The rookies begin their journey, the sun filtering through the canopy of trees above them. "Be on your guard, guys. There's no telling when enemies will come after us," says Juyon.
As they keep up their steady pace, Miri becomes curious about their destination. "Do we have any set destination, or are we just walking until something happens?"
"I think we should just wait for enemies to come to us. They're likely aware of our presence, and they're bound to come even if the cloaking device allowed us to bypass the planetary defense system. Once they come, we can beat up a few soldiers and gather intel about where this base is," says Astran.
Later in the day, the sun sets, the surrounding air grows colder, and the crepuscular darkness settles in. "Aw, man! We don't even have any light!" says Seiju.
Denkei grasps his Mage Stick, feeling the grooves of the wood as he slides it out of the back of his robe. "Relax, you don't have to whine anymore. Magic Spell Alchemy: Stick Illumination!" Denkei's magic stick glows, casting its light forward and guiding them down the path.
"Wow, that's so cool!" says Navar. As they continue their journey, they come across a circle of trees, the delicate green bushes swaying in the breeze. "Alright, guys, this looks like a good restin' spot. Let's stop here for the night," said Jax.
Astran shivers as she rubs her arms, feeling the cold weather seep through her skin, forming goosebumps. "Don't you think we should get some wood for a campfire? It's getting cold."
"Yeah, I'll go get some," Juyon makes his way down the pathway, the leaves crunching underfoot as he walks.
"Wait for me, Juyon. I'm right behind ya!" Navar follows Juyon into the forest, the towering trees looming overhead and casting long shadows.
Juyon and Navar collect the wood from the forest and stack it in the center of the circle of trees. Seiju pulls his bowstring back, feeling the tension as a tiny spark of Flame JōKai dances on its tip. "Watch out. I'll light the fire," Seiju releases the bowstring, sending a slight trace of fire toward the wood and creating a fire for illumination.
"We can't just have everyone sleep here in the middle of nowhere. How are we going to cycle who keeps watch?" asks Juyon.
"I suggest we have a cycle where two people keep watch for two hours and one of us at the end for two hours. That way, everyone gets eight hours of sleep," says Jax.
"So, who's going to partner with who?" asks Miri.
"Navar and Miri, Rojo and I, Astran and Nozomi, Seiju, and Denkei, then Juyon in that order.
"When do we start this watch?"
"You can start now."
"Alright, Navar, let's climb up into that tree," Navar and Miri start their watch, the branches swaying beneath them as they scramble up the tree.
After 10 hours elapse, Juyon descends from the tree, giving everyone a gentle nudge to wake them. "It's been 10 hours. Wake up."
After taking a few moments to clear their heads, they continue on their way. Midway through their journey, Nozomi's ears perk up in alert as she senses a presence ahead. She places her fingers on her head, opening a Mental Link to everyone. "Something's coming,"
Juyon clenches his fists and summons Hard Terrain JōKai on his fists, readying himself for battle. "Everyone, get ready!"
Suddenly, a large, green-furred beast with piercing red eyes, black, swirled pupils, and four hind legs appears from the trees, growling a feral roar. This beast is known as a Class 2 Beast: Terrax Type.
"Ok, does anyone know what type of beast this is?" asks Seiju.
"It's a Terrax-type beast. They're known for their enhanced eyesight and razor-sharp claws. Also, don't get bitten by them. Their venom can cause you to urinate a green fluid which burns a lot," says Denkei.
Seiju gives Denkei an annoyed look, his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. "T.M.I Bro… T.M.I…"
"Why are we standin' here? Let's attack that thing!" Navar unsheathes his sword, his blade glinting in the sun as he runs toward the beast. "I'll take it down!" Navar leaps into the air and swings his blade at the beast's arm. As Navar's sword comes slicing down, the beast moves in time, dodging the blade with a swift raise of its arm. Then the beast backhands Navar, its claws scraping along his armor, echoing as he's propelled through the trees.
Juyon's feet pound against the ground as he races to the beast, cocking his arm back and throwing a right hook aimed at its jaw. "Bellowing Bison!" Juyon's attack connects with a powerful thud against the beast's jaw, sending it staggering backward.
"Good job Juyon, you got 'em off balance! Someone give him a hand," said Jax.
"With pleasure!" said Astran and Miri. They dash toward the beast, the air flying past their faces as they use JōKai Amplification to increase their speed. Miri slides two daggers into her wrist slots, the sound of steel ringing filling the air as she lunges toward the beast. "Two Daggers: Pouncing Strike!" Miri soars toward the beast, the wind whisping around her as she slices the beast's left leg.
Astran clenches her hands tight around her blade as she launches toward the beast. She brings her sword up over her left shoulder and then swings it with all her might, slicing the beast's right and knocking it off balance. "Astraeus Disturbance!"
Miri gives Astran a fleeting glance. "Do you think that did it?"
"Doubt it."
With a violent shudder, the beast rises from the ground, the ground quivering beneath its feet as it roars in a fury and starts sprinting toward the group. Astran readies her sword in a battle stance, her grip tight on the hilt as she awaits the beast's arrival. "Here it comes."
"Leave it to me, guys," Seiju pulls the bowstring back and releases his arrow with a loud whoosh, the flames of Flame JōKai swirling around the arrow as it flies toward the Terrax. "Flame Bow: Flame Shot!" Seiju's arrow flies with a hiss and strikes the Terrax's arm, yet the beast continues, unfazed. Seiju groans in exasperation. "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me!"
Denkei pulls a miniature statue from his robes and cradles it to his face. "I call upon the forces of miracles. Magic Spell Alchemy: Breath of Life!" Denkei's breath touches the statue, and it responds with a sudden surge, growing and coming to life.
The blue statue looms over Denkei, its gaze conveying a sense of order. "What do you require of me, summoner?"
"All I need you to do is hold that beast off momentarily."
"Got it," The statue leaps into the beast's path and spreads its arms wide to keep it from advancing.
"I'll draw something to bind this thing. Can you hold it off for me long enough to draw it?"
"Yes, but you only have fi-" The beast smacks the statue with its paw, the force behind it sending the statue colliding into a rock and the impact sending a shudder through the air as it crumbles. Denkei lets out a deep, angry grunt. "Dammit," Denkei pivots quickly as the desperation of the situation intensifies, now facing his comrades. "Hey, someone keep that thing from me while I try to make a binding spell!"
Rojo fumbles in his pocket and pulls out a small black object. "Say less," Rojo hurls the bomb toward the beast and waits, rubbing his chin in confusion as it doesn't detonate. "What the hell?" He smells the distinct scent of water as the flask splashes water from its cap, realizing it isn't a bomb. "Oh, shit.. my bad…." The beast's growl fills the air as Rojo looks into its eyes, watching its drool dripping from its long, curved fangs. Rojo's throat constricts as he glances at Jax, his expression full of fear. "Jax, run!"
Jax unsheathes his blaster from the holster on his hip and points it at the menacing creature. "Hold on, Rojo; I think this can stop him," Jax fires off several shots from his Ion blaster, only for the shots to ricochet off the beast's tough hide. "Damn it. I thought that would do something!"
The beast's paw sweeps through the air with a swoosh as it moves to close the distance between Jax and Rojo. Navar jumps into the beast's path, his blade shaking in his grip as he braces himself for the beast's attack and readies his counter. Navar reacts, anticipating the beast's swipe and swinging his sword in the opposite direction. "Okayasu Blade: Okayasu Parry!" Navar flies back from the swipe, and the reverberation of his parry sends the beast skidding across the ground.
Juyon, Miri, and Astran approach the beast, their weapons drawn, ready for battle. Juyon's hands move in a flurry, making it seem like multiple fists are in the air. Juyon rushes the beast, his fists pounding against its head with a force that shakes the ground. "Mandruk Barrage!" The beast crumples to the ground, the ground shuddering beneath its weight from the force.
"Let's take out its eyes. That'll make things a hell of a lot easier for us," Miri throws two daggers into her ankle slots, her hands pushing off the ground to launch her into the air, her feet a blur as they resemble a spinning top. "Two Daggers Leg Variant: Fenrir's Wrath!" Miri's daggers slash the beast's eyes, causing it to yelp in pain.
Astran slides beneath the beast's stomach, then with a fierce cry, she swings her sword, aiming for the beast's legs. "Astraeus Disturbance!" Astran's sword makes a direct slash across the beast's leg, toppling it right into Denkei's binding circle. "Denkei! Bind him now!"
"I call upon the potent forces of magic to keep my foe within my grasp! Magic Spell: Five-Handed Bind!" Multiple black hands grab the creature, their grip tight and unyielding as they pin it to the ground. Denkei whirls around, catching Seiju's eye. "Seiju, can you shoot the thing?!"
"Sure can, bro!" Seiju summons two Flame JōKai arrows, draws back the bowstring, and releases them toward the beast's eye, creating a bright, burning light. "Flame Bow: Double Flame Shot!" Seiju's arrows strike the beast's eye, causing it to fall unconscious. Everyone inches their way toward the beast, the air thick with its musky scent. "So, um, what now?"
"C-can you guys excuse me? Let me see something?" asked Nozomi. Everyone parts, creating a path for Nozomi to walk through, and as she approaches the beast, she places her hand on its head.
"Nozomi be careful," says Juyon.
"She'll be fine. That binding spell won't let that thing roam free," says Denkei.
Nozomi reaches out and feels the beast's rough hide beneath her palm. "Mind Read!" After performing a telepathic technique on the beast, Nozomi removes her hands from the beast's head and gasps. "I had a feeling.."
"What do you mean, what's wrong?" asks Navar.
"This beast is under some sort of trance. Someone sent it to attack us. I had a feeling earlier with the red eyes and the swirled black pupils."
Astran crosses her arms, her face creased with worry. "Then that means someone knows we're here."
"What should we do with it? I mean, the thing is innocent. However, if we let it roam free, there's no telling what it'll do to us," says Seiju.
"I-I can undo the influence using telepathy. Hang on," Nozomi shuts her eyes and places her hand on the beast's head. "It's ok; I'll set you free," As Nozomi frees the beast from its daze, its sorrowful wails fill the air, the pain of the battle etched in its voice.
Denkei extracts a glassy tube of green liquid from his robes, its scent wafting around him. "I'll give it a healing potion,"
The beast finishes the potion, and its eyes close as its body succumbs to a sedated sleep. "Can we stay here and make sure nothing bad happens to him?" asks Nozomi.
Navar gives Nozomi an affectionate smile as his hand rests on her shoulder. "Sure."
They stay with the beast for a few hours, watching it sleep and monitoring its safety. Once it awakens, Nozomi feels the warmth of the beast's fur as it rubs its head against her and purrs happily. Nozomi communicates telepathically with the beast. "Do you want to come with us?"
The beast denies the request, then vanishes into the depths of the jungle with a rustling of leaves.
"Now that the enemy knows where we are, I don't think we should be still any longer," says Jax. They roam the forests for four hours until they come across a cluster of trees shaped like their previous resting spot. "Let's take another rest. It's getting dark."
Seiju falls to the ground and stretches out his arms and legs. "Agreed, dude, I'm spent."
"Ok, Navar and I will begin watch," says Miri. Navar and Miri scale the tall tree, the bark rough beneath their fingertips as they reach the top and begin their watch. An hour into their watch, they hear the leaves rustling and drop from the tree, clutching their weapons, ready to face whatever is hiding in the bush. "Who goes there!" says Miri
Miri's bellowing voice reverberates throughout the area, beckoning everyone toward the commotion. Suddenly, a small goblin standing a small 84 centimeters with a large, bulbous nose and wide eyes emerges from the bushes. Miri readies one dagger, the blade glinting in the moonlight as she points it at the Goblin. "A surprise attack by the Goblins. I'll show you we're not ones to mess with."
Navar holds his hand out toward Miri, the gesture of peace halting her hostility. "Hold on, Miri. This guy is smaller than Rojo. I don't think he'd be much of a threat."
"You needn't worry. I'm not your enemy," says the small Goblin.