Although they were a different race, the horned ones resembled humans. They would have been indistinguishable if not for the horns and other certain features which they had yet to discover. It would have been impossible to spot the difference.

And yet without a hint of hesitation, he killed them.

Violet clenched her fist, her arms trembling, knowing that they too would have to do the same. This was what a war was and sooner or later, there's no doubt they'd have to kill for their survival. Without saying anything, she leapt across to the pillar before entering the staircase and Aurora followed after.

Violet didn't have anything to say. She ignored the bloody corpse on the floor along with the blood on Gray's knife.

As Gray crouched down to pick up one of their curved swords which resembled a katana, Aurora called out to him.

"Gray Did you Have to kill them?" She asked.

Avoiding looking her in the eye, Gray stood up, now with their katana in hand, before standing ahead of the doors. "You didn't ask anything about the guy in the mansion before or that old man that tried to kill us back in the refugee, so why are you asking now?"

"That's"

"I did. We can't fail this and have them call for back up. Otherwise it won't just be my sister who ends up dead." He muttered.

[Quest: Rescue Ria]

[Rewards: ???]

[Failure: Ria's Death]

Aurora turned her head downwards. There was nothing that she could say in response.

*Drip* *Drip*

'I'm stupid Selfish... Such an idiot... If it wasn't him I wouldn't even be alive right now... He gave me a reason to live He saved me time and time again And yet... I... I didn't even realize I didn't realise that he was suffering all on his own It's frustrating It's so frustrating.' She lamented inwardly.

Gray's pupils dilated as he glanced back to check on Aurora. Although she tried rubbing it away, she couldn't stop the stream of tears which were flowing down the side of her eyes.

Violet too was surprised by Aurora's sudden action. Her eyes ended up growing watery as a result.

*Clap*

A loud clap reverberated throughout the staircase as Aurora smacked her palms against her cheek, causing it to redden. Her eyes had become moist and watery from the tears.

"Sorry about that... Something got in my eyes." She muttered as she rubbed them.

There was a change in her sorrowful expression after doing so, her eyes had become determined as if they had realised something new. "Sorry for wasting our time, let's hurry up and go find your sister."

"Y-Yeah" Gray replied.

[Quest updated]

[Time Limit added]

A screen popped up ahead of Gray. As he read the contents, his heart skipped a beat.

[Time remaining until quest fails: 04:34]

[Failure: Ria's Death]

'Time remaining until quest fails? Does that mean? She only has 4 minutes until she-'

*CRASH!*

They were all interrupted as the doors slammed opened. In that instant a extensively long spear could be seen emerging through the room towards Gray.

[Pau-]

A shield of ice had suddenly appeared between him and the spear just as he was about to react to stop it. Along with that, the horned one who had thrust the spear, seemed to burst away from a telekentic wave.

[Telekenesis]

[Ice Shield]

Gray glanced to the side only to see Violet, her purple hair and clothes swaying on their own as a result of her having used her ability.

Aurora's pink hair could be seen flashing a light blue glow as her puffs of breath became visible from the sudden drop in temperature.

"We've been spotted." Said Violet.

Through the open doors, they could see a large camp, with countless tents set up. Around these tents were quite a few horned ones of different ranks. They were mostly sat at one of the tables and eating their meals which was also being cooked at this moment

Based on their horns the ranks amongst them varied, he could mostly see green but there were a few yellows and probably a red too. They hadn't seem to have noticed Gray and his group, at least until now.

*CRASH!*

The figure which Violet had sent flying away crashed into one of their tents. At that moment, it had begun.

Bloodlust was directed at the three, forcing chills down their spines as the horned ones moved to pick up their weapons. It was at that moment that they had realised, they had made a mistake.

The plan was to, sneak past. But they didn't imagine that there would have been this many.

In that split second three horned ones appeared ahead of them with their weapons already drawn. Gray had just barely gotten a glance of their horns, top half was orange. 2nd Highest rank.

Their speed was unbelievable gray had barely been able to see them. Lights flashed against the rooms as the other horned ones abilities were simultaneously activated, getting ready to be fired off at the imposters.

By the time Aurora and Violet were about to react it was too late. the three which had drawn their weapons, had already appeared before them with a swing heading at their heads. One was a sword, the other was a mace and the last one was an Axe

Again, they could do nothing but watch as the speed surpassed anything humanly possible. But it wasn't just because of that, their bodies had stopped responding, they couldn't move.

Chills rushed down the three high-ranked horned ones spines once they realized that they had suddenly halted mid-air. Everything which was within five meters of Gray, had stopped.

Such was the result of Gray's new ability.

[Pause Level 3: Chronos Field]

A field was deployed around Gray just before they had made their move.

Had it not been for this new ability, both Aurora and Violet would have died. Realizing this, a blooming rage had begun to emerge from Gray as he took a step towards the closest one.

With his one step, a vast amount of bloodlust was directed towards the them. The horned ones all felt immediate danger.

Gray who was about kill them, in that instant, was reminded of their primary objective and the effect of this skill. After using it, he would become immobilized, and it only lasted a few seconds at most.

What they should have been doing as of it this moment, was running. Running towards his sister who drew closer to death with every second that they wasted.

Holding his anger back, Gray suddenly grabbed onto Aurora and Violet's figure, resulting in them unpausing before he pause stepped them closer towards door which led to the next floor.

The field had moved along with Gray and remained within five meters of him even after he pause stepped.

"STOP THEM!!!" The three orange ranked horned ones shouted now that they were away from the field.

But by then it was too late, as Gray's figure vanished along with the three of them as he pause stepped them through the door which led to the next floor.

250 - Powerstones - Maintain 2 chapters daily release.

400 - Power stones - 3 chapters release

500 - Power stones - 4 chapters

500 - Power stones - Mass release