The Ancient Genes

"Are you kidding me?" Blinken spoke with a surprised look on his face when he saw the scenery before his eyes. The group of three had been travelling for a week now, and had finally managed to reach their destination.

But, the sight in front really left one doubting their eyes.

"Is this an Oasis? Are we going crazy?" Blinken asked as he looked at Max.

"Do you feel like that?" Max asked with a smile. Even he really found this very peculiar. After all, in this barren piece of land, they had finally found lush green vegetation and a huge forest cover.

Yes, their location which was in the middle of desert was somehow filled with life and freshness in a land which was supposed to be drying up and dying.

This was really a strange phenomenon.

And, what was even more strange about it was that the trees and plants in this forest were not anything they had seen like before. These things were humongous. As if it wasn't a forest for humans but for giants to live in.

It was obvious that something else was at play here.

Max couldn't help but spread out his domain in hopes of sensing out something, and it took a moment but his ability as a succubus sure didn't disappoint him.

'You are right, this place is sucking out all the life force from vegetation cover around to itself..That's something a very strong undead would do..' Andriel's voice rang out in Max's mind.

She had pointed out the exact thing that Max had discovered, though the part of Undead was something not known to him.

'So, does this have something to do with that beast?' Max couldn't help but ask Andriel with a little frown. He didn't think that the Beast was here. This creature which was here was definitely different from before.

'Well, I don't think that's the case. If something like that was here, then the entire Level of the trial would have shattered into pieces of space. Don't underestimate the power of something at its level. If I am not wrong, it is very likely that some residual leakage has resulted in this even when the Undead is trapped at the end of the last trial.'

Max's face twitched a little upon hearing that, but he soon came to terms with it. He too knew that something at the level of an Ascensionist wouldn't follow common sense.

"Let's go. We should probably look around, and discover the place a bit. We don't know what kind of dangers the place might hold.." The Village Chief spoke as he looked towards the distance. Even though he was trying to hide it, Max could feel his anxiousness. It was very likely that he wanted to rush in and find his father. But, that would be foolish, and he knew that, hence, he was using reasons to control himself.

"Well, sure. But, are you sure these people of yours who have been tailing us will survive here? Because even if they don't I wouldn't shed a tear. And, I am not going to babysit them too.." Blinken spoke with a smile as he pointed behind.

The Village Chief looked at Blinken and shook his head, "Since they are able to chase us up to here, then it's very likely the Hunters Unit of the Village. They might not be as strong as you guys, but they have been through hell. The Wild is their home, so you don't need to worry about them. Because I have more confidence in them surviving this place than us.."

"Hmmn…is that so..I wonder what's so special about them.." Max's curiosity was certainly picked. He didn't think that this Red Haired Chief was the kind of guy who would lie to people. And, to be honest, he was indeed surprised how this group managed to survive the night dessert without even lighting up a fire.

'The Old ways have always been intriguing..' Max smiled a little. He had been into the trial once before and had experienced different periods. Initially he thought that the current era was best at everything, but he was sure proven wrong time and time again.

There was always something to surprise him. Things that the current people couldn't make sense of were accomplished with ease in the past, while the opposite was true too in many cases. But, surprises were still surprises.

"But I wonder why they have followed us all the way here.." Max asked with a smile as he looked at the Chief.

"Well, I think they have spotted me. So, they might be following me.." The Chief replied.

"Well, they sure are protective of their Chief.." Blinken mocked a little.

"I surely hope that is the case.." The Village Chief replied as a little coldness flashed through his eyes.

Blinken turned silent upon hearing that while Max just smiled.

'Well, he didn't disappoint me..' Max thought inwardly. He sure would have felt that this guy, who even though looked like Wilson was nothing like him if he really believed with all his heart that these people were here to protect him.

…

Ocien..

"What do we do? That crazy guy is here, and both Max and Synthia are missing.." Argus spoke with a heavy frown on his face.

"We can't let him interfere here.." Ragnar spoke with a grim look on his face.

"I am afraid he already has.." Bell calmly stated before throwing out the newspaper.

The second page of the newspaper described a crime of brutal murder. It was an innocent young man.

"This way of killing, I think we are all too familiar with it.." Argus spoke with a dark look on his face.

"That b*stard hasn't even been here for a day, and he is already beginning to rampage around..I will kill this guy.." Ragnar slammed his fist on the table as he got up.

"Don't lose your calm. You know the consequences of killing a person from another family. We can't afford it. Besides, his father is one of the Elders, and not to mention that Old Corpse is behind him..we can't do it...." Argus spoke as he too calmed down.

"We need Synthia. She is the Lord's blood, that guy has to listen to her since he belongs to the Storm Family…" Bell said with a serious face.

"But where is she? We can't contact her as well as Max…" Ragna frowned.

The situation was getting dire.