The atmosphere in the camp shifted the moment Lyerin made his decree.
The soldiers, desperate to return to Earth, hung on his every word, their hopes reignited, albeit with a flicker of apprehension.
Lyerin, standing at the center of the gathering, crossed his arms over his chest and let a faint smirk play on his lips. His crimson eyes gleamed with an unspoken challenge.
"You want to use the portal?" he said, his voice smooth and commanding, cutting through the nervous murmurs of the crowd.
"Then you must prove yourselves. Bring me mana beast cores, strong ones, and only then will I consider letting you through."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of his words sinking in.
Mana beasts were dangerous creatures, and while they had hunted before, they had always done so in tightly coordinated groups, their efforts focused on survival.
