Divine Beast Ascension

Already, the beast army was regrouped by their clans in order for their leaders to check the casualties. Thanks to the efforts of the additional perennials against the mortal enemies, the casualty rate was incredibly low. But injuries and a few deaths were inevitable.

It took Lambier less than a minute for him to find Ania once again.

Ania, along with the other gorillas, were gathered near the Thick-skinned Stallions. And the Shadow Drake was kneeling beside both Ania and Chief Hollen, addressing the pain-stricken, branded stallions on the ground.

“... I’m sorry, but I’m unfamiliar with how to help them,” Oli admitted while getting back to his feet.

Yeter was on the other side of his downed father, shouting with concern, “But you’re the one that saved them, aren’t you Vero?”

The drake shrugged while pointing at the second branded stallion. “All I did was make their souls unstable. And I almost killed this one in the process. I don’t know much about soul binding. It was Commander Hurman and Patriarch Kuldar that ordered me to destabilize their souls on the off chance that we encountered soul-bound beasts. They would know more about how the condition might be lifted, I’m guessing.”

“But… Thank you, Vero! Either way, thank you!” Yeter cried, bowing his head to the drake.

“Since that’s all we can do for now, we’ll take them into the army’s care for now. And, with the war nearly over, we’ll soon find the solution necessary to lift the soul binding,” Ania chimed in. “You’re welcome to stay by your father’s side, Yeter. But I and Vero are needed elsewhere for the moment.”

.....

Yeter bowed as more tears fell from his long face, landing on his half-conscious father.

Leaving the stallions to gather around their long-lost clan heir, Ania walked toward Lambier with the gorillas in tow.

“So, what now?” Lambier asked.

Ania nodded and the dozen gorillas formed a circle, standing shoulder to shoulder. Only Ania, Lambier, and Oli were left in the middle.

Ania spoke up, placing her focus on the drake. “Give us a quick moment, Lambier. I need to relay Vero’s portion of the plan first.”

While Lambier nodded, a silent formation formed around Ania and the drake.

Before Oli could say a word, Ania turned her back to Lambier, saying, “I know it’s you, Oli! I’m your mother, of course I recognize you. And while I don’t like seeing you under constant threat in battle… I’m really proud of you, and of the cultivator you’re becoming. I didn’t know there was a chance to save Dioro, to save your father…

“I don’t know the circumstance around your deal with Eeole. But I know that you’re doing this for yourself and for all of us. For that reason, all I can say to you now is… Don’t you dare die. If you die, at any point, I’ll send myself to hell if that will allow me to at least scold you!”

With a smile, Oli kept his cool with Lambier watching. “... I love you too, Mom.”

Ania felt much better after hearing that and getting those words out in the open. “And I love you, Oli. I always will! …

“Now, begrudgingly, I have to send you on your final assignment of this war, and give you the first half of your orders.”

“First half?” Oli blinked in confusion.

Continuing, Ania nodded, “You’ll hide in Lambier’s shadow. Then, Lambier will rush to Prodson City in disguise, along with that new ally captain we both met. Captain Khas will get Lambier into the city undetected.

“The entire time, you’re to wait in Lambier’s shadow until Lambier eventually delivers you to your new hiding spot within the city. Then, you’ll wait fifteen minutes within that new hiding place before breaking this on the ground.”

When Ania held out another formation orb, Oli was both intrigued and perplexed. “That looks and feels like the orbs we used during the Province Qualifier. The kind that teleported people to other places… Why send me into the city to hide if you’re just going to teleport me away?”

Ania laughed and teasingly slapped her son’s shoulder, feeling his sturdy frame and body. “Just do as I say and everything will work out.”

“Wait, that’s all? What do I do after breaking the orb, and what would you have me do in the middle of the city?” Oli eagerly questioned.

But Ania shook her head. “I was told to keep it a surprise.”

“A surprise? In the middle of a war?” Oli was dumbfounded.

“Yup, in the middle of a war,” Ania chuckled. “If you do as your mother says, then you’ll figure out the rest. You’re smart like that.”

Annoyed to be left in the dark for such a mission, Oli sighed, “... So, I hide in Lambier’s shadow until Lambier, at some point unspecified to me, takes me to a new hiding place. Then, I wait fifteen minutes and break a little orb. That’s all?”

“That’s all. And only you can pull this off,” Ania added. “So, keep your wits about you and be patient. After all, you always leave me waiting to see you again. Maybe if you feel something similar, you’ll start to understand how I feel.”

“... I love you, Mom. And I would hug you now, but I can’t in drake form,” Oli stated while returning to his calm expression.

Ania sighed and pouted, “I know. But you’ll have to hug me after this is all over. Promise?”

“I promise.”

The silent formation dispersed and Lambier stepped a bit closer. Lambier asked, “Okay, are we ready to go?”

Oli nodded, replying, “Yeah. Just give me a few minutes to hide.”

Patient but eager to get a move on, Lambier and Oli stood under the cover of the gorillas. Until the drake was nowhere to be seen and Lambier leaped over the ape wall.

Lambier quickly arrived at the surrendered troops under Khas’s command.

Khas put on a regretful smile and tossed the mercenary a uniform. “Here. With this, we’ll get you in without you needing to say a word.”

“Thanks!”

After Lambier hurriedly changed, the duo rushed off in a flurry of wind, leaving the beast army and the rocky hills behind them.