Chapter 154: Peculiar Situation

"What do we do now?"

Aurelia spoke in a trembling voice as she did her best to keep her composure.

"..."

Regis and Pandora kept quiet while Killian looked at Alaric, "What should we do now? You know Falkor Valley like the back of your hand, right?"

The priest only gulped in response as his shoulder drooped, a defeated expression appearing on his face.

"You really still have the strength to joke around even now, huh?"

The reason why they all don’t have the strength to speak was because of the countless glowing red eyes that stared at them like how a wolf looked at a lamb.

Another strange thing about them was the large bags under their eyes that were as black as coal.

At this moment, all they could do was stay still as they stared at the countless demonized griffins that surrounded them.

The two groups had been at a standstill since about ten minutes earlier.

However, how did they arrive at such a peculiar situation?

***

It happened a few days ago when Regis and the others fled after seeing how the demonized griffin started eating its normal counterpart.

They glanced at each other before leaving the area as quiet as they could.

Unfortunately, the demonized griffin seemed to have become stronger as it was able to eat some of its opponent’s remains.

Just strong enough that it could sense a little through Pandora’s barrier.

Unlike humans and other intelligent races, the beasts and monsters have a simpler way of getting stronger: through predation.

To be the strongest and be at the top of the food chain– was ingrained in the very genes of beasts and monsters.

Through this, the demonized griffin was able to break through a minor realm.

It went from the Late Stage to the Peak Stage of the Four Star Realm, just enough to bypass Pandora’s refined mana barrier.

KREEE—!!!

It didn’t even waste a second before it screeched out loud.

KREEE— KREEE— KREEE—

In the next moment, countless screeches resounded from the sky.

Only a second had passed by before Regis and the others saw countless shadows that were casted upon the ground.

"Run!" Alaric said in a low voice as he hurriedly took the lead.

The others didn’t even have the time to react before they ran quickly behind the priest without as much as glancing back at the griffin.

At this moment, the party couldn’t help but feel goosebumps all over their bodies.

They didn’t even have enough time to think as they ran with all their strength.

Their priority was to lose the griffins that relentlessly chased behind them with red glowing eyes.

Unfortunately for them, the griffins had no intention of letting them go.

***

Three hours later...

"They’re still chasing us!!" Aurelia screamed as she could feel her legs losing strength.

It was a miracle in and of itself that she was able to go this far despite not specializing in aura.

Regis glanced behind them and saw the demonized griffins that relentlessly chased them before looking at the priest, "What’s the plan now?"

"We really can’t face them head on..." Alaric said as he kept running.

Killian interjected from the side, "No shit, there’s like two dozen of them right now and their numbers still haven’t stopped increasing!"

"We’ll be fine! Let’s go through some tricky routes to throw them off! Don’t worry, I know this valley like the back of my hand!" Alaric replied with a loud voice.

While the two were conversing, Regis glanced at the two girls with them and noticed that they were slowing down.

Their breathing was also becoming more hurried as time passed by.

It was clear that they were already starting to become exhausted from all the running that they were doing.

Still, they couldn’t stop as the griffins wouldn’t give them even a second of rest.

***

Another three hours have passed by...

Regis was already carrying Pandora on his shoulder while Killian was doing the same to Aurelia.

At the forefront, Alaric was also noticeably running out of breath.

Nevertheless, he persevered and led the group through the crevices of the mountains that only humans could fit in.

However, the demonized griffins seemingly had a radar as they were able to catch up to them no matter what route they took.

At this moment, Killian looked at the priest and spoke, "What now? I thought you knew this valley like the back of your hand?"

"Ugh..." Alaric only groaned, not bothering to reply to Killian’s sarcastic comments.

He knew that he was still a child after all, therefore he took it upon himself to be understanding as he was the older person.

Alaric understood that Killian needed to vent out his frustrations.

However, Regis knew that this would only waste their energy as he tapped Killian’s shoulder, "It’ll be fine..."

"I still know some routes that we can take, let’s run as fast as we can!"

Alaric spoke as he started whispering a prayer.

Soon enough, a dim, golden glow surrounded their group.

"This..."

Regis squinted his eyes as he felt his strength recovering and his exhaustion slowly fading away.

Killian also noticed this as they ran with all their might.

He glanced at the priest before him and said with an apologetic tone, "I’m sorry..."

"It’s fine. Getting to safety is our priority."

Alaric replied with a kind smile on his face, but it could also be noticed that his hands were trembling.

After all, he had been running for a few hours already.

And on top of that, he decided to use one of his limited casts of holy miracles which further took a toll on his body.

Still, no one was able to notice his condition as he hurriedly hid his hands in the sleeves of his white robe.

With the slight recovery that they had experienced, Regis and Killian were able to pick up their pace as they ran away from the griffins.

***

Back to the present...

It had been three days since then and not once were they able to sleep.

The pitch-black bags under their eyes were evidence of this.

In fact, they would have been in a much worse situation if not for Alaric’s holy miracles that replenished their stamina and energy.

If it weren’t for him, then they would have been exhausted long ago.

After all, Regis and Killian were carrying Pandora and Aurelia respectively as they desperately escaped from the demonized griffins.

Unfortunately, their luck seemed to have already run out.

’Escaping is impossible anymore...’ Alaric thought as his eyes wandered around the area where they were.

The reason behind his thought was the fact that this area was a place that he wasn’t that familiar with unlike the previous ones.

After all, he had only hunted in the Falkor Valley with other adventurers in the past.

In short, when it comes to the area that neared the other side of the valley, Alaric wasn’t that knowledgeable.

’I thought that we would be able to take our time, so I can slowly figure it out as we go. Alas, luck is not on our side...’

A bitter smile bloomed on the priest’s face.

KREE!

At this moment, one of the demonized griffins on the ground took a step towards them.

"Alaric, do you know any routes where we can escape to?"

This time, Regis, who was currently carrying Pandora in his arms, spoke with a serious expression.

However, Alaric’s expression alone gave him the answer he needed.

"Hmm, so that’s how it is, huh?"

He clicked his tongue as he spoke, his tone oozing with calmness.

"Brother...?" Pandora spoke softly as she stared at Regis’s expression.

It was not only her, Killian, Alaric, and Aurelia also looked at him with strange expressions on their faces.

The reason for their reaction was the utter calmness that he was showing.

After all, for them, it was already a life or death situation.

The demonized griffins that surrounded them numbered to over thirty.

Most of them were already at the Middle Stage of the Four Star Realm with the strongest being at the Peak Stage and the weakest at the Peak Stage of Three Star Realm.

Even the weakest was already vastly stronger than them.

Therefore, the others couldn’t fathom as to how Regis could remain calm in a situation like this.

Added to the fact that they were already exhausted.

"We can’t just let ourselves be food for these fuckers, right?"

Regis’s words instantly made his companions understand.

They had no choice.

He looked at the priest and asked, "We have no more escape routes left, right? And we can’t go back the way we came from because there’s already demonized griffins waiting for us there."

"Yes, that’s right." Alaric nodded with a downcast expression.

A subtle smile bloomed on the white haired boy’s lips, "Get ready to fight!"

Shing—!

The iridescent blade of the Shard of Tinateria gleamed under the large shadow casted upon by the large flock of griffins that looked at them from above.

It was a sight to behold.

The scene of a boy not giving up despite the odds that presented themselves before him.