Under the leadership of Andrea, Ronan, Tavin, and Orin had spent the last 14 days in relentless training and hunting deep within the forest. They had grown stronger and sharper, but on the fifteenth day, as they trudged back to their camp with the spoils of another hunt, the air thickened with tension.
A guttural roar echoed through the trees, shaking the ground beneath their feet. Emerging from the shadows was a monstrous rank-three beast, a hulking creature with sinewy muscles, jagged claws, and eyes that glowed with primal fury.
Panic seized the group for a moment. Andrea's voice cut through the chaos. "Retreat! We can't take it head-on."
They turned to flee, but the beast was terrifyingly fast, bounding ahead of them and cutting off their escape. The group skidded to a halt, faces pale with realisation. There was no running from this.
Andrea unsheathed her blade, her voice steady but grim. "If we can't defeat it, we use the jade crystal Mr. Alden gave us. But first, let's see how far we can push ourselves. Form up!"
Andrea summoned pillars of earth, creating temporary barriers to slow the beast's advance.
As Andrea unleashed a barrage of magic attacks, water surged and twisted into sharp tendrils. Ronan and Tavin, blades drawn, charged forward. Ronan's sword blazed with fire, leaving trails of light as it arced through the air. Tavin's strikes were fluid, his water magic coating his blade and extending his reach.
But the beast was relentless, shrugging off their attacks as if they were mere annoyances. Each swing of its claws sent shockwaves through the ground, forcing the group to scatter. Exhaustion began to creep in as their coordinated attacks failed to pierce its thick hide.
Falling back, the group panted heavily, sweat dripping as they assessed the situation. Orin wiped his forehead with a trembling hand. "We can't defeat it," he admitted, his voice tinged with despair.
Andrea was about to respond when Ronan stepped forward, fire in his eyes. "Orin and I will hold it off. Tavin, Andrea, you'll deliver the finishing blow."
Andrea blinked, taken aback. "What are you thinking? Are you out of your mind?"
Tavin, to her surprise, nodded. "Okay."
From a nearby vantage point, Mr. Alden watched in silence. He had been prepared to intervene, but a smirk played on his lips as he heard Ronan's plan. "Interesting. Let's see what you've got, Ronan."
Ronan turned to Orin. "How long can you maintain your boosting spell? And can you fight while using it?"
Orin hesitated but answered, "If I'm boosting all of us, four minutes. Boosting just two lasts for six minutes. And yes, I can still fight."
A determined grin spread across Ronan's face. "Perfect. You and I will target its legs. We'll slow it down enough for Tavin and Andrea to land a decisive strike. Once the legs are damaged, you boost Andrea and keep your distance. Ready?"
Orin hesitated briefly before nodding, a small smile tugging at his lips. " Will this work?" With a roar, Ronan activated Void Overdrive. Crimson cracks laced his neck, arms, and eyes as raw energy surged through him.
His movements became a blur of speed and precision. Drawing his mid-grade sword, he channelled his fire magic until the blade glowed a fiery crimson. The sheer intensity of his aura made the air around him shimmer with heat.
The beast lunged, but Ronan darted under its massive claws, his Keen Eye perception skill guiding him to weak points.
He unleashed Blazing Strike, a fiery mana slash that seared through the beast's left front leg. The creature roared in agony, staggering but not falling.
"Orin, now!" Ronan shouted.
Orin unleashed his thunder magic, Stormcall Javelin, summoning a spear of concentrated thunder energy, forcing it to defend itself. At the same time, he cast his boosting spell, sending waves of energy to Tavin and Andrea. "You're up!" he called.
Ronan followed up with another Blazing Strike, this time severing the beast's right leg from behind. The creature's movements grew sluggish, its balance compromised.
Tavin and Andrea seized the opening. Tavin's blade shimmered with water magic, creating a cascading torrent that slashed through the beast's exposed flank.
Andrea's magic roared to life as she unleashed a powerful water spear that pierced the creature's chest. Together, their combined attack struck with devastating force, bringing the beast crashing to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Ronan collapsed to his knees, a satisfied smile on his face. "Now, I'm sure this will do. What do you think, Orin?"
Orin, panting, grinned. "You… you have the worst sense of timing. But good job, brother."
Tavin smirked, pointing to Ronan's sword. "You burned through another one?"
Andrea turned to see the sword in Ronan's hand. The blade was still red-hot, partially melted from the intense heat. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "How is this possible? A mid-grade sword melted by an Adept flame user?"
Ronan gave a sheepish laugh. "Guess I did it again. I need to buy a high-grade sword as soon as possible." Orin caught Ronan by the arm, steadying him. "You okay?" he asked, concern etched across his face.
Ronan exhaled shakily, his body still trembling from the backlash of Overdrive. "Everything aches," he admitted with a strained smile. "But give me a few hours of rest, and I'll be fine."
Andrea's gaze lingered on him, and a pang of guilt twisted in her chest. She had always judged him by his shallow mana reserves and single affinity, writing him off as someone destined to remain weak.
Yet here he stood—shaken, exhausted, but unyielding—having accomplished what even she hadn't believed possible. Shame pressed heavily on her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to voice it.
Turning away, she masked her expression in silence, unwilling to let the others see the doubt and regret flickering in her eyes.
"Let's collect the materials and head back," Ronan suggested, glancing at the setting sun. "We've done enough for today."
The group nodded, gathering the remains of the beast. As they left the forest, the last rays of sunlight bathed them in gold, marking the end of a day none of them would soon forget.