Dawn in the Shrouded Weald did not bring light, only a shift from oppressive black to a murky, disorienting gray. The mist clung to the ground, muffling sound and turning the ancient forest into a labyrinth of shadows. Three teams stood ready, the tension a palpable force between them.
Evelyn's team, Beta, was the guild's elite, their gear gleaming even in the dim light. Marcus led Alpha, the main force of heavy hitters.
And then there was Gamma Team. Lucas looked at the three players assigned to him and felt a familiar, cold sense of being underestimated. There was Joric, a hot-headed warrior who made no secret of his contempt, his hand resting on the pommel of his greatsword as if daring Lucas to give him a foolish order. Beside him was Elara, a nervous-looking rogue, and Finn, a healer whose expression was a mask of pure, professional skepticism. He had been given the disposable assets.
Evelyn approached, handing him a small, glowing crystal. "A communication crystal," she stated, her tone all business. "Report in when you reach your target. Do not engage until all three teams are in position and give the signal. Don't get my people killed, Thorne."
Lucas took the crystal and gave a simple nod. "I only deal in efficient outcomes, Evelyn."
He turned to his reluctant team. "This way," he said, before melting into the mist, Kael a silent shadow at his heels.
The journey was a trial of patience. The Weald was teeming with [Shade Wraiths] and [Rotting Ghouls]. Joric, the warrior, gripped his sword, eager to charge at every shambling corpse.
"Hold position," Lucas commanded, his voice a low whisper. Joric scoffed.
"They're just ghouls. We can take them."
"Every fight costs resources," Lucas countered without looking back. "Mana for the healer, durability for your armor, and time. We will engage only when necessary. Our objective is the Heartroot. Nothing else matters."
He led them on a winding, counter-intuitive path, Kael scouting ahead to identify enemy patrols. Lucas's [System Insight] allowed him to see the gaps in their perception, the blind spots in their routes. They moved through the undead-infested woods like ghosts, avoiding conflict after conflict. The members of Gamma Team, despite their distrust, couldn't deny the results. They were moving faster and safer than they had any right to. A sliver of grudging respect began to form.
Their target was a sunken crypt, its entrance choked by thick, pulsing roots the color of dried blood. And guarding it was a [Dread Knight | Level 17 (Elite)], a hulking figure in rusted, black plate armor, a faint, life-draining aura pulsing around it.
"I'll take point," Joric declared, stepping forward.
"Wait for my command," Lucas ordered.
"I don't need orders from a—"
Joric didn't finish his sentence. He had taken a step into the Knight's aura, and a sliver of his health bar immediately vanished, a [Life Drain] debuff appearing on his status. He stumbled back in shock.
Lucas's [System Insight] had already given him the solution.
[The Dread Knight's armor is immune to all physical and magical damage. Its power is drawn directly from the Heartroot. Successful attacks on the Heartroot will temporarily shatter its defenses for 5 seconds.]
"It's immune," Lucas stated calmly. "Joric, your job is to draw its attention. Don't try to damage it; just keep it occupied. Finn, focus all your healing on him. Elara, you're with me."
Without waiting for a reply, he and Kael darted to the side. The Dread Knight focused on Joric, its massive, spectral blade swinging in a slow, heavy arc. While the warrior desperately parried the blows, his health draining with every passing second, Lucas and the rogue flanked the battle.
"The root, behind the altar!" Lucas commanded. "Attack it now!"
Elara, now understanding the strategy, dashed forward, her daggers a blur as she struck the pulsing Heartroot. At the same instant, Lucas brought his staff down hard. The root recoiled, and a network of glowing cracks appeared all over the Dread Knight's armor.
"Joric! Now!" Lucas yelled.
The warrior, seeing his chance, unleashed a powerful skill, his greatsword crashing into the Knight's chest and sending it staggering back, its health bar finally taking a significant hit.
Five seconds later, the cracks vanished. The Knight was immune again.
"Fall back! Elara, hit the root again!"
They fell into a deadly rhythm, a complex dance of distraction, defense, and targeted strikes. It was a high-coordination battle that required absolute trust in a leader who could see the invisible rules of the fight. It was a fight they could only win with his strategy.
After a grueling ten minutes, the Dread Knight finally shattered into a cloud of dark energy, and with a final, decisive strike from Joric, the Heartroot withered into blackened splinters.
They had done it. The team stood panting, looking at Lucas with a new, profound respect.
Lucas ignored them, activating the communication crystal. His voice was steady, betraying none of the adrenaline from the fight.
"Gamma Team, objective complete. Awaiting status."
A tense moment of silence passed, filled only by the whisper of the mist. Then, a voice crackled through the crystal, strained but triumphant.
"Alpha, complete." It was Marcus.
Another second stretched into an eternity.
Then, Evelyn's voice, sharp and focused, cut through the air. "Beta, complete. The clock has started. We have ten minutes."
The hunt was over. The race had begun.