Chương 1603: [1508] – Y07.008 – First Rays of Dawnval VIII

The silver scaled triplets charged towards one of the entrances to the family estate, where a pair of figures emerged, and while one pretended not to notice them and took a tumble, the other stood tall and proud as the children greeted him.

"Babas!" the triplets called out, towards the older men, who picked the triplets up, while another set of children charged towards them.

"You are back!" Jirot accused, the girl waiting for one to pick her up so she could greet them properly.

"We have returned," Tonagek confirmed. He was tall, well built, and walked with a light limp, adorned in a breastplate, carrying a blade at his side.

"Did you miss us?" Mosen asked, for the girl hadn't seen him in a little over a month, while he hadn't seen her for much longer, lifting the girl up, allowing her to kiss his cheek, his beard scruffy and long, though not as scruffy or as long as his hair, which fell down to his shoulders. He was tall and well built like his companion, though his muscles held a greater thickness to them, for he wore no armour, though he carried a blade at his side, red, like his uncle.

"No!" Jirot cackled, hugging her babas. The pair greeted each of the children, including their own, who had been patiently waiting for so long, and as they settled themselves among their families, they held their children upon their laps, for it had been too long. Danagek stared up towards his father, though as their eyes met, the boy looked away shyly. Dagek, too, reacted the same, though the pair melted against their father as he ruffled their hair.

Meanwhile, like her nieces, Chisen bullied her father, who pinched her cheek to cause her to stop, the girl flushing as she rested her head against her father's chest.

"Where are our little Cho and Tana?" Mosen asked, still pinching his daughter's cheek gently, tickling her chubby cheek with a finger.

"Papos have gone to the village to beat up the Undead," Jirot informed.

"Ah? I see?" Mosen grinned wide, for his body had recovered well enough to exercise.

"We should assist those brats of ours?"

"I shall remain with the children," Tonagek said, for what need was there of old men to ruin the fun of the youngsters? The old Jarot narrowed his eyes towards Tonagek, who was too young to hold such a thought within his mind, such an expression upon his face.

"I shall remain too," Mosen said, feeling his daughter's glare from within thumping range of her vicious fist.

"Oh!" Jirot gasped, slapping her forehead lightly as she remembered.

"Babas! I must beat you up for bullying papos!"

"May I ask for mercy, my little Jirot?" Mosen asked, raising his brows curiously at the girl, understanding it was probably because his fool of a son.

"I will beat you up just a little bit," Jirot promised.

"Thank you." Mosen smiled tenderly towards the girl, who brushed the back of his hand, then waddled away to bring the pair tea. Meanwhile, the triplets sat at their baba's boots, the eldest beginning to read to them all, for it was her turn to read the book, and thus the Iyrmen relaxed.

"Oh? Uncles, you've returned?" Adam asked, approaching the pair, reaching out to greet them, though as he did, he could see the sharpness of their jaws, the sharpness within their eyes, and the aura emanating out of the pair.

"It is always our nephew and his family who treats us so well," Mosen half joked, standing as he half embraced the half elf in a hug, claiming it from Tonagek, who stood and reached up to ruffle the half elf's hair. As the days continued to pass by, the half elf finished his enchanting for the first set of weapons, during which, the Undead found themselves at the mercy of a force which wasn't typically dispatched. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He was a wall of a man, this fellow, his hair cut short, a week's growth kissing his jaw. He wielded a large warhammer in one hand, a shield in the other, as did his companion beside him, his mentor who had trained him into the monster he was. Silently, the pair cut down the Undead before them, bones exploding with every swing, as they casually walked out of the village, drawing many others towards them.

Another set of bones exploded nearby, as a young woman, leanly built, her hair cut short, but floating with every graceful movement, her magical quarterstaff blurred, barely seen by the villagers from afar, as she scattered more skeletons than even the pair of monsters nearby. It had been just a few short years, the villagers thought.

They had seen these figures pass on through many times, and they recalled when they were human, not quite the unfathomable monsters they had become, as they, without even a single worry, mowed down waves of the Undead, to the point the villagers did not even need to throw their stones.

"Careful," Tanagek said, tackling through a skeleton, a cloud of bone clattering against his armour as his blade slid through the creatures, slamming his shield into a skull.

"I am fine," Chosen replied, his blade cleaving through one skeleton, then another, skewering multiple with every blow, while their own rusted blades, boney fists, and dulled fangs broke upon his skin, red hot with his dance of Rage. Even the members of the United Kindom, each who recalled the daily life of planting seeds not even a few years ago, could feel it.

As they scattered skeleton after skeleton, even the larger bear skeletons, though there were moments they could feel fear, their weapons cleaved through the creatures with ease, and though they had fought dozens each, they did not feel the urge to step back.

"Would you like to step forward?" Korin asked.

"We shall remain, just in case," Vasera replied, though she was eager to raise her blade, however, there were two important figures who required their presence. Even if they could step forward, it would be rude to do so, especially when so many were already enjoying their time, and the Golden Savages would only end up taking all the fun.

Dunes considered stepping forward too, for his magic could obliterate dozens every few seconds should he hide behind his shield, but he remained as a shining beacon for the villagers, who were glad a Priest of War was so close at hand. Thankfully, the Sword of the Lady had stepped ahead, under the watchful gaze of a young woman spinning her spear wildly, while the other dark skinned fellow, not an Aswadian, was under the shadow of a giant woman, who was cleaving four skeletons at a time with her large blade.

"Sun, let us crouch forward," little Lanarot whispered into her wolf's ear, only to find herself in the middle of the air, the girl staring ahead. She could feel Bael's gaze upon her as he held her up, the girl decided against acknowledging her trouble.

"If you cause this much trouble, it will influence your sister poorly," Bael warned, causing the girl to side eye him, for how was it that such words were leaving his lips?

"Bael is right," Sonarot warned.

"Sorry, mother…" Lanarot flushed lightly, peeking down at her sister, who was within her mother's bosom, barely watching the fights. The pair of Iyrchildren were watched over by not just the combined forces of the Golden Savages, the Brothers of Black Mountain, and the fellow who looked like a half dragon, Bael, but also an Iyrman who remained standing on top of one of the very many buildings nearby, her bow clasped in hand, her eyes scanning not just the village, but the skies.

Raining Bow inhaled sharply, keeping her senses on high alert, though it was not she, who was considered among the strongest of Iyrmen, who was the only powerful Iyrman nearby, for across the river, within the fort, three of the Iyr's Ten Paragons settled, along with their small army of Grandmasters, Masters, and Experts, assigned just in case the Reavers appeared so close to the Iyr once more. Thankfully, both children wore their necklaces without issue, so they did not need to worry too much.

Bael glanced aside, towards the giant mass of bone, the bone python which was beginning to form of hundreds of skeletal beasts. He tossed Lanarot over his shoulder and then leapt up onto a nearby roof, making the mistake of not telling Sonarot, though Raining Bow was already within his shadow by the time he paused, allowing Lanarot to sit on his shoulders.

"Do you wish to face it?" Jurot asked Kitool.

"You may do so," Kitool replied, as the remaining skeletal beasts fell before her, while the others were swallowed into the large bone python.

"…"

"I shall assist," Kitool said, following after Jurot, who continued to slam his warhammer into the various skeletons before him.

"Jurot! Kitool!" Chosen shouted from afar.

"We will make our way from the other side!" The pair supposed they couldn't refuse Chosen's or Tanagek's support, and as they stepped forward, they noted the wall of muscle following them, but allowed him to do so.

"It's time for us to step back," Rick informed the others, throwing a glance over to see if everyone was fine, but then again, with how they were all Experts, they would be more than fine. Arrows loosened from nearby, assisting their rather slow, casual retreat. Raining Bow Sokikez blinked, only just realising how ridiculous this scene was, the Undead forming their greatest so soon, and the youngsters, less than half her age, dealing with it so easily.

'It seems this century will test us greatly.'