The Ancient Genes

"That was close…cough! cough!..if you hadn't blocked the attack for me...it might have been fatal…" Mr. Cool mumbled while coughing up blood. He slowly turned to look towards Max and his eyes went wide.

'Ah! My heads fuzzy….' Max thought as he felt a warm sensation all over. It was just too awesome. He felt like he could stay like this forever.

'You are close to death my love….' Andriel's voice broke Max from his stupor and his eyes opened.

As soon as it did, an intense pain assaulted his body. But the life force which had been slipping away suddenly stopped and regaining the light.

'That was close….' Max felt a cold sweat running down his head. 'Thanks Andriel…'

"You alive? Answer me cat!" Mr. Cool asked as he crawled up to Max.

He had a nasty look on his face. Max was in a terrible condition. This was horrible…

"I-I am fine." Max said as he gritted his teeth in pain as he got back onto his feet after a bit of struggle.

"You don't look like you are doing fine…" Mr. Cool gave him a look before reluctantly supporting him by his shoulder.

His face contorted in pain and he sighed when Max's blood began spilling over him.

"Shall we go to my place?" Mr. Cool asked.

"Is it safe?" Max asked.

"Well, the place I am currently staying at is not. But if we got to the Achilles mansion it shouldn't be a problem…"  Mr. Cool replied.

"It's too far….you are exhausted as well…" Max shook his head. "Let's go to Edwinson House…"

….

A little while ago….

"Ahhh!!!!!"

"Splash!"

Aria looked around completely terrified of the sudden change in surroundings.

She remembered talking with her brother before everything around her turned dark. The next thing she knew was falling from the sky.

It had really terrified her…

"What's going on? Where am I?" Aria looked around.

This place resemble a pond in some middle of the forest.

Aria began to swim her way towards the land before finally getting out of the pond. She carefully looked around with her sword drawn out.

The place was a rain forest. Thick lush green canopies covered the sky letting very dim light to pass through.

"Where is this place?'' Aria muttered as she continued to explore the place.

After a while of search, Aria finally found light coming through what seemed like an exit of the forest.

She immediately dashed towards the light and when she was out, what entered her eyes were a clear patch of green land.

There was a house built there and beside it was a river emerging from the forest before confining towards the other side. 

When Aria was preparing to go inside, her ears picked up some noise.

"Ahhhh!!!!"

"Ahhh!!!!"

"Ahhh!!!"

She looked up to see another three figures falling from the sky and crashing into the river.

"Splash!"

"Splash!"

"Splash!"

Aria stood there in shock for a while. She hadn't expected to see them here at all. But her shock lasted only for a second before she rushed towards the river and made a dive to help them.

Aria caught hold of Lora who was paralyzed and Erina held onto Namen who was failing to maintain herself in the strong current.

"Huff! Huff!!"

The four girls lay down on the green land panting for air. 

"What's going on? Where are we?" Erina asked as she got up. Her gaze was directed towards Aria.

Her clothes were all wet and sticking close to her body. The sight was enough to make people gulp.

Water element along with girls was a terrifying combination…..

"No idea…." Aria replied as she got up.

"Ah! I can finally speak…" Lora said and sprang up onto her butt as she regained her freedom.

"Who was that person?" Namen asked as she looked at Erina.

Erina turned towards Aria, she obviously had recognised the silver haired guy.

"Woah! That's one nice body...red girl."

A voice suddenly rang out giving everyone a chill and they immediately stood up taking defensive stance.

Their eyes scanned the surroundings but they couldn't find anyone.

"Hoho!! You are not too bad yourself orange hair...but isn't it too early for you to wear black? Or were you going to meet your lover?" 

"Ahh!!" Lora released s squeak as she covered her wet clothes with her hand to prevent her innerwear from being seen.

Her face red and her eyes teary, Lora slumped onto her knees.

"Keep a hold of yourself….this isn't the time to act like that…" Aria immediately pulled Lora up as she raised her sword.

Things were happening too fast for them to even realize their relationship with each other and how they behaved...

"My...my...why are you being so violent? I am not interested in humans even more so for a bunch of little kids….but I do like admiring things."

"Come out? Where are you?" Aria asked as she looked around.

"I am in front of you….looked below lady…."

Aria looked below and there was indeed a frog below.

"What? Will you stop staring at me like that?" The frog gave Aria a scornful look.

Aria obviously had her jaw falling to the ground.

Lora's pupil were a bit away from from rolling back into her eyelids.

"W-What are you?" Erina asked in shock. Even she had never heard of a talking animal.

"I am the guardian beast of this spirit world….manifestation of my master's desire..." The frog said with a proud look on its face and crossed its arm.

"Enough of your antics, Fieo. I asked you to bring the guests in…." Everyone looked towards the house where the elderly voice came from.

"Tsk...ugly old geezer. I will let my master remind you of your place…" the frog muttere begrudgingly before raising its webbed feet and beckoning the girls to follow him.

"That did not happen….I am dreaming, right?" Namen tugged Erina's dress and asked while pointing at the hopping frog.

Erina opened her out but stopped midway and once again looked at the frog to confirm before nodding her head.

She then proceeded to use the mana in her body to roduce flames and dried everyone's clothes. 

"Don't use too much of your mana…" Aria warned her. This place didn't have even an ounce of mana. If they used up everything in their body, then that would be disastrous.

Erina nodded before the group headed into the house.

"Have a seat young ladies…"

They looked at the source of voice and it indeed turned out to be an old man. He was sitting on a rocking chair.

Wrinkles covered his face and his skin loosely hung on his body. He was wearing an old long rob which they had never seen. But it was clearly worn down. He really looked like someone who would be hitting the bucket at any moment…

As for the house, it only had a single room...everything was in there. A bed, wardrobe, a fireplace and obviously an old man on a rocking chair.

"Who are you? And where are we?"  Aria finally couldn't hold any longer and took the lead to ask.

"That isn't something for me to answer…." The old man replied calmly.

"What do you mean?" Erina further asked.

"Why don't you people calm down and have a seat? My master is still fighting outside with his companions…even though it doesn't look like it, this old geezer is fighting as well….so don't disturb him.." Feio, the frog said as it hopped onto the bed and stretched its legs out and crossed its arm behind his head.

Everyone looked at each other, things were going above their head. But one thing was clear, this frog's actions were annoying….and why did it feel that the frog was looking down on them?