The team raced behind Rudeus, their movements swift and focused. Urgency pressed down on them like a weight. The faster they reported the approaching beast horde, the sooner the City-State could send reinforcements. And those reinforcements were desperately needed. The sight of so many creatures, moving as one, left little doubt in their minds—this was no ordinary migration.The small outpost where they kept their supplies was just ahead, barely visible through the trees. Relief flickered through Rifi as he pushed himself harder, his breath misting in the cold air. They were close—just a little farther, and they could regroup.Then the forest erupted into chaos.A shadow blurred through the trees, and in an instant, Rudeus was on the ground, a massive creature pinning him beneath its weight. The beast—a sleek black panther, its body rippling with unnatural strength—clamped its jaws around his arm, shaking him violently. The sickening crack of bone filled the air, followed by Rudeus' muffled cry of pain."Captain!" Albus roared, fury blazing in his voice as he dropped to one knee. His hands slammed into the earth, and mana surged through his core. His torso became encased in thick, jagged stone, transforming him into a living fortress. With a guttural roar, he charged the panther, slamming into its side with earth-shattering force. The impact sent the beast tumbling off Rudeus and into the clearing.The panther rolled with the momentum but recovered instantly, landing on all fours with a snarl. Its glowing yellow eyes fixed on Albus, brimming with malevolent intelligence. It lunged, claws flashing like blades. Albus met the attack head-on, his earth-shielded body deflecting the first strike, but the sheer power behind the blow made him stagger. Each subsequent hit chipped away at his defenses, and with a final swipe, the panther's claws broke through, tearing into his shoulder.Rifi and Luciana followed immediately. Lightning crackled along the edge of Rifi's sword as he slashed toward the panther's flank. But the creature was too fast. It dodged with feline grace, its tail whipping out and striking Rifi with such force that it sent him crashing into a nearby tree. Pain exploded in his side as he gasped for breath.Luciana, agile and determined, lunged at the panther with her twin daggers, aiming for its head. But the beast twisted, its movements too fluid to be caught so easily. One swipe of its claws left a deep gash across Luciana's chest, and she crumpled to the ground, blood pouring from the wound.Julius rushed to Rudeus, hands glowing with water mana as he worked feverishly to heal the commander's injuries. Rudeus' natural mana had already begun to close the worst of the wounds, but it wasn't enough. His right arm was gone—completely severed at the shoulder—and four jagged claw marks marred his chest. Julius' hands trembled as he stemmed the flow of blood, reconnecting veins and tissue with precise, practiced movements.The chaos around them swirled as Albus charged the panther again, his voice hoarse with fury. "You filthy beast! I'm your opponent! Don't you dare touch her again!"At the same time, Julius saw Liciliana fall two meters right of him, blood gushing everywhere. He started running to her, panicking as he saw the amount of blood she was losing. She was falling out of consciousness right there in front of him. He infused both of his hands with his water mana.The panther's eyes gleamed with malevolent intelligence. It dodged Albus' attack, sinking its fangs into his side with a sickening crunch. Albus' ribs cracked beneath the pressure, but his earth shield held, preventing the creature from tearing into him. The panther then swiped its paw, hurling Albus back toward Rudeus.Rifi staggered to his feet, chest heaving as he sprinted toward the panther. But the beast had already sensed the healer's importance. Ignoring Rifi, it pounced toward Julius, intent on ending the healing that was keeping its prey alive."Jul—!" Rifi tried to shout, but his voice caught in his throat, helplessness taking hold as the panther's jaws closed around Julius' head.For a heartbeat, time seemed to freeze. Rifi saw the tear in Julius' eye, a single tear of fear and regret, before the panther swallowed his head whole."NO!" Rifi's scream tore from his chest as Albus lunged in one final act of desperation. His sword plunged deep beneath the panther's front leg, the blade missing the heart by mere inches. The panther screeched in pain but retaliated swiftly, sinking its teeth into Albus' throat. Rifi's blood ran cold as he watched the light fade from Albus' eyes.They were all dead or heavily injured. Only he remained.Rifi's mind raced, panic flooding every corner of his being. He was no match for this beast. Run. The thought whispered in his mind, tempting him. Survive.But another voice, stronger and steadier, cut through the fear. STOP. Think... think...He forced himself to breathe. His hands trembled as he drew his two daggers, infusing them with his lightning mana. Already more than half of his reserves were gone. He had one chance—one moment to turn the tide.Summoning every ounce of strength left in his battered body, Rifi charged. His muscles screamed in protest, lightning coursing through them until they threatened to tear apart. When he was close enough, he threw both daggers with blistering speed and precision.The panther dodged the first blade, but the second struck its paw. Lightning exploded upon impact, stunning the creature just long enough to leave its defenses open. Rifi seized the moment, closing the distance and slashing at the panther's side. But his triumph was short-lived. The blade barely penetrated the thick hide, cutting only a few centimeters deep before the beast regained its movement.With a powerful swipe, the panther sent Rifi flying across the clearing, his ribs cracking under the impact. Pain coursed through him as he lay on the ground, struggling to breathe. The beast loomed over him, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. It pounced, mouth open, aiming to crush his skull in one final blow.But Rifi had been waiting for this.At the last second as the beast was a mere meter away, a bolt of lightning shot from his outstretched hand, striking the panther's heart, through the ooen wound given to it by Albus, avoiding the thick hide in the process. The creature froze, stunned for just mere moments. But that small moment was all Rifi needed.With the last of his mana, he thrust his sword upward. The panther's momentum carried it straight into the blade. The sword pierced through its mouth and into its brain. The beast let out a final, pitiful whine before collapsing on top of him, its massive body crushing Rifi beneath its weight.Darkness crept at the edges of Rifi's vision. His core was empty, his body shattered. This is it, he thought. I'm going to die. The familiar whisper echoed faintly in his ears—"Please, live."And then, nothing.Rifi awoke to silence, the weight of the panther's corpse pressing down on him like a crushing reminder of his near-death. His body was broken, but he was alive. Barely.He could feel mana flowing into him, faint and slow but just enough to pull him back from the brink. The words escaped his lips in a soft whisper, "Please… live."Every movement was agony, but he forced himself to crawl out from under the beast. Its massive body rolled limply to the side, exposing the gaping wound through its skull where his blade had struck true. Rifi's trembling arms barely supported him as he dragged himself across the bloodied ground toward where Rudeus knelt beside Luciana, his fire-infused mana flickering softly as it sealed her open wounds.Rudeus' eyes cracked open as Rifi approached, his expression a mix of disbelief and pain. "How... how are you still alive?" he rasped, barely able to lift his head.Rifi gave a weak, bitter smile. "I was lucky. It got careless in the end." His voice faltered, and he lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry. I wasn't fast enough… I couldn't—"Rudeus' brow furrowed, his lips tightening into a grim line as he cut Rifi off. "Sorry? For what? Look around you, kid." He gestured weakly to the blood-soaked ground, his breath ragged. "That panther was a tier-four beast. Hell, it probably should've killed all of us. None of us stood a chance alone."Rifi hesitated, guilt flickering across his face. "But Julius... Albus... if I had just—""They knew what they were doing." Rudeus' voice sharpened, though it was weighed with sorrow. "You think they weren't scared? You think they didn't know the risks? They gave us this chance, Rifi. Don't waste it wallowing in what we couldn't do."For a moment, Rifi was silent, his chest tightening as his gaze shifted to the broken forms of Albus and Julius lying nearby. The light rain began to pool around their still forms, streaking through the blood on their armor."We can't just leave them here," Rifi murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "They deserve better than this."Rudeus followed his gaze, his face hardening as he clenched his jaw. "We'll come back for them. I promise. But right now..." He glanced at Luciana, her pale face barely visible through the blood and dirt smeared across it. "We have to keep her alive. That's all that matters. So we need to get her back to the main camp as soon as possible"Rifi nodded slowly, his hands trembling as he bent down to lift Luciana onto his back. "How are you holding up, Captain?" he asked, his voice hoarse as the weight of her body settled on his shoulders.Rudeus let out a sharp, humorless laugh, stumbling as he tried to stand. "I've been better. Pretty sure I've got a few ribs cracked, and, oh yeah, I'm down an arm." He gave a weak smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "But I've got enough left to make it back to camp. Just keep moving."Rifi adjusted Luciana carefully, glancing at the stump where Rudeus' arm had been. "Captain, I—""Stop," Rudeus interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "Don't look at me like that. Focus on getting us back. Save the guilt for later."Rifi took a steadying breath, nodding again. "You're right. Let's go." He glanced one last time at the bodies of his fallen comrades, his heart heavy with the weight of their sacrifice. "I'll make it count," he whispered under his breath.The two began their trek through the forest, the distant roars of the beast horde still echoing faintly in the distance. Each step sent fresh waves of pain through Rifi's battered body, but he forced himself to press on, his grip on Luciana firm despite the numbness spreading through his arms."You did good, kid," Rudeus said after a long silence, his tone softer now. "Julius and Albus... they'd say the same."Rifi glanced at him, his throat tight. "At least we will save Lucie"Rudeus grunted in agreement, his pace faltering but steady. "Damn right we will."They staggered through the forest, leaning on sheer willpower until they were met by another scout team. Relief washed over Rifi as two of the scouts supported him and Rudeus, helping them the rest of the way to camp. Others were dispatched to retrieve the panther's body—a Tier 4 beast was valuable even in death, as well as the bodies of Julius and Albus.At the camp, Rifi and Luciana were rushed to the infirmary. Rudeus' arm was gone for good, but Luciana and Rifi were expected to recover fully. If they'd been even minutes later, Luciana's wounds would have claimed her life.Luciana woke hours later, her eyes bleary as she scanned the room. A weak smile crossed her face as she saw Rudeus sitting nearby, his figure shadowed by the flickering lantern. "Captain… you're alive," she whispered. "I thought… I thought we were all done for." Her voice cracked as her gaze darted around the room. "Where are the others?"Rudeus glanced at Rifi, who was leaning against the far wall, his head bowed. The captain's voice was low as he replied, "I'm glad you're alive too, Luciana. But... Julius and Albus didn't make it."Luciana's face twisted, confusion and disbelief warring in her expression. "I… what? How?"Rifi stepped forward, his voice quiet and strained. "I'm sorry, Lucie. I couldn't save them. The panther... it was too strong. Julius saved you, and Albus injured it enough to give me a chance. But I wasn't fast enough to save them." His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "They fought like heroes."Luciana's breath hitched as tears streamed down her face. She turned away, burying her face in the pillow as sobs wracked her body. "I know you did your best," she whispered through her tears. "I know…"Rudeus looked at Rifi, his eyes heavy with unspoken grief. Neither of them spoke, the silence stretching into the dim light of the infirmary.The flap of the infirmary tent rustled, and the Commander strode in, his presence commanding immediate attention. His sharp gaze swept over the room, settling on Rudeus. "A peak Purple core Fire mage, I see. It's impressive, though not entirely unheard of for someone of your rank. Even with your entire team helping, it's still an achievement worth noting."Rudeus straightened, despite the strain in his body. "It wasn't exactly a fair fight, Commander. We lost two of our best. Without them—and without Rifi—I wouldn't be standing here."The Commander's eyes shifted to Rifi, his expression unreadable. "A Brown core," he said slowly, as if testing the words. "To kill something two ranks above him… Tell me, how did you manage that?"Rifi hesitated, the weight of the room pressing down on him. His voice was quiet, but steady. "I kept moving. It wasn't skill—just… lightning and luck. The beast made a mistake, and I took it."The Commander's sharp gaze narrowed slightly. "Lightning," he repeated, the word weighted with scrutiny. "Interesting."His tone cooled further, sharpening as his eyes lingered on Rifi. "Luck," he echoed. "Perhaps. But the lightning element—volatile, unpredictable, and inherently limited. Most who wield it don't live long enough to prove if it even holds real potential." His gaze swept over Rifi, the weight of his judgment pressing like a tangible force. "It exposes your squad to unnecessary risk. Even if there's talent, it's the kind that burns out long before it can ever be fully realized."He clicked his tongue softly, the edge of disappointment in his tone unmistakable, as though he had already reached his conclusion.Rudeus's voice cut through the tension, firm and unyielding. "With all due respect, Commander, I've stood beside a lot of mages out here, and most wouldn't have done what he did. Volatile or not, he saved our lives. That counts for something."The Commander's gaze flicked to Rudeus, the faintest trace of a smirk tugging at his lips before vanishing. "Perhaps it does," he allowed, his tone steady but dismissive, as if already moving on. "Either way, you've all earned your reward. Rest while you can. I'll expect a full report by nightfall." He turned to leave but paused at the tent flap, glancing back. "And Rudeus, keep him alive long enough to prove whether he's the exception."Rudeus inclined his head, his expression respectful but unwavering. "Understood, Commander."As the Commander left, the air in the tent seemed to loosen, though the silence that followed was heavier than before. Rifi slumped back against the cot, the exhaustion he'd been suppressing crashing over him in waves. His hands rested limply on his knees, the faint tingle of overused lightning mana still buzzing in his fingertips.Limited. The Commander's words echoed in Rifi's mind, stark and relentless. He stared at his trembling hands, the scars and calluses seeming more pronounced under the weight of that single word.He already knew the truth. His experience had taught him the limitations of his element all too well. Lightning lacked range—at best, he could throw daggers infused with lightning mana, but the charge dissipated within moments, limiting their effectiveness. His use of lightning on his body was constrained as well, though each grueling day of training and endurance pushed those limits further. The pain was excruciating, but it was the price he paid to inch forward.When it came to defense, lightning offered no sanctuary. He relied on raw, elementless mana to toughen his body, but that was something all mages could do. It set him apart in no meaningful way. Forced into close combat with minimal defenses, he was acutely aware of how heavily the odds were stacked against him. His only hope lay in ascending to higher core ranks. Greater mana density would expand his control and allow him to harness his lightning in ways currently out of reach. But until then, he had no choice but to endure.Rudeus's voice broke the silence, softer now but still steady. "Don't let him get in your head, kid. He talks like that to everyone."Rifi glanced up at him, his voice raw. "Doesn't mean he's wrong."Rudeus sighed, leaning forward on the stool he'd taken. His gaze was sharp but not unkind. "Wrong or not, you're here. You're alive. And you did what most wouldn't have dared to try. That's what matters right now. The rest…" He gestured vaguely, his voice softening. "You'll figure it out. But don't waste what they gave their lives for." His eyes locked on Rifi's, unflinching. "Got it?"Rifi nodded, his throat tight as he forced out a whisper. "I got it."For the first time since the fight, he believed it.