Luciel led Yue Feiyan down the wide street that stretched below the high ground of Black Tortoise City.
The afternoon light was fading, casting long, golden shadows across the earth. Waiting ahead were Wei Geng and sixteen members of the hunting team, standing neatly in two rows. Their weapons were ready, and the faint air of nervous excitement filled the space around them.
"Lord City Lord!" Wei Geng called out respectfully the moment he saw Luciel.
"Sir!" the sixteen hunters echoed in unison, their voices crisp and disciplined.
Luciel nodded slightly. "Let's move."
He didn't waste words. With that single command, he led the group away from the back of the massive Rock Tortoise and descended to the barren ground below.
The wind was dry and cool. By now, the sky was beginning to dim; streaks of faint orange light painted the western horizon.
Luciel lifted his sleeve and glanced at the small, silver watch fastened around his wrist—it read a little past 4:30 in the afternoon.
