In the stary night sky, hung 2 moons in waning gibbous phase. Larger moon had a red hue while slightly smaller one had a tinge of light blue. The 2 moons dimly illuminated the forest below. In a clearing in that forest a camp had been set up, 3 bonfires, each had 4 logs surrounding it, to be used for sitting.

  On one such log was sitting a middle aged dy with mild wrinkles, wearing a bck robe with white fme like patters. She seemed to be deep in thought. 'It's been 2 days since I left the Ashfeild estate, yet the journey to Hesta till now has been completely normal'

  The soup kept in front of her had turned cold, yet she was busy with her thoughts, 'I was sure that the Duke would try to get me killed to keep me silent about his son's matter, he is just that much of ruthless man... we will be out of Ashfeild Duchy by tomorrow noon, is he waiting for me to exit the boundry of Vulcan to kill me? So that even if I die, suspicions that fall upon him will be minor at best... it is possible...'

  She released a sigh and called out to the soldier that was keeping gaurd behind her, "Get me a warm boul of soup."

  "Yes madam" he took the cold soup boul that was in front of Serena and walked to the cauldron that was hanging on a bonfire.

  On log in front of Serena was a middle aged man, visible scars on his face was, in a armour, Knight gaurd captain accompaning Serena, asked her, "You seem to be lost in some thoughts. Worried that we shouldn't have set our camp this close to the Screeching woods?"

  Screeching woods was a small yet dangerous forest in Vulcan region. It had numerous grade-3 and some grade-2 monsters lurking in it. But because only grade-5 and 4 monsters ever come out of it, the entirety of the forest hadn't been destroyed. Some monsters in the forest made intense Screeching sounds, hence the name Screeching woods.

  She couldn't reveal the real matters she was thinking about so she simply agreed tersely.

  "Haha, don't worry madam Serena, the only monsters that wander out of the forest are weak ones. And even if a Grade-2 monster came out, tho it's almost impossible, you and I together could surely take it down"

  Serena didn't disagree with that. The soldier returned with a hot bowl of soup soon.

  ...

  In the heart of Screeching woods, Herald Stones, the most trusted of Duke Gunther, and his subordinates entered an eerily silent cave. Herald walked in front, with a bckish crystal box in his right hand.

  "Sir Herald, shouldn't this much be enough? We are already quite deep in this cave... since Grade-2 monsters live here..." a knight behind Herald spoke.

  But before the knight could hear a response, he heard a deep guttural growl, comming from deep within the cave. A mage, walked to the front and raised his palm towards the source of the sound. He muttered an incantation and a light escaped from his palm, illuminating the deep cave.

  After the path of cave ahead was lit, Herald gave his order, "Get ready". Simultaneously all of his subordinates took out ear plugs and wore them, and the world fell completely silent for them.

  Soon enough 3 huge monsters appeared. About 5 meters tall each, covered in dirty dark brown fur, multiple holes on thier bodies that opened and closed one after another releasing faint yellow oily substance, and sporting 3 pairs of nostrils and 2 pairs of bat-like ears with no eyes. These 3 goril like Grade-2 monsters were called 'Blind Reapers', they were the self-procimed rulers of the Screeching woods.

  They didn't attack Herald and company immediately, sensing something amiss or problematic. Herald quickly opened the bckish crystal box he was carrying, revealing a pin golden ring.

  The Blind Reaper standing in the front, the leader, suddenly realized what the problem was, it lunged at Herald at break neck speed. But Herald was faster, he had already worn the pin golden ring. Blind Reaper's cw was just inches away from Herald's right eye when he spoke, "Kneel."

  That Blind Reaper suddenly lost all his strength and fell on his knees, including the other 2 Blind Reapers behind him.

  Herald spoke further, "Head straight northeast from the entrance of this cave. On your way, kill anyone and anything you come across, your priority is human woman, wearing a bck robe with white fme patterns, you'll find on your way. Kill her even if you have to die. Then continue eastward"

  The words that Herald spoke had somehow automatically been transted in the nguage that the Blind Reapers understood.

  The 3 Blind Reapers nodded like obedient trained dogs. They stood up in dazed state and walked past Herald and company, after exiting the cave they ran in northeast and destroyed everything in their path, as ordered.

  Herald's subordinates took off the earplugs. Herald's right hand man, Elite rank knight Raner muttered in astonishment, "Ring of commands is truly miraculous..."

  "That's right..." Herald took off the pin golden ring and pced it back in the bckish crystal box, "Ring of commands is one of the few Legendary-Grade artifacts that The Ashfeild Family posses" Herald turned around to walk towards the exit of cave but he stumbled, leaning on a cave wall, he started coughing up blood.

  A healer rushed towards him, he pced his palm above Herald's throat and muttered an incantation as his palm produced a greenish light. Soon, Herald stopped coughing and his expression rexed into comfort. "You alright?" Raner asked, concerned.

  "I'm fine. Ring of commands can properly be used only in the hands of a Saint, like Sir Gunther, I'm but a Master so it took toll on my body" Herald expined, "Anyone who, below Grade-1 or Saint Rank, hears the voice of Ring of command's wearer will follow those commands. The words will automatically get transted to the nguage that the target understands."

  Herald exited the cave, Raner and others following behind, he looked in the direction where the 3 Blind Reapers went "So many innocents are going to die... all because a secret was worth more than their lives... Now all is in hands of Sir Gunther"

  ...

  Sitting in front of a bonfire, drinking hot soup and occasionally chatting with Knight gaurds captain, Serena suddenly tensed up. Sensing great danger from the direction of Screeching woods quickly approaching her position, Serena immediately threw away the bowl and stood up "Something extremely dangerous is headed here, get all the gaurd Knights ready for battle. Now!"

  Knight gaurd captain Kevin was puzzled, he was a Elite rank knight and had a rich experience of over 25 years on battlefeild, yet he didn't sense anything. But considering that Serena Terne was a Master, a rank above him, he didn't doubt her words and immediately took action. He too, abruptly stood up and took immediate action and commanded his men, "Everyone! In crescent spear position now!"

  All the gaurds, because they weren't truly x since being close to Screeching woods, were about to take the designated positions when they heard a soul piercings loud screeching sound. Almost everyone, except Serena, Kevin and few stronger knights, fell on thier knees and grabbed thier heads in attempt to ease the sudden intense headache.

  "Blind Reapers!?" Serena and Kevin immediately recognized the source of the soul piercing screech. Serena added in her heart 'Gunther, that madman! He somehow managed to send Grade-2 monsters after me?! Doesn't he realize that those insane creatures won't stop just after killing me?! They will surely attack nearby vilges and towns, killing hundreds! Just how desperate is that madman?!' she cursed.

  Kevin was now scared, he had cimed that together they could kill a Grade-2 monster, but there were multiple of them here now! "Madam Sere-". She cut him off "I know damnit, shut up! Let me think!". Kevin fell silent.

  "Buy me 3 minutes!" She commanded after a second. Kevin didn't know what she had pnned, but he decided to trust her, he didn't have any other choice as the terrifying Blind Reapers were approaching.

  'No no no no this situation is impossible! Escape is impossible! Among all Grade-2s, Blind Reapers have the sharpest hearing and smelling abilities, though they are blind, they are apex hunters!' She quickly needed a pn 'Escape is out of question, only Saints and above can stop them. After killing us they will attack vilges and towns. Shit! Fine I'll explode myself and take one down with me, atleast that way there will be a few less innocent deaths!'

  Kevin complied with the command of facing the Blind Reapers for 3 minutes. He and all the knights, that could still stand after the screeching, surrounded Serena in a defensive position.

  4 seconds ter, in front of the Knights stood 3 towering figures. 5 meters tall, no eyes, 3 pairs of nostrils, 2 pairs of bat-like ears, goril shaped body, multiple holes that opened and closed one after another releasing yellow oily substance acidic in nature, Blind Reapers!

  The 3 monsters instinctively focused on Serena, sensing dangerous amount of mana gathering within her. 3 them together produced another soul piercing screech, but it was blocked by a barrier this time, created by a few mages. But it instantly shattered, though reducing the impact of the screechs significantly. A few mages created an intense foul stench with magic, while others created a gritting sound with magic, in hopes of blocking off the extremely sharp senses of the Blind Reapers.

  Unbeknownst to them, this strategy only worked because the 3 Blind Reapers were currently under the influence of a Legendary-Grade artifact, they currently weren't themselves, able to perform barely a quarter and half there normal capabilities. Stronger Knights and Kevin engaged in a loosing battle against the Blind Reapers. The struggle continued for 3 minutes, yet all Kevin was able to accomplish was sever a Blind Reaper's arm, at cost of his own arm.

  They fought with there lives on line, hoping that what Serena was trying to accomplish will save thier lives.

  "Done!" Serena decred and lunged at a Blind Reaper, one whose arm wasn't severed. Kevin and other's heaved in relief, thinking there sacrifices weren't in vain. But when Serena Lunged at a Blind Reaper, only then did Kevin sensed something amiss with Serena's action, his face paled and he lost all hope when he realized what Serena was trying to accomplish.

  "Curse you Gunther! Go to hell!" She excimed

  "Serena this Bitc-" before Kevin could finish, Serena, now right infront of a Blind Reaper, exploded! The Blind Reaper she was infront of was also reduced to smithereens, including every human present there. A huge crater had formed.

  Only the other 2 Blind Reapers remained alive, even though they sported multiple injuries, albeit not life threatening. Still under the Ring of command's, they ignored their companion's death and headed eastward, towards a small town.

  On their way, a small thunder cloud formed above them, and it rained lightning above the 2 injured Blind Reapers. Within a few seconds, 2 Grade-2 Blind Reapers, once mighty self procimed rulers Screeching woods, died just like that before they could reach the small town.

  A few hundred meters away, Duke Saint Gunther stood coldy. Herald appeared beside him and outstretched his arm towards Gunther, returning the artifact. Gunther took it and said, "Near The Screeching woods, Royal magic instructor Serena Terne and company, who were returning to the Capital city Hesta from Ashfeild estate, met with an unfortunate accident"

  He looked at Herald and continued, "Since I was nearby, sensing something wrong, I quickly arrived at the scene saw that a few Blind Reapers had gone crazy. Unfortunately I was too te to save anyone and could only eliminate the mad Blind Reapers"

  "Indeed." Herald nodded.