24 Etheric Fruits 2 (1/2)

”Oh? The gold bird mercenary. You even believe in children's tales?” an singsong voice said, causing every body to pause.

They all looked towards the location of the voice. Surprisingly, it was above their head. Three young men and two girls stood in the air looking down on them with eyes filled with amusement and disdain. The me were all dress the same, and the girl too. They all looked to be around the same age.

”My senior apprentice brother asked you a question.” one of the men spoke. They looked to the one leading the group. It was a fairly handsome boy with sharp nose and glassy eyes. They all had their long hair tied back, looking ethereal. Those words confirmed the captain's worst fears. These were students of a sect. From their attire, their sect must still have some influence in the demon lands.

”Brother, since you know who we are, you don't mind telling us who you, right?” the captain asked. They were all guarded. He called the young man brother because he could see that they were all in the spirit awareness stage, except the leader, whose cultivation looked to be around the peak of spirit awareness; a step ahead of his.

”Had over the bad of etheric fruits and leave.” their words made Ed think, Etheric fruits, that;s what they were called? Well, it makes sense wince they have a well of etheric energy in them.

”We found these fruits fair and square.” the vice captain said and the newcomers laughed.

”Only power will decide.” one of the boy said and the captain paled. Even though the two groups were more or less at the same level of cultivation, he knew that those trained by sects where more powerful, as their sects spared no expense to raise them. If a fight broke out, he would be on the loosing side.

”Ed!” Meryl spoke into his mind and Ed looked at her.

”This may be our chance. If a fight breaks out, we should use that opportunity to escape.” she said, but Ed did not answer her.

”Are you really so righteous, you would save them, then still fight with them?” she asked in anger. She did not believe Ed would give up his life for people he did not know, and she was right. Ed did not save them because of his righteous heart. Righteous heart? He left that back in his world. In this world, he is ready to climb on heads to get to his goal, even if it's infant's blood he must drink.

He save them because he needed them to lead him to this fruits. Now that he is standing in front of it, he had no intention of walking away. He intended to take the fruits and leave.

”Fight then!” vice captain said and the two groups geared to start.