The cold night wind swept through Longroad Sector 1. The street was empty, stalls shuttered tight. Only the pale moonlight lit the path.
Steve arrived first, standing near a large stone marker that signified the sector. Spotting Luxe, he waved.
"Yo, over here! You're right on time."
Luxe returned the wave and walked over.
Soon, two other figures emerged from the alley—Bradd and Chase.
Bradd, tall and lanky with spiked hair, twirled his twin daggers casually between his fingers. Behind him walked Chase, lean but muscular, buzz cut, with a massive longsword strapped across his back.
Bradd introduced himself first, his tone light but confident.
"Bradd, Rank C. Dual daggers. Two pets—Savage Lizardman and an Elite Falcon."
Chase planted his longsword into the ground, his voice curt.
"Chase. Rank A. Three pets—Savage Ironback Rhino, Elite Shadow Lynx, and Elite Flame Wyrmling."
Bradd nudged Chase with a smirk. "With him around, half the job's already done."
Luxe stood awkwardly but forced himself to speak.
"I'm Luxe. Rank F. No pet yet."
Right then, light footsteps approached. Lessy arrived last, shoulder-length hair framing her gentle face, a silver staff in hand. At her side padded a white-furred Savage Hound, while a small green Sylph floated softly beside her.
"…Lessy. Rank C. Staff. One attacker pet, one healer."
Her gaze immediately fell on Luxe, brows furrowing.
"Rank F? Seriously? We're facing a Lord-tier Beast, not babysitting a rookie."
Steve struck his hammer against the ground, his voice dripping with self-importance.
"Relax. He's only here to fill the team quota. He won't join the serious fight."
Bradd added casually, "Besides, with Chase here, even dragging a rookie doesn't matter."
Lessy scoffed but said nothing more.
Steve then addressed the group with a thin smile.
"Alright, clear enough. Tigrix Rex is mine—I'll be the one to tame it, not sell it. But you'll all get your cut as agreed."
He listed the shares firmly:
Chase: 100,000 Zen.
Bradd & Lessy: 37,500 Zen each.
Luxe: 5,000 Zen.
"What matters is the quota's met and the bounty runs officially."
Luxe only gave a small nod. Five thousand… small, but enough. At least I'll see a Lord Beast with my own eyes.
Steve tapped his hammer against his shoulder. "If that's clear, let's move."
The five of them started walking, leaving the cobbled path of Longroad Sector 1 and heading into the dark forest trail. The chirping of night insects mixed with the creak of swaying branches.
Steve led at the front, crystal pocket screen in hand. Its holographic display projected a map of the outer district, a pulsing red dot at the center—growing larger, glowing darker.
"Look," Steve said, lifting the screen so all could see. "The radar's getting clearer. Tigrix Rex is definitely showing up tonight, around Forest Edge, west sector."
Bradd spun one dagger on his finger, grinning. "Hah, I wonder how strong Tigrix Rex really is. Chase, I'll back you up like always!"
Chase gave a short nod, his calm aura somehow tightening the tension in the air.
Lessy gripped her staff tighter, the Sylph glowing nervously beside her. "Lord-tier… I've never faced one before. Can we really do this?"
Steve smiled confidently. "Relax. With this team, we're enough. Chase up front, Bradd for flanking, you for support, and me to tame. The rookie…" he shot Luxe a sidelong glance, "…just stand back and don't get in the way."
Luxe said nothing, his eyes fixed on the radar. The pulsing red matched the pounding in his chest. A Lord Beast… tonight, I'll witness it with my own eyes.
They pushed deeper. The soil grew damp, roots tangled the trail. Every few minutes Steve checked the radar—the red dot now swelled larger, flashing rapidly.
Bradd licked his lips, whistling low. "Hahaha… that signal means the Beast's restless. Maybe Tigrix Rex is already here."
Chase drew his longsword from his back, the blade catching moonlight. "Be ready. Once the signal peaks… it will appear."
Luxe held his breath, fists clenching unconsciously.
Suddenly, Steve's radar vibrated violently. The red dot ballooned, glowing with harsh intensity.
"This is it!" Steve shouted, voice trembling with excitement.
The forest ahead fell dead silent. Insects stopped chirping. Even the wind held its breath. Then—
BOOM!
The ground quaked. Roots tore free, birds scattered into the night. From the thick underbrush, two blazing golden eyes cut through the dark.
A towering figure stepped forward—Tigrix Rex.
A humanoid tiger nearly four meters tall, golden-black fur gleaming under moonlight. Muscles rippled with each movement, silver claws flashing like blades.
"D-damn… he's huge…" Bradd muttered, unable to look away.
Tigrix Rex roared, the guttural sound rattling their bones. From the shadows, dozens of Savage-tier beasts surged forth—Lupus Fangs, Rock Lizards, Flame Toads—forming a pack around their Lord.
Chase slammed his longsword into the ground, aura bursting outward. "Formation! I'll hold the front!"
Bradd darted right, daggers gleaming. "I'll flank!" His Falcon soared upward while his Savage Lizardman charged ahead.
Lessy lowered her staff, green light radiating from the Sylph to form a protective veil. "Stay within my radius! Don't spread too far!"
Steve unleashed his Elite Crag Bull, the stone-armored beast barreling into Rock Lizards. He swung his hammer down, crushing a Flame Toad in one blow. "Clear the fodder! Don't let them reach me while I tame later!"
Luxe stood at the rear, eyes wide. Dozens of beasts poured toward them like a dark wave. "Chase and Bradd… they're perfectly in sync!"
A Lupus Fang lunged at him, fangs bared. Luxe sidestepped, shadows flaring from his hand as he struck—the beast collapsed, blood splattering.
Meanwhile, Tigrix Rex moved. The Lord Beast's eyes locked onto Chase, and in an instant, it charged.
"RAAAWRR!!"
Silver claws clashed against Chase's longsword—CLANG! Sparks flew, the impact splitting the ground beneath them. Chase skidded back, boots cracking the earth, but he held his ground.
"Now, Bradd!" he barked.
Bradd flashed in from the right, slashing Tigrix Rex's leg. His Falcon swooped, talons raking across its face. But the monster swung its massive arm—WHOOM! Bradd barely leapt back in time to avoid being torn in half.
"Tch… regular strikes barely scratch him!" Bradd spat, chest heaving.
Around them, Savage beasts pressed harder. Steve's Crag Bull fought valiantly, but their numbers were overwhelming. Steve smashed his hammer again, sweat dripping. "Lessy! More support!"
Lessy bit her lip, staff glowing as the Sylph bathed them in healing light. Her Hound lunged, mauling a Lupus Fang, but her voice shook. "There's too many! I can't protect everyone!"
At the back, Luxe blinked through shadows to avoid two beasts lunging for him. Wait… why are so many slipping past Chase? He should've aggro'd them all… His eyes flicked briefly to Chase and Bradd.
Tigrix Rex roared again, golden-black aura erupting, forcing even the Savage beasts to shrink back in fear.
For the first time, Chase's expression tightened, his grip straining against his sword. Bradd too was panting, blades slick with blood.
Steve and Lessy were thrown back, scraped and bruised. Luxe nearly got pinned but blinked aside at the last second, breath ragged.
Then—
BOOM!
Tigrix Rex slammed both claws into the ground, carving a massive crater. Dust exploded upward, cloaking the battlefield.
Through the haze, its burning eyes glared crimson, locked squarely onto the five of them.
Luxe swallowed hard. If this keeps up… who among us will survive?