He crouched, pointing at the ground. "Fresh tracks. Clawed. Probably a peak rank two beast. Passed through recently."

Kaelra stepped closer. "Direction?"

Derrick traced the marks. "North-east. Not far."

Harvey nodded. "We proceed carefully. No chasing."

Amon watched silently, impressed by how smoothly they communicated. No wasted words. No confusion. I am always talking loudly… need to learn from them.

They continued forward, formation unchanged.

As they walked, Mira spoke quietly from the back. "Amon, if anything happens, don't freeze. Even shouting a warning helps."

"I understand," Amon replied seriously.

Harvey glanced back briefly. "You're doing fine so far. Just keep your eyes open."

Amon nodded.

The forest stretched endlessly ahead of them—dark, silent, and full of unseen dangers.

Yet, for the first time since entering this cursed place, Amon didn't feel alone.

He was moving forward.

Together.

"Amon, you are actually lucky that you were in this area of the forest," Harvey said to Amon while looking forward.

Amon frowned. He wondered why he was lucky to have fallen into this area of the dark forest.

The one who answered him was Derrick. "Because the number of monsters here is less. Also, we didn't find any monster stronger than rank three here."

Amon nodded. He was aware of this fact. Throughout his way from that mysterious base to meeting demons.

Amon never found any monster stronger than rank three. Most of them were rank one and two. Whenever he saw any rank three, he would quietly run away.

Lucien then continued to talk. "But you know, when we were on the other side of those mountains, there were so many monsters there.

There were many rank four and rank five monsters. We were really busy killing. Though we mostly hunted down rank three beasts, sometimes rank four."

Now Amon's eyes widened. So I was really lucky… but why are there no strong monsters? He thought for a while. It must be because of those weird shadowy creatures.

Amon let out a small breath. "I was lucky then."

Harvey gave a short grunt in response, neither agreeing nor denying it.

They continued forward.

Only a few more minutes passed before Derrick suddenly slowed his steps. His hand lifted again, this time more sharply. He sensed something.

Harvey stopped at once. So did everyone else.

Derrick crouched low, peering ahead through the dark trunks and tangled roots. His eyes narrowed.

"Monsters," he whispered. "Small group. Six… no, seven."

Amon wondered how Derrick was able to tell. Does he possess an ability for that?

"What kind?" Kaelra asked quietly, already shifting her grip on her sword.

"Wolf-type beasts," Derrick replied. "Rank one and two. Nothing special."

Harvey straightened slightly and looked ahead. He didn't move forward. Instead, he stepped to the side, resting his shield against the ground.

"Good," he said calmly. "Then this is perfect."

Amon blinked, realizing what he meant.

Harvey glanced at Derrick, who gave a small nod.

"You two stay back," Harvey said, looking at Derrick and Mira. "Let the others handle it."

Mira didn't argue. She silently stepped back, positioning herself behind a thick tree, already raising her bow. Derrick moved beside her, eyes still sharp, ready to intervene if things went wrong.

Harvey then turned to Kaelra, Lucien, and Amon.

"Positions," he said.

Everything happened smoothly after that.

Kaelra stepped slightly to the left, her posture low and ready, sword half-drawn. Lucien moved to the right, planting his feet firmly, spear angled forward. Amon stood between them, heart steady but alert.

Ahead of them, the monsters finally came into view.

Dark-furred wolves emerged from between the trees, their eyes glowing faintly red in the shadows. Their bodies were lean, claws long and sharp, fangs bared as low growls echoed through the forest.

They were monsters that Amon had fought before and killed.

Seven of them.

They noticed the group instantly.

The wolves spread out instinctively, some lowering their bodies, others circling.

Amon felt the tension spike.

"Don't rush," Kaelra said softly. "Let them come."

One wolf snarled and lunged forward.

"Now," Harvey said.

Kaelra moved first.

She dashed forward in a blur, her blade flashing as she closed the distance. Her sword sliced cleanly across the neck of the first wolf before it even had time to react. Blood sprayed, and the body collapsed without a sound.

Lucien followed immediately.

He stepped forward and thrust his spear with precision, piercing straight through the chest of another wolf mid-leap. He twisted the spear and pulled back, letting the beast fall lifeless to the ground.

The remaining wolves hesitated for only a moment.

Then they charged.

Amon moved.

His body felt light– lighter than ever before. He dashed forward, drawing his blade in one smooth motion. A wolf lunged at him from the side, claws extended.

Amon sidestepped and slashed.

The blade cut deep into its shoulder, sending it crashing into the dirt with a howl. Before it could rise, an arrow whistled through the air.

Thud.

The wolf's head snapped back as Mira's arrow struck cleanly between its eyes.

Another wolf leapt toward Lucien, but Kaelra intercepted it, her sword piercing through its jaw from below.

Amon turned just in time to see two wolves charging him together.

His grip tightened.

He stepped forward instead of back.

One wolf jumped first.

Amon ducked beneath it, slashing upward as it passed over him. The second wolf came immediately after, but Amon twisted his body and kicked off the ground, driving his blade into its side.

Before either could recover, two more arrows flew from behind.

Both wolves fell.

Silence returned to the forest.

Kaelra wiped her blade clean on the fallen beast's fur. Lucien exhaled slowly, resting his spear against the ground.

Amon stood still for a moment, breathing steadily.

"That was clean," Harvey said from the side. "Good coordination."

Derrick nodded. "No unnecessary movement."

Mira lowered her bow. "Nice reactions, Amon."

Amon looked at the fallen monsters, then at his blade.

"…Yeah," he said quietly.

For the first time, fighting like this didn't feel chaotic. It was easier than ever.

It felt right. Moving together. Trusting each other and surviving.

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