Walter snapped back to reality choosing to ignore the looming presence for now.

  He and Ren stood near vagrius's rotting corpse, the mail shirt now occupying a multitude of holes, Vagrius's bald half now open displaying a blackened rotting brain that appeared half eaten.

  Ren grimaced at the sight his amber eyes displaying an amusing sense of disgust. "Ehhh, what the fuck did you do to him?" Despite Rens rude unfiltered question, Walter knew that Ren was merely asking out of curiosity rather than actual fear or hate.

  Walters silver hair flickered in the flickering flames that slowly engulfed the trees surrounding them.

  His gray eyes met Rens amber eyes, "Just some skill I learned, don't pay too much attention to it, I'll explain once we get out of this mess"

  Rens fox ears perked up, "I'll be looking forward to that." He shook his head with a sigh.

  Walter exhaled, the black violet smokey flames faded from his fists. The fire ring caused from Barnaby's scepter started to roar louder with each passing second.

  Walters spoke again his tone softer this time as he looked down at Ren, glancing at his ribs that displayed a large purple bruise covering the left side of his ribs at an opening of his rags. "Those ribs of yours are broken, I doubt you can run so take it-."

  Ren snapped his eyes bulged with irritated, his teeth gritted. "Don't you look down on me, It's just a scratch, you worry about yourself."

  Walter went silent, blankly staring at Ren. He sighed. Walter muttered to himself quietly his eyes brows slightly furrowed.

  He adjusted his heavy black trench coat, he brought up his black bandana to cover his mouth.

  Ren smirked flashing sharp teeth and raised one of his eyebrows. "Woah I didn't know I was associated with the bandit king himself."

  Walter flicked Rens forehead with a gloved hand. "We can't risk anyone relating us to this incident, its best we keep our identities anonymous for the time being."

  Ren snarled slightly as he rubbed his forehead. "Wow hitting an injured young boy, you really don't have any shame do you mister?" Ren joked with an annoyed look.

  Walter and Ren moved hastily to the burning tree line Walter spoke aloud in a calm organised tone. "Ignore any remaining bandits, just prioritise escape for now."

  Suddenly they spotted movement in the shows. Both Walter and Ren stopped and looked on ahead with caution.

  The figures exposed themselves, bandits, however something was wrong, they moved towards Walter with an aimless movement almost as if they were lifeless.

  They made eye contact with Walter, their eyes were glassy their skin was turning black and peeling, they groaned incoherently at Walter and then took notice of Ren.

  They rushed towards Ren, 5 of them stumbling like drunks. Rens amber eyes widened in panic as he raised his left clawed hand and tensed his feet ready to spring into action once more despite his current injured state.

  Walter with a sudden realization shouted. "Stop."

  They stopped, turning their heads in slow synchronisation with a lifeless obedience and facing Walter.

  Walter nodded to himself

  Ren raised an eyebrow at the zombies and then shifted his gaze to Walter. "A war crime mage huh? My ma use to tell em stories about your type."

  They both moved forward, Walter had ordered the zombies to follow along near the trees for protection.

  Ren continued, "She said that they were typically vile,crude, evil and insane and held no regard for any life whether it was the elderly, the young, the rich, the poor, the innocent, the guilty. They only valued their own power and survival."

  Walter moved forward unsure how to respond to Rens comment. "I don't really know how to respond to that."

  Ren interrupted quickly in an irritated tone. "I don't care, in all honesty."

  Walter chimed in. "You're awfully chatty to the very humans you previously stated were dishonest and morally corrupt."

  Ren narrowed his amber eyes and his ears flattened a bit. "Not all of them are."

  Walter added. "Careful with your words."

  Rens eyes only narrowed further a vein bulging on his forehead.

  Walter and Ren spotted the tree line, and sprinted toward where they last saw Lira,kira and Barnaby.

  They plunged straight into the burning treeline.

  A wave of thick black smoke slammed into Walters lungs.

  He coughed violently, his eyes watered, chest burning as he brought the bandana up to his nose.

  Ren on the other hand seemed surprisingly immune to the smoke, his breathing remained normal, what seemed to surprise Walter was that a child was not even fazed by the harsh conditions they were in.

  "I take it thats some sort of charm or magic you have, thats preventing you being harmed by the smoke." Walter asked his breathing coming back to him.

  Ren nodded stating in a much more clinical tone that did not suit his typical irritated but hurt personality. "My ma and pa had a strong fire affinity, come from a family of demi human fire users." That was all that was said, no further context or pride just a statement with no context.

  Walter/Hugo:

  They burst into a small clearing, they encountered Lira shielding a terrified Kira. Her frame covering Kira, both their cat ears up and perked, Kira mossy green eyes were teary.

  Barnaby the barrel chested man slowly awoke, he was awake but dazed, sitting with a large bruise on his forehead, rubbing it and groaning.

  Lira spoke her tone urgent and relieved and her sharp green eyes glancing over at them as she walked over with kira behind her. "Walter! Ren! We all thought you both were-"

  Barnaby cut her off in a drunken tone his head shaking. "What in the bloody hells happened..? Me head feels like a kicked bucket.."

  Walter moved over to Barnaby, he lifted the man with his strength carrying him and placing him on his right shoulder. "Barnaby there no time. We have to run. Now unless you're hoping to get cooked." Walter Hugo:

  Barnaby was far too dazed to take notice of what's happening. "Walter me lad, i'm flying weeeeeee." Barnaby mimicked that of child in his half awake state as he outstretched his arms and fat legs and barrel torso.

  Walter narrowed his eyes. "Barnaby quit moving, i'm gonna drop you in a second."

  Kira stifled a giggle at the predicament.

  Suddenly a loud high pitched screeching sound was heard in the distance of the trees.

  All of them froze in that instance.

  Walter smelt it again, that familiar decaying scent the same one that emitted an aura of hunger and gluttony.

  A scent that caused his head to flood with memories of dread. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he turned his gaze toward the forest.

  The air turned eerily cold, Kira shivered as they ran. Barnaby arose his drunk swaying head. "Am I still delirious or did anyone else just here that sound?"

  Walters body tensed as he ran, adrenaline surged through his veins, his thoughts were a mixture of fear and anger. Walter/Hugo:

  Then it came.

  A looming figure standing over 12 feet tall, a monstrous familiar entity thats height matched the tall trees in shoulder length.

  Its body was far more muscular grey.

  Its skin still the same leathery grey stretched tight over bulging tendons.

  The deer skull on his head cracked but regrown to a large size, its antlers a sharp steel.

  Its glowing red eyes sent thoughts of nervousness throughout the groups body.

  A newfound sense of decay and frost radiated throughout the air.

  As the creature stepped forward, its steps causing the frost to spread throughout the dirt floor, freezing grass and lowering the temperature dramatically.

  The surrounding fire died down

  Kira huddled closer to lira.

  Barnaby still remained in an unconscious state.

  Ren crouched claws furrowed out his amber eyes scanning for any sudden movement.

  Walter stepped back he stood side by side with Ren, Barnaby still being carried on his right shoulder.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Suddenly to Walters surprise the creature spoke the rotting greedy monstrosity spoke aloud.

  "You..."

  Walters blood ran cold he was certain he had burned the creature.

  The creature smiled its teeth flashing a crimson threat.

  Walter wasted no time and acted with the instant movement and zero thought. He shouted.

  "Attack!"

  The zombies rushed forward from the trees out of the shadows and leaped into action catapulting their decaying humanoid forms onto the creatures back gnawing wildly like rabid animals.

  The creature screeched a disgusting retchered sound that caused Lira to cover Kiras ears.

  Barnarby remained sleeping as sound as an infant.

  Ren's eyes twitched at Barnaby's audacity.

  "Seriously? all that shouting and the oaf isn't waking up?"

  Walter glanced sideways at Barnarby and then back at Ren. "I killed that thing, how's it still alive?"

  Walter and Ren were both frozen for a split second both their minds raced with thoughts of panic.

  Hugo/Walters internal:

  Suddenly, a translucent black panel shimmered into existence directly in front of Walter's eyes the same status window he has seen earlier, now pulsing with urgent violet text.

  [Otherworlder Detected Nearby]

  [Bob Jahova – Rank: Unknown]

  [Suspected objective Alignment: Demon Lord Elimination]

  [Warning: High threat level. Proceed with caution.]

  His eyes glimmered with a sudden realisation.

  At the exact same moment Walters eyes caught hold of the screen, the towering Wendigo's glowing red eyes flickered. A similar panel must of appeared for it too, because it's deer skull tilted slightly, and a low, rasping chuckle escaped its maw.

  The creature's body began to shift.

  Its massive deer skull melted away like wax in fire.

  The long antlers retracted back into the scalp with a wet, cracking sound.

  Its towering muscular frame shrank and reshaped in a grotesque ripple of flesh and bone.

  Grey leathery skin smoothed into pale human skin. The glowing red eyes dimmed into sharp, reddish-brown irises.

  Something different stood in its place was a tall, slender young man in his twenties.

  He had spikey, messy red hair upon his sharp, angular face.

  His eyes were a striking reddish brown that seemed to glow faintly in the morning sun.

  His build was lean and toned, he lacked a shirt which revealed an athletic body covered in old scars and faint red tattoos that looked like claw marks. Which was odd to Walter but he didn't question it.

  The only visible clothing the man wore were some torn jeans that hung low on his hips.

  The stranger grinned, his teeth were eerily sharp and glinted like some carnivorous animal.

  Bob Jahova.

  Bob rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck, his reddish eyes bore in Walters gray ones and he let out a low whistle.

  "Well, well, well," Bob said, his voice was rough and rude,laced with a street person swagger. "I wasn't expecting another person from...Earth to be here."

  Lira and Kira's went slightly confused there expressions one of . Rens amber eyes flickered with a knowing surprise that turned into a realisation.

  Walter remained silent before his face contorted into irritation. His silver hair flicking, his eyes shun a glare at Bob. "Do you not think before you speak?" Walters tone was raw and sour. Walter/hugo internally:

  Bob grinned his grin grew further. "Wait your seriously from Earth? It's been so long since I came across folk such as yourself." His gaze shifted eyeing Ren, Lira and Kira with an intrigued gaze, his eyes had detected the animal ears and tails the people seem to have. "Woah? This worlds got demi humans too? Man thats so cool." His tone switched from rough to an excited tone you'd expect from a child seeing a bunch of cats on the street.

  He walked over his hands outstretched his grin stupidly wide before Walter stepped forward blocking his path with one arm outstretched. Kira seemed to back away slightly nervous and weirded out. Lira stepped forward a disgusted look on her face mixed with fear.

  Ren snickered at the situation he amber eyes tear up with amusement his fox ears perked up.

  Bob stopped the moment his toned abdomen touched Walters arm his gaze looked into Walters the men were equal in height both tall. His grin never faded his reddish eyes bore into Walters.

  Bob raised in his hands in defeat his grin never fading. "Okay calm it down, just got a little too curious thats all." He chuckled to himself. "Can't really blame me since I haven't been in contact with anyone for the past 2 months just been eatin random animals and monsters tryna kill me."

  Bobs grin grew wider now ear to ear. "Say man." His eyes looking at Walters with a slightly challenging look. "What's your cheat? I'm sure you got gifted some mojo from a Deity or...something like that i'm not too sure since I haven"

  Walter's gaze remain still, his face an unreadable mask. Before he spoke once more. "If your referring to the cheat skill. I have a-"

  Walter was cut off by Bob. "No wait let me guess. You've got an infection ability, no no no, wait you've got a..." He paused for dramatic effect. "Mind control ability." Bob nodded approvingly. "That explains those zombies that jumped on m-"

  Walter eyes narrowed with annoyance as he cut him off. "Its necromancy."

  Bob's smirk widened into a full, cocky grin. He pointed at himself with on thumb, those reddish eyes glimmering in the now-rising morning sun. "Whatever I eat...I can like shapeshift into." He flexed his bare, scarred torso like he was showing off at a beach, his sharp teeth flashing again.

  Walter took notice of this and cringed. In his mind:

  Lira’s cat ears flattened completely. She pulled Kira even tighter against her chest, her sharp green eyes narrowing into a protective glare. Her tail lashed behind her once.

  “Stay back,” she said, voice low and dangerous.

  Kira peeked out from behind Lira’s arm, mossy-green eyes wide and teary. She stared at Bob’s spiky red hair, the scars, the sharp teeth — then quickly hid her face again, letting out a small, scared whimper.

  Barnaby still slung limply over Walter’s shoulder. He let out a drunken, half-conscious groan. His bruised forehead bobbed with every breath. One of his thick arms flopped down, fingers brushing Walter’s coat, then flopped back up like a broken marionette. He mumbled something incoherent about “” before snoring again.

  Ren's face was red with amusement he let out a short mocking snicker. His fox ears twitching upward. Amber eyes sparkled with humor as he looked Bob up and down. "This is just gold, a shirtless, spiky haired weirdo pops out of nowhere just after we were expecting to get mauled in half by an A rank monster only for it to turn out it's some weirdo otherworlder who's clearly not of sane mind." Rens gaze shifted his smirk widening as he looked up at Walter who glared at him. "Not only that but it turns out that the so called who rescued us back at the goblin camp was actually an otherworlder."

  Walter coughed awkwardly.

  Bob laughed loudly, completely unbothered. "Hey, fox-boy! Your cool, you've got an attitude."

  He cracked his knuckles again, sharp teeth glinting as he grinned wider.

  “Anyway, yeah you were saying... necromancy. That’s so dope. Mine’s way more simple though. I just eat and just shift into stuff. Simple as that.” His tone was prideful, Walter just nodded taking in everything that was being said.

  He spread his arms wide, toned muscles flexing under the morning light, scars catching the sun.

  “Been munching on some frost wolves, ice bears, a couple of those ugly frost trolls up north… even tried a wyvern once. Bad idea. Threw up scales for three days my levels still to low for that one.”

  He chuckled at his own story, then his expression shifted still cocky, but with a sudden edge of seriousness.

  “Right...probably not too good to speak about our type. Moving on let's switch to something else. Like the Demon Lord… you’re after him too, right? Every otherworlder gets the same memo from whatever god or eldritch freak pulled us here: ‘Kill the Demon Lord under any means necessary.’ Same quest, same reward — whatever the hell that is.”

  Bob’s reddish eyes flicked to Walter, grin turning sly.

  “His army’s no joke, though. Thousands of corrupted demons, war beasts, and these freaky generals that can level cities. One of them is called The Black Prince eats souls like candy. Another one’s got gravity magic. Fun times eh?"

  He shrugged, casual as if he was talking about the weather. “But hey, if we’re both gunning for the same bastard, maybe we don’t have to kill each other.”

  Ren snorted, crossing his arms despite the pain in his ribs.

  “Yeah, because teaming up with the otherworlder who can shift into monster sounds like a great plan.”

  Lira shot Ren a warning look, but her own expression was torn wary, but listening.

  Walter remained cautious however internally on the other hand:

  Walter tilted his head slightly he forced a small measured smile. "That's interesting you got anymore intel?"

  Bob’s grin turned almost boyish goofy, cocky, weirdly excited. “Oh man, you’re gonna love this. Apparently the demon lord have a group of generals called the Seven deadly sins. They’re otherworlders too — corrupted ones. One of them’s got time-slow magic apparently. Another one can copy skills. Real evil motherfuckers too.”

  Bob scratched the back of his spiky red hair, then laughed.

  “Anyway, I’m starving. Shifting gives me the munchies. You guys got any snacks?"

  Ren’s snicker turned into a full, mocking laugh sharp and disbelieving as he facepalmed.

  “You’re actually insane just handing out random bits of information on your abilities like that."

  Lira’s tail lashed. Kira whimpered again.

  Bob’s grin stretched wider, sharp teeth catching the morning light like broken glass.

  Walter outstretched his hand his gray eyes matching Bobs. "Let's form an alliance for now. Get to know one another, I'm hoping to form a group or syndicate to kill the demon lord."

  “Smart man. Stick with me, and we'll get to that demon lord in no time.Maybe I’ll even let you have the last hit on the big guy. Call it a team effort.”

  He laughed again loud, goofy, completely unbothered by the burning forest behind them or the infected zombies still shambling in the distance.

  Ren muttered under his breath, “This guy’s gonna get us all killed.”

  Lira’s tail lashed once more. Kira stayed glued to her side, peeking at Bob with wide, frightened eyes.

  Barnaby’s arm flopped again this time smacking Walter lightly in the back of the head. He groaned something unintelligible about “flying sausages” before snoring louder.

  Walters ignored it.

  The distant roar of the fire grew louder. Smoke thickened. The kingdom silhouette on the horizon still looked impossibly far.

  Bob clapped his hands together once, the sound sharp in the tense air.

  “Right! Let’s get moving before this place turns into a barbecue. Lead the way, boss-man.”

  He took a casual step forward — too close again. Frost crackling under his bare feet.

  Walter coughed forcefully as if to point out his outstretched hand.

  Bob blinked once — then his grin turned almost childlike with excitement. He slapped his own palm into Walter’s with unnecessary force, gripping hard in a rough, enthusiastic handshake.

  “Deal! Team-up time, baby! We’re gonna be legends.”

  The frost on his skin stung Walter’s glove like dry ice, but Walter didn’t flinch.

  Ren watched the handshake with a completely deadpan expression ears flat, eyes half-lidded, tail still. He let out a single, dry, unimpressed huff. "This just isn't gonna end well is it?"

  Lira’s cat ears twitched nervously. She kept one arm protectively around Kira, who clung tighter, mossy-green eyes darting between Bob’s sharp teeth and the distant smoke. Lira’s voice came out quiet but steady.

  "W-Walter are you sure about this?" Liras tone was nervous and unsure.

  "Yeah he seems like an alright guy." Walter responded with a confident tone. Internally however: Hes completely incompetent and the only reason

  Barnaby —still slung over Walter’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes — suddenly stirred. His bruised forehead bobbed as he lifted his head just enough to squint at Bob.

  “…Oi… why’s the naked red-haired lad shaking hands with Walter? Is this a cult now? Do I get a pamphlet?”

  His voice was slurred, dazed, and completely out of pocket.

  Bob burst out laughing.

  “I like this guy! He’s barely conscious and he's putting up a comedy show better than most comedian back on Earth. Eh Walter?" Bob playfully elbowed Walter for some confirmation.

  Walter’s eye twitched slightly he muttered quietly to himself.

  Bob paused, scratching the back of his spiky red hair with a goofy grin.

  “Okay, let’s go to Grayhaven once we’re all rested up.”

  Ren’s fox ears perked up slightly. He gave Bob a sidelong glance, then looked at Walter with a deadpan expression — ears half-flat, tail still.

  “Grayhaven?” Ren echoed, voice flat but with a trace of dry amusement. “The adventurers’ guild there is one of the biggest in the region. Good place to practice abilities, take quests, level up."

  He flicked his tail once, amber eyes narrowing at Walter.

  “Honestly, I suspected you were an otherworlder from the start. Normal people don’t just… reanimate corpses that quickly typically it takes a necromancer or War crime mage hours to summon them and the matter of your physical strength is an entirely different conversation. Those kinds of abilities are too unique and rare."

  Walter met Ren’s gaze evenly, offering no confirmation, no denial — just a small, almost imperceptible tilt of his head.

  Internal (Hugo):

  Sharp child. He’s been watching closer than I thought. Good to know someone pays attention.

  Bob laughed loud and carefree slapping his own thigh.

  “See? Even the fox-boy gets it! Grayhaven it is. Guild quests pay good coin, and we can grind levels while we figure out how to gut the Demon Lord. I need to eat something big anyway shifting burns calories like crazy.”

  Walter adjusted his grip on Barnaby’s limp form and started walking toward the Wagon

  The fire roared behind them.

  Smoke curled into the morning sky.