Chapter 30: Nightfall and the Cable Forest
As night began to blanket the forest, the candidates for the Ranger exam came to a halt, setting up camp to rest before continuing their race. Asher and his friends, Bran and Mika, quickly got to work. Bran used his Earth magic, causing the ground to shift and form a sturdy tent. Asher, with his hands alight in soft flames, illuminated the camp while Mika studied the map, her brows furrowed in concentration.
Suddenly, Mika's eyes widened in alarm. "Guys… this is Cable Forest."
Bran and Asher exchanged worried glances. Cable Forest had a reputation, infamous for the frequent appearance of dangerous creatures and monsters. It was not a place you wanted to get caught unprepared.
Asher, trying to lighten the mood, gave a confident smirk. "Well, I guess that means we need to take turns guarding the camp tonight."
Bran agreed, his expression serious. "I'll take the first shift. You two get some rest."
Mika, knowing she wasn't as strong as the two, nodded her agreement. "Be careful."
While Bran stood guard, keeping watch for any signs of danger, Asher and Mika laid down inside the tent, their minds still racing. The forest was eerily quiet, but the threat of monsters lingered.
In another part of the forest, Logan Pendragon had set up camp with two other students who shared similar magic abilities as Asher and Bran. He was silently calculating how far ahead or behind he might be compared to his competitors, his mind never at ease.
Meanwhile, back at Asher's camp, Mika traced their path on the map. "We've covered quite a bit of ground, but the academy is still a long way off. We're going to need to push hard tomorrow."
Later in the evening, the candidates stumbled upon a hot spring. To unwind and refresh, they decided to separate the springs into a boys' side and a girls' side. Asher and Bran made their way to the boys' side, eager to soak in the warmth after a long day. As they entered, they noticed Logan nearby, washing up silently. Asher expected some kind of confrontation, but Logan seemed uninterested, focused on cleaning himself before retreating back to his camp.
While some of the other boys whispered mischievously about peeping into the girls' side, Asher and Bran ignored them. They both knew better than to mess with Mika. One wrong move, and she'd make sure they regretted it.
As the night deepened, the candidates rested, unaware of the challenges waiting for them in Cable Forest.
As the night deepened, Asher sat outside his tent, allowing Bran to rest while he kept watch. The air was still, with only the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures echoing through the darkened forest. In another part of the camp, Logan was quietly training, pushing his body to its limits even after a long day of racing.
Hours passed, and eventually, Asher's heavy eyelids betrayed him. He slumped forward, falling asleep under the stars. Logan, too, finished his training and retreated back to his tent for much-needed rest. The night seemed peaceful, but an ominous presence loomed just beyond the tree line.
In the dead of night, a terrifying creature began creeping toward the candidates' camp. The beast was colossal—around 17 feet tall, covered in dark scales as tough as armor. It moved with the predatory grace of a tiger, its glowing yellow eyes locked on its prey: the sleeping students.
The stillness of the night was shattered by a loud, blood-curdling scream. The entire camp jolted awake in a panic. Students scrambled out of their tents, confusion and fear gripping them as they realized a massive monster had invaded the camp. The beast had already struck, seriously injuring several students, and now it had its eyes on a girl, dragging her toward its jaws for a midnight meal.
Her screams echoed through the forest, snapping Asher awake. Without hesitation, he darted out of his tent, followed closely by Mika and Bran. The monster was quickly identified as a D-type Kaiju—relatively weak by Ranger standards, but for the students, it was a deadly threat. It moved with terrifying speed, lashing out with its claws, sending students flying as they tried to escape.
The girl, now badly injured, was dropped as the Kaiju turned its attention toward Asher and his friends. Those with healing abilities rushed to her aid, trying desperately to mend her wounds as the beast roared, preparing for its next attack.
Asher clenched his fists, flames erupting around his hands. "We have to stop it before more people get hurt!" he shouted. Without waiting for a reply, he charged forward, moving almost in sync with the Kaiju's swift, feral movements. But despite his speed, the monster was faster, its massive tail swiping dangerously close to him.
Just as the Kaiju prepared to strike again, Logan appeared, stepping between the students and the monster. His movements were sharp and precise, his skills already rivaling those of low-level Rangers. Logan engaged the Kaiju head-on, his blows landing with incredible force. Asher fought alongside him, though it was clear that Logan's prowess was far greater.
The Kaiju, now bloodied and enraged, roared in defiance as Logan overwhelmed it with a barrage of attacks. Just as it seemed to falter, Asher seized the opportunity. With a swift leap, he landed a powerful flaming strike on the Kaiju's head. The beast stumbled back, clearly wounded, as it began to reassess its situation, eyeing the students warily.
Asher and Logan stood side by side, both panting from the exertion, as they prepared for the Kaiju's next move. Its injuries were evident, but the battle was far from over.