The elder led them deeper into the woods.
Another hour of walking.
Ahrie dragged his feet, gloomy as ever, muttering under his breath.
Stupid damn wolves… imma eat you up…
His mind replayed the conversation from earlier—right before the trek began.
"I'm deeply sorry," the elder said, voice weighed with sincerity. "But you'll have to walk."
Both Ahrie and Daiki had blinked, confused.
"Our wolves—the Luphenra—are a prideful pack. They don't just accept anyone… so…"
Daiki bowed his head respectfully. "It's fine. We understand."
Ahrie, meanwhile, was glaring at the elder's massive wolf. The beast glanced at him, then—rolled its eyes and looked away.
Ahrie's fists clenched. This fuck—
Before he could finish, Daiki shoved him back.
"Don't. Even."
Deep in the forest, the air felt heavier—thicker with something unseen.
Light bled through the canopy in strange ways, bending against the towering trees that stretched far higher than anything outside.
The forest was alive. Silent… yet crowded with sounds. Clicks. Rustles. Whispers from unseen throats. Creatures moved in the shadows, curious—but none dared to draw close.
The fear was carved into their bones.
The pact of wolves.
The bloodlust of the Floriae.
Together, it spread like a scent across the woods, warning everything else to keep its distance.
Luar and his group rode in silence, carriages creaking through the dim path. No chatter. Just the sound of wheels grinding against dirt.
"Er… is that a carriage?" one of the drivers muttered, squinting at the shadow of wood parked beneath a tree.
"I think so…" another replied from the next cart, unease in his voice.
"Yo, boss. What should we do?" a third asked.
The Boss's eyes flicked toward it once, then away. His tone was flat, cold.
"Leave it be."
The carriages rolled on.
"The boss said let it be. Keep moving!" A man barked.
"Psst… Luar." Olivia leaned in, eyes flicking to the hulking figure at the head carriage.
"Who's the big guy?"
Luar lowered his tone, careful with the words.
"He's with one of the major organizations. Sir Piggy vouched for him."
He edged closer, voice dropping to a whisper meant only for her.
"…He's almost at level four."
Olivia's breath hitched. Shock flickered across her face.
At the far corner of the carriage, Aisyah sat still, eyes closed as if asleep. A faint glow on her ring… pulsing.
She lifted her right hand, resting it behind her head against the wall.
Far away—on the other end of that faint signal—an entire room of listeners leaned forward.
"Describe the one they call boss."
Aisyah clicked her tongue twice. A clean, deliberate sound.
Silence. Everyone in the room understood the meaning. No.
"We understand," came the hushed reply. "Report when the chance comes. Stay safe."
"Oum," Aisyah breathed, voice no louder than the wheels turning.
After crossing a brutal, winding mountain path, Ahrie and Daiki finally set foot on the ridge.
Their jaws nearly dropped.
The village stretched below—towering trees with homes built into their trunks and branches, lanterns glowing faintly even in daylight. Beyond it, ring after ring of mountains wrapped around the valley.
"Woa…" Daiki breathed, eyes wide.
"I welcome you to our tiny village, Lunemere," the elder announced with pride.
Ahrie deadpanned. "Tiny? You call this tiny?"
"Of course." The elder stroked his beard. "In the past, our kingdom stretched from the Northern Forest to the Eastern Peaks…" His voice faltered, sadness softening his eyes.
"Now, all that remains are scattered villages… all over Sylvaren."
A heavy sigh left him, swallowed quickly by the mountain wind.
"Anyway," the elder muttered, snapping back to himself. "Drag them."
Before Ahrie or Daiki could protest, two wolves darted behind them, bit into their shirts, and leapt forward with impossible strength.
"W-Whoa—hey, hey, hey!" Ahrie flailed as the ground blurred past.
Daiki screamed, "WHY ARE THEY FASTER THAN THE HORSE?!"
The wolves barreled downhill, dragging both of them like sacks of potatoes straight toward the gates of Lunemere.
Luar and his ragtag crew reached the river path—the same one where they'd first spotted the child.
"This is it," Luar muttered, eyes sharp.
"STOP," the boss barked. His voice cut through the silence. "Set up camp here. We'll search the area after."
"Alright, boss," the men echoed. One by one, they dropped packs, hammered stakes, and started throwing up tents. The campfire crackled to life.
Meanwhile, back in Lunemere—Ahrie and Daiki were dying inside.
Sweat poured down their foreheads as they crouched in front of a row of eager wolf pups.
The child, sitting proudly among them, tilted their head.
"Can you also teach our pups the things yours can do?"
Daiki glanced at the nearest pup—bigger than him, drool dripping from its fangs. His lips twitched. A-oum… errr… His voice cracked.
Beside him, Ahrie threw up his hands. "Why the fuck am I in this too?!"
Daiki smirked without looking at him. "You've got a dog, don't you?"
Ahrie's eyes twitched. "You just want me to suffer with you, you dumb bastard—!"
Daiki shrugged, raising both hands in surrender. "It is what it is."
The wolf pups all barked at once, tails wagging like they were ready for class.
Ahrie and Daiki froze. This was about to get worse.
Two wolf pups stood tall in front of them, their golden eyes locked. The child crouched happily behind them, watching like this was the best show in the world.
"S-so… u-uhh… hello…" Daiki stammered, bowing slightly as if greeting royalty. His hand trembled as he waved.
Ahrie, meanwhile, sat cross-legged in front of the other pup, chin resting on his hand, eyes narrowed. He wasn't even trying—just waiting for Daiki to screw up.
What neither of them knew was that Luphenra pups, even this young, could communicate with each other through telepathy.
The first pup tilted its head, sending the thought.
The hell's this guy's problem?
The second snorted.
Dunno. But our little friend back there's enjoying it. Might as well humor him a bit.
Both pups then turned their glowing eyes toward Ahrie.
He was smirking now, clearly judging Daiki.
But him though…
Yeah. Don't like him one bit.
Agreed.
The pause between them was sharp. Their tails flicked in unison.
…Bite?
Ye, ye. We should.
Their jaws cracked open, teeth gleaming.
"Sit," Daiki ordered.
The pup sat.
The kid clapped with bright eyes. "Do more! Do more!"
Daiki straightened up, grinning, confidence finally kicking in.
The pups glanced at each other.
"See? Our friend is smiling."
"Yeah… let's do more tricks. Then we bite the other guy."
"Deal."
"Paw." Daiki said.
The pup raised its paw.
"Very good!" Daiki cheered. He and the kid spun in a circle, celebrating.
Then Daiki turned smugly to Ahrie. "Your turn, bud."
Ahrie scowled. "Ha? No way."
"What? You scared?" Daiki taunted.
Ahrie let out a long sigh. "…This bastard."
He stepped toward the other wolf pup, cracked his neck, and crouched down.
"Paw," Ahrie said.
WOMP.
The pup swallowed half his body.
The kid and Daiki burst into laughter, tears in their eyes. The other pup grinned wide.
But Ahrie just crouched, calm as ever, and gently reached for the pup's paw while inside its mouth.
He slowly stood up, angelic smile on his face, cradling the paw.
"Yes… yes… good job… good pup…" he whispered tenderly.
The pup blinked, confused, and gradually spat him out, leaving him covered in sticky saliva.
Ahrie kept stroking its paw, smiling like a saint. "Good pup… good job…"
Then, without breaking his smile, he whispered: "Play dead."
The two wolf pups tilted their heads in confusion.
WHOOP.
Ahrie smashed the pup's skull with the hilt of his rapier. The wolf collapsed, unconscious.
"Good pup."
The kid and Daiki froze, horror flooding their faces. What the hell is this scene?
Ahrie turned slowly toward the other pup, saliva dripping, rapier leveled at his lips.
"Just so you know… I'm Asian." His smile twisted. "So I'm not picky about what I eat."
The other pup bolted instantly.
"Yabaiii…this guy's a fucking lunatic…" Daiki muttered, pale.
On Luar's end…
Some of the men pitched tents while side-eyeing the boss.
"Uh, boss… how do we even track 'em?"
"Tracking?" the boss smirked. "Don't worry. We got George."
"George, you up?"
The boss's right-hand man stepped forward. Everyone shut up.
Then… a whole squad of medics crowded around him.
One guy whispered, "Why the hell do they have so many crates of blood packs?"
"Yeah…" another muttered, uneasy.
The boss folded his arms. "George needs it."
George didn't speak. He just pulled out a knife, raised his arms, and dragged the blade across his own palm.
[BloodXplorers]
His blood spilled, twisting midair into small, frantic creatures that darted off into the trees—fast, sharp, perfect trackers.
"High mobility scouts," the boss explained casually. "Nothing escapes them."
Meanwhile, the medics swarmed. They strapped George down, shoved IVs into his arms.
"Secure his body!" one shouted.
A line of blood packs was readied, boxes cracked open.
The first bag hissed empty into his veins.
The crowd of men just stared at him, pale.
"…Thank god that ain't my skill," one whispered.
"…Yeah, I'd rather die," another muttered.