Haru stroked his chin as he stared at the apparition conjured by Ruby, who was reading Celestine's vision. He was a little relieved to see Rene making it out alive, but he was still wary of his safety. He wanted to know what these "murmeks" were and what kind of creatures they were.
"What are these 'murmeks'?"
"We can't say for sure sire." Celestine replied. "Few people ever live to see those creatures and usually those people don't live long after that either. But a common tale was that these creatures resided inside the mine, digging out more gold than a whole company of miners, though they kill those who even step close to the mine."
Haru had to process this information, but Celestine looked distressed once again. She moaned in pain as the apparition began to change. Haru saw something else in the picture.
Grandmaster Oswald dismounted his horse and raised a hand to his men, signaling them to ready their weapons. He looks down on the ground and investigates the strange footprints on the ground. He sees multiple footprints in the mud as he knelt down to investigate.
While Oswald was investigating, a soldier nearly gets shot by an arrow, ducking just in time to save himself. Another soldier raises his shield as more arrows flew at them. Grandmaster Oswald retreated behind the lines as the Templars set up a shield wall, ready to face their unknown opponent.
A group of half-naked women wear running at them, holding a sword and dagger in hand. They had dark skin and pointy ears like other elves.
Celestine gasped as she saw the adversary. She pointed and screamed.
"Dark elf assassins!"
"What do they want?" Haru asked with much worry.
"They are very territorial and will chase out any outsiders, especially men. But this doesn't make sense, the Dark Elves live too far north to be wandering in this territory. Unless…" Celestine trailed off before her face paled. "Haru, where did you send Oswald?"
"To the Northwestern region of course. We were investigating the lack of Kuro Inu presence in the center of the continent. Why?"
"Because if Grandmaster Oswald doesn't leave now, there will be something even worse that will awaken!"
Haru' eyes widened as he turned back to the apparition, desperate to know what would happen next.
Grandmaster Oswald and his men steeled themselves as they stood their ground against the Dark Elf assault. But before the assault could even reach them, a giant figure bursts through the trees. A giant scaly beast emerges and charges down the Dark Elves. Grandmaster Oswald watched as the giant lizard-like creature ate and trampled all the other elves. Oswald made a silent hand motion to his men to return to their horses as they scrambled away. The lizard creature takes notice and roars, before charging at them.
Grandmaster Oswald and his men could only run deeper into territory because of the giant lizard chasing them. It seemed that they would have to outrun that beast before trying to get home. Oswald turns back to see the beast, but he also sees something riding on it. It was a smaller lizard, holding a frightfully ornate club with spikes.
Haru and everyone else in the room where at a loss for words. They had never seen a frightening creature like what they had witnessed. A giant, scaly creature that could trample and swallow men with ease was more like a hellbeast than anything else! Not even the mercenary elephant riders could beat such a thing. And that thing that was riding it, looked like a part-man, part lizard type of creature.
"What were those things?" Haru asked in horror.
"Anthrosaurs. A legendary race faded into legend." Celestine replied curtly. "Olga the Queen of the Dark Elves sealed them away after they tried to stop her from summoning the Legion."
"Wait, Olga didn't create the Legion?" Haru asked.
"Of course not, if Olga had actually created them, then they would have been completely subservient to her, but their defection to the Black Dogs says otherwise. Instead, the Legion has existed long before the human kingdoms. And the Anthrosaurs were the first to fight them."
"Why did Olga seal the Anthrosaurs away?"
"Because they were trying to stop her from reawakening their long lost enemy. Olga responded by sealing their whole kingdom in an inescapable barrier. Legend has it that only men of true faith could break it open."
"So that means…"
"Your men have reawakened the Anthrosaurs, and they are eager for revenge."
"But wait, on human matters, where do they stand?" Haru asked.
"If you choose to somehow side with the Kuro Inu, or even worse, Olga herself, they will consider you as a threat. But for now, they will ignore you in favor of revenge against the Dark Elves."
Haru looked frightfully at the apparition once again. The Dark Elves, Anthrosaurs and the Black Dogs were having a big free-for-all. The Dark Elves possessed hellish creatures at their disposal, hellhounds, hell-horses, hydras and wyverns. The Anthrosaurs commanded different lizard beasts of different sizes. Some had horns, sharp teeth, spikes or even all of the above. Though the Black Dogs looked like they had the numbers advantage. The battle was bloody and Haru lauded the fact that one day, he would have to bring his men into that bloodbath. For now, it seemed that Oswald was safe, and was going to be a mere spectator to a large battle.
But Celestine had another headache as she closed her eyes tight to concentrate. Haru then turns to the apparition to see what else Celestine could see.
Weiss had his longsword drawn and circled a lady wielding a strange looking spear. She appeared to be mostly wearing leather with a gray knee-length coat on top. Her outfit possessed two small strange shoulder pads. She wore a mouthless white mask and a strange hat.
"You trespass the field of Blooming Petals foreigner. I, the Wild Warrior, demand that you turn and leave at once."
"I will not turn around. For I am searching for the Far East. If you shall allow me passage, I promise to not sully your lands."
"Only the worthy may pass into these lands. And the only way to prove your worth, is by combat!"
"Then let us begin." Weiss said calmly as he lunged.
Rene woke up, feeling different. He felt as if his armor had been taken off, making him feel a bit naked. As if the surface of his sleeping area had suddenly changed. He felt something smooth and warm below his head, and something spongy below his body. He opened his eyes to see that he was suddenly sleeping on a silk-like bed. He then takes a brief moment to look around, to see giant insects all around the room. They looked like ants, but Rene only knew those tiny insects he used to play with, not these gargantuan, lion-sized ants. He was wondering why these ugly creatures weren't attacking him yet. But then he notices the cushion below his head wasn't a cushion at all.
He slowly looks up from his curled up position, to see realize that he was sleeping on the lap of a strange, purpled haired lady wearing a strange hat that had antennae. She had a fair bust size from Rene's point of view, together with beautiful emerald eyes.
"Oh I see you're awake!" the woman said with delight.