Escalating Across The Cosmos

[Chapter 168]

A/N: if any of you are wondering, this was originally published yesterday but a strange error made it update today rather than yesterday which was both confusing and frustrating for me.
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(Log 169)

"S-Sensei slow down!!!" Kiana exclaimed while being carried by Fu Hua who was moving through the woods, dodging and weaving across the usually difficult terrain because of the many branches, veins, moss and bushes across the place.

"No time for that Kiana we need to be in the village on time." Fu Hua replied having received the message that her fire spirit had discovered and to she was shock was an understatement heavy burning fury... were boiling in her heart.

"What's going on there anyway?! I know that it's urgent but is it that bad?" Stelle asked as she jumps across the branches above them... making sure to keep pace with their mentor who was moving fast.

Quite fast in fact that she was becoming a blur for her if she hadn't used Eonic's help in catching up, her usual speed and strength weren't built built match up to Fu Hua, who is much more experienced and had longer trainings than Stelle has.

She was still a first year her training is a short one compared to the years that Fu Hua had undergone after graduating and gone through rigorous missions or training regime just to keeper herself fit.

"It's far worse than what intel had sent." She grimly replied as her eyes soon met the view if the village which isn't far off but she could sense the crudes defenses and traps that has been set up around it.

Nevertheless it would still be dangerous to her students or herself if she wasn't careful enough, she perform a few hand signs to dispel the traps and defenses and due to the way it all crudely crafted.

It was not an issue for her to dispel they weren't of high quality or in good shape to function properly... she was surprised that they still even work without blowing up, either way it did not matter.

"What could be worse than a Yokai thats trying to terrorize a village?" Kiana asked as she hovers behind her mentor, honkai energy flowing to properly her in order to catch up her mentor's speed.

"They weren't wrong with a yokai that is present in the village but it's the opposite... it's not a yokai that is causing the problem." Fu Hua informed as she jumps over a large tree and land on top.

"It's the village who is causing the issue." Her gaze hardened as it met with the sight at the center of the village, a pillar of sorts could be seen built at the center with a young child... wrapped around it.

"The village... why would you say that-." Stelle's gaze halts as she looked at the village upon reaching the top where her and Kiana's mentor was waiting as both witness what's happening on the village.

"Those bastards." Sirin whispered as she held a raging expression on her tiny face, hovering above Kiana's shoulder she was one step away from unleashing a horde of honkai to attack the villagers.

"W-What are they doing?!!!" Kiana asked a look of horror on her face as she sees the little girl tied up over the makeshift pillar that was being used as a sacrificial alter by the villagers who look like cults.

"It's a sacrifice, they're going to sacrifice a damn girl..." Sirin gritted her teeth as Honkai energy gathers at her tiny palm, Fu Hua raised a hand to stop her. "Hold it, we can't risk the girl getting harmed."

"But what are we supposed to do?!! Wait for them to sacrifice her?" Stelle asked clearly not happy at they were seeing and neither was Fu Hua. "Don't let your emotions blind you." Fu Hua reminded.