Rustle! Rustle!
Kaelen's Decadon moved rapidly through the dense bushes, each of them assuming a position in accordance to his orders.
Their formation resembled a spearhead with him at its very tip, leading the way whilst also surveying the area in anticipation of hidden threats.
Veylith was stationed at the rear of this formation due to the fact that she could deliver deadly long-range attacks.
But that was not all, Kaelen also placed her there so she could guard their rear and intercept unforseen attacks from their sides — also because she was fast enough to join him in the frontlines if need be.
[...]
[We need to catch them before they reach the mountains, otherwise we'll really be at a disadvantage because of the slope and rocky terrain.]
Kaelen kissed his teeth and slightly increased his pace, albeit, careful not to exhaust his Decadon who already seemed to struggle with keeping up as it was.
Why not just leave them behind with Veylith and go at full speed?
As much as their lives were on the line, this was a necessary team-building exercise, and he needed to understand all of their strengths and weaknesses for future purposes.
[What a terrible party, everyone here mostly uses melee weapons.]
He glanced at the numerous blades that reflected what little light was filtered from the dense canopies above.
He then turned his attention to the far right, slightly behind him, at the Homunculus carrying a wooden bow.
She was the only other female in this Decadon besides Veylith.
[Level 2 huh... How the hell did she even survive the culling?]
His question arose not only because of her low level but because of her timid appearance, her light blue eyes seemed to almost sparkle like an ocean reflecting sunlight. It looked as though she was about to cry.
In truth, the only reason she survived was because Veylith had killed most of the Homunculi during the culling process and was utterly uninterested in her since she was so weak.
And another possible reason is the fact that the other Homonculi were busy ganging up on Kaelen.
[!!]
[I see them!]
The prey was finally within his eye's range and he was able to see their information as they clustered at the base of a rocky mountain.
He raised his arm and everybody stopped, he then gestured that they should be extremely quiet.
[There's about sixty of them, why are they just standing there?]
He could somewhat make out the muffled sounds of their voices from the distance, but not their words.
[...]
Kaelen raised his gaze up the rocky mountain and saw a lone figure slowly scaling it.
<□ Goblin — LV. 4
Class: Scout LV. 1 □>
[Ah, I see...]
[They must be unfamiliar with this terrain.]
Goblins and Kobolds are extremely anxious creatures, especially since they possess enough intelligence to understand their place on the First Floor's food chain.
So moving to an unfamiliar terrain would require that they gather information about it first.
[I need to keep them down here, it'll be troublesome if they leave.]
"Specimen 2902, come here."
He called out, and the Homonculus to whom that label belonged, timidly walked to her Captain's side.
"Y-yes, Captain?"
She stammered and stuttered.
"Do you see that prey over there?"
He pointed at the Goblin expertly scaling the mountain with its bare hands.
"Yes I d-do."
She answered, her pupil constricting as she gazed to where Kaelen was pointing.
"What about you?"
He asked a random Homonculus.
"Sorry Captain but I cannot."
He answered bluntly.
Kaelen asked two more and they too had the same answer.
[Perfect, it looks like she actually has a talent for archery.]
"Shoot him down."
He ordered, and turned to Veylith who was watching him intently from behind.
"E-eh? B-but I..."
She began twiddling her thumbs, her forehead perspiring profusely.
"Stop. Just do as you're told."
The others scolded and frowned upon her lack of courage.
[Their sheer number is problematic, but it's not something we can't deal with.]
[The real threat here is...]
"Veylith, you can sense those two right?"
He gestured with his thumb.
"..."
Clink...
She silently nodded as she approached him.
"Hurry and draw your arrow, are you being insubordinate right now?"
"How dare you disobey the Captain?"
"He should just abandon you, you're holding us back."
More and more Homunculi of the Decadon gathered around Specimen 2902, scorning her and shoving her as she wept incessantly.
[It may look harsh but everyone's life is on the line.]
[They understand that if one person can't do their part, then the likelihood of all of us dying increases.]
He stole a glance at them and pretended not to see or hear anything.
"E-everyone please stop, I d-don't think I can do it so someone else should, sniff."
"H-here how about you t-try?"
She offered her bow to a Homunculus who was nearest to h —
Slap!!
"Eek!"
Thud...
A Homonculus with light yellow eyes —the one who escorted Kaelen at dawn—stepped forward and slapped her across the face as hard as he could, sending her rolling on the ground.
"Someone else should do it? Have you lost your mind?"
Step... Step...
He began grinding his teeth and coiled his hand around the fabric of her collar.
"The Captain asked you to do it because you're the only one who can!"
He shouted in a hush voice.
"So get up and do your part for the Decadon!"
He dragged her up and forced her to stand, unfazed even as her tears trickled down the handprint on her slowly swelling cheek.
"If you're too much of a coward to do this simple thing then you won't live for much longer, our Master has no need for weaklings."
His words stabbed through her heart as she stood there alone and isolated, marinating in her own inadequacy.
"Master... Will have no need... of me?"
She muttered those words, her voice cracking, her mouth dry and her breath trembling.
[Seriously, this guy is starting to impress me. Where did you learn how to manipulate people?]
Kaelen, with his hands folded on his chest and Veylith standing by his side, grappled with the urge to smirk.
"Do it now, Specimen 2902."
He gave his final order and...
"Yes, Captain!"
She replied boldly and drew her arrow, the thought of her Master, Charymos, discarding her was something she considered a nightmare, one which she much rather die than see become a reality.
[Although I consider those two monsters to be the main threat here, I can't just ignore their number.]
"Veylith, when I give the order, I want you to execute them."
Hearing her Captain's words, her lips slightly perked up and her posture coiled up like a spring, or better yet, a predator ready to pounce.
"Yes... Captain."
She acknowledged the order, her trembling breath exposing her excitement.
"Fuuu..."
Kaelen drew a deep breath and placed his left foot in front of his right, his right arm raising his spear above his head and shoulder.
He then drew and condensed vast amounts of his pink Mana at the spear's metal tip, until the plasma almost seemed to materialize into a solid.
...
Everyone held their breath and it became eerily quiet, even the sounds of wildlife seemed to be drowned out at that very moment.
The humidity of the forest only served to add to their perspiration.
Specimen 2902 focused intently with her unwavering eyes, adjusting her aim and...
Fwosh!
She loosened the arrow, and it tore through the air like a peregrine falcon.
Thud! Squelch!
They saw the green-skinned figure fall from high up in the mountain, her arrow having been embedded to its throat.
[Not yet...]
He twitched, a sweat droplet gathering at the tip of his nose, his elbow locked into place like a rifle bolt, ready to fire his spear.
And...
Splat!
The falling Goblin was reduced to red paste on the ground, causing an intense commotion amongst the group that gathered at the base of the mountain.
Which was exactly what Kaelen was waiting for...
■■ Mana Missile! ■■
Fwosh!!!
He launched his spear at a speed near that of a bullet from a pistol, and the recoil was so violent that he nearly dislocated his shoulder and tore his muscles.
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The mountain was shook by the explosion, and large rock debris fell down toward its base.
"Khhiiiik Khakaka! "
"Growl! Look out!!"
They warned and attempted to scurry, but it was utterly futile, and nearly thirty of them were brutally crushed.
"Now Veylith!"
Ta! Ta! Ta!
She immediately charged at his order.
"Huff..."
Ding!
Ding!
He caught his breath and disregarded the notifications from his successful hunt.
"You all want to join in too, right?"
He asked a rhetorical question, given how they were clearly begging him to unleash them like bloodhounds.
"Fuuu..."
Kaelen spread out his right, aching arm in front of him, his trembling palm facing the ground.
■■ Monarch's Aegis. ■■
Uwoooong!!
An azure-blue dome sprung forth from his palm, encircling him and his Decadon.