For more than two hours, the Blood Mutants had been walking through the forest towards its center, as per Grim’s instructions. During this time, they encountered multiple beasts in various shapes and sizes, forcing them to kill the creatures while protecting the unconscious Blood Bishop.
As they proceeded, the three Mutants recalled the techniques Ace had shown them as a guide for their training. Keeping this in mind, they practiced their blood skills, dispatching any hostile beasts that crossed their path, thereby enhancing their fighting abilities and blood strength.
While still on their journey, the heavy sounds of aircraft engines echoed above them. Looking up, they spotted a Granian ship hovering over them. The ship gently landed a few feet away, and Lord Grim and Grand Master disembarked.
"The expedition has been called off," Grim announced, activating four Blood Mutant blockers.
"We received an alert that Ace has achieved the Blood Bishop rank, correct?"
"Yes, but how did you..."
"There isn’t much time for us to explain," Grand Master interjected, directing two Granians to carry Ace’s body onto the ship. "Please come with us. Lord Grania has summoned all of you."
"Let me make an assumption," Jim added. "Because Ace has achieved that rank, you’re going to start the preparations for war, right? I overheard a conversation that went along those lines, if I’m not mistaken."
"Your assumption is correct," Grim confirmed as the Mutants boarded the ship. "Now, the sooner you get in shape, the sooner you will be debriefed on what is going to happen next. Hurry now; we shouldn’t waste any more time than we already have."
Upon entering the ship, the Mutants were transported away from the forest back to the Granian Castle. To their surprise, they had barely made it to the center of the forest, indicating that it would have taken them much longer to reach their destination.
The journey from the forest back to the Castle was long and awkward, with the Humans eyeing the Granians. The Granians felt tense around the Mutants, especially the one in the Blood Bishop rank. If they did not have blockers with them, they were certain the Mutants would kill them without a second thought.
’Thank goodness neither of them has achieved power that cannot be blocked easily,’ one of the Granians thought to themselves, their eyes fixated on Ace’s unconscious body. ’How could such a creature with a fragile-looking body be so dangerous and cunning?’
"I have a few questions," Jim asked, his curiosity about the preparations for war greatly aroused. "If you don’t mind, I’d like some answers too."
"Go ahead and ask," Grim responded, listening attentively.
"What is the purpose of this war? Or better yet, what is the main reason for this war? Also, when does it start, how will it start, who are you Granians going to fight, and what is the reason for bringing us along?"
"This ’war’ isn’t going to be a full-scale battle as you think," Grim answered. "It’s more like a conquest. We are taking back what’s ours. The Ethisians and other species have been stealing planets and colonies from us, reducing our influence and power in the galaxy.
"We are simply retrieving everything that has been taken from us. This war, or takeover, will begin as quickly as Lord Grania allows us; that is why we are going to Lord Grania first. It will start with you four at the frontline, along with your human accomplice Skyler. She has been undergoing her own training, and we trust that she will be of good use in the war. The reason we’re bringing you along is simple...."
"Throughout the depth of the galaxy," Grand Master interrupted, "Blood Mutants are terribly feared. You can easily tell through the way we react towards you by the way we use Blood Mutant blockers. The same thing happens elsewhere. Blood Mutants are seen, known, and feared as the most vicious beings in the universe.
"No other species has been able to rival them in terms of their bloodthirsty nature. The Ethisians attempted, but their large bodies and lack of supernatural abilities, minus brute strength, prohibit them from doing so. Therefore, us bringing you along is nothing more than a message to any other species out there. We will show them that we possess you as our Blood Mutants, but do not worry, you will not be subjected to this for the rest of your lives... that’s if you survive through this."
"Okay, that clears things up," Jim responded, remaining quiet for a moment, taking in Grim and Grand Master’s explanations. "What about the other Blood Mutants that the Ethisians have? What if they get in our way?" Chapters fırst released on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
"It is of utmost importance that we steer you away from them," Grim responded. "Those Mutants are far superior to you in power and strength. It will take twenty clones of Ace at his fullest strength to bring down, NOT KILL, just one of them. The stronger one is male, and the slightly weaker one is female."
"And they’re both human, right?" The conversation became more interesting, so much so that even Anya and Cherry became invested in it, curious about their other Blood Mutant rivals.
"Precisely," Grand Master answered. "Like you four, they used to be our accomplices and helped us grow our empire, but for some reason, they sided with the Ethisians and slowly killed our troops. Granians used to be the strongest and greatest race; that was until the Ethisians stole our Mutants."
"You speak of them as if they’re your property," Anya sneered, clearly disgusted by the way the Granian was talking about the humans. "What exactly did the Granians do to steal them from your ’control’?"
"We do not know," Grim sighed as the ship finally started to descend. "After this meeting with Lord Grania has ended, the two of you will undergo a procedure to insert new symbiotes into your bodies. That way, you will grow as strong as Ace has."