(Unedited)
…
A long line of armored military vehicle convoy traversed the dangerous forest going south of Kor city. If they continue in this direction, they will reach a small town that was almost ravaged by the beasts. The town now has a small land area unlike before, and the people there barely survives.
However, they still did not leave the town. Only normal people are left there, and the only reason why the town was able to survive is because of the presence of the mercenaries in there. These mercenaries have divided the town according to their own factions.
And through their power, the town was protected against the beasts even though there are no barriers present in the town.
The danger is still present, but the allure of having their own lands and territory made these mercenaries brave this danger.
The long convoy after exiting the city soon reached the previous boundary of that town.
Curt could see from the small porthole of the armored vehicle the tall yet already abandoned wall of the small town.
It was his first time going out this far from the city and he didn't expect that outside the advance and prosperous city is a forested land where there are many animals that could threaten the lives of ordinary people. He could not imagine the situation in the town right now.
And so as they travel down the rough road, Curt would sometimes hear and feel some animals ramming their vehicle, and some espers using their powers to kill those beasts that could pose them more dangerous. The use of guns is being limited as they knew that it would cause more of the beasts to be attracted to their area.
After a while, they soon arrive in a small town. And Curt could see the inner wall with many cracks and repairs done on them. He could even see many people patrolling the top of the walls.
"Welcome to Tup Town… we have a military base in this place. From here we can coordinate our mission with the base in Kor City…" A soldier beside Curt began to explain.
As everyone alighted from their armored vehicles, they all immediately group up to their teams. In this group up there are more teams going after the snake and lesser team to those that will be searching for the flower.
At this time, Curt has already walked calmly towards his own group. He has already done what he could. If ever there is danger or trouble that would happen, he would just exert more effort to help her. With a calm heart, he and his group left the base after double-checking their equipment.
The dense forest are large trees that are truly a sight to behold.
As the armored vehicle speed up the rough road, they soon reached a point. This is the military lookout and advance detection point. This place is protected by the combined effort of the esper mercenaries and the soldiers.
This is because this point is crucial to their own survival within the dangerous forest.
The group enters a base enclosed with large thick steel walls and a strong fluctuating dome barrier. Unlike the dome barrier protecting the city, the dome barrier in this place is just a land area of 1 hectare. This means that a single LEP stone could power this barrier even without an esper controller.
Curt saw many mercenaries resting on a particular area of the base, while others are preparing their equipment to go out.
"Hey, if it isn't my little brother… Are you also going out?" suddenly an esper approached one of the soldiers with Curt.
"Hey, Bro… Ah, yes… but only 5 of us will go. How about you? You're going hunting again?"
"Yeah, you know, I'm preparing for my firstborn child. Got to have a stable financial resource… Hehe…" the esper said while pinching his index and thumb and rubbing them together.
However, the man frowns when he realized what his friend said.
"Bro… I… Are you sure? You are all regular soldiers, right? No esper?" the man asked with a concerned look on his eyes.
"Well, we're just there to find something."
"Scavenger hunt eh… Wait a minute, I'll ask my team if we can escort you guys." The man suddenly said as he turns around without waiting for an answer.
Everyone was a bit dumbfounded.
Curt, on the other hand, was a bit intrigued by that man. He seems casual, yet very passionate to his friends. He could feel the genuine concern of the guy for his friend.
"Sorry, guys… that friend of mine is a little too caring." The Special Forces soldier said with a sheepish smile.
Then not long later a group of five espers walks towards Curt's group.
"This is my team. We call out selves 'the Cavaliers'… Hehe… cool name eh…"
The groups then introduce themselves along with the soldiers also Curt. The friendly esper guy is named, Alvin Senerio. He is newlywed and is a fire esper. He can create a flame bullet, and explosives using LEP energy.
Everyone then moves out after the introduction.
The rest of the soldiers that were left did not concern themselves with the group that left as they knew of the danger outside. Hence being able to spend their time waiting is already a blessing to them.
Curt and the ten men and women with him travel on foot towards a certain direction. According to the information gathered by the army, this is the location that they would likely find that particular flower. However, when the other team asked about what thing they needed to find, the soldiers just said that it was classified.
As they travel, they would encounter some small beasts that would easily be dealt with by the group. Curt did actually did not need these people to go with him. However, he needed to do this so that he could freely go out of the city after this mission. And this is his goal.
While walking he could feel a large amount of LEP energy in the air that he almost wanted to sit down and immediately meditate.
With this large amount of LEP, he is sure that his powers would improve by leaps and bound in just a short time. Hence he is already planning ahead on what he should do after this.
Suddenly, Curt stopped…
Everyone around him was a bit stunned, but the espers just shook their heads while laughing at the cautious expression on Curt's face. They are all thinking that the young man is still wet behind his ears. The 5 of them are already veteran in this forest and is confident enough with their ability.
"Wait!… Stop!… Get back here!…" Curt suddenly said in a serious tone.
The esper mercenaries knitted their brow in confusion. But then before anyone could react Alvin Senerio suddenly pushed his companion to the ground as a large head of a snake suddenly chump on the area where that person was standing.
When everyone saw that they all gasped in fear. The soldiers were about to fire when the one in charge stopped them.
"Don't waste your bullets. That is an iron scaled red python. Its scales are impenetrable." said the leader of the squad.
"You won't mind if we take out this thing, right?" suddenly Alvin Senerio said with a smile.
After saying those words, they immediately acted and attacked the huge beasts. Curt and the rest of the soldiers did not dare be on their way and decided to run to a safe distance and watch the battle.
The five people's coordination was really in synch. Though they are not the most powerful espers, in fact, they can be considered as weak, yet their teamwork is top-notch. Curt could immediately see the camaraderie of the group while working together.
The only down thing about this group is the loudmouth, Alvin. While fighting he would actually thrash talk the snake, which seems to be working as if the snake could understand his words.
He would say something like, "Is that all you got? You big and dumb snake…"
"Hey stupid ugly! Get me! Get me! Oops! Missed me!"
Or
"You might be big and strong, but I'm sure your wiener is just this big! Hahaha…"
That was the thing that made the snake thrash around which made everyone glare at Alvin.
Curt on the side, just look at this battle and laughed.
"This guy is silly… a bit funny though…"
While they are fighting, Curt suddenly smelled something in the air. This smell is very peculiar as it has the same smell as the herb that he knew from his memories. Although the Violet Dragon Flower is effective and precious there is another herb that is more precious than it. Curt didn't say it because even in the other world in his memories, this kind of herb is very rare and precious.
This flower could be concocted into a pill that can give someone another life and another body 30 days later after dying. This is because the flower of the herb, once turned into a pill, would protect a person's blood essence after his death, either natural or by accident.
As long as that person keeps an untainted drop of his blood somewhere, that person would live once again after 30 days. Some usually keep their blood in a sealed vial.
The blood would form into a living person. And this is one of the most sought after herbs by the immortal cultivators according to Curt's memories, the herb of the Undying Mortal.
The reason for its name is because, once one is revived by this flower, although they were once powerful being, they would still turn back to being a mortal after coming back to life.
As Curt recalled this information, he immediately scanned the area, and from his location, he found a cave. When he tried to sniff the familiar herbal scent in the air, he is sure that the scent is coming from that cave.
Meanwhile, the battle between the iron scaled python versus Alan's groups is becoming intense. And soon, the group of five espers suddenly found an opportunity.
Suddenly, Alan leaps high up in the air and his eyes met the eyes of the python that was taken by surprise by this suicidal move from the annoying and loud man.
At that time, Curt and Alan seem to have communicated as they both said the same thing.
"I think this is my lucky day…" and both also had the same confident smile of a winner on their faces.