are a lot of creatures in the untamed lands that are rare or unusual, it wouldn’t be surprising to have a number of them be capable of things we’ve been unaware of.>

Damn it, and there’s nothing you can do?

<Space mages as capable as Wedrow and Steph are far from common. Even if they have an awakened version of the skill which is rare enough alone, having the mana it would take to make jumps to a place they’d never before been is a whole other issue. On top of that, we’d need to assemble a force to take on the demons.>

If you’re already going to be outnumbered when the war really starts it’s not like you need to bring an army right?

<Normally correct, but these ones are too far along in their development. They can’t be underestimated and need to be thoroughly exterminated.>

What, why? What does that even mean?

Myriad was silent for a moment in thought. <That information is considered confidential, but as an apostle you are allowed the right to know so long as you keep it secret. Would you still like to know?>

If you’re saying I can’t tell Will when it’s something he might need to know to stay alive then I can always find another god. Ben told his god threateningly.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

<Hmm, you aren’t wrong, but you do make things complicated for me, don’t you? I believe I can get away with only minor punishments on the grounds that it will be revealed to him should he survive anyway, but give me a moment to talk to the others around first.>

Cool, while you’re doing that tell them their rules are bullshit and likely to get someone killed.

Myriad didn’t answer and was silent for a few minutes before coming back to him. <There was enough agreement amongst the ones I was able to talk to that the issue should be minimal, we only ask you and Will keep it to yourselves should you survive.>