Chapter 293: Maverick at the valley.

Zyra poked at the grilled meat on her plate, unable to swallow a single bite. Her mind was racing. Why did Achilles assemble an elite team and rush out of the valley in such a hurry? Is it Hunter?

Giving up on the food completely, she pushed her chair back and hurried straight to the main security room. Stepping up to the control console, she pulled up the central search history. When the latest intelligence report flashed across the screen, her heart dropped.

It was a search for a plane crash sighting! At first, she thought it was related to the Soul maidens but then, her eyes flicked to the headline on the one grid of the screen that served as a television.

Grand Elder Ralph Kaelion missing but assumed dead after a plane crash in the Wild Lands.

’Oh hell no! What happened? This cannot be good!" Zyra cursed out loud, slamming her palm against the desk.

She immediately called out in her mind, "Beauty! Scan the Wild Lands for any wreckage right now. Expand the search radius as far as you can!" Someone had already done a search on the security system--Achilles, if her presumption was correct. But without Beauty personally getting involved, it was impossible for him to get the kind of results she would.

[Yes, host... Initiating wide-area scan.]

Before the system could finish loading the map grid, a flashing red box on the surveillance screen caught her eye. Over in the main courtyard, a portal expanded.

Zyra didn’t care who was stepping out_ whether it was Achilles or Hunter, she just needed them back alive. She turned on her heels and dashed out of the room. In seconds, she burst into the courtyard.

Achilles was standing near the portal, supporting a pale, blood-soaked man who was leaning heavily on his shoulder.

Zyra sprinted over, her eyes darting past them. "Where is the Grand Elder? I saw his face on tv, and this is not him."

Achilles let out a long, weary sigh. "I’ve honestly never been so happy to see your face." He let go of Maverick and quickly raised both hands in front of his chest like a shield. "Before you blow up about me abandoning my post, I informed Hunter. It was he who explicitly told me to hold off on telling you. If you are going to hit someone, hit him."

Zyra’s eyes bulged in absolute disbelief. "You told Hunter the Grand Elder was missing while he was in the middle of a dangerous mission?! Are you insane?"

Before Achilles could defend himself, the Maverick blinked through his hazy vision. "Wait_ Hunter? What dangerous mission?" He slowly turned his head to glare at Achilles. "Hunter? The same Hunter you swore on your ancestors’ graves you had no clue how or where to begin the search for?"

Achilles awkwardly pointed at the giant hole in Maverick’s armor. "You know, buddy, you’re bleeding out real bad. We should really get that checked. You are obviously hearing things. The poison is confusing your mind."

Maverick shook his head in frustration, his eyes scanning the courtyard. Floating buildings, perfectly smooth roads, flower gardens and ponds. They had beasts being walked by looked like robots! Beasts sunbathing! Beasts being groomed! Beasts playing games or training! Soul Maidens gliding past carrying food, herbs and other things.

"What kind of place is this?" Maverick muttered. Then his gaze landed squarely on Zyra. He stared. He rubbed his eyes. He stared again. "Zyra?! Zyra Scorpion?!" He shrieked, staggering backward two steps. "What the crazy fuck is going on here?!"

Claudia stepped forward from behind the portal, wiping sweat from her forehead. "I managed to seal his wound, but his body still has some traces of poison."

Malia was already right beside Maverick, gently taking his arm. "Sir, you’ve lost a lot of blood. Please follow me to the medic room right now!"

Maverick let Malia lead him away, but he kept one aggressive finger pointed straight at Achilles’ nose the whole time. "You_ orange-headed liar, you have a lot of explaining to do!"

Achilles just nodded helplessly. "Yeah, yeah. Get healed first, talk later."

Once Maverick was pulled away, Zyra turned her sharp gaze right back onto Achilles. "The Grand Elder. Where is he?"

Bianca approached, she looked confused on seeing Maverick. "What is going on?"

Achilles filled them both in. Bianca cried and nodded, "Thank God, gramps is okay."

"Maverick said he’s somewhere safe in the Capital. They had to split up because grandpa was worried about being late." Achilles added

Achilles looked at her tight expression and sighed. "That scary frown on your face means Hunter isn’t back yet, huh?"

Zyra shook her head silently. She turned toward the courtyard edge, looking up at the darkening sky as grey evening clouds rolled over the mountain peaks.

Achilles walked over and gently pressed the top of her shoulder. "Hey. Don’t worry so much. You know Hunter, that guy is a beast in a fight. He can take care of himself."

Zyra shook her head, "I do not know about that but I am going to him."

"Count me in." Bianca said.

Achilles sighed heavily, "I guess we are all going."

Zyra nodded and told Beauty to find Hunter.

[Locating Hunter using the link band. I do everything for you people. You don’t pay me enough.]

*****

Hunter’s initial worry had completely burned away, leaving behind pure, unadulterated rage.

All he wanted was to wrap up this stupid mission, rush back and check on his grandfather. But no. The universe clearly hated him, throwing one ridiculous obstacle after another into his face.

Right now, he was running for his life through a rough mountain.

Behind him, a pack of about sixty mutated jackals was hot on their heels. These weren’t just any jackals their hides were covered in thick, interlocking bone plates that acted like natural armor.

"Keep moving!" Big Vince yelled, his heavy boots pounding the dirt. "Don’t stop!"

Nero turned as he ran, raising his rifle and firing three quick shots.

The blue energy blasts hit a jackal dead-center, but the pulse shards just bounced harmlessly off its hard shell, leaving nothing but tiny white scratches.

"Are you kidding me?!" Nero roared in frustration. "Their armor is thick enough to block armor-piercing rounds!"

Taylor fired his lock gun, the jackal jumped to the side and the bullet missed. "Fuck!" Taylor cursed.

"Save your lock gun ammo!" Hunter yelled from the back.

He was acting as the human shield for the entire team, purely because he was the only one strong enough to actually hurt these things. A jackal lunged at his throat. Hunter didn’t even flinch. He ducked, swung his arm, and slapped the beast so hard across the face that its eyes turned upside down. The creature went flying into a rock, out cold.

Above them, Tyrant swooped down. His wings sliced into two jackals like giant steel wind blades. The impact shaved the bone plates right off their backs.

"Nice one, Tyrant!" Nero cheered.

"Don’t celebrate yet!" Hunter shouted back. "Every beast in this damn place wants a bite of us."