Chapter 200: When the Night Becomes Darker

Bahamut and his team moved towards the settlement, the town of Senkeht. They passed some low dunes and eventually got to a row of carefully lined cactuses, forming a pathway straight to the massive gates of the town.

The gates were made from a mix of wood and stone, a very strange creation. Exactly how is it possible to mix stone and wood? But it was there for everyone to see. The gates were about 10 feet tall, set into a wall of about 9.8 feet. And it stretched as far as the eyes could see, making them question whether it was really a town or if there was some misinformation.

On top of the walls were guards, clad in brown robes from head to toe, leaving only their eyes. They looked like ninjas, but in brown. They held clubs with the head and the bulging end planted on the ground. Nothing about these people screamed weak.

They were hell of powerful, or maybe it was just an illusion, but Bahamut’s senses were telling him otherwise.

"I feel like something is very, very wrong. These guards are already Tier 2," Bahamut whispered to Sel, making him nod in affirmation.

"I also noticed. Do you think we were given the wrong information?" Sel asked as his senses spread out.

"We were, but not intentionally. That much, I can tell."

"So a third person?"

"Most likely."

"But who?"

"That’s the question."

Soon, they reached the gates. The guards noticed them immediately and signaled them to stop. One of them jumped down from the wall and landed skillfully in front of them with glowing, brown eyes.

He scrutinized each one of them, taking in their young appearances and clothing.

"Who are you?" The man asked in his native language, causing all of them except Bahamut to look at him in confusion. He noticed their confused expressions and was about to react when Bahamut spoke up. For some reason, he understood what the man was saying, and the answer was very obvious. It was possible that he’d once lived as one of these people, had some relation with them.

"We are disciples of the Shadow Fang Sect," Bahamut answered him, causing the man to stare at him in surprise. He was surprised that the one who appeared to be disabled could speak his language and was even fluent in it.

"Show proof," The man inquired. Bahamut nodded and took his crest from his system space and handed it to the man. The man just took a glance at it, passed it to him, and turned and jumped up the wall again. That was when they all noticed that he was barefoot and that the earth rippled and sent a wave upward when he jumped, pushing him all the way up to the wall.

They didn’t have to wait for long as the gates creaked loudly and moved inwards. The same man from earlier appeared and signalled them to follow him. He led them through the gates and into the town that looked nothing like a town. They would’ve loved to explore, but they had no time. Bahamut quickly moved beside the man and asked him if they could meet the leader or head of the town, as they had something important to tell them.

The man smiled and nodded, making everyone look at him in surprise, and especially Bahamut, who had shocked them by speaking their language. The man led them through a row of beautiful stone houses, across a small stream that seemed to flow from an oasis nearby, and into an area with one huge stone house.

The house was very huge, easily the size of a normal two-story building with a lot of windows and a flag, possibly of the town, planted on its roof. The design on the flag was a wooden club, planted on a huge rock.

The man signalled them to stop and proceeded towards the five guards situated in front of the house. These men wore grey clothes with their faces also covered. He saluted them by hitting his chest with his hand, and talked to one of the grey-clothed men who seemed to be the leader of the five.

The man stared at Bahamut and the rest and nodded to the guard who had brought them there. The guard moved back to the group, relayed the message to them, and left. The grey-clothed guard moved inside the building and returned three minutes later. He approached the group and signalled them to follow him.

The inside of the building was nothing too extravagant. It was lightly decorated with a lot of windows to ensure ventilation, but what was more shocking was that the place was cool, unlike the outside. Bahamut and Ren instantly stopped using their elements, deactivating the pocket. As they looked around the place in awe, a man approached them. He was dressed in white clothes that also covered his face, leaving his eyes... two, glowing golden orbs, brimming with power and strength.

"Powerful..." Bahamut muttered absentmindedly.

"Pardon me. Don’t mind the actions of this old man. Haha!" The man said with a light laugh, and this time, he spoke in the language they all understood. "Water?"

...

Bahamut and his team could be found seated on chairs around a small table as they engaged in a light conversation with the man, who happened to be the chief of Senkeht, Hakim Senkeht. The town was founded by the first Senkeht, and so was named after him. The region was named Ra-Senkeht because the founder was an avid follower and worshipper of Amun-Ra, the sun god of Egypt.

Hakim then asked them about their purpose for visiting the town after they introduced themselves. Bahamut, being the leader, answered him.

"We are here to help. We got a mission of an approaching beast horde attack, led by a Tier 2, Circle of Comprehension beast."

"Who told you that?" Hakim, after going silent for a while, asked in bewilderment.

"That’s the mission we got."

"The information is totally wrong. Well, not with the beast horde, but the leader of the horde is at least a Tier 3, Elemental Extension beast. Even if the whole town comes together, the most we can do is to stall it for a day. Tier 3 beings are referred to as Demigods for a reason," Hakim said in a grave tone.

Bahamut turned to Sel, who sighed.

"We were set up," Exildra said.

"It seems like it, but don’t worry. You are still from the Shadow Fang Sect. If things get out of hand, I can teleport you back," Hakim said with a wry smile, but Bahamut shook his head.

"There’s no need for that. We will complete our mission."

"We are talking about a Tier 3 beast here..."

"I am yet to kill one."

Hakim’s eyes widened in shock when he noticed how every one of them was smiling. Even the sound of a Tier 3 beast wasn’t enough to shake them. He could only wonder what they’d experienced to build this kind of resistance to fear. It was already rubbing off him.

If only he knew that they’d faced an evolved ghoul and survived...

...

That night, the group experienced one of the strangest nights ever. There were no moons or stars in the sky. In fact, the night was so dark that they even thought the darkness was tangible. Although they didn’t need light to walk in the darkness since they were all from races with heightened senses, it was still unnerving. It felt as if something was watching them, and none of them liked being watched without their knowledge.

Another thing was that, despite their enhanced senses, especially eyesight, their senses were still dulled. It was as if something was actively pressing and tuning down their senses.

"I don’t like this place at all. It gives me the creeps," Ren stated from where he slept by Sel’s side. His position on Bahamut’s side had been occupied by his girls. Alana slept soundly on his chest, while Exildra and Lily slept on his opposite sides. He was squished in, and Ren couldn’t help but scoff in annoyance.

"And this idiot doesn’t seem to care!"

"He’s blind... He can’t see the darkness," Gabi commented in a quiet tone from the side, making Sel chuckle.

"I assure you that, apart from Exildra, Bahamut has the best eyesight in the whole sect. And I said Exildra because she is a Seer."

"Bahamut, I know you can hear us," Ren said in a grumpy tone.

"Just leave me be. I can taste your jealousy," Bahamut retorted.

"Jealous of who? You? You make me laugh."

"Then keep quiet and sleep."

"You are not the one to tell me to sleep. I’m not a toddler."

"Then let me sleep. And you are a cute bunny. That is no different from a toddler."

"Are you really trying to sleep here?"

"Do you think I can?"

"Serves you right!"