PREVIOUS CHAPTER REMINDER = In the previous chapter, we saw Frost Vein Academy spreading scouts across the map while Serpent Academy began spying on other teams. We also saw Orion preparing a plan to forge weapons by gathering resources. Now, let's continue...
NARRATOR VOICE = Darius had finally found a monster.
Its body was covered with black-grey crystal plates.
Its size was three times larger than a horse.
Long claws scraped against the ground.
Crystal-like fangs protruded from its mouth.
Dark blue eyes glowed beneath its armored face.
At the end of its tail was a sharp crystal blade.
Darius = This is a jackpot.
Lyra = You know this monster?
Darius = Of course. That's a Shardmaw Stalker. A famous Resource-Gathering Predator. If we kill it, we'll earn a huge amount of points.
Lyra = Then everyone knows what to do. Fight like usual... and stay away from its tail.
NARRATOR VOICE = Suddenly...
SCRAAAAATCH...
A crystal scraping sound echoed through the island.
The Shardmaw Stalker slowly opened its eyes.
It had never been sleeping.
It was pretending.
The monster stood up.
Its claws dug into the earth.
A deep growl escaped its throat.
Then...
SHATTER!
The Shardmaw Stalker activated Crystal Pounce.
The ground exploded beneath its feet.
The monster leapt over thirty meters in a single jump.
Crystal fragments shot forward like bullets.
The attack reached Darius instantly.
For a brief moment...
Fear flickered inside his eyes.
But only for a moment.
Darius raised his shield.
BOOM!
The impact pushed him back several steps.
Darius = NOW!
NARRATOR VOICE = Darius rushed forward and drew the monster's attention.
At the same time...
Lyra gripped her sword tightly.
Lyra = Seven Fusion Technique.
NARRATOR VOICE = Seven floating swords appeared around her.
One by one...
They merged into her main blade.
Golden light erupted from the weapon.
Lyra dashed forward.
SLASH!
The sword pierced deeply into the monster's ribs.
Blood burst from the wound.
The Shardmaw Stalker let out a painful roar.
Nearly thirty percent of its health vanished instantly.
Its attention immediately shifted toward Lyra.
Elira smiled.
She had been waiting for this moment.
Elira Windmark = Target Locked.
NARRATOR VOICE = She pulled back her bowstring.
At the same time...
Aria raised her staff.
Red light gathered around its crystal.
Aria = Flame Enchant.
NARRATOR VOICE = A magic circle appeared beneath the arrow.
Flames wrapped around the projectile.
The arrow turned red and green.
Then—
WHOOSH!
The attack flew through the air.
BOOM!
A direct hit.
Dust exploded across the battlefield.
The monster's health dropped below fifty percent.
Lyra = We got it!
NARRATOR VOICE = The Falcon Team celebrated.
Everyone except Nyra.
Nyra stared into the dust cloud.
Something felt wrong.
Through the smoke...
She saw rainbow-colored crystals growing from the monster's body.
Nyra = Don't celebrate yet.
Nyra = It's still alive.
NARRATOR VOICE = A strange feeling crawled across her spine.
Nyra (thought) = Someone is watching us.
Nyra (thought) = Frost Vein... Serpent Academy...
Nyra (thought) = They're both using scouts.
Nyra (thought) = Is that why Manu left?
Nyra (thought) = Sorry everyone... I need to investigate.
NARRATOR VOICE = Scene Shift.
Manu.
Manu = HEY! LET ME GO!
NARRATOR VOICE = Two strangers had captured him.
They carried him using a wooden pole as if transporting livestock.
Manu = Where are you taking me?
Person 1 = Stay quiet.
Person 2 = Or we'll throw you off the island.
Manu = Fine.
Manu = Then tell me who your boss is.
NARRATOR VOICE = Neither answered.
They only stared at him.
Manu immediately understood.
These people weren't talkers.
A few minutes later...
THUD!
They threw him into an abandoned warehouse.
The smell of dead rats filled the room.
Manu = I'll remember your faces.
NARRATOR VOICE = Scene Shift.
Back to the Falcon Team.
The Shardmaw Stalker roared.
Its blood touched the ground.
The crystals embedded inside its flesh began to glow.
Its special ability activated.
GREED AWAKENING.
The Shardmaw Stalker was no longer protecting resources.
It had become one.
Its eyes turned golden.
Crystal armor spread across its body.
Its speed doubled.
Its power increased.
ROOOOOAAAAR!
The monster activated Echo Roar.
A powerful soundwave exploded across the battlefield.
The Falcon Team covered their ears.
Their vision blurred.
Their balance shattered.
The monster immediately followed up.
SHARD BURST.
Hundreds of crystal spikes shot from its body.
Nyra jumped forward.
A white light emerged from her bracelet.
The spikes struck her directly.
Nyra = Be careful...
Nyra = Watch every direction...
NARRATOR VOICE = Her body slowly disappeared.
She was eliminated.
The situation instantly became worse.
The monster's speed had doubled.
The Shardmaw Stalker rushed forward.
RAZOR TAIL!
Its crystal blade slashed toward Darius.
Darius raised his shield.
CRACK!
His B-Rank shield shattered.
The attack continued.
Another impact landed on his armor.
CRACK!
His armor broke apart.
A white light emerged from his bracelet.
Darius began disappearing.
Darius = We let greed blind us...
Darius = We challenged an A-Rank monster head-on...
NARRATOR VOICE = Silence filled the battlefield.
Only three members remained.
Lyra.
Elira.
Aria.
Lyra = I'll hold it back.
Lyra = You two run.
Elira = No.
Elira = We're not cowards.
Aria = I agree.
Lyra = You're not understanding!
Lyra = The longer this battle continues...
Lyra = The stronger it becomes!
NARRATOR VOICE = Lyra stepped forward.
Sword raised.
The monster opened its mouth.
ROOOOOAAAR!
Echo Roar activated again.
The remaining Falcon members collapsed onto the ground.
Their strength...
Their stamina...
Their courage...
Everything felt drained away.
Then—
SHARD BURST.
Crystal spikes filled the sky.
White light emerged from all three bracelets.
They were being eliminated.
As Elira disappeared...
She finally understood Nyra's hidden message.
With her last remaining strength...
She fired an arrow into a distant tree.
Elira = Nyra...
Elira = This is all I can do...
NARRATOR VOICE = The Falcon Team vanished.
The battlefield became silent.
The Shardmaw Stalker slowly turned its head.
Its golden eyes locked onto that tree.
It roared.
Then unleashed another Shard Burst.
Something...
Or someone...
Was hiding there.
COMING SOON...