Kael had spent the night with the newly formed group, discussing strategies and plans, getting a grasp of each member's strength. At sunrise, they had exited the guildhouse and ventured into the dense forests surrounding Velthoria.
The group consisted of two female support Luminaires and three men, including Kael, on the offensive. Even within such a group, keeping trump cards hidden was a given, so this was pretty much the only thing Kael had managed to figure out from their discussions.
They walked through the wild forest, carving a path as they moved. The air had a chill to it, and small clouds of mist appeared with each breath they took. A gentle breeze swept through the forest, plucking leaves from the trees around them. The falling leaves drifted slowly, creating a scene that felt almost magical.
Kael walked at the back of the group, keeping his distance, his sharp eyes scanning both the forest around them and his companions ahead.
Up ahead, one of the female Luminaires stepped on a moss-covered rock, her foot slipping out from under her. She stumbled forward, barely catching herself.
"Ugh, I hate the forest," she muttered, brushing off her coat in frustration.
The other female Luminaire sighed, the sound almost exaggerated. "Just shut up, Elara. I haven't even gotten a chance to listen to the birds singing while you whine."
Elara's head snapped towards her companion, her face twisted in irritation. "Fuck off, Rielle."
Rielle rolled her eyes, not even bothering to respond.
Kael watched it all in silence, his expression unreadable. His request to stay at the back of the group allowed him a perfect view of their dynamics, while keeping the eyes off him.
'These two have been childhood friends, awakened around the same time,' he noted, his gaze lingering on them as he stepped lightly over the same mossy rock that had almost sent Elara tumbling.
'It should take around a day to reach our first campsite. After that, we'll scout the area before hunting the wolves.'
Kael picked a leaf out of his hair, glanced at it briefly, then let it drift away in the breeze as he continued his thoughts.
During yesterday's discussion at the guildhouse, Kael had been forced to reevaluate the group. Adam was clearly the leader, a natural role given his rank two status and his experience. But the other three Luminaires were not to be underestimated either. Each of them showed a level of competence that came only with experience.
'If I had to guess, they're all close to advancing to rank two,' he speculated, though he knew it was only an assumption.
Still, the more he observed them, the clearer it became. They weren't just some ragtag group hoping for a lucky hunt. They were calculated, seasoned. And that meant Kael needed to be even more cautious.
The sun had begun to dip toward the treetops when the long stretch of silence was finally broken by Adam. He halted, turning to face the group.
"This is where we'll set up camp. Everyone, you know your roles. Kael, make yourself comfortable."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the group scattered. Some ventured off to gather firewood, others to scout the surroundings, while a few went hunting.
Kael brushed the back of his coat clean with a casual sweep of his hand before settling himself onto a nearby rock. A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
'This feels all too familiar,' he thought, a hint of nostalgia mixing with his amusement. Memories of his journey to Velthoria with Torin's group surfaced in his mind.
The sun had slipped below the treetops, casting long shadows over the campsite as the group settled around the crackling fire. Rielle and Elara leaned close, their voices blending together in an excited, whispered debate, occasionally bursting into laughter. Sylas sat a little apart, his lips gently pressing against the harmonica, creating a calm, melodic tune from it. The soft notes drifted through the camp, mingling with the quiet rustle of leaves and the gentle crackling of the flames. Adam leaned back against a fallen log, his eyes half-closed, quietly humming along to the rhythm, his foot tapping lightly against the forest floor.
Kael, seated just within the glow of the firelight, kept a careful eye on the skewered meat he held over the open flames. The fat sizzled and dripped, sending occasional sparks dancing into the cool night air. The savory aroma mingled with the forest's earthy scent, creating a comforting warmth that contrasted with the creeping chill of the forest night.
This fragile moment of peace came to an end as the morning sun cast its light over the forest, painting the leaves in shades of gold. The warmth of the rising sun replaced the dwindling embers of last night's fire, and the group of five now stood around the ashen remains, their shadows stretching across the forest floor.
Adam stood at the center, his gaze moving over each member as he spoke, his tone clear and direct.
"Alright, today we're going after one of the Wolf Tigers that Elara spotted during yesterday's scouting."
His eyes swept over the group, ensuring everyone was listening.
"Sylas and I will take the front. Rielle will support us directly. Kael, you and Elara will scout the perimeter, keep an eye out for anything unexpected."
Kael remained expressionless, but his thoughts moved quickly. Even though he had introduced himself as an attack Luminaire, Adam had placed him in a scouting role. But Kael wasn't surprised. Trust was important in a group like this, and while they might tolerate his presence, they wouldn't gamble their lives on his untested strength.
Adam, Sylas, and Rielle had likely fought side by side countless times. They knew each other's strengths, their rhythms in battle. Kael was an unknown, and an unknown was a potential liability. One wrong move could shatter the flow of their combat, turn a simple hunt into a chaotic disaster.
Kael nodded, offering no objection. 'Fine by me. Scouting means I can keep an eye on them too.'
Elara let out a quiet sigh, brushing a few strands of hair from her face. "Alright then, guess I'm stuck with the newcomer," she said, flashing a half-hearted smile in Kael's direction.
Kael didn't respond, his cold emerald eyes just briefly meeting hers before looking back to Adam, waiting for the signal to move.
Adam gave a satisfied nod to the group before turning to lead the way toward their chosen battleground. No one spoke as they moved through the forest, the morning mist still clinging to the air. Soon, a deep depression in the earth came into view, an almost perfect natural crater, surrounded by towering rocks.
'Not a bad choice for a battleground.'
Kael scanned the area.
Elara's selection wasn't random. The plan was straightforward but effective. Sylas would serve as bait, drawing the Wolf Tiger into the crater. Once inside, the steep, jagged walls would serve as a natural trap, limiting the beast's movements. The others would use the rocks for cover, setting up an ambush.
If the Wolf Tiger tried to escape, it would have to climb the sheer, rugged rocks. A task that would take precious time, time where Kael and Elara could intervene, cutting off its retreat.
The group exchanged a few words before scattering, leaving only Kael and Elara perched on the rocks overlooking the crater. They shared a brief glance, then each found a suitable spot to sit, settling in for the wait.
Time stretched. Nearly three hours slipped by in silence, the forest a quiet sea of swaying leaves and rustling underbrush. Finally, Elara's voice cut through the stillness.
"They're coming."
Kael shifted, casting a glance at her before following her gaze. But all he saw was the same forest, the same gentle sway of leaves in the soft breeze. No sound of approaching footsteps, no shifting of the underbrush. Nothing.
'Sensory motes…'
For those who sought only raw power, the value of a sensory mote could be easily overlooked. But Kael knew better. What he couldn't see or hear, Elara had already detected.
If they ever found themselves on opposing sides, this would be a weakness for Kael, a flaw that Elara could exploit with ease.
'I need new motes…'
Kael sighed inwardly. Compared to other Luminaires, he was certainly better off when it came to motes, but there was always room for improvement.
A tense silence stretched over the crater, broken only by the rustling leaves and the faint whisper of the wind. Kael's gaze remained fixed on the opposite side of the crater, anticipation tightening his grip on the rock beneath him.
Then, in an instant, a figure burst out from the dense foliage—Sylas. He shot out of the bushes like a bolt of lightning, trailing a cloud of dust in his wake. His body twisted and soared through the air, arms swinging with controlled chaos, his figure arcing high above the center of the crater. For a brief, breathtaking moment, he seemed to hang in the sky, weightless against the vast expanse.
But then a sound shattered the stillness. A roar, primal and furious, ripped through the forest, echoing off the crater walls. Trees bent and leaves scattered. And from the same spot Sylas had leapt, a monstrous silhouette exploded into view.
The Wolf Tiger.
It leapt after him, a living shadow many times his size, its colossal body soaring after him with predatory grace. Muscles rippled beneath its dark fur, and its massive fangs caught the sunlight, gleaming like polished ivory. The beast's leap cast a shadow that swallowed Sylas whole, a towering predator pursuing its prey in a deadly descent.
He had succeeded in baiting the beast!
Sylas crashed into the center of the crater, rolling expertly to absorb the impact. Dust billowed around him, but he was already rising to his feet, eyes sharp, breath steady. Above him, the Wolf Tiger descended like a living storm, its massive body blotting out the sky for an instant.
But before it could even touch the ground, two more shadows tore through the air from the high walls of the crater. Rielle and Adam.
Rielle's figure cut through the air with a graceful, deadly precision. Her hands traced intricate patterns, and a pale light shimmered around her as she activated her mote, her presence amplifying the group's strength.
Adam, on the other hand, was a force of nature. He plummeted down like a falling star, a fierce roar escaping his lips. His hands glowed with a faint, silvery light, his muscles bulging with the enhanced power of his Luminaire strength.
The Wolf Tiger, still suspended in its descent, was caught between the two. Its amber eyes narrowed, claws extending mid-air, but its reaction was a heartbeat too slow.
Adam's fist crashed against the beast's flank with the force of a battering ram. The air trembled, and the beast's trajectory was shattered, its massive body twisted in the air.
Rielle landed gracefully beside Sylas, her calm voice cutting through the chaos.
"Now! Don't give it any room to breathe!"
Sylas needed no further encouragement. He lunged forward, his hand glowing with a faint, cold light. A single, thin, white, icicle-shaped blade materialized in his grip, sharp and crystalline. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the beast's exposed underbelly.
High above, the Wolf Tiger twisted mid-air, a deafening roar escaping its jaws. Its massive form crashed into the dust-filled crater, claws tearing at the earth as it scrambled to stand. Muscles rippled beneath its dense fur, and its massive frame loomed over Sylas like a shadow.
Using the momentum of his dash, he dropped low, sliding beneath the towering beast. His arm shot upward, and the first icicle blade pierced through the beast's thick hide with a wet, sickening crunch.
The Wolf Tiger roared, its claws swiping wildly, but its massive form blocked any chance to see what struck it.
As Sylas slid beneath its shadow, his outstretched hand clenched, and another icicle materialized in his grip. He thrust it upward, another piercing strike. The moment it shattered into white mist, another blade appeared. One, two, three. Each blade stabbed upward, a relentless series of icy spears puncturing the beast's underbelly.
Blood dripped down in thick, crimson droplets, staining Sylas's sliding form. But he didn't stop. His slide carried him clear to the other side of the beast, a trail of dissolving white shards marking the path of his vicious assault.
The beast's legs buckled as a sudden wave of agony tore through its body, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud. Its massive frame shuddered, claws scraping at the dirt in a futile attempt to rise.
But before it could gather its senses, a towering figure appeared before it — Adam. The beast's wild eyes met his, and it let out a furious roar, a spray of spit splattering across Adam's face. Yet his expression didn't waver, cold and unyielding.
Adam's arm rose high above his head, muscles coiling like iron cables beneath his skin.
"Hmph."
A low grunt escaped his lips, and his arm shot down like a hammer. His open palm slammed directly onto the Wolf Tiger's skull.
Crunch.
A sickening crack echoed through the air as the beast's skull fractured beneath the sheer force. Its head slammed into the dirt, bouncing once before slumping lifelessly to the ground. Silence washed over the forest, the echo of the impact fading into the distance.
Adam straightened, wiping the spittle off his face with an air of indifference
Kael watched from his perch on the rock as the echoes of the battle faded, the forest settling back into an eerie calm. Just like that, they had taken down a Wolf Tiger.
Kael had managed to take down a Wolf Tiger on his own before, back when he was still rank one, but the difference in effort was like heaven and earth. While it was possible, it demanded meticulous planning and careful strategy.
In contrast, Kael hadn't even needed to lift a finger during this hunt. Working with a group made it almost too easy. Their success wasn't just because of individual strength, it was the seamless coordination and the precision with which they executed their roles that made the difference.
'Well, Adam definitely has some physical enhancement motes. That's for sure,' Kael thought, his gaze lingering on the man who stood calmly over the fallen beast, brushing off the faint traces of dust on his hands.
'I wonder how much of that strength came from Rielle's enhancement.'
Support role Luminaires were often overlooked by those who chased raw power, but experienced Luminaires knew better. They were the backbone of any group. Rielle's enhancements must have played a major part. The perfect choice of the battleground, the synchronized movements, and the sheer power behind Adam's strike, all of it pointed to careful planning and precise support.
Even if Kael didn't fully understand the extent of Rielle's abilities, he knew enough to respect them. A support's touch could be the difference between a hard-fought battle and an effortless victory.