A low, vibrating bellow rolled through the trees.
Branches snapped.
The ground shook.
Garrick's hand went to his weapon instantly. "That's not a demon," he muttered. "Too… solid."
From between the trees burst a massive shape—muscle, horn, and fury.
A Trihorned Buffalo.
The beast stood taller than a warhorse, its body thick with corded muscle, hide like layered stone. Three massive horns jutted from its skull, the central one longer and jagged, etched with natural mana channels that glowed faintly as it snorted.
"Grade Five," Garrick said, eyes narrowing. "I can handle one."
The buffalo charged.
Garrick met it head-on.
He moved with the confidence of a veteran, dodging the initial charge by inches and slashing deep along the beast's flank. Blood sprayed, dark and hot. The buffalo bellowed in pain, skidding to a halt before turning again.
Then another emerged.
And another.
Three Trihorned Buffalo now thundered through the undergrowth.
