Damien and Fenrir quickly met up with the others who''d escaped from the cavern earlier ording to hismand.


    "If it isn''t our saviour!"


    "Thank you for rescuing us all!"


    "We are very much grateful!"


    "You''re our hero..."


    Various people spoke simultaneously the moment Damien was within the range to talk. He almost felt overwhelmed by the talks that he didn''t hear any of them well enough to give a response.


    With no response to give, Damien led the group walking side by side with Fenrir until they arrived at the hole through which he''d descended into this ce. He looked at high it was and then at the people with him. Most were injured and a few were unconscious even.


    "Listen, I have a n to bring you all out." Damien stated, turning face the dozen people behind him.


    None spoke but Damien was sure they were listening to him. "As a summoner, I possess a beast that can store you all within itself. After you all are summoned, I''ll cancel the summoning and then climb up. When next I summon it, I''ll be at the top and so will you guys once you''re released."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It sounded crazy and they all knew it. Hell, even some spected that he probably wanted to feed them to the beast but then, things took a sudden turn.


    No one knew who first answered but someone did. "I''m in!"


    That two word sentence was the drive most were looking for and in seconds, ten had agreed to Damien''s proposal.


    ''Summon Luton.'' Damien gave a mentalmand to his system while nodding at their agreement.


    Luton appeared swiftly, it''s red gtinous body wobbling gently. It was still the same size as thest time Damien summoned it.


    Damien stared at the slime and it seemed to understand the meaning behind the stare.


    It suddenly stretched and opened up, a dark void appearing within itself.


    Damien turned to them and shrugged. "Well, that''s your cue."


    Without holding back, they began walking into the ck hole opened up on the Slime''s body like its mouth. Find more chapters on empire


    Ten of them entered but two others remained back. "I''m not going in there!" The first one protested.


    "Me neither!" The second one wasted no time joining in to protest.


    Damien looked at both of them and then at the distance they were meant to climb to get back up. Then he looked at them again.


    "Are you both sure you don''t want to get in and stay there for a moment while I bring you all out easily?" Damien asked, his eyes focused on the second one whose brown hair was now most red due to blood stains.


    "Yes, I do not want to get in." The first one either bloodstained hair shook his injured head gently.


    However, the second one gave a more detailed rejection. "No way I''m getting into that hungry looking thing. It''ll probably devour me whole the moment I get inside." He seemedpletely fine.  At least physically. Damien doubted he was okay mentally.


    "Actually, it''s overfed at the moment so it doesn''t have space to devour weaklings but then again, it''s your choice. You guys won''t be getting in, right?"


    Both men nodded simultaneously and Damien smiled. "Alright."


    ''Cancel summon on Luton.'' Damienmanded mentally once again, the Ster Slime vanishing ino the blue portal that appeared.


    Damien then turned to the other guys. "Let''s get to climbing, shall we? You guys should go first so I can catch you if anyone of you fall."


    The injured man clicked his tongue but immediately walked to the wall and began climbing up. He was soon followed by the second and Damien remained there, watching both of them go higher.


    ~~~~~


    Damien''s emerged from the gaping hole, his chest rising and falling steadily as he brushed dirt from his clothes.


    The fresh air greeted him like an old friend, a stark contrast to the stench and oppressive miasma of the cavern below. As he stepped out, Aqu let out an excited cry, pping its wings as it bounded over to its master.


    "Missed me, huh?" Damien smirked, running a hand along the griffin''s beak. Aqu lowered its head in response, nuzzling against him.


    Behind him, two panting figures scrambled out of the hole, copsing on the ground beside him. Their faces were flushed with exhaustion, their hands trembling from the arduous climb. Damien cast a sidelong nce at them, his expression unreadable.


    "You two look like you''ve had the time of your lives," he said dryly.


    The first man red up at him, wiping sweat from his brow. "If you''d just carried us up like the others…"


    "You had your chance," Damien interrupted, shrugging as he moved a few steps away. "You decided to climb. That''s on you."


    The second man didn''t respond, too busy gulping down air and clutching his knees.


    Damien turned to the open space beside him, summoning Luton with a thought. The massive blob of red gtin appeared from a shimmering portal, its amorphous form pulsating faintly as it awaited Damien''smand.


    The two climbers visibly flinched, their eyes wide as they watched the strange creature manifest. One of them even took a wary step back, muttering under his breath.


    "Rx," Damien said tly. "Luton''s harmless. At least, to people who aren''t demons."


    Luton seemed to understand the statement, letting out a gurgling noise that sounded suspiciously like amusement. Damien ced a hand on the slime''s surface, and it responded by opening a swirling ck void at its center.


    "All right, Luton. Let them out."


    The void widened, and one by one, the rescued individuals began to emerge. The first was a middle-aged woman clutching her injured arm, followed by a young man supporting an older gentleman who was still unconscious. More followed, each stepping out cautiously, their eyes adjusting to the sunlight as they looked around in awe and relief.


    Damien stepped aside, watching all twelve reunite with one another, whispering words of gratitude andfort.


    "You''re free now," he said, his voice cutting through their murmurs.


    The group gathered around him, their expressions a mixture of gratitude and disbelief.


    "I don''t know how to thank you," said the middle-aged woman, tears streaming down her cheeks. "We would''ve been… if not for you…"


    A younger man stepped forward, his voice trembling. "Is there any way we can repay you? Anything at all?"


    Damien shook his head firmly. "I don''t need anything. I just wish I''d gotten there sooner." His gaze darkened slightly. "Maybe I could''ve saved more."


    The group fell silent at his words, some bowing their heads in acknowledgment.


    "You''ve done more than enough," said an older man with a raspy voice, clutching his side. "The fact that any of us are standing here is because of you."


    Damien nodded but didn''t reply. He wasn''t one for grand speeches or basking in gratitude. The job was done, and that was all that mattered.


    As the group began to gather their bearings and prepare for the journey back to town, the two men who had refused Luton''s help earlier approached.


    "You really put them in that thing?" one of them said, eyeing Luton suspiciously.


    "Not this again," Damien muttered under his breath.


    The second man crossed his arms, his gaze usatory. "How do we know you didn''t do something to them in there? For all we know, you could''ve…"


    Before he could finish, Fenrir materialized from another portal under Damien''s mental summoning, its massive form towering over the two men. A deep growl rumbled from the wolf''s throat, its crimson eyes gleaming dangerously.


    The men froze, their faces paling as they took an involuntary step back.


    "That''s enough, Fenrir," Damien said calmly, cing a hand on the wolf''s side but a smile yed at his lips. The growling stopped, but Fenrir''s gaze remained locked on the men, its presence a silent warning.


    Damien turned back to the skeptics, his tone cold. "If I wanted to harm any of you, I wouldn''t have gone through the trouble of saving you. So unless you''re nning to thank me like everyone else, I suggest you keep quiet."


    The two men exchanged uneasy nces but said nothing more.


    Satisfied, Damien began issuing instructions to the group. "Stick together and move as a unit. Help anyone who''s injured or can''t walk on their own. The town isn''t far, but it''s still a long trek if you''re not careful."


    "What about you?" someone asked.


    Damien gestured toward Aqu, who was standing a few feet away, preening its feathers. "I''ll fly ahead and make sure the way is clear. I''ll meet you back in town."


    The group murmured their understanding, some even bowing slightly in respect.


    Damien turned to Fenrir and Luton, dismissing them with a thought. The wolf and slime disappeared into their respective portals, leaving only Aqu behind.


    He climbed onto the griffin''s back, the creature letting out an eager cry as it spread its wings.


    "Good luck," he said, ncing down at the group onest time.


    With a powerful leap, Aqu took to the sky, carrying Damien away as the group began their cautious journey back to town above the others.