The wind screamed through the forest as Jayant raced between the trees.
Compressed wind mana gathered beneath his feet and burst outward with every step, pushing his body forward like an arrow released from a bow. Branches whipped past his face. Leaves scattered behind him. The darkness blurred around him.
Meenakshi and Veneela struggled to keep pace.
Without hesitation, Jayant grabbed both of their wrists and accelerated.
The world seemed to lurch.
Veneela nearly cried out as the forest rushed past in a green-black blur.
Behind them, the killing intent of the masked hunters continued closing in.
Fast.
Far too fast.
Several minutes later, Jayant suddenly stopped.
The three stumbled forward before regaining their balance.
A towering cliff stood before them.
Stone.
Solid and unyielding.
A dead end.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Only their heavy breathing echoed through the narrow passage.
Veneela bent forward, trying to catch her breath. Meenakshi leaned against the cliff wall, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
Jayant slowly turned around.
His expression remained calm.
Almost unnaturally calm.
Five years beneath the mountain had taught him many things.
The most important lesson was simple.
Panic kills.
Calm survives.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the darkness.
One.
Then several more.
The masked figures emerged from the shadows.
Eight of them.
Just as before.
The leader stepped forward slowly.
Moonlight reflected from his black mask.
Then he laughed.
A cold, sinister laugh that seemed completely out of place in the silent forest.
"Now where can you run?"
The other masked figures chuckled.
To them, the hunt was over.
Their prey was trapped.
Yet a small smile appeared at the corner of Jayant's lips.
The leader immediately noticed.
That smile irritated him.
Jayant stepped closer to Meenakshi and Veneela.
His voice dropped low.
"Listen carefully."
The girls immediately focused.
"Our situation isn't as bad as it looks."
Meenakshi raised an eyebrow.
"We're trapped."
"Not completely."
Jayant pointed toward the cliff behind them.
"Nothing can attack us from behind now."
The two girls blinked.
Then realization appeared in Meenakshi's eyes.
The dead end wasn't only a trap.
It was also protection.
Jayant continued.
"The path is too narrow. Their numbers won't matter much here."
His gaze swept across the enemy group.
"At most two can attack side by side."
The masked leader remained silent, observing him carefully.
Jayant's eyes narrowed.
Something felt different about these enemies.
He had spent five years hunting beasts, watching movement, observing breathing patterns and studying the flow of mana.
The habits had become instinct.
"Most of them aren't mages," he said quietly.
Meenakshi frowned.
"You can tell?"
"I think so."
His eyes remained on the enemy group.
"They haven't used mana once. Their movements are different."
Years of training under his master had sharpened his senses beyond what his mana rank suggested.
"They're probably body cultivators or weapon users."
Then his gaze shifted toward the leader.
Immediately his expression became serious.
"But him..."
The girls followed his gaze.
The masked leader stood motionless.
Yet the air around him felt strangely hot.
Like standing near a sleeping volcano.
"He's dangerous."
Very dangerous.
For the first time since leaving the mountain, Jayant felt genuine pressure.
Not fear.
Pressure.
The kind that warned him a single mistake could cost his life.
"I think he's a fire mage."
Meenakshi's expression changed instantly.
"And stronger than me."
That statement shocked her.
Because Jayant shouldn't be capable of making such judgments.
At least not accurately.
Yet his confidence never wavered.
It was as though he trusted his senses completely.
Jayant turned toward Veneela.
"Stay behind us."
She nodded immediately.
"Focus on healing. Don't waste mana unless necessary."
Veneela swallowed nervously but agreed.
Then Jayant looked at Meenakshi.
"You need to eliminate the others."
Her eyes widened.
"What about you?"
A faint smile appeared.
"I'll handle the leader."
Silence.
Even the masked leader seemed amused.
Meenakshi stared at him.
"Have you gone insane?"
"Possibly."
The answer came so naturally that Veneela almost laughed despite the danger.
Jayant shrugged.
"I don't need to defeat him."
His gaze locked onto the masked leader.
"I only need to keep him occupied."
Understanding slowly appeared in Meenakshi's eyes.
If she could eliminate the weaker enemies first, the battle would change completely.
It was dangerous.
Extremely dangerous.
But it was their best chance.
The masked leader finally spoke.
"Interesting."
A small flame appeared above his palm.
The surrounding temperature immediately rose.
The forest shadows danced.
The fire reflected from his mask.
"You are much more entertaining than the villagers."
Jayant slowly lowered his stance.
Wind mana flowed beneath his feet.
His heartbeat steadied.
His breathing slowed.
Five years of suffering.
Five years of training.
Five years beneath the mountain sky.
This would be his first true battle against another mage.
Behind him stood two girls who trusted him.
Before him stood death.
The wind whispered softly around his body.
And beneath the dark night sky—
The sparks of a new generation ignited.