The next day, the Blue Bound team rode westward under the pale morning sun, the sound of their hooves echoing softly on the dirt road.

Each of their storage rings brimmed with supplies meant to last an entire month, a testament to their shared determination to finish all three quests in one go as suggested by Herbon.

"I hope everyone is prepared. It's going to be a long journey. How about you Blas?" Alyssa asked, turning her head just enough for her golden hair to catch the wind as Auren, Blas, and Essel followed from behind.

"Honestly, I'm not," Blas grumbled, his expression caught somewhere between exhaustion and dread. "Three quests in one go? I won't see my kids for weeks!"

Alyssa smirked, her tone teasing yet sharp.

"Do you mean you won't see your favorite tavern for weeks? You'll live. And as I said when Auren suggested this, if we finish all three, we might finally get our awaited promotion quest to A-rank."

The town walls shrank behind them as they entered the open plains, a rolling sea of tall grass shimmering beneath the rising sun.

Their destination waited far west—a forest known for vanishing caravans and missing hunters according to the emperial scouts.

"I'm actually excited!!" Essel said, her eyes glowing faintly with mana as she urged her horse forward. "Ever since Herbon joined us, our quests have been smoother. I feel like this time, things will finally go our way."

Alyssa turned in her saddle toward Auren, who trailed slightly behind the group. "How are you feeling, Herbon?"

"I'm honored to be part of this team," Auren said, smiling faintly. "And I'm glad my value's been recognized. I'll make sure to pull my weight and not be a burden."

"You better," Blas barked, though there was a grin. "Since you claim you're confident enough to face the Alpha later, I assume you'll lead the charge?"

"I don't mind," Auren replied without hesitation. His tone was calm but carried a quiet edge that made the others glance at each other.

"I'll hold you to that," Alyssa said, watching him carefully.

She was curious now—what kind of man was this quiet herbalist really?

"Let's hurry, then. Hiya!"

They veered off the main road, galloping across wide plains that glimmered with dew.

The wind whipped through their cloaks as they passed scattered villages, herds of striped, zebra-like beasts, and distant waterfalls cascading down mossy cliffs.

The scenery was breathtaking, but their mission loomed like a shadow over the beauty.

Essel murmured an incantation, and soft green light enveloped the horses.

[HEALING BREEZE]

Their pace steadied as the blessing of stamina restoration took effect.

By midday, they reached their destination—a sprawling forest spanning over ten square kilometers, its depths shrouded in mist.

Auren halted and unfurled a weathered map, his eyes scanning its markings.

"No wonder this area's so unstable," he said after a moment. "It's close to both Thugian and Wha-lah territories. And there are a few villages not far from here."

Alyssa frowned, following his gaze over the forest's jagged outline. "If the Alpha leads a pack into one of those towns, there'll be countless casualties. Innocent people… children."

Her words hung heavy in the air. Even Blas fell silent.

It wasn't just another mission anymore. This was prevention—a strike before disaster.

Alyssa looked to Auren and nodded once. "I'm handing you command temporarily since you know our enemy. Lead us well."

Despite his relatively low level, they all knew his true capability was far beyond what his Divine Frame showed.

He had proven it against Alyssa in their duel and again in his spar with Blas. They respected that strength, even if they didn't fully understand it.

"Thank you for the trust," Auren said, moving to the front of the line. "I'll do my best."

The forest loomed like a green fortress, branches twisting into each other above a dim underworld of roots and fog. The horses hesitated as they stepped past the first line of trees, their hooves sinking slightly into damp earth.

"Aren't we camping outside the forest?" Essel asked, glancing nervously at the dark woods.

"We'll camp inside. Well look for a good spot.," Auren replied, his expression now serious and focused.

"Inside?" Blas frowned. "That's suicide. The Night Stalkers will smell us before we can even build a fire."

"That's the idea," Auren said, glancing back with a faint smirk. "You want to go home early, don't you? The best way to lure predators is to let them come to you. Besides, we have your repelling wands."

Blas grunted but didn't argue further. "You're insane."

"Maybe," Auren said lightly. "But trust me."

The deeper they rode, the darker the forest grew. Shafts of sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, scattering across ferns and moss-covered logs. The air smelled of wet bark and iron-rich soil, and distant birdcalls echoed like whispers.

By noon, they reached a riverbank surrounded by broad mossy boulders. Crystal water shimmered as fish darted in the shallows, scales flashing like tiny silver blades.

"Let's camp here," Auren said, dismounting. "We'll have clear sightlines on all sides."

Alyssa jumped down beside him and took in the view. "Not bad, Herbon. You've got an eye for spots."

"Look, fish!" Essel pointed, leaning close to the water as excitement bubbled in her voice.

"Fresh lunch it is," Blas said, already summoning his bow from his storage ring. His arrow whistled through the air, splitting the surface with a sharp thunk.

"Got one!"

Within an hour, the team had set up camp. Two tents stood side by side, a simple barrier shimmered faintly around their perimeter, and a fire crackled in the center. The scent of grilled fish filled the air as smoke rose gently toward the trees.

Soon they went on their battle plan.

Auren leaned forward, elbows on knees. "In other words, I will be the live bait.."

Blas crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Please tell me you have no plans of dying."

"Using yourself as bait?" Alyssa asked before Auren could answer. "You're not serious."

"I am," Auren said simply, his eyes gleaming with quiet confidence. "They hunt by scent and instinct. If I can draw them to a specific point, the rest of you can flank and eliminate them faster."

Blas looked ready to explode. "You're mad! You do know we are against one of the fastest beasts of the land right? You can't outrun them, they're Night Stalkers!"

"I've got a few aces up my sleeve," Auren replied. "You'll see."

He turned to Essel, who was sipping her tea nervously. "But the plan won't work unless you agree to help me."

Essel blinked, nearly choking on her drink. "M-me? Why me?"

"Because I'll need your Field Bloom spell," Auren said, smiling slightly. "And your trust."

Her cheeks reddened as all eyes turned toward her. "I-if you insist, then… fine. I'll do it."

"Atta girl," Auren said softly. "We'll make this work."

That night, the forest was silent except for the occasional ripple of the river.

The stars shimmered faintly through gaps in the canopy, and a thin mist rolled over the ground like creeping smoke.

Miles away, deep within the heart of the forest, the Night Stalkers feasted on a colossal beast. It looked like a buffalo, though its head had been torn clean off, and its flesh was painted with blood and claw marks.

The pack—twenty strong—devoured it greedily, their black bodies glinting in the moonlight.

The air trembled with their growls. This was no ordinary pack. The Alpha loomed above them, perched on a boulder, its fur the color of dark iron. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and each breath steamed from its nostrils like smoke.

It was nearly three meters tall, muscles rippling under its hide as it surveyed its surroundings. The power it radiated was suffocating, its instincts razor-sharp. Every rustle, every shift in the wind, it noticed.

Though much smaller than their fellow Night Stalkers back in Runewood, but here in the human territory, they remain as one of the apex predator of the forest.

Then the Alpha's head snapped up.

A foreign scent drifted on the breeze—strange, unfamiliar, and maddening.

The Alpha's lips peeled back into a low snarl as saliva dripped from its fangs. Its pack paused, sensing the change in their leader's mood. One by one, they turned their heads eastward, where that scent beckoned like a challenge.

The Alpha growled, a guttural sound that sent chills through the pack. Then it tilted its head and let out a long, piercing howl.

AWOOOO!

The haunting cry echoed across the forest, rattling leaves and silencing crickets.

One by one, the Night Stalkers abandoned their meal, their eyes burning red with hunger and fury. The ground trembled beneath their synchronized movement as they surged into a sprint, their bodies melting into the shadows.

Groar!

The Alpha's roar followed them, low and thunderous, shaking the trees as it vanished into the night.

One by one, their shapes blurred, swallowed by stealth magic until the forest seemed empty once again. Yet the sound of their padded steps still lingered faintly in the dark.

The hunt had begun.

And somewhere in the distance, under the same crescent moon, Auren opened his eyes from his position on the top of a tree. His hand rested calmly on the hilt of his new sword as a faint glint crossed his gaze.

Jumping down, the three are already waiting for him.

"They took the bait," he whispered.

The rest of the party nodded.

Alyssa declared,

"Operation slaughter. Begin."

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