Kael expected to meet at least one more dead Fanged Lion, but it seemed that the human had reached his limit.
It helped them, as they didn't encounter any problems in their following assassinations. Out of the twenty Fanged Lions, they assassinated a total of eighteen lions.
It took them more time than they had expected as they had to move around a lot. It was almost evening when they finished up with their last assassination.
But they had done it.
They had eliminated a major portion of their enemies, which was a great relief to both of them.
Now, only the main enemies remained, and they would have to fight them directly. There was simply no way they could eliminate them quickly.
Though, Kiona also wanted to face the Flameclaw Lion alone even though it was dangerous. It had nothing to do with her pride or anything.
She just wanted to cleanly avenge her kin by herself. It was a risky plan, but Kael allowed it because they had no other choice.
Kael had to focus on the human, as he was very dangerous. And if his guess was correct, then the human had a class that affected beasts.
That meant he couldn't let others face him. He was also technically a beast, but he was a Dragon, so mental effects would have little to no effect on him.
He was the perfect candidate to fight him.
As for the twin lions, they would have their hands full too, as they would face four Fanged Lions all by themselves. Even though their rank was the same, the twins were evolved, so they shouldn't have any problems.
But that still meant that they couldn't help either of them. Kael and Kiona had to fight their own battles.
As for the two Fanged Lions under the control of the human, Kael had a plan to eliminate them too. There was no way he was allowing any more problems in his battles.
After hours of hard work, Kael and Kiona were resting inside a hollowed trunk. They had to be in their best condition before their big battle, after all.
Kael also wanted to use this opportunity to talk to Kiona.
"How do you feel about my methods now?" Kael asked.
Kiona didn't hesitate to answer, "They are despicable and full of cowardice."
"Hmm, I'm flattered."
"But they are effective and needed. If we had just gone to fight them directly, that bastard would be tasting our meat by now," Kiona scoffed in disgust. "So, I don't find the methods as disgusting anymore."
She looked straight into his eyes and said, "I admit that I am very foolish and stubborn, so I want you to lead us. I know it sounds foolish since we are already under you, but I am still requesting you."
Kael raised an eyebrow in amusement and asked, "What made you submit to me?"
She bowed her head and said, "I want to avenge my clan, but I am too stupid and useless to do that. So, I seek your help. I am not capable enough to take the right decisions, so I want you to take that burden."
"So, you're basically telling me that I'm your scapegoat?" Kael chuckled.
Kiona stayed silent for a while before answering, "You can put it like that. I want you to make the dirty decisions for us because I want to achieve my goal."
She shifted her tunic slightly, showing a lightning-symbolic rune engraved near her cleavage.
"I have already given you everything, so I don't know what more to give you, but I know there's a more... strict version…"
"Alright, we are not going in that direction," Kael stood up and punched to his right, destroying the trunk and walking out.
He then gave her a side glance and said, "Remember one thing, Kiona, we're in this together. You are mine, so everything of yours is mine too. It doesn't matter if it's some goods or your revenge."
Pointing forward, he said with a wide grin plastered on his face, "And I have prepared your first target already, so you can go and claim it."
Kiona stared at the broad back and smiled, "Thank you, Master."
"Meh! It's fine! Though you should first kill that Fanged Lion before you jump down to kill the big guy," Kael said, changing the direction of his finger.
That was the simple plan he prepared for the last two Fanged Lions. Since they were going to be discovered anyway, why not take two of them first?
Kiona nodded and also came out, saying, "Master, what do you want to do after this?"
"There are lots of things I have in mind, but as for the immediate," Kael smirked at her, "I want to eat delicious lion meat."
"Hehe, is that your first order?" Kiona giggled. "Then, I will make sure I don't disappoint you."
Kael laughed at her silly actions and patted her head, "Go before they discover us! Kill that bastard!"
Kiona received her fair share of head pats and then ran off into the distance. Kael watched her go and thought, 'She is strong.'
[Yes. She also knows herself well enough, so that's a bonus. But something is wrong with her and I can't fathom it all.]
"She doesn't want to show her weak side to me," Kael shook his head and dashed toward the other direction. "Silly girl is suppressing her grief."
[Oh! But she was smiling...]
"You really need some training, don't you?"
[If you say so…]
Kael soon reached the area where the fifteenth Fanged Lion was hiding—or rather, his corpse. He could smell the dead body even from a distance. Though he did notice that the body was covered with something that masked the smell.
He stared at the sleeping Fanged Lion and smiled, 'Shit is about to go crazy.'
Then, he used both [Lightning Mantle] and [Draconic Claws] simultaneously. His speed increased, and his hands turned into dangerous, sharp claws that could cut through strong metals easily.
With a light tap on the ground, he appeared right beside the Fanged Lion and beheaded it before it could even move.
As the big head rolled toward his feet, Kael murmured, "Now then, where are you, Human?"