The First King of Beasts

"Well, that should be reason enough, right? Threat to your own life. Don't hesitate." Raven said with the slightest grin, as she sheathed her sword.

'Yes, sister. If it was uncle, this is what he would do!'

Without a sliver of hesitation, Aria drew her sword that hung behind her by her waist and stabbed the man holding her in the leg.

"Arhh!!" The man screamed as the sharp pain travelled fast throughout his body. It was unexpected, so it made it hurt even more. 'This!' "This little bitch!" He groaned in pain.

"Sister Mizu was right. I should never trust anybody and always try to look beyond what my eyes see." Aria said, as she rubbed her hand over her neck lightly.

'Good lesson. Though, I'm all too comfortable with Mizu being the girl's teacher. It's too detrimental for her normal health.' Raven said in her mind.

"You little demon! Stay away from me!" The man said, as he finally drew his own sword.

Aria kept closing the distance between them, regardless of what he said or the threat he made. As she got within rage, the man, with no pity for the child swung his sword, directly aiming for her neck or head. He had already made the simple calculation that he had the advantage with his longer arms, giving him a longer reach. He would cut Aria down before she could reach him.

Unfortunately, such a tactic might have been what Aria was waiting for. The moment the man threw forward his hand, Aria appeared behind him, and the next moment her blade was half way through his neck. Maybe it was because that was her first time killing anything, she couldn't judge how much strength she needed to put in her swing to make a clean cut.

"Just leave him so. That is enough, he won't survive." Raven said, as she stepped forward. The man still tried to move, but only managed to crawl some gap before laying lifeless on the ground.

"Sister." Aria said, as she returned her sword. She had cried other times when she saw beasts attack others, or when she faced death herself, but she had never killed before. But still, even a child would know something is wrong if they felt nothing after killing another human.

"Yes" Raven answered.

"Why don't I feel anything? I feel completely nothing after killing this man." She said softly.

"Don't worry about it. It's because you did the right thing." Raven said, as she gently rubbed Aria's hair.

Despite her answer, she had only confirm her suspicions. Definitely, this world and the ones who brought them here aren't unfair. Within all of them, there was something that had changed. It seemed they had become savages in a way, though, some more than others. If even a child can kill without remorse, then it isn't strange how much colder Mizu and herself had become. 'And all in the short span of just a month.' "Heh.."

'I hope we don't lose ourselves.'

With everything settled there, they returned to the camp. On getting to the camp, Raven immediately picked up something with her nose that didn't shock her, as it came at an expected time. It was the smell of blood, though not much.

"Looks like Mizu has been busy." She said.

As they burst through the forest trees into the camping area, Raven and Aria saw Mizu, sword in hand while three bodies lay lifeless some feet away from her, and a couple more in front, alive.

"You two are back. I was wondering just how long you planned to stay there." Mizu said, without shifting her gaze from the 5 before her.

"I see they attacked you too." Raven said. "No need to hesitate, just do away with them."

Mizu skilfully erased the five men from the world of the living, and after the fight, that was more appropriate to be called a slaughter, Raven gave an announcement to the remaining people there that could only watch.

If they were going to follow them, then they better do it obediently, like good sheep following their shepherd. They were never asked to tag along, nor were they forced. Anyone who tried anything funny would only face the same fate as the now dead companions. They would also only help them till they got to the next place where food was available, then they would pat ways. As Raven spoke, though her voice was calm and cold, it carried iron in them, and everyone listening knew she wasn't just bluffing.

Just like Raven had said, after a few more days of travelling, they had reached a place where food was available, from fruits to monsters, to drinkable water that was also scarce. Throughout their journey after the unfavourable event, Mizu and Raven allowed Aria to gain hunting experience by defending the group against monsters, helping only when it was absolutely necessary.

They still weren't certain as to which side Aria leaned towards, Mizu or Raven. So, they decided to watch until they got to their destination, the red marker. Ultimately, the mission came first. They had only put more focus on Aria's training because she picked their interest, and had talent. Besides, they had never had a little sister, so Aria also genuinely meant so to them.

"We have kept our promise and have brought you to a place with adequate supply of food and what not. This is where we part ways." With that short statement, Raven, Mizu, Aria, and John left the group of people and begun walking their own way further, towards the direction of the red marker.

Amongst the group that tagged along with them, some were still grateful, while some scorned, but it didn't matter. Unbeknownst to everyone there, they had just entered the territory of the wolves and apes, and the death rate was about to soar.

After a while of walking, Aria couldn't help but ask Raven. "Sister. Haven't you noticed someone following us? What are we going to do about it?" She asked. Though she might have been undergoing training to become a killer and hunter, Aria still had her cuteness and supposed innocence.

"Ahhh.." Raven said in a falling tone. "Come out already! We know you are following us, what do you want?" Raven asked as she stopped and turned to face towards the specific direction.

After a short while, a girl with came out from behind a tree several feet away from where the group was now standing. She had long pink hair that was tied up, albeit messily, and from her looks, she was Asian and looked around the ages of 18 to 22.

"Huh? Kim Yoona?" John said immediately, as he saw the girl.

"What? You know who she is?" Raven asked.

"Yes."

"Alright, go settle your problems, we are out of here." Raven said as she turned and was about to start moving.

"No! No! I don't know her! How can I know her? I've only seen her a couple times. In fact, I only know her because one idiot I know was her fan or something." John said.

"Is she some kind of celebrity? Well, it doesn't matter. Status does nothing for you in this world." Raven said, as she turned and left.

As the rest of the group followed, the girl muttered her first words and called back their attention.

"I-I want to join you!"