The Thorn mercenary group had been traveling for hours, the once bustling marketplace and crowded streets of Beginner City 1 now far behind them. As they moved deeper into the thick forests of the surrounding Mistful Mountain Range, the air grew cooler, and the canopy of trees blocked most of the sunlight, casting long shadows across the path. The occasional chirping of birds and rustling of leaves were the only sounds that broke the eerie silence, making everyone more aware of their surroundings.
Emmett walked near the front of the group, slightly behind Mirabelle, who led the march with her usual calm confidence. Valerie strolled beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings with eager energy. Larissa trailed behind, her warrior-like transformation complete—braided hair, lean physique, and a fierce determination that replaced the shy girl she often was. Behind them, the rest of the mercenary guild members, roughly forty in total, marched in neat formation. Weapons were sheathed, but their hands hovered near them, ready to draw in a moment's notice, and their senses were heightened.
"Keep alert," Mirabelle ordered, her voice firm but quiet. "We're getting close to the northern part of the mountain range, where monsters are more common."
"Wouldn't be much of a trip without some monster fights, huh?" Emmett joked, trying to lighten the tense mood.
Mirabelle shot him a sharp glance over her shoulder. "Try not to die this time, Em. I won't be saving you again."
Before he could reply, Valerie interrupted with a playful grin. "Don't worry, Mir. If he gets into trouble, Larissa can save him."
Larissa, who had been lost in her thoughts, turned a bright shade of red at the mention of her name. She stammered something incoherent and quickly adjusted her braid, pretending to focus on the road ahead.
Emmett chuckled and nudged Valerie. "Stop teasing her. She'll have plenty of chances to show off when the monsters show up."
Valerie grinned back. "We'll see."
As the group continued moving north, the terrain became more treacherous. The trees grew denser, their roots twisting across the forest floor like ancient serpents. The path they followed was barely visible, a narrow, winding trail that seemed to disappear into the thick fog that rolled down from the mountains. Everyone was on edge. The forest was known for harboring dangerous creatures, many of which were straight out of mythology with skills unheard of.
Suddenly, a sharp cry from one of the scouts near the front of the group echoed through the forest. "Monsters ahead!"
Everyone stopped in their tracks, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons. Mirabelle raised her arm, signaling for silence. The group stood still, their breaths held as they listened for the source of the commotion.
Through the fog, the outline of the first creature emerged. It was massive, easily twice the size of a horse, with the body of a tiger and the face of a human—a Shou, a mythical beast known for its incredible strength and cunning. Its sharp claws gleamed in the dim light, and its glowing red eyes locked onto the group with murderous intent.
"Form up!" Mirabelle ordered, her voice cutting through the tension. The mercenaries quickly fell into formation, readying their weapons.
The Shou let out a deafening roar and charged toward them, its massive body barreling through the underbrush with terrifying speed. Emmett unsheathed his swords, his heart racing. He wasn't afraid of a fight—he lived for moments like this.
Before the Shou could close the distance, a flurry of arrows shot through the air, courtesy of Valerie and a few other ranged fighters. The arrows struck the beast in the chest and legs, slowing it down but not stopping it. It roared again, its eyes glowing brighter as it continued its charge.
"Wait for my signal," Mirabelle said calmly, her own weapon drawn but her eyes calculating. "We don't need to lose anyone over this."
The Shou leaped into the air, claws extended. In that moment, Mirabelle gave the order. "Now!"
The melee fighters, including Emmett, surged forward. Channel your Qi, Emmett thought to himself, feeling the energy rush from his dantian, the core of his cultivation, down to his legs. Instantly, his muscles filled with power, and he moved faster than he could have without it. He dodged to the side just as the Shou's claws came down where he had been standing. He slashed at its exposed side, his sword cutting deep into its fur and flesh. The beast howled in pain, but before it could retaliate, several more fighters were on it, striking at its weak points with practiced precision.
Larissa, who had been hanging back, suddenly found herself too close to the action. The Shou, in its final moments of desperation, lunged at her. She froze, fear paralyzing her as the massive beast's jaws came dangerously close to her neck.
"Larissa, move!" Emmett shouted as he sprinted toward her, adrenaline fueling his every step. With a powerful leap, he shoved her out of the way just as the Shou's claws grazed his shoulder, leaving a deep gash. Ignoring the pain, he channeled more Qi to his arms, strengthening them, and swung his sword in a wide arc, delivering the final blow to the creature's throat. The Shou collapsed to the ground, twitching before it went still.
Larissa looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and gratitude. "Emmett, I—"
"Don't worry about it," Emmett said quickly, offering her a hand to stand. "Just stay close next time, alright?"
Before Larissa could respond, Valerie's voice broke the tension. "You two okay? That was a little too close for comfort."
"We're fine," Emmett replied, wincing as he touched the wound on his shoulder. He focused and channeled Qi into his arm, dulling the pain and slowing the bleeding. "Just a scratch."
Valerie gave him a teasing smile. "Saving the damsel in distress, huh? Pretty heroic, Em."
Larissa flushed again but remained silent, clearly shaken by the encounter. Emmett shot Valerie a warning look, but she just laughed.
Mirabelle walked over, her eyes scanning the fallen beast. "We need to move. This was just the first of many."
Just as she finished speaking, an ominous growl echoed through the trees. Dozens of red eyes began to appear in the fog, followed by low, guttural snarls.
"Incoming!" one of the scouts yelled, pointing towards the advancing figures.
Through the fog, hundreds of Shou charged at them, their red eyes glowing menacingly in the dim light. The ground shook with their approach, and the air became thick with tension.
Mirabelle raised her sword, her voice steady despite the looming chaos. "Everyone, form defensive lines! Ready your Qi!"
The group fell into position, fighters surging forward to meet the incoming Shou. Valerie and the ranged units fired arrows into the horde, hitting several beasts in their chest and slowing them down, but it was clear they were severely outnumbered.
Emmett surged forward, his body radiating with Qi, enhancing his speed and power. His dual swords slashed through the air, cutting down one Shou after another. Larissa fought nearby, her knives flashing as she spun, her agility boosted by the Qi circulating through her legs.
Suddenly, a Shou lunged at Emmett from the side, but Larissa intervened, driving a knife into its neck and dropping it instantly. She turned to Emmett, a sly smile on her lips.
"Looks like I saved you this time," she quipped.
Emmett grinned. "I guess we're even."
But the battle was far from over. As they fought, Mirabelle unleashed the power of her cultivation manual—the Moon Scripture. With a flick of her hand, she summoned a wave of black flames that erupted from her palm. The dark fire roared forward, consuming several Shou instantly, burning them to ashes. The flames seemed alive, swirling around her, casting shadows that flickered ominously against the trees.
"Stay close to the flames!" Mirabelle ordered, her voice carrying over the roar of battle. "They can't get through!"
The Thorn mercenaries rallied around her, the black flames acting as a shield, scorching any Shou that dared come near. But even with the advantage of the Moon Scripture, the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming.
Emmett fought through the wave of monsters, channeling Qi into his arms for stronger strikes and into his legs to move faster. His swords cleaved through several Shou, but for every one that fell, it seemed two more appeared.
As the battle raged, three of the mercenaries were overwhelmed, their screams cut short as they were torn apart by the vicious claws of the Shou. The losses sent a ripple of fear through the group, but they couldn't afford to falter now.
Amid the chaos, Emmett felt a rush of energy flow through him. He could feel the growth—his cultivation rising as he gained experience from each Shou slain. His body felt stronger, his movements sharper. He wasn't alone; several other fighters also leveled up, their power increasing as they fought for their lives.
When the last Shou fell, collapsing into a heap of blood and fur, the forest fell eerily silent, save for the heavy breathing of the mercenaries. The ground was littered with the corpses of the massive creatures, their red eyes now dull and lifeless. Emmett wiped the blood from his swords, his chest heaving from the effort. His wounds, though painful, were already healing thanks to the constant circulation of Qi through his body. He could feel his cultivation rank solidifying at Body Forging Rank 6, the power coursing through his veins was a testament to the experience gained from the fight.
Mirabelle stood in the center of the group, her hands still glowing faintly with the residue of the black flames from the Moon Scripture. The dark energy around her dissipated slowly, revealing the devastation the fire had left in its wake—several Shou reduced to little more than piles of ash. Her expression was unreadable as she surveyed the scene, but the tension in her shoulders relaxed slightly when she saw the group had survived.
"We need to keep moving," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Gather what you can from the corpses—silver, weapons, anything of value. We can't afford to stay here long."
The mercenaries moved quickly, scavenging the fallen Shou for anything they could use. Emmett crouched near a large Shou he had taken down and retrieved a pouch filled with silver coins. Beside it, he found a pair of throwing knives that looked sturdier than the ones he had been using. Their blades shimmered with a faint glow, likely a Rare Rank weapon, and he slipped them into his belt with satisfaction. He noticed several others doing the same—finding upgraded equipment and weapons from the battlefield.
"Looks like this fight paid off," Valerie said as she walked up, her bow still drawn, though no arrow was nocked. She tossed a small sack of silver to Emmett with a smirk. "Found that on one of the big ones. You're welcome."
Emmett caught the bag and grinned. "Generous as always, Val."
As they gathered the loot, the air grew colder, and the fog seemed to thicken once more. The silence that followed the battle was unsettling, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. Emmett glanced at the trees surrounding them, his instincts telling him something wasn't right.
"Everyone ready?" Mirabelle asked, her voice cutting through the quiet.
Just as the last of the group finished looting, a new sound filled the air. It started as a low hum, a sort of vibration that seemed to come from the ground itself. Then, from the shadows of the forest, several glowing green figures emerged. Their stiff, unnatural movements made Emmett's blood run cold. Jiangshi—not just one or two this time, but tens of them. The hopping, vampire-like creatures moved toward the group in unison, their glowing green skin and elongated claws visible even through the thick fog.
"Shit," Emmett muttered under his breath. "That's a lot more than last time."
Mirabelle's expression remained calm, but there was a tightness in her jaw that wasn't there before. "Defensive formation!" she called out, the mercenaries immediately falling into line. "Stay together. Don't let them touch you. Their claws drain life force on contact."
Valerie had already drawn her bow, her eyes narrowing as she aimed at the approaching Jiangshi. "Aim for the heart," she reminded the others, pulling back the string of her bow. "That's the only way to kill them."
The Jiangshi moved awkwardly, but with surprising speed. In seconds, they were upon the group, their claws outstretched, ready to tear through flesh and bone. Emmett dodged the first one that lunged at him, slashing at its chest with both swords. His strike cut deep, but the creature didn't fall. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and with a hissing screech, it leaped at him again.
"Damn things don't go down easy," he growled, pouring more Qi into his arms for extra power. He swung his swords again, this time aiming directly at its heart. The blades pierced through its chest, and the Jiangshi let out a horrible wail before it collapsed into a pile of blackened bones.
"Keep moving!" Mirabelle shouted as she slashed at one of the creatures, the black flames of her Moon Scripture igniting her sword. The Jiangshi she was fighting recoiled from the dark fire, its green skin flickering as the flames consumed it. She moved like a blur, her Qi enhancing her speed as she cut through the horde with ruthless efficiency.
Emmett barely had time to admire her skill before another Jiangshi lunged at him from the side. He jumped back, channeling Qi into his legs to increase his speed. His foot caught on a tree root, and for a brief moment, he lost his balance. Before he could recover, a weight slammed into him from behind.
He hit the ground hard, but when he opened his eyes, it wasn't a Jiangshi that had knocked him over—it was Larissa. She had fallen on top of him, her face inches from his, her eyes wide with what looked like surprise mixed with something else.
"Sorry!" she stammered, but as she shifted, her lips were dangerously close to his, almost brushing against his mouth. Her hands pressed against his chest, and for a split second, it seemed like she wasn't trying very hard to get up.
Emmett blinked, his brain scrambling to process the situation. He reached up to steady her, but his hand accidentally grabbed something it wasn't supposed to—her chest.
Larissa let out a small gasp, her face turning bright red, and for a moment, they just stared at each other in stunned silence.
"Uh… sorry," Emmett said quickly, pulling his hand away as if it had been burned. He pushed her off him and stood up, desperately trying to focus on the battle rather than the awkwardness of the situation.
Larissa mumbled something under her breath, clearly flustered, but before she could say anything else, another Jiangshi rushed at them. Emmett picked up his dropped swords and swung with renewed vigor, cutting the creature down with a single strike.
Valerie, who had witnessed the whole exchange, burst out laughing. "Smooth, Em! Real smooth."
"Shut up, Val," Emmett muttered, his face burning as he focused on the fight. But Valerie's teasing laughter only seemed to fuel his determination, and he threw himself back into the battle with everything he had.
The Jiangshi kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. But the mercenaries fought with renewed strength, their Qi-infused bodies moving faster, hitting harder. Every strike they landed brought more experience, and soon Emmett felt the familiar rush of power as his rank increased again—Body Forging Rank 7. He wasn't the only one leveling up. Several others around him were also glowing with newfound energy as they gained experience from the fight.
Mirabelle's black flames continued to tear through the horde, burning the Jiangshi into ash with each strike. Valerie's arrows flew true, each one finding its mark in the heart of a creature. Larissa fought with surprising skill, her knives flashing as she danced around her enemies, her agility boosted by her Qi.
The battle raged on for what felt like hours, but finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the last of the Jiangshi fell. The clearing was littered with the bodies of the fallen creatures, their blackened bones the only remains of the once terrifying monsters.
No one spoke for a moment, the silence of the forest settling over them once more. Then, slowly, the mercenaries began to gather, their faces exhausted but triumphant. No one had died in this fight, but the weight of the earlier losses hung heavily in the air.
Emmett looked around, his gaze falling on Mirabelle, who was wiping the sweat from her brow. She caught his eye and gave him a small nod, her way of acknowledging his efforts without saying anything. He returned the gesture, feeling a strange sense of pride.
"We need to move," Mirabelle said finally, breaking the silence. "There could be more of them."
The group nodded, their exhaustion evident, but they began to gather their things, ready to continue the journey north. As they prepared to move, Emmett glanced at Larissa, who was still avoiding his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but before he could, Valerie walked by and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Better luck next time, hero," she teased, her grin wide and mischievous.
Emmett groaned inwardly, knowing he wasn't going to live this down anytime soon.
With a final glance at the carnage they had left behind, the group set off again, their ranks thinned but their resolve stronger than ever.