CHAPTER 134: UPSET

Index: Three-eyed Stag.

Rank: Soldier.

Abilities: Mirage, Absolute Perception

...

Having a bond wasn’t only about sharing feelings. A mate could sense their partner’s growth—and their power rose together. Hades knew his mates had grown stronger, but this level still caught him off guard.

Luna hovered in the air, her hands weaving chains of light. The binds shot toward the stag—yet it twisted away, its speed unnatural.

That was the trap.

TWING!

A golden arrow tore the air, leaving a ghostly trail before slamming into the stag’s stomach.

"GRUEEGH!" it bellowed, staggering but not falling. The elemental glow faded, leaving a deep bleeding wound.

Peri’s eyes narrowed as she watched the flesh slowly knit back together. She drew again—but the stag vanished. Then reappeared. Left. Right. Left again.

Mirages.

"What the hell—?" Peri muttered, her vision swimming with perfect copies. Each radiated the same mana.

She gritted her teeth and loosed at the one on the left.

TWISSS!

The arrow tore through the fake image—too late. The real stag lunged, horns glinting inches from her chest.

"Shi—"

TNG!

A barrier flared into place, shimmering bright. The horns smashed against it, saving Peri at the last second.

The stag staggered back, shaking its head, dazed from the crash.

Peri shot a quick nod of thanks to the saintess and drew again. At the same time, Luna’s voice rang with power as a glowing barrier wrapped around the beast, locking it in place.

"Not so fast, dinner," the silver-haired girl chimed, straining to hold the stag still.

Peri’s bow hummed. Mana surged around her, the grass bending away under the pressure. Light swelled, shaping into a massive arrow—longer than her own height. The clearing blazed with its glow.

But instead of aiming at the stag, Peri angled the bow skyward.

Hades’s brows shot up. Before he could speak, Luna opened a gap in her barrier.

The golden arrow screamed down from above, tearing through the gap—

—and slammed straight into the stag’s back.

"UGEEEH!" The creature wailed, thrashing once before the brilliance consumed it. The arrow crushed through its heart, and the cry died in its throat.

Luna let the barrier drop and landed lightly on the ground.

"Nice teamwork," Hades said, stepping forward.

Peri and Luna shared a grin. "We came up with that move just now," Luna smirked.

Hades’s expression alone said it—impressive.

"Master!" Ava’s sharp voice cut in, her finger stabbing toward the front. "Another one!"

The warning barely left her lips before a stag tore through the brush, antlers lowered like spears.

Hades bared his teeth and met it head-on. The impact thundered as horn met palm, the stag’s momentum ripping the ground beneath his feet. Dirt sprayed, his boots gouging deep trenches—but he didn’t yield.

Veins bulged across his arms as he forced the beast to a standstill. A guttural snarl ripped from his throat.

Then he moved.

With a savage stomp, Hades wrenched the stag upward, its legs kicking helplessly as he tore it from the earth. His body twisted, muscles coiling like a predator about to kill.

"RRAGH!"

He swung the stag in a brutal arc and hurled it. The beast crashed into a thick oak with bone-shattering force.

DHAK!

The trunk splintered, bark exploding. The stag’s body crumpled against the wood, blood spraying as it hit the ground in a limp, broken heap.

Lifeless.

"..." Somehow, Luna and Peri were feeling a little better than before seeing how easily that stag was dealt with.

Hades turned toward them, "So...shall we skin them?"

Luna humphed and walked away. Peri also glared at him and turned away.

Hades tilted his head...did he do something?

....

They carried a stag, left one behind, towards a nearby water stream where they would skin the beast and rest for some time.

When Hades asked if Ava needed help in carrying them, she effortlessly lifted the beast on her shoulder and said with a smile, "It’s not heavy, master."

Hades wryly smiled...he knew exactly how heavy it was when he threw the stag into a tree. And for Ava to easily lift the monster...it shows how strong she was.

They walked in silence, Ava leading them since she knew this forest better than the others.

"I often come here to train. After joining the castle, this place has become a playground for me." She told them.

Peri couldn’t help but mutter, "Well, this certainly is a good place for training." Glancing at Hades, Peri asked, "Once we form the Blood Bond, can we also come here?"

Luna also looked at him with equal eagerness in her eyes.

Hades hummed, "I will ask mother...and I think she would probably assign someone like Ava with you."

"And...that maid as well. Our possible new teacher." Peri grumbled, remembering she would get taught by a dragon soon.

It wasn’t that she was reluctant to train. She undoubtedly wanted to become stronger so that she could become something else than a burden on him.

What troubles her was the training method. She has been taught by her mother until now who knew what was important for her, as an elf to grow efficiently.

She cannot expect the same from her new teacher. Peri needs to adapt.

Luna grumbled, "I hope she isn’t as strict as Granny." The days of learning under her grandma still haunt her. She has never met someone as strict as her when it comes to training.

While talking, they soon reached the lake Ava had mentioned.

The water stretched out like a sheet of glass, its cold blue surface shimmering under the sunlight. Gentle ripples caught the light, scattering it in silver streaks. The air carried a crisp, refreshing chill, tinged with the faint scent of wet earth and pine. A hushed stillness lingered here, as though the world itself was holding its breath.

"Waah...this is so pretty." Luna sighed in admiration, her eyes wide as she stepped closer to the water’s edge.

Peri also smiled as a soft breeze brushed against her skin.

Hades exhaled a sigh as he muttered, "Well, talk about a perfect camp site.

°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.