The team trudged along the narrow path that cut through the dense forest, the air heavy with the scent of moss and wet leaves. The old man, as always, walked a few steps behind them, his eyes fixed on Anita, though he never uttered a word. Tough-Breaker glanced back every so often, his massive frame tense. He wasn't the type to forget things easily, and the way the old man had known exactly how to kill the Devourer still gnawed at him.
Mumu, sensing his friend's unease, clapped him on the shoulder. "You're still thinking about him, aren't you?"
Tough-Breaker grunted, not breaking his stride. "How could I not? That old man... there's something wrong with him. He knows too much. He never speaks, never calls anyone master, not even Anita. And the way he glares at her…"
Mumu nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. He's odd. But for now, he's not a threat. If he was, we'd be dead already."
Camila, who was walking a few steps ahead, turned her head, her tails flicking playfully. "Tough-Breaker's always suspicious," she said lightly. "But that's why we love him. Keeps us alive."
Barry chuckled, adjusting the small pouch of herbs slung over his shoulder. "Maybe he's just been through too much. Trauma can do strange things to people."
Anita, who had been silent, finally spoke up. She was walking beside Rohan, still holding onto the faint hope that something would jog his memory. "I don't know what's wrong with him. But Rohan... he's lost, and I can't get him back. I'll keep trying, but it feels like his mind is trapped somewhere I can't reach."
Rohan, as usual, walked beside her with a blank expression, his eyes unfocused. He hadn't said anything except to call her "Master" since they left the slave shop. It broke Anita's heart, but she didn't let it show. Not in front of the others.
The road ahead began to widen as they neared their destination—East Town, known for its magicians and the largest academy for sorcery in the region. Tall spires of magic academies loomed in the distance, their tops disappearing into the misty sky. The town was bustling with activity, magicians and scholars moving about, their robes fluttering as they hurried from one place to another.
"We're here," Mumu said, stopping at the entrance of the town.
Camila stretched her arms, her two tails flicking excitedly. "Ah, finally! I've been dying to see this place. I've heard the academy has the most extensive library on magical creatures."
Barry nodded, his eyes wide with awe. "I bet they've got cures for things we can't even imagine."
Anita, though still preoccupied with Rohan, allowed herself a moment of excitement. "Maybe someone here can help us," she said, glancing at her teammates. "We need more information on how to deal with stronger beasts."
They made their way through the crowded streets, eventually finding the magician they had been referred to—a tall, hooded figure standing in the shadows of a narrow alleyway. His face was obscured, and his voice was low when he spoke.
"You seek healing charms, do you?" the magician asked, his voice like a hiss of wind. "That can be arranged. But it won't come without a price."
Tough-Breaker stepped forward, towering over the magician. "What's the price?"
The magician's lips curved into a thin smile beneath his hood. "A beast. One with a heart as rare as it is dangerous. The creature I seek is the **Vargalis**, a beast known for its intelligence and strength. Its heart will be the payment."
At the mention of the name, Anita's blood ran cold. She had heard of the Vargalis before, though only in stories. It was a creature that lived in packs, each member more cunning than the last. They were known to communicate and strategize like humans, and many who had gone after them had never returned.
Camila's eyes widened in recognition. "The Vargalis? They're... they're not ordinary beasts. They have minds like ours. They live in packs to protect themselves from hunters."
Mumu frowned, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "You're asking for a death sentence."
The magician's smile did not falter. "It is your choice. You want charms that will protect you from harm, but everything comes at a cost. Bring me the heart of the Vargalis, and I will give you what you seek."
Tough-Breaker growled low in his throat. "We've fought beasts before, but the Vargalis... that's different. They plan. They think."
Anita clenched her fists, her mind racing. She knew they needed the charms, especially if they were going to continue hunting stronger beasts. But the Vargalis? That was no ordinary hunt. "We don't have much of a choice," she said quietly, looking at her teammates. "If we want to survive the next hunt, we need what this magician can offer."
Barry, always the voice of reason, spoke up. "We'll need to be careful. If we go after the Vargalis, we have to approach it differently. It's not just about strength. It's about strategy."
Camila nodded, her tails swishing thoughtfully. "I can use my illusions to create distractions, maybe lure them into traps. But we need to be smart about this. One wrong move, and we're done for."
Tough-Breaker's expression darkened. "I don't like it, but we've faced worse odds before. We can do this, but we need to be ready for anything."
The magician's smile widened, his teeth glinting in the shadow. "Then it is settled. Return to me with the heart of the Vargalis, and you shall have your charms."
As they left the alley, the weight of the task ahead pressed down on them. Anita walked in silence, her thoughts racing. The Vargalis were not just beasts—they were predators with the intelligence to match any human. How could they outsmart such creatures?
That night, as they gathered around the campfire just outside the town, Tough-Breaker spoke up, his voice filled with the tension they all felt. "This isn't like any hunt we've done before. The Vargalis will be waiting for us, planning their attack before we even see them."
Anita nodded, staring into the flames. "We need a plan. Something they won't expect."
Camila grinned, her confidence returning. "Don't worry. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. They won't know what hit them."
Mumu cracked his knuckles, a determined look in his eyes. "We've got this. We've faced worse. We'll bring that heart back, and we'll walk out alive."
But as the fire flickered, casting long shadows over the group, Anita couldn't shake the feeling that this hunt would be unlike anything they had faced before. The Vargalis were more than beasts—they were predators who knew how to hunt in packs, and the stakes had never been higher.
In the distance, the old man sat quietly, watching them, as he always did. And once again, Anita couldn't help but feel his gaze lingering on her just a little too long.
The forest where the Vargalis lived was eerily silent as the team approached their location. Camila, her eyes scanning the shadows, muttered under her breath, "It's too quiet… they know we're here."
Tough-Breaker gripped his weapon, muscles tense, his face set in a scowl. "Stay alert. They're watching us, waiting to strike."
Mumu, ever the pragmatist, nodded, crouching low. "We can't let them corner us. We need to spread out, surround them before they surround us."
Anita held her sword firmly, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew this would be their toughest battle yet. The Vargalis were cunning, strategists who hunted in groups, using the forest to their advantage. But she hadn't anticipated the overwhelming sense of being watched, stalked like prey.
Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the trees, and before anyone could react, the Vargalis attacked. They came from all directions—vicious, towering beasts with silver fur and glowing eyes that reflected the faint moonlight. There were more of them than the team had expected, their sheer numbers sending a wave of panic through the group.
"They're everywhere!" Barry shouted, throwing himself into the fight, using his small size to dodge between the beasts.
Camila darted through the shadows, casting illusions to confuse the Vargalis, but they were too smart. Some broke through her deceptions, heading straight for them.
Tough-Breaker roared as he swung his massive weapon, smashing one of the beasts into the ground, but another quickly replaced it. "We're outnumbered!" he growled, his voice full of frustration.
Mumu was holding his own, slashing through the pack with swift precision, but even he was starting to tire. "We need to retreat! We can't hold them off like this!"
Before they could make a move, the Vargalis closed in, their glowing eyes filled with predatory hunger. Anita swung her sword with all her might, cutting down two of the beasts, but more kept coming. One of the creatures lunged at her, its claws glinting in the dark, and she barely managed to dodge in time.
And then, when all seemed lost, the old man stepped forward.
Without a word, he raised his hand, and an immense surge of power erupted from him. The air around them crackled with energy, and in a single motion, he released a blast so strong it sent the Vargalis flying into the trees, their bodies slamming into the ground with bone-cracking force. For a brief moment, there was silence as the beasts lay motionless, stunned by the old man's unexpected power.
Everyone stared in shock. Anita's heart raced. **How?** she thought. **How does he have this kind of strength?**
But the old man, breathing heavily, stumbled back. His face, always emotionless, now looked strained and weary. It became clear that he had used up what little power he had left, and now he was vulnerable, weak.
The reprieve didn't last long. The Vargalis were relentless. Slowly, they began to rise again, shaking off the old man's attack. Their eyes burned with renewed fury.
"They're coming back!" Camila cried, panic in her voice.
The old man, barely able to stand, spoke for the first time since they had left the slave shop, his voice a harsh whisper. "I… can't… help anymore. The rest… is up to you."
Anita's grip on her sword tightened. She could feel the pressure mounting. They were outnumbered, their strongest potential ally now powerless. There was no way out—unless they fought with everything they had.
"We can't run," Anita said through gritted teeth. "We fight."
Without waiting for a response, she charged at the nearest Vargalis, her sword gleaming as she swung with all her might. She cut down two of them, the beasts' snarls filling the air. But before she could move on, one of the Vargalis struck her hard, its claws slashing across her side.
Anita cried out in pain, stumbling backward. Blood soaked her clothes, and she could feel the strength draining from her. Another beast lunged at her, biting into her leg, dragging her to the ground.
"Anita!" Mumu shouted, his voice thick with fear as he tried to fight his way toward her, but the Vargalis swarmed him, forcing him to defend himself.
Anita gasped, her vision blurring as she struggled to stay conscious. The wound on her side was deep, and she could feel the coldness of death creeping up on her. She tried to stand, but her body wouldn't respond. The pain was unbearable.
Tough-Breaker let out a roar of rage as he saw her fall. He swung his weapon wildly, smashing through the beasts, trying to reach her, but even his immense strength wasn't enough. "No! Anita!"
Camila screamed as the Vargalis closed in, her illusions failing to hold them back. She backed up, eyes wide with terror. "We're not going to make it! There are too many!"
Barry, small but fierce, tried to help, but even his quick reflexes couldn't stop the onslaught. "We're surrounded!" he shouted, his voice tinged with hopelessness.
As Anita lay on the ground, bleeding and broken, she saw the faces of her teammates, each one filled with fear. They were all going to die. And it was her fault.
The Vargalis surrounded them, their glowing eyes hungry and malevolent. The team, exhausted and wounded, could do nothing but brace themselves for the end.
"Close your eyes," Camila whispered, her voice trembling. "Just… close your eyes."
One by one, they obeyed, too scared to face the final moments.
But even as her vision faded, Anita refused to give in. She gritted her teeth, blood filling her mouth, and whispered to herself, "Not like this… not like this…"
The Vargalis pounced, and in that moment, time seemed to slow. Just as the beasts were about to land the killing blow...
And just like that, everything went dark.