It’s another morning. It has been almost a week since Fracia arrived in the city. Plus, I have a weird stalker here following me every day.

I sigh...

I have been keeping Jack and Carly away from each other. I can’t have them quarreling against each other. Especially, when there is a whole city to take care of.

Apparently, the King has been helping us build this city back up too along with two of his guards.

I remember watching this city back in the days and looking at the people who used to be scared and afraid of the witch. This city felt dead but now...This city is brimming with smiles.

“Dan, thank you.” I look next to me. Carly is standing next to me and smiling at me.

“Why though?” I ask Carly.

“For what you have done for the people of Carliva. Before you came, this city was pretty unsettled...But you have changed this city to a point where everyone can smile even in the darkest times.” Carly says to me.

“You don’t need to thank me for it.” I smile. I continue speaking, “You are part of a reason why I was able to be a part of this city and its happiness. So thank you!” I smile.

Carly looks away as her cheek turns red, “What’s the matter?” I smirk.

“Nothing.” Carly says as she looks away.

“My, my, could it be that Miss Carly Jilheard has a-“

“MISS CARLY!” Izumi calls for Carly.

“Tsch!” That was some bad timing, Izumi.

“I gotta go, it seems like Izumi needs my help.” Carly runs away.

I sigh, “I wish I could have known what she was thinking.”

XXXXXX

Carly chuckles as she runs away, “He’s cute...But you’re not getting anything out of me today.” Carly smiles as she continues to walk to Izumi.

XXXXXX

At the training ground,

Elena is sitting near the tree meditating while Luke is stretching his legs from left to right then right to left.

“Come at me with all you got.” I say as I calmly stand.

Elena opens her eyes. Luke and Elena share a glance at each other. Luke nods and so does Elena.

*Swish*

Luke flashes in front of me.

Is that an illusion or is it the real one? That’s an illusion, I am sure that the real one would not use a head-on attack.

The illusion fades.

I begin moving my eyes to both sides trying to find if there is someone else somewhere.

*Tap*

I heard that!

*Swish*

Behind me!

I dodge Elena, here hands have transformed into some kind of a paw with huge claws. It looks like a huge wolf’s paw.

She has infested a low percentage of her inner demon with herself, meaning that the claw she is using is from the cursed form she takes.

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!”

I see Luke coming from all four sides. This is Luke’s technique that I taught him. The Tree of Sun Wukong consists of many cloning spells, illusion spells and many techniques and spells related to trickery.

*Smack*

“Easy dodge.” I say as all the Lukes hit each other and I crouch under them.

I sigh, “You are using your technique in the wrong way.” I say as all of Luke’s illusions fade away.

“As for you Elena, your advances are way too predictable. Your advances should be quick and unpredictable but you gave me time to think and I could easily dodge your attack. Try to be unpredictable and use your techniques as an assassin would.” I explain.

“What about me?” Luke asks.

I sigh, “The way you use your technique is just mana consuming, you are way too slow to react to your teammate. Like when Elena attacked, you needed to attack at the same time. It would have confused me of your arrival.” I say. I continue to speak, “The whole point of your Tree is for you to use trickery to defeat your opponent. Use crafty and dirty ways to defeat them. Confuse them with your techniques.” I say.

“I have taught you only one spell but that one spell that you are using can be used in 100’s of different ways. It’s all up to you how you use it.” I say.

Both Luke and Elena seem to be disappointed.

I sigh, “I want you guys to get better as soon as possible because I have a feeling...That we will have to fight a huge army soon.” I say.

Both Luke and Elena look towards me with determination, “When that army comes, I don’t want you guys to be a burden on the battlefield, I want you guys to be my comrades.” I say.

Luke and Elena’s eyes widen. They smile, “You got it, buddy!” Luke says with a smile and thumbs up.

“I will do my best as well, Mister handsome.” Elena says with a smile.

What got into them?!

XXXXXX

Inside the City,

“I have a bad feeling.” Carly says as she looks as it begins to get cloudy. It seems like the rain is about to pour down anytime soon.

Groloph comes running towards Carly, “GRAAAAAWRRRR!!!!”

“Groloph?!” Carly seems to be surprised as Groloph’s arrival.

Groloph seems to be quite angry, “Is it an army?” Carly asks.

“RAAAAWWWWRRRR!” Groloph growls.

“Go get Dan, ASAP!” Carly says to Izumi.

“Understood!” Izumi says as she runs towards the training grounds.

“Horrell, you help everyone go back to their place. Tell them to not come out until Dan says so.” Carly says.

Horrell nods and runs.

“What’s the matter?!” Fracia arrives.

“A BEAST TIGER?!!!” Fracia seems to have freaked out.

“Oh, this is Dan’s pet beast tiger, don’t mind him.” Carly says with a smile.

“WHAT?! THAT BOY HAS A BEAST TIGER AS HIS PET?!!!” Fracia is sweating.

“Groloph says there is an army arriving.” Carly says.

“An army?” Fracia asks.

Carly nods, “Dan asked Groloph to keep on scouting the areas outside of the City and keep an eye out for any kind of strange things. Groloph just reported in.” Carly says.

“I see...But how did you understand a Beast Tiger’s language?” Fracia asks.

“It’s a spell I know, animal tongue. It helps me communicate with animals.” Carly says.

“I see...” Fracia says with a nervous smile.

“An army huh? How many?” Fracia asks.

“About a 100 from what Groloph says.” Carly replies.

“WAIT! I hear something, my lord!” Gracie says.

...

Something could be heard from a distance.

“Footsteps, almost 100 of them.” Evan says.

“Tsch! We have to hold them until Dan arrives.” Carly says.

“We aren’t leaving our lord’s side!” Evan says.

“HUH?!”

“Gracie, go help that woman. Evan will protect me.” Fracia says.

“But my lord-“

Fracia looks at Gracie who seems to be going against Fracia’s order, “This is an order!”

“Understood, my lord!” Gracie says as she stands beside Carly.

Gracie pulls out her spear, “I don’t like this weapon much but I have to work with it.” Gracie says with a smirk.

“I like it when I have no weapon.” Carly says with a grin.

There are 100’s of soldiers rushing into the city.

"Groloph go after Izumi, I think that if someone interrupts her you could be of help to her." Carly says to Groloph.

Groloph rawrs and runs towards the same direction as Izumi.

“You ready?” Carly asks.

Gracie nods, “I always am.” Gracie says as the soldiers decide to rush at them.

“GET OUT OF HERE!”

*SMASH*

Right into the ground, Carly smashes her fist creating a huge wall around the soldiers.

*THUMP*

“HUH?! WHAT’S THIS?!”

Carly claps both her hands as the huge wall smashes into the soldiers.

“From the Tree of Athos: Earth Spell: Crushing Lands.” Carly says as she wipes out at least half of the soldiers just like that.

XXXXXX

“This woman is stronger than she looks...” Gracie thought to herself.

XXXXXX

“My, my, you have grown up to be quite a strong one, haven’t you, Miss Carly Jilheard?”

A familiar face pops up in front of Carly. A buff body figure with a big height. He’s eye was grouched out by none other than Serena. The only difference from then and now was that his hair was turning white.

“Umba...” Fracia looks to be surprised.

“Hello my lord, or should I say the lord who is about to die here, in the City of Carliva.” Umba says with a smirk.

A huge amount of aura is let out by Umba.

Carly sweats, “This power seems to be...A little too much even for me...” Carly thinks to herself, “What has he done to himself to become so powerful?!” Carly questions.

“Your death is near.” Umba smirks with all the evil intentions in the world.

TO BE CONTINUED...