James continued to watch the dust and debris settle as his party hurried to his side. Luna rested her hand on his shoulder as he tried to process the number of souls entering the human side of the city. There were hundreds of twisted souls flooding the streets as souls began to wink out.

"Stay here," he ordered.

"No!" Luna argued.

Gesturing to all of the people around the area, he asked, "and leave these people defenseless? You are the only one that can kill the Forsaken with ease and not have your soul ripped out."

Growling, she followed his gaze as she looked over the people. "You're right." Running a hand through her hair, she turned to Amber. "Spread out with Linda and Jamie. We need to protect every entrance to this area that we can."

Amber nodded and pulled Linda and Jamie with her. Mender continued to heal people as best he could while James started moving toward the edge of the group.

"Use Zenaria if you have to. She's a core cultivator and strong enough to kill a few."

Luna nodded. "I will. But what about Grace and Bunny?"

Shaking his head, he once again gestured to everyone. "At this point, we can't play favorites. As long as they stay with the group, they will be fine."

"Very well, Master." Dropping onto all fours, she changed to her wolf form before taking her place at the edge of the group. More demi-humans and even a few humans were still gathering with the rest, most of them injured in some way.

Taking one last calming breath, James started to run. He needed to reach the other side of the city before it was too late. Despite there being well over a hundred thousand humans, a few hundred of the Forsaken would decimate them.

Reaching the bridge, he found a group of humans fleeing into the demi-human district. A forsaken adult was chasing them, leaching their life one by one as the humans collapsed.

"Keep running!" he ordered.

The few panicked residents didn't bother looking at him as they fled. Summoning his sword, he swept in and cut the Forsaken in half, ensuring that its soul was shredded before noticing the group had stopped.

"Go to the Blushing Maiden," he ordered. "I already have a healer set up there."

Nodding, a middle-aged man tugged on his wife or sister and they led the group further into the district.

I have to find more healers. Mender won't be able to handle everyone.

Scanning the city, he found a few clumped together groups of cultivators and prayed that they were healers. Some of them felt weak, while others had stronger souls, denoting higher cultivation.

Before he could make it three blocks, James found a group of survivors fighting off three Forsaken children with spears. The children were throwing ice spikes at the humans, but seemed to be teasing them as they missed, or barely landed cutting blows.

With his sword summoned, James reached them in a second. Slashing through the first one, he shattered its soul before throwing out his hand and Siphoning the other two.

Turning to the humans, he pointed to the demi-human district. "Find the Blushing Maiden. We are gathering around a healer and my team."

The man leading the group bowed to him. "Thank you, Grand Master."

Bowing in return, James kept moving after ensuring there were not more Forsaken in their way.

Why do they keep calling me Grand Master and not Elder? It's an odd denotation.

Wanting to shrug, he started running instead. Covering blocks within seconds, he found three more groups that needed his help. Two or three Forsaken children or adults were picking people off, one by one, seeming to enjoy the fear and pain they were causing.

Each group he saved, he sent towards Mender, hoping Luna and his team could keep them safe. It was a risk as they would be spread out thinly, but what choice did he have.

Scanning the city again, he found a group of six cultivators within two blocks that were fighting off ten of the Forsaken. Rushing to them, James found them in the street with a variety of weapons. Two of the Forsaken were dead at their feet, but he could feel their souls starting to shred and it was only a matter of time before they lost.

Reaching the first Forsaken, James carved through its body before Latching onto the other nine. Activating Soul Strike, he exploded their bodies, killing them instantly before turning to the cultivators.

"I need your help. I've been gathering people at the Blushing Maiden but my cultivators can't cover everyone."

The sole core cultivator bowed her head. "Thank you, Grand Master. We'll head there immediately."

"Thank you. The way to the south and then east is clear."

Tapping into Soul Puppet, he summoned his clone and pointed at the cultivators. Getting the hint, his puppet fell in with them and started leading the way. To his surprise, the cultivators didn't question the puppet, nor his power.

Checking the surrounding again, he found more groups of survivors coming together as their numbers slowly dwindled. He also found people hiding in buildings, hoping they would be safe.

His priority was finding healers and with that, he locked onto another group of cultivators. He would save the people along the way, but he was only one man. He needed help and it didn't appear as though the sect was descending from their mountain.

***

Luna stood guard to the west as groups of humans swarmed to the tavern and inn. Slowly, she and the others were pushed out, spreading themselves thinner as thousands were brought together. The businesses were packed and the streets were filled with cries of pain and suffering. If she wasn't a wolf, she would be crying.

Spreading out her soul, she felt a group fleeing through to the north, three of the twisted Forsaken following them. Checking the west, she found it clear and it only took a moment to make a decision.

Amber started moving at the same time she did. Luna tore up the paved stones as she picked up as much speed as she could. Reaching the group first, she changed into her Soul Form and collided with the first Forsaken she could.

Biting down, she ripped the adult in half before throwing the pieces to the side. The other two Forsaken tried latching onto her, but Amber arrived a second later and crashed into one. Her clawed hands and feet ripped the monster apart as she growled.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Turning to the remaining Forsaken, Luna Siphoned it, ripping its soul away and Amber helped her a second later. Once the adult dropped to the ground, Luna dropped her form and changed back to her human form. Jogging over to the group of humans, she pointed to the south.

"Hurry and get to the Blushing Maiden. We are gathering everyone there with a healer."

Instead of arguing or being disgusted by her being a demi-human, the humans bowed and hurried off. Amber went with them, guiding them back as Luna turned to the nearby bridge. It was clear at the moment, but the nearby pleasure district had five of the Forsaken in it.

Growling, she dropped back into her wolf form and rushed to their defense. It only took moments to cover the ground and crash into the first Forsaken that was summoning boulders to crush a brothel.

Blood coated the ground from dead men and women around the streets. Luna's anger spiked as she ripped apart the Forsaken and threw his body away. The other four Forsaken took note of her and started to converge on her when she felt three cultivators rush in from the nearby streets to join her.

Changing to her Soul Form, she started to Siphon all four Forsaken as they entered the street. Three of them were children and the last was an adult. It didn't matter if they were demi-human or human. All that mattered was killing them as quickly as possible.

Howling, she pulled everyone's attention to her. The three cultivators broke into the area, noticing her and rushing over. The four Forsaken split up and rushed them, latching onto their souls before summoning a variety of elements.

Luna called on the wind to put up a barrier just as stones and ice spikes flew toward them. The cultivators weren't idle as they countered with streams of high pressure water and ice.

Everything collided midair as Luna pushed with her wind, sending blades of razor sharp attacks into the Forsaken. Arms and legs were ripped from the Forsaken, bleeding them out before her Siphon finished them off.

Dropping her Soul Form, she changed back to human. "Thank you for your assistance."

The lead cultivator bowed his head. "We heard your howl and felt your power."

Smiling for only a moment, Luna turned her attention to the screaming and crying of the district. "We have to evacuate everyone here. We are gathering to the south at the Blushing Maiden. If you can heal, we need the help."

"I can," a woman offered.

Thanking the heavens, she smiled again. "Let's get started—"

Snapping her attention to the nearby bridge, she felt a dozen more Forsaken rushing toward her.

"We have company."

"How many?" the lead cultivator asked.

"A dozen—"

Before she could prepare herself, five vultures with twenty foot wingspans dropped from the sky and crashed into the Forsaken. The next moment the monsters were picked up and ripped apart by talons before the vultures circled back to help.

"Yes!" Luna cried out. "They came!"

"Even more monsters!" the cultivators shouted.

Luna quickly shook her head and stopped them from attacking. "They are on our side. They belong to my master."

Staring at her incredulously, the healer was the first to recover. "Your master trained the Forsaken?"

"Only the vultures," she quickly corrected. "And one panther, and maybe a family of dragons…"

Eyes wide, the cultivators didn't know how to respond. Instead of focusing on them, Luna watched the sky darken as dozens of vultures started spreading out over the city.

***

James wanted to cheer when he watched the first vulture fly overhead. That was until he watched an ice spike bounce off their feathers. A moment later, the vulture swooped down and picked up a Forsaken before shredding the man with talons.

It only took a moment to realize that the vultures were nearly indestructible to the weak attacks of the lower leveled Forsaken. Even the cultivators that were panicking couldn't harm them as James moved to the source of many cultivators.

What he found was a hospital, packed with cowering humans. The cultivators were in the middle as the Qi in the area was pulled towards them, making James think they were healing.

Strolling inside, he was forced to catch an ice spike that was aimed for his head. "Really?"

The cultivator that launched it readied another.

"Do I look like one of the monsters?" James asked.

The man panicked again and launched his attack. Knocking that one out of the air, James watched as another man jumped up and slapped the other.

"He's not our enemy!" the doctor growled.

James assumed he was a doctor with all of the blood covering his white outfit. Not wanting to overthink it, he was about to gather them all when he felt a dozen Forsaken approach the hospital.

"We have company," he stated.

The doctors jumped up and moved to the outer edges of the patients. When the first window shattered, James latched onto the Forsaken adult with his Siphon. Summoning his sword, he blurred across the room and cut down the monster.

"Eleven to go."

Glass shattered all around them as the front doors were busted down. The doctors threw out attacks that seemed to weaken the Forsaken and degrade their flesh. James was intrigued, but didn't have time to stop as he started Siphoning each of the monsters.

Tapping into Soul Strike, he exploded all eleven of them, ending the threat with a snap of his fingers. Shaking off the stares directed toward him, he dismissed his sword.

"We are moving," he ordered. "I have everyone gathering at the Blushing Maiden. I need healers."

Swallowing hard, the lead doctor bowed to him. "What of the injured in here?"

"Carry them." Stepping forward, James picked up a man and thrust him into one of the cultivator's arms. "Let's move. My companions will protect us as best as they can."

Nodding, the doctors quickly picked up those couldn't walk. Leading the way, James stepped out of the broken hospital and pointed to the vultures. "They are on our side. They are mine."

"How?" the lead doctor asked.

"Trade secret." James chuckled as a vulture dived and grabbed another Forsaken human. With sharp talons, it ripped the man apart before scanning the area for another threat.

Keeping the pace steady, James led the way through the city and over the bridge. He only had to kill one pack of Forsaken as they harassed a group a thousand strong. Adding their numbers to his group, he urged them to hurry. It wasn't until he was almost back to the tavern that his Soul Puppet met him.

"Take them and let the doctors start healing who they can," he ordered.

His puppet nodded and waved for everyone to follow him. The Cultivators followed with wide eyes as James turned back to the human district. He could feel Luna in the pleasure district with several cultivators as they corralled souls together. Some of the Forsaken monsters were heading toward her and with a burst of speed, he raced to cut them off.

Luna was the first to get to them, her soul vibrating with anger as she tore them apart. Only three remained when he arrived and blades of wind shredded them a second later.

"I guess I wasn't needed," he mumbled.

Changing back to her human form, Luna laughed. "Getting a little slow in your old age, Grand Master?"

Glaring at her, he said, "you slept with this old man."

"I'm sorry, Grand Master." Bowing her head, she continued to laugh. "Take pity on this one. I only know to strive for your levels."

Groaning, he waved her off. "Why are you calling me Grand Master? It's bad enough that others are."

"Word of a cultivator with a flaming sword rushing around the city is spreading."

Scanning the city, he watched as hundreds of souls flickered out as hundreds of Forsaken still remained. "I have to go. Be a good girl while I'm away."

"I'm not a dog!" she growled.

Raising his brow, she glared at him.

"Fine…But you are brushing my tail after things settle!"

Chuckling, he agreed before running back to the human district. Crossing the bridge, he watched as stones and ice were launched into the air, trying to kill the vultures. Houses and shops were destroyed as the skills fell, making James take note of the souls winking out.

Focusing on a large gathering of souls, he noticed five of the Forsaken corralling them. Heading toward them, he also noticed three cultivators trying to reach them as well. It didn't take long before he watched souls flicker out and screams to fill the air.

Summoning his sword, he rounded the corner just as the cultivators reached them. A wave of steaming water slammed into one of the Forsaken, where the man was picked up and slammed into a wall.

Shards of ice rained down over another Forsaken, freezing the monster to the ground as it returned its own attack in the form of a large ice spike. The attack was stopped midair as the cultivator took control of it and shattered the spike.

Reaching the monsters a second later, James slashed through the frozen one before rounding on the other four. Soul Striking them, he destroyed them completely before walking toward the group of humans.

"We need to move!"

The cultivators ran over to him.

"Take them to the pleasure district and from there, the Blushing Maiden," James ordered.

All three cultivators bowed. "Yes, Grand Master."

Wanting to groan at the title that was becoming increasingly common, James spread out his soul and found another group that needed him. Despite the city being destroyed, he still didn't sense any reinforcements coming down from the mountain. Only the cultivators that were out shopping or helping at the hospitals were available.

I have to keep going. The monsters won't last much longer.

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