Did I ask you to be kind?

Chapter eight

The ancient magic comprised more than just elemental magic as we know today. It has been discovered that summoning was actually a thing. Summoning came in two forms, making beings using one's supply of mana and awakening entities from other worlds for moments. Summons cannot progress further than the power level they were at when summoned. --- Unpublished

The usually desolate Uthean county road was filled with 5 voitures each bearing that lion insignia.

This time the guards didn't block them at the gate and they continued moving in until they saw Theo and Melissa. The bowing duo raised their heads as they heard the windows rolling down.

"What did you call us all the way from Slught for?" Hunter Nero, a blonde young gyn asked.

"There was an error in our mission." Theo replied.

"You successfully sent the cores to Prince Randall, didn't you?" Hunter Nero raised a questioning brow.

"Do you think I'd waste the favor of an AA rank hunter on a prank?" Theo looked at Nero, then continued "There is a beast here that scares me even more than you do. Its aura is creepy and it is humanoid…" Theo explained.

"A humanoid beast?" All the hunters in the five voitures got down. They were donned in black suits, with Nero wearing black, they totaled ten in number .

"Let's make a deal, if indeed it is a beast king, then I owe you four favors and a b rank hunters' license, if not, the past favor becomes void." Hunter Nero said.

Melissa nodded.

A while back.

Valhalla appeared before Adrian.

"Master, I've completed the task." He bowed.

"I have gained myself a huge audience, don't you think." Adrian put down his Excel .

….

"You're telling me this was caused by one person?" Nero's voice was sharp, disbelief cutting through the air like a blade. The AA-rank hunter stood tall, arms crossed as he stared at the carnage ahead—half a dozen massive beast corpses, still smoking, their limbs mangled and eyes glassy.

Theo nodded shakily. "Not a person… it was something. It said it did it for its master."

"A master—?"

Melissa pointed. "There."

Across the battlefield stood Adrian, calm as a ghost he had just stepped out of a portal . His expression stayed blank, almost disinterested. Behind him, something shimmered—and Valhalla stepped through, claws soaked in red, dragging a sack of broken fangs.

"I did good, no?" Valhalla asked, eyes bright like a mad dog waiting for praise.

Adrian barely looked at him. "Where are the cores?"

Valhalla tilted his head, scanning the clearing until he locked eyes with Theo and Melissa. His grin widened, fangs flashing.

"They have them," he said.

Adrian's golden eyes turned to Valhalla, voice smooth and sharp: "Did I ask you to be kind?"

Valhalla paused.

"No, my Lord."

Adrian's voice dropped colder. "Then go get the cores."

Before Valhalla could move, Nero stepped forward, sliding in front of Theo and Melissa like a wall of muscle and mana.

"That's far enough," Nero growled, his aura flaring like a storm of blades. "You want the cores; you talk to me."

Valhalla's eyes narrowed, amused. "You smell strong."

"I am strong," Nero said flatly, a glowing sigil forming at his side. "So, unless you want to lose that smug head of yours, back. Off."

The tension snapped like a wire. Valhalla didn't move, but the pressure rolling off him felt ancient, wild—like something that had killed gods for sport.

Adrian simply watched.

Then—he waved a hand lazily. "Leave it."

Valhalla stepped back instantly, though his eyes never left Nero.

The AA team stayed frozen, unsure if they'd just been spared or warned.

Adrian yawned and turned his back to them all. "This is boring now. Let's go, Valhalla."

Without another word, he walked off into the portal, Valhalla trailing behind, tail swaying like a cat who'd been denied its toy.

Only once they were out of sight did Theo slump to his knees, and Melissa exhale the breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

Nero stared after them, jaw tight.

"What in the ever-loving hell… is he?"