My Kitsune System-Chapter 54: Two mountain Peaks

"Soon enough, my friend. Soon enough"

And then a blaring sound echoed through the scorching desert.

Immediately, the demigods started to gather around after the blaring sound. Dan watched them as they all got into formation, ready to leave for the killing stone.

"So, when would you be leaving and joining the others?" a voice said from behind him. Dan tilted his head to find no one other than Sigrid there. She wasn’t dressed in her usual robes, but instead she just wore light armor and then hurled her axes behind her.

Her hair was now braided into one. It was so long that it reached down her back. She came and sat down beside Dan as they watched quietly as the people got ready.

"You should be careful out there. Watch your back," she said.

Dan’s head tilted to watch her. A confused expression was written all over his face.

"It is actually nice to have someone care about you," Dan said with a kind of weak smile on his face.

"But then why, though? It doesn’t quite make sense why you should care."

She kind of closed her eyes and took in some breath. Her hands dug into the red-hot sand.

"I know I am not to care, she started. But it’s not every day you find yourself rooting for the underdog. Because this world doesn’t even give them a chance. So, when you see one striving, it kind of makes you want to see them pull it off."

Now, Dan had a completely blank expression on his face. He just kept staring back at Sigrid.

Her face then began turning red.

"Stop it, I did my best to explain as best as I could."

But then same blank expression remained on Dan’s face. Now, a dark expression began growing on her face.

"Better stop that, before I punch that face of yours." She said as she clenched her fist.

Hearing those words, Dan immediately got up and started to leave. His figure now dissolved into the horizon. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Turning her face from where he had actually left, Sigrid looked at the mountains where they were headed.

"So do we really have to kill him?" she said as she kept staring at the mountains, and then she clenched her fists.

The demigod army had started heading toward the mountains. It was a long and hot journey. They were drained of all water molecules within them as they embarked on the journey.

But it had gotten better when they had gotten close to the mountain, as its shadow that was cast upon them helped save them from the wrath of the sun for a while.

The demigods were divided into three major companies. The first one was that of Baozhai, the second of Renjiro, and the last was of Sigrid.

Dan was placed in Sigrid’s group, which was part of the flank groups, while that of Baozhai was the main attacking force.

The mountain was made of two high peaks that towered over the whole desert. The two peaks looked more like horns than peaks themselves.

The army decided to head toward the mountain peaks. The closer they got to the mountain, the more they realised that they were nothing more than specks to it.

A chilling feeling began crawling onto the bodies of the demigods. It was as though something cold and invisible slithered its way up their body, coiling round them before tightening its grip on them.

The hearts of the demigods began beating wildly against their chests. Though they were covered from the rays of the scorching sun, and cool breeze blew over them. Beads of sweat still rolled down their brows, and at a point, it was as though the whole army of the demigod froze and dared not move.

"I don’t think we should be here." A voice said from within the crowd. And the little by little murmurs started springing up.

Baozhai, seeing this, walked up to the front of the demigod army.

"Between this mountain is what we came here for," he said as he looked at the eyes of all the demigods.

"The very artifact we seek can bring the age of gods and men to an end. It holds tremendous power that we can’t allow it to fall into the wrong hands."

"And so we undertake this journey to make sure we reach there before our enemies arrive. And take hold of that power."

Baozhai now turned to look at the mountain peak. He started walking towards it. Slowly, the darkness began to cover his body the closer he walked to the mountain.

And then

He was gone.

His body had completely vanished from this plane, and nothing about him remained. This immediately sent shivers down the spine of the other demigods.

No one wanted to move, as they all had the same question.

Is he alive?

Sigrid immediately walked toward the front of the demigod army. She gave a glance at them all before she turned back to face the two mountain peaks.

"So what are you all waiting for?" she said before taking a few steps forward and vanishing.

One by one, the soldiers decided to go toward the mountain. One by one, they vanished.

Dan now turned to look around his company. His eyes darted all around, looking for the little demigod that had been plunged into the war of the gods. Not by choice by birth.

Dan understood Nate a lot as they were in the same situation in a way. Both are dying because they were born or given a power that killed them every time they used it.

Giving up wasn’t an option as the other demigods would kill them once they sensed any sign of weakness. And to make matters worse, because they weren’t as strong as the others, they are not being bossed around by the other powerful demigods.

Within the crowd, Dan was still able to notice Nate’s little features. From his hair down to his height. He could not be mistaken for another.

Dan immediately rushed toward him. Dan held Nate in place.

Looking at the young demigod, Dan’s heart began to beat wildly. His promise echoed back into his ears.

I’ll have to protect him

Dan never had a younger brother, but then seeing himself in Nate made him wonder if Nate could be his younger brother. Or probably he acts as one.

Drawing Nate close, Dan gave him a hug.

"I would need you to stick close to me," Dan said as he held Nate’s hand tightly.

Nate looked up into Dan’s eyes and then nodded.

Slowly, the two began to progress toward the mountain. The closer they got, the more they felt a tickling sensation on their skin.

Whoosh!!!

Their vision blurred, and they were on the other side of the mountain. It was completely dark, and their eyes could see nothing.

Slowly, their eyes tried to adjust when they both stepped into something. It felt kind of mushy and moist.

What can that be? Dan thought as he bent down to place his hands to touch it. Touching the moist part, Dan brought it up to his nose to smell it.

The smell it carried was quite familiar, but Dan could not really say what it was.

Taking his finger, he placed it on his lips to taste it.

And there it was.

Salty.

It was nothing other than.

Blood