The Kingmaker System
Chapter 156 - 155. Something Sinister (5)

Chapter 156: 155. Something Sinister (5)

Rose showed me the piece of paper in her hand as she said.

"The teams on field saw some tracks and also spotted some suspicious activities going on. It wasn’t during the night but during the day when you weren’t in the area. This is the alleged location that I got my hands on, it’s not a solid information but-"

I snatched the slip of paper from her hand as soon as I heard what she said and looked at the name of the place and the approximate landmark of the location.

"I’ll go check." I announced.

"Wait, Master. But it isn’t a solid lead!" Rose shouted but I had already teleported closest to that location which was written in the slip.

It was not the solid lead but I still couldn’t ignore it and wait for it to be solid. If there were tracks then there might be something in that place which could prove to be helpful in rescuing those who needed my help.

I hovered over the forest mentioned in the slip and looked at the expanse of the woods by activating my Mana Eyes. But strangely enough, if was as if something was disfiguring my vision. It wasn’t supposed to be like that, there was nothing in the world that could defy Mana Eyes.

I suspected the presence of some devices that could hinder with mana and swooped down towards the location that was said to be the place where the people were taken.

It was a cave which was hidden in the woods, I walked through the forestfloor passing by the vegetation which seemed as if it was trimmed for the convenience of travelling.

Usually the paths which weren’t in use by the travellers were clear of overgrown vegetation but this particular path which led deeper into the forest was also well kept.

Another clarification that I might be on the right path. As I was walking ahead, I couldn’t help but feel as if something morbid lay ahead.

After walking a few feet I couldn’t hear the sounds of the forest life, it was deathly quiet as if something had sucked away all the life from this part of the forest.

Still, I didn’t stop by as this was all the more reason for me to keep going. I was just hoping that those people would still be alive.

I could bring them back from the jaws of death even if they were gravely injured or mutilated but I was hoping that they would still be clinging to their lives.

I finally reached the cliff that overlooked at gorge beneath, there was a pathway cut into the vertical mountain wall but it was narrow enough to carry only the carriages from one way.

I could sense some human presences that were scattered along the path along with those who were close to the opening of the cave that was beneath me.

It was impossible for any person to infiltrate this place without being discovered as the place though well hidden was still quite open to spot an intruder.

If I walked by the normal path, I would inevitably have to engage with the guards but I didn’t have that much time.

I leapt off the cliff and unfurled my wings which eased my fall creating the strong gust of winds before I was close to the ground. I hovered over the stone ground watching the two guards who were startled at my sudden presence.

"What the-"

"Intruder!"

The two charged at me but I used telekinesis to pick their bodies and slammed them into the wall at the side before I walked towards the cave.

As I entered I saw more men dressed as mercenaries rushing towards me, I swept them all away easily as none of them had the power to stand against me.

As I went deeper into the cave I started to feel the presences of humans, I picked pace and took out any hindrance that came my way before I reached in front of the large space which was echoing with the sounds of wails and sobs.

I stepped into that cavern before I noticed the people who were fringed at the sides of the wall with shackles over their ankles and wrists.

There was a strong stench of blood in the air which made me almost feel revolting, I walked over to the closest person who seemed like he was still intact. He grew terrified and tried to squirm away from me.

"N-No, I don’t want to die!"

"Get away from us!"

"Someone save us!"

The others who also had no idea of who I was started shouting in fear.

"I’m here to save you all!" I shouted.

"That’s impossible!"

"We-We’re all going to die down here!"

The sense of dread and malignance in the air was stifling but I managed to get through as I inhaled deeply and looked at the dirty and terrified faces.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps rushing towards me and I turned slightly to see the mercenaries rushing towards me with weapons.

"There he is!"

"Kill him!"

I used telekinesis to crush their weapons before I noticed something jingling by the side of one of them.

I snatched it off him before I sliced off their necks using water slicers and then faced the people again.

"Ocean Ryujin." I spoke up.

"I’m Ocean Ryujin. My team that was taken from Hezborn, are you all here?" I demanded looking at everyone.

The people who were disoriented and scared after seeing the scene of brutality a moment ago seemed to stir at some points.

"Master?!"

"Is that really Master Ocean?"

"Master, we’re here!"

"Here, Master!"

I heard the sounds of the people who recognised me and saw them struggling to make their presences known as they bounced in their spots.

I walked up to the nearest man of my team and found his body intact with only a few wounds.

"Master!"

"Stay still." I instructed as I ripped his shackles off and then handed him the key that I snatched from the mercenary earlier.

"Free everyone, we’re leaving this place, now."

"Yes, Master!"

I saw as the guy rushed towards others freeing everyone one by one from their shackles.

"We’re free!"

"We won’t die!"

"I can go back home!"

"Godsend!"

"Master Ocean Ryujin!"

I heard the people’s cheers echo across the cavern as I saw the team that was kidnapped in front of me still alive and well. I almost sighed with relief when it suddenly hit me.

The sense of wretched depressing presence that brushed against my presence like a ghost.

[Shield of Invulnerability has been activated.]

The notification popped in front of my eyes and my Dragon’s Presence also activated itself automatically and I couldn’t help but look around.

Whatever this presence was, it wasn’t close to me, but it was close enough for me to sense it. Strangely enough, I knew it was because that presence wanted me to know of its existence.

It was vile and vicious, completely different from what I had sensed up till now.

Suddenly there was the huge sound of explosion and the cavern’s walls shuddered violently making everyone cry in shock.

"Hurry!" I snapped as I used telekinesis to keep the walls and the ceiling from caving in.

The atmosphere around me turned frantic as I felt the weight of the entire mountain on top of me.

"Master, we’re done!"

"Hurry and run out!"

"But you-"

"The mountain will come down on us if I moved first, get out, now!" I shouted.

The people started screaming and rushing out of the cavern and once everyone we’re out I moved along removing my telekinesis watching as the cracks that had spread across the cavern slowly led to the ceiling to start crashing.

I rushed out behind the horde of the people feeling the mountain starting to crumble behind me.

I saw the people getting on the carriages and a few shouting for me to hurry and join them.

I sighed as I saw the large cracks stretching up the walls of the gorge around us. Before long this whole place would be grounded, there wasn’t time to use carriages to reach to safety.

"Everyone get into the carriages!"

"Master, please-"

"Get inside the carriages!" I shouted making everyone to get in the carriages.

"Hold onto each other tightly!" I shouted as I inhaled and exhaled deeply before I expanded the zone of my telekinesis and gripped the carriages making the horses and the people to shout in fear.

I lifted the four carriages filled with people as I felt the walls around us starting to give in and the land to start sliding down.

I flapped my wings as I lifted myself off the ground as well and brought the carriages up to the safer ground while there was the huge sound of the ground collapsing behind us.

I let the carriages drop on the ground gently before I landed myself and huffed heavily before I sat down under a tree watching mana consumption warning flashing before my eyes again.

I sighed deeply as I saw the people slowly emerging out of the carriages and finding themselves out in the open.

"We’re free!"

"We’re saved!"

"Master!"

"There he is!"

I looked at the seven men dressed in black rush up to me.

"Master, are you all right?"

"Master did you get hurt?"

"Master, can you hear us?"

They started shouting as I sat there slumped over, their voices rang in my ears making my head pound.

"Don’t shout!" I snapped making them clamp their mouths shut before they sighed with relief.

"We-We thought we were goners." One of them spoke in a low and soft voice.

"We didn’t think you would come for our rescue yourself, Master."

"Thank you for coming for us, Master."

"We’re really grateful to you, Master."

I looked up at their bruised faces, it was a good thing that my face was concealed behind a mask but I couldn’t help but feel the relief wash over me watching them safe and sound.

"I’m glad you all are safe." I spoke up, "Besides, why wouldn’t I come looking for you? You belong to my domain and were out working when you got in trouble so, it was my responsibility to come look for you."

It wasn’t long till the people of Lozar who noticed the deafening sound of the landslide and mountain collapse came towards the forest looking for the reason and we all went towards the town.

Some people who already were of Lozar were happy to be back home and some who were from other towns were happy to be rescued and alive.

I felt at ease watching everyone safe but even with the relief I couldn’t help but feel the sense of unease. That presence or creature or whatever it was that I felt while I was in the cavern must have been the reason for the mountain to collapse.

I should find out who that was before it became a huge trouble for me in future.