Meeting

After eating his meal, Kane who was feeling really tired decided to go to bed he would only continue absorbing energy from the core solution when he is in prime condition. Abel also went to sleep as he was also tired from driving the whole day.

…

Deep in Sharphorn city.

The beasts were in a crucial meeting. Beasts that could enter Sharphorn city were those that had gained intelligence at some point in their lives. This usually happens when they step into the mutant realm

From that point on, each time they advance into a higher tier, there is an increase in their brain capacity and functionality. The rate at which this happens could be quite slow or really quick and depended on the beast's talent, unique experiences, and opportunities it made use of.

The other beasts could only remain outside the city walls in numerous camps located close to the city. The beasts there had already numbered in the millions and there were like sand when one looked at them from above.

In the governor's mansion, people were assembled in a hall with somber faces. The electricity in Sharphorn city had stopped working for a very long time as the monsters could not maintain the facilities that were once operated by humans.

The light bulbs, chandeliers, and any form of modern lightning were now left only as decorative items. Torches that hung on the walls at regular distance intervals were the major source of lightning.

In the hall, there were balls of flames suspended in the air which in addition to the torches available, brightly lit the hall.

There were people seated in the hall. They all had some feature that was peculiar and differentiated them from humans. These were beasts in human form. When a beast advances into the warrior realm, they mutate and gain humanoid forms. In this form, they become less eye-catching and find it a bit easier to mingle with humans.

This is akin to them shrinking and compressing their bodies. Their combat abilities would be reduced by a reasonable amount as they cannot fully use the advantages brought by their natural beast bodies. When there is a need for it, they can easily switch back to their true forms

There were twenty people seated in the hall. Two of them sat on extravagantly decorated thrones placed on an elevated platform that overlooked the entire hall.

One looked like a youth who wore red robes. He had fiery disheveled red hair and had some scales that could be seen on the back of his palms. He seemed like the only facial expression he could display was a rigid smile that was plastered on his face.

The other was an obese middle-aged man with a bald head and small eyes. He seemed to constantly sweat at all times and his complexion was very pale.

In the middle of the hall, there was an ape who was kneeling in front of the two with his head bowed low. He was shivering.

"Mo, can you tell the honored guests how something like this happened and was left unchecked until it got to this point," said the youth in red robes.

Mo the ape, shuddered. His life was hanging on a thread. He had to choose his words wisely if he ever planned on getting out of this situation alive. "Lord Gresht, an intruder was found on the outskirts of the forest. It was determined he was only in the grunt realm. The gray wolf pack was sent to hunt the child as per your orders.

Surprisingly he was able to defeat the wolves and his threat level was adequately increased. To make sure that this was properly dealt with without disturbing your excellencies with the matter regarding a mere grunt realm child, Siruzen was dispatched to resolve the issue.

He even enlisted the help of two mutants, the armadillo and the electric eel. I ordered him to retreat immediately if there was something he could not handle and report the situation. The human boy was definitely dealt with.

It was truly out of our expectations that two other higher-level humans would appear and begin fighting killing Siruzen and the others" explained Mo.

There was a brief silence as everyone was waiting for the decision of the two overseeing the meeting.

"Where is the child's body?" the fat man suddenly asked. "Hmmm…" Mo could not answer the question as he did not immediately wrap his mind around it. "If you are sure the child is dead, where is his body?" the fat man asked again.

"Surely he must be dead, there was no way he could survive all three mutants. Judging from the destruction caused by the battle between the two humans, the child's body would have been most likely destroyed and Siruzen and his aids were collateral damage" replied the ape.

"It seems like everything got sorted out by itself and one of the warrior realm humans was in pursuit of the other and only caught up with him in the forest. The only problem I have with your statements is that there is a lot of could have, should have, and would have in your statement. It does not give me that sense of assurance that everything probably turned alright" said the youth who still had that smile plastered on his face.

After he said that, smoke began to rise from the ape's body as if he was going to combust the next moment. "Arrrgh. Mercy …" cried Mo as he patted his body instinctively to put out a fire that was not yet there.

"Let him go this once Gresht. He has worked really hard for us. He has been organizing the beasts outside the walls all on his own. His expertise is something we really need right now" said the obese man.

Gresht didn't continue what he was doing to Mo and nodded before saying "You are right Faknar. He has been working hard. Your hard work has saved your life. From now on, it would be best if all sightings of intruders are reported on time. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, your excellency. I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again" said Mo. "You can leave now," said Faknar.

"Thank you for your grace," said Mo before he turned and quickly left the hall.

"After Killing Siruzen and that armadillo, the human went to the underground cave and killed the eel. The human then rushed out of the forest with a mob of beasts who did not even see what the human looked like. How did he even escape your pursuit, Gresht" asked Faknar immediately after Mo left the hall.

"I followed the human's trail as soon as I could. The trail abruptly disappeared outside the forest. It just vanished. I even traveled a few kilometers outside the forest just in case the human can cover their tracks but nothing turned up.

So what is our plan? Do we immediately set out or do we wait until everyone arrived as per our original plan?" asked Gresht as he looked at the people in the hall.

Faknar spoke before anyone else had the chance "Even if there were human intruders in the forest, the only way they would even have the slightest inkling of what was going on would be if they were close to the city itself.

Either of us would have been able to sense them right away. Even if we are to set out now, Edan city is guarded by two Knight realm beings. The governor and the Hunter Association castellan.

These two would surely keep us busy and the job of breaching the city's defenses would be left to everyone else. *Sigh* with their accursed technology and that shield over the entire city, we would exchange a hundred of us for one of them.

I suggest we go on with our original plan. Gather more of us and pool our contribution points together. In a month's time, we would have enough numbers and tools to make sure we come out victorious. Rushing in inadequately equipped would only ensure our defeat and make us unable to for another beast tide in the nearest future.

We could also be counter-attacked and Sharphorn city would be retaken in the worst-case scenario".

Gresht kept nodding as he heard Faknar's suggestion. There was no way our plan could have been leaked right? Rushing in now would ensure their subsequent defeat and even their stronghold, Sharphorn city might even be taken from them.

"Everyone in support of Lord Faknar's suggestion please indicate," said Gresht. All of the eighteen warrior realm beasts in the hall showed their support by raising their hands.

"Very well. It's decided then. We should do our best to gather more soldiers with the little time we have. Also, decide among yourselves the sentries that would be posted at the entrance of the forest. All humans entering or leaving should be executed on the spot. You can all leave" said Gresht as he ended the meeting.