The massive cobra hissed violently, its red eyes locking onto Aquila as it coiled its thick body, preparing to strike.

At the moment, the air felt heavy and time seemed to pause, the ground trembling beneath the weight of the two Grade Four beasts.

Aquila flapped its majestic wings, rising slightly above the ground, its sharp golden eyes glaring down at its opponent. The griffin was calm—confident. It wasn’t afraid.

The serpent struck first.

Like a whip, its long body lashed out, its fangs aiming for Aquila’s throat with terrifying speed.

…Woooosh!!

Aquila twisted mid-air, dodging effortlessly before slamming its talons into the snake’s thick body, raking across its scales.

Clang!!

Sparks flew as claw met armor-like flesh, but the attack barely left a scratch.

The snake retaliated instantly, exhaling a thick, dark green gas from its fanged mouth.

Aquila flapped its wings hard, sending a powerful gust through the battlefield. The poisonous mist was swept away instantly, rendering the attack useless.

The serpent’s eyes flickered in surprise.

It coiled tighter, its long body weaving between the trees as it circled Aquila, looking for an opening.

Aquila didn’t wait.

Krreeeii!!

With a sharp cry, the griffin dove, its beak striking the snake’s side. This time, the impact left a deep wound, black blood dripping onto the forest floor.

Hissssss!!

The cobra let out a furious hiss and lunged again, but Aquila was already soaring higher, evading its attack with ease.

The fight escalated rapidly.

Each time the snake tried to strike, Aquila dodged it’s advanced, delivering devastating counterattacks.

The serpent’s fangs missed again and again.

Its poison was useless.

Its speed meant nothing in the face of a flying predator that could move in all directions.

The snake grew more desperate. It flung its body recklessly, trying to coil around Aquila, but the griffin continued to slice into it, cutting through its scales with sharp, precise strikes.

The forest was in chaos.

Trees were uprooted, their trunks shattered from the sheer force of the battle. The once peaceful clearing had become a warzone, filled with destruction and blood.

From afar, Lizella and the freed captives exited the tree hideout and were stunned by the sight before them. They gathered together and watched in silence, all of them too engrossed to even speak. Some were too afraid to move. Others simply stared in awe at the battle unfolding above them.

Damien, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, a small smirk playing on his lips.

He wasn’t worried.

Aquila was toying with its prey.

The snake was already weakening, its body covered in gashes. Its movements were slower, its strikes losing precision.

Aquila saw its chance.

With a powerful flap of its wings, it launched forward, gripping the serpent’s thick body with its talons.

The snake shrieked in panic as it was lifted off the ground, its massive body writhing in protest.

Higher.

Higher.

Aquila soared, taking the serpent hundreds of meters into the sky.

Then—

It let go.

The cobra plummeted, its massive form crashing into the ruined forest below.

Boooom!! Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

The impact shook the earth. A crater formed where the serpent landed, its body twitching from the brutal fall.

But Aquila wasn’t finished.

The griffin dove down again, grabbing the barely-alive snake and pulling it back into the sky.

It dropped it a second time.

Boooom!!

Then a third.

Booooooom!!

With each fall, the cobra’s body broke further, its bones snapping, its internal organs rupturing.

By the fourth drop, it was no longer moving.

Yet Aquila wasn’t done.

With one final ascent, it took the lifeless serpent even higher than before—

And then, with a feral cry of victory, “Kreeeeeii!!”

Aquila ripped he snake apart.

Its talons and beak tore through flesh, severing the snake into multiple pieces.

Blood rained from the sky.

Thick droplets splattered against the tree canopies, drenching the forest floor in dark crimson.

Even the freed captives were not spared.

They gasped as warm blood rained down on them, some crying out in horror, others too stunned to react.

Lizella shivered, gripping her robe tightly as the snake’s remains crashed onto the ruined landscape below.

Silence followed.

Only the sound of dripping blood remained.

Aquila flapped its wings once more, descending gracefully. Its golden eyes gleamed with victory as it landed beside Damien.

The griffin let out a sharp cry, its head held high.

Damien chuckled, patting its bloodied feathers. “Show-off.”

Aquila ruffled its wings in response, clearly pleased with itself.

Lizella swallowed hard and turned to Damien. “…That was terrifying.”

He smirked. “Good. They should be afraid.”

She looked at him, then at Aquila, then at the destroyed battlefield around them.

For the first time, she truly understood.

The Stray Hounds weren’t just dealing with any opponent.

They had made an enemy that would never stop hunting them.

“I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Damien informed Lizella and then turned to Aquila. “Keep watching over them.”

Damien stepped back into the tree hideout, the scent of blood and burnt wood still thick in the air.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

His boots echoed lightly against the wooden floor as he retraced his steps toward the room where he had encountered the massive serpent.

The hole from which the creature had emerged was easy to spot—its massive body had left deep, winding marks across the floor, leading to a gaping tunnel.

He wasted no time.

Stepping forward, he descended into the passage.

The air grew colder almost immediately, dampness seeping in from the rocky walls.

The ground was uneven, littered with small puddles of stagnant water. He could hear the faint, distant dripping of moisture from the ceiling, the sound echoing eerily through the narrow space.

Damien’s sharp eyes scanned the dirt floor, noting the presence of footprints—fresh ones.

‘They were just here.’

His lips curled into a smirk.

Preys.

Without hesitation, he pressed forward, following the tracks. His movements were precise, his pace steady. He knew he would get to them.

The air grew heavier the deeper he went, the tunnel twisting and branching off into smaller paths.

Traps were scattered throughout the route—tripwires, spiked pressure plates, hidden pitfalls.

Damien barely slowed.

He sidestepped a falling spike trap effortlessly, ducked under a swinging axe, and leapt over a shallow pit of sharpened stakes without breaking stride.

None of it fazed him—until one did.

A sudden whoosh of steel slicing through the air forced him to react.

He turned sharply, twisting his body, but not fast enough.

Pain lanced through his waist.

A hidden blade had shot from the tunnel wall, narrowly missing his torso but cutting a shallow line across his side. Blood seeped through his clothing, warm against his skin.

Damien hissed but didn’t stop moving.

His fingers brushed against the wound as he pressed forward, ignoring the sting. It was nothing serious—just a reminder that this place wasn’t meant for visitors.

He took out a vial of healing potions and emptied its contents within seconds. “That should do it.” He murmured and continued deeper into the tunnel, pushing past the discomfort.

Finally, he reached another door—nearly identical to the one he had entered through before. The footprints stopped here.

With a silent breath, Damien pushed it open.

The moment Damien stepped through the door, he knew this was another base.

Weapons with the Stray Hounds’ insignia were lined up on racks along the walls. Cuffs and chains hung from iron hooks, some rusted, others looking new—waiting for their next victims.

He spotted neatly folded uniforms on a wooden table. A map was pinned to the far wall, detailing routes through the forest.

But there were no people.

The hideout was abandoned.

Damien’s eyes swept across the room, his gaze sharp as he scanned for any signs of recent activity. There were still embers in the fireplace, a faint warmth lingering in the air. Someone had been here not long ago.

“They ran the moment they realized I was coming.”

Cowards.

Damien clicked his tongue, stepping further inside. He checked every room, every storage chest, but there was nothing of value left behind. The only thing he confirmed was that this was indeed another Stray Hounds stronghold.

His fingers trailed over a worn-out whip hanging from the wall.

How many people had suffered here?

How many had been dragged into this place, only to be shackled and sold like animals?

The thought made his stomach churn.

Tearing the whip from the hook, he threw it to the ground and stomped on it, the leather cracking beneath his boot.

“There’s nothing left here.” Turning back, Damien exited the hideout and re-entered the underground tunnel.

Unbeknownst to him, half a mile aboveground, near the surface entrance to the hideout, Cerbe sat patiently.

The Three-Headed Hound’s glowing eyes scanned the treeline, its massive form still and waiting.

Blood still dripped from its fangs, the scent of its previous kills lingering in the air.

It didn’t move.

Not yet.

Cerbe was waiting for its next target.

It knew more would come.

And when they did…

It would be ready.

Damien didn’t stop.

He had promised Lizella he would return soon, but that didn’t mean he was going back just yet.

Not until he had seen enough.

The tunnel stretched ahead, twisting deeper into the unknown. “How far did they make this thing?” Damien asked himself.

_________________

_________________

A/N: Dear readers!! I apologise for the lack of recent updates. I promise to upload two more chapters today to make up for the previous missed days.

I am still recovering but you all matter to me too!! Thank you guys!! I love you all!!!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep