The crisp night air was thick with anticipation as Mortis and his companions ventured beyond the academy gates. Their surroundings transformed from the structured order of the academy to the wild, untamed landscape that lay beyond. The patrol mission was straightforward: protect the academy from any threats that might emerge from the surrounding forests and mountains for seven days by killing any monsters they encountered. However, Mortis knew that even the simplest tasks could conceal many hidden dangers.
The group moved silently, their senses heightened by the darkness that enveloped them. Kael, Lena, Garrick, and Jareth followed Mortis closely, their expressions a mix of determination and unease. They had all heard rumors of apprentices who never returned from such missions, their fates sealed by creatures lurking in the shadows.
As the moon climbed higher into the sky, casting an eerie silver light over the landscape, the group entered a dense forest near the academy's perimeter. The trees were ancient and towering, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blotted out much of the night sky. The forest floor was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves, which muffled their footsteps but also concealed hidden dangers.
Mortis's newly enhanced mana reserves, a result of his breakthrough to rank 2 apprentice the previous day, provided him with a sharper awareness of the ambient energies around him. His eyes darted from shadow to shadow, ever vigilant for any sign of movement. He felt a subtle ripple in the mana, a disturbance that hinted at the presence of something powerful nearby.
"We should set up camp soon," Kael suggested, breaking the silence. "It's getting late, and we need to rest before our first patrol shift."
Mortis nodded in agreement. "There's an open area up ahead. We'll camp there for the night."
They reached the open area a few minutes later. It was a small, open space surrounded by towering trees, their branches swaying gently in the night breeze. The ground was relatively flat and free of debris, making it an ideal spot for their camp. The group quickly set to work, pitching their tents and preparing for the night.
As they settled in, Mortis took a moment to meditate, drawing in the surrounding world's mana and refining it within his body. His mana reserves, now greater after his recent advancement to rank 2 apprentice, pulsed with energy. He could feel the power flowing through him, a constant reminder of his growing strength.
The first patrol shift fell to Mortis and Kael. They moved quietly through the forest, their senses heightened and alert. The night was eerily silent, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Mortis could feel the weight of the darkness pressing in around them, but he remained calm and focused.
As they patrolled, Mortis sensed a faint disturbance in the surrounding mana. It was subtle, like a ripple in a still pond, but it was enough to put him on edge. He signaled to Kael, who immediately tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows.
"Did you sense that?" Kael whispered.
Mortis nodded, his gaze fixed on the darkness ahead. "There's something out there. Stay close."
They moved cautiously, following the disturbance deeper into the forest. The air grew colder, and an oppressive silence settled around them. Mortis could feel the tension building, his mana rumbling with anticipation.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the trees. Mortis raised his hand, signaling Kael to stop. His eyes scanned the shadows, searching for the source of the sound. Moments later, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by a massive, shadowy figure.
The creature that stepped into the moonlight was unlike anything Mortis had ever seen. It stood on four legs, its body covered in dark, matted fur that seemed to absorb the light. Its eyes burned with an otherworldly fire, and its mouth was filled with razor-sharp teeth that glistened with saliva. The creature let out a menacing growl, revealing its predatory intent.
"It's a Shadow Hound," Mortis muttered, recognizing the beast from one of the scrolls he had seen in Valthor's study room. "Be careful. It's fast and deadly."
The creature lunged at them, its movements a blur of darkness. Mortis reacted instinctively, raising his hand and casting Umbral Shield. The barrier shimmered with a pale, whitish light as the creature collided with it, growling in frustration as it was momentarily repelled.
"Attack now!" Mortis shouted, seizing the opportunity.
Kael launched a bolt of fire towards the Shadow Hound, the flames illuminating the forest as they struck the creature's side. The beast howled in pain but quickly recovered, its fury intensifying. Mortis followed up with a concentrated burst of Inferno Spark, aiming for the Shadow Hound's head. The creature dodged, but Mortis's attack still hit its shoulder, causing it to slightly stagger.
The Shadow Hound, now enraged, lunged at Kael, its jaw snapping shut mere inches from his face. Kael stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the lethal bite. Mortis saw this as his chance. With a surge of power, he cast Shadow Tendril, dark, writhing tendrils shooting out from the ground to entangle and immobilize the Shadow Hound. The creature thrashed violently, its dark energy clashing with the bindings.
Just as they thought they had the upper hand, the Shadow Hound's strength surged. It tore through the Shadow Tendrils, breaking free and pouncing once more on Kael. Kael managed to raise a quick shield of his own, but the impact sent him crashing into the nearby tree, a shallow wound appearing on his arm. Mortis knew they couldn't handle this creature alone for long.
"We need backup!" Mortis called out, hoping his voice would reach their camp which was nearby. Within minutes, Lena, Garrick and Jareth alerted by the commotion, arrived at the scene, their expressions a mix of shock and determination.
"Shadow Hound!" Garrick exclaimed. "This thing's as strong as a rank 3 apprentice!"
"Stay focused," Mortis instructed. "We need to work together."
The battle grew more chaotic as the Shadow Hound darted between them, its speed and ferocity overwhelming them. Garrick raised his hands, summoning a wave of Iron Grasp, a spell that called forth tendrils of metal from the earth to grasp the creature. The jagged tendrils shot up, but the Shadow Hound weaved between them with ease. Lena hurled a series of Blazing Bolts, each one igniting the air with searing heat, but the creature dodged and deflected them with its agile movements.
Jareth attempted to use his Wind Scythe, a sharp blade of wind energy, to slice at the beast, but the Shadow Hound evaded the attack, countering with a powerful swipe that sent Jareth tumbling. Garrick summoned a Metal Shield to protect himself, but the Shadow Hound's claws left deep gouges in the metallic surface, pushing him back.
Mortis could see the desperation in his companion's eyes. They had not anticipated facing such a formidable enemy on their first night. He knew he needed to act decisively. Drawing deep from his mana reserves and nearly expending all his mana, he cast Darkness Veil over the group, shrouding them in shadows and making them harder to detect. The Shadow Hound hesitated, confused by the sudden disappearance of its prey.
"Regroup!" Mortis commanded, his voice barely a whisper.
The group quickly reformed, using the brief pause to catch their breath and plan their next move. Mortis's mind raced, formulating a strategy. They couldn't afford to let the Shadow Hound continue its rampage.
"On my signal, we'll strike together," Mortis instructed. "Kael, prepare another fire attack. Garrick, use your earth and metal spells to trap it. Jareth, support with wind and darkness attacks. Lena, provide cover with your fire spells."
The darkness around them began to dissipate as Mortis canceled the veil. The Shadow Hound, sensing their presence once more, charged at Mortis with renewed fury. Mortis raised his hand, casting Umbral Shield to absorb the initial impact. The barrier held, but only barely.
"Now!" Mortis shouted.
Kael unleashed another Fire Bolt, the flames engulfing the Shadow Hound and causing it to howl in agony. Garrick followed up with Iron Grasp, the metal tendrils piercing the creature's legs and hindering its movements. Jareth summoned a Dark Gale, a whirlwind of shadowy wind that battered the beast from all sides.
The Shadow Hound, now severely weakened, staggered but did not fall. It lunged at Jareth in a final, desperate attempt to take at least one of its attackers. Jareth braced himself, but before the creature could reach him, Mortis cast another set of Shadow Tendrils, binding the beast in place.
"Finish it!" Mortis commanded, his voice echoing with authority.
Lena, despite her nearly zero mana, stepped forward with a tired face. Her hands glowed with a vibrant orange light as she summoned a Fire Lance, a concentrated spear of flame for one last time. With a determined cry, she drove the lance into the Shadow Hound's chest. The creature let out a final, agonized howl before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into a cloud of dark mist.
The forest was silent once more. Mortis and his companions stood in the camp, their breaths heavy and their bodies tense. They had faced a formidable foe and emerged victorious, but not without cost. Lena's mana was completely depleted, Jareth's body was covered in bruises and Garrick's chest bore deep scratches.
"This mission is more dangerous than we anticipated," Mortis concluded, his voice steady despite the exhaustion he felt from his completely depleted mana.
The group nodded in agreement, their faces grim. They knew that their mission had only just begun and they felt slightly terrified about the upcoming days. After all, the battle had been a sharp reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the academy's gates.