BOOOOOM!
A thunderous roar shook the ground, sending tremors through the air as a colossal, grotesque monster crashed heavily to the earth.
Towering nearly ten meters high, this beast resembled a hyena but was far more terrifying, its body was encased in metallic scales rather than fur, and it sported three long tails and a single horn protruding from its massive head.
The sheer pressure radiating from it made the atmosphere feel thick and suffocating.
But now, this once-mighty creature lay defeated, riddled with deep wounds and bearing a gaping hole that pierced through its back.
Its metal-like scales were cracked and peeling, leaving it battered beyond recognition.
The landscape within a mile radius was utterly devastated, pits and craters marred the ground, while boulders lay strewn about like discarded toys.
The scene was apocalyptic: corpses of other giant beasts littered the area, blood pooling around them as the air hung heavy with the stench of death.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get to work!" barked a burly man clad in sleek black armor adorned with intricate designs that shimmered ominously in the light.
His armor hugged his muscular frame like a second skin, while a fist-sized glowing orb at his chest pulsed with energy.
A massive broadsword wreathed in black flames rested on his back, and two jagged scars marked his fierce face, his eyes burned with an intensity that commanded respect.
"Come on! Get moving, you bunch of slackers!" he shouted again, disdain etched across his features.
"Yes, yes,yes! Right away!" The group of workers hurriedly scrambled to obey him, their eyes wide with awe and fear as they pulled tools from their oversized bags to begin dissecting the fallen monsters.
"Captain," called out a young man also donned in a tight green armor, a glowing green orb set into his chest, approaching Brutus cautiously. "This Rift Monster put up quite a fight."
"It may have been tough," Captain Brutus replied dismissively with a proud smirk, "but it's nothing compared to me."
The young man nodded eagerly and flattered. "Of course! You're right; this monster is weak compared to your strength!"
Brutus's grin widened; he relished their flattery.
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The few individuals Captain Brutus had shouted at earlier were now diligently working on the ground, expertly stripping valuable parts from the fallen monsters.
"Eclipse! A little help here!" called out a young man with striking red hair, struggling to lift the massive head of a giant beast.
"Coming, coming!" replied Eclipse, his hair a wild mix, half black and half crimson red like freshly spilled blood.
His deep ruby-red eyes sparkled with determination as he approached.
Though his sharp jawline and delicate features made him undeniably handsome, his pale complexion dulled that charm slightly.
"What do you need me to do, Ryker?" Eclipse asked as he joined his friend.
"Help me dig out the nuclei! I'll hold up the head; you take it out," Ryker instructed, straining under the weight of the monster's head.
"Okay!" Eclipse nodded eagerly. He pulled out a uniquely shaped dagger and skillfully plunged it into the center of the monster's skull, cracking it open effortlessly like slicing through mud.
After a moment of fumbling inside, he triumphantly withdrew his hand, revealing a glowing red crystal in his palm.
"Got it!" Eclipse grinned at Ryker, who returned the smile before handing him a small box to store their prize.
As Eclipse placed the shimmering nucleus inside, he scanned their surroundings with eager anticipation.
"She's over there," Ryker said with an amused smile, patting him on the shoulder and pointing in a certain direction.
"Oh!" Eclipse nodded with a gleam in his eyes as he followed Ryker's gesture and quickly runned forward.
Just a few meters away stood a girl whose beauty was subtle yet captivating.
While her face was quite ordinary, her figure was undeniably alluring in her tight black attire that accentuated her curves.
"Zairia! Let me help you with that," Eclipse said playfully as he approached her.
"Oh Eclipse, you don't have to worry; I can handle it," Zairia replied dismissively but kindly shook her head.
"I insist! You look tired." Without waiting for further protest from Zairia, Eclipse jumped in to assist her with the corpse on the ground.
Zairia sighed but soon found herself working alongside him.
"You two really look like a couple when you're working together," Ryker teased from behind them as he approached with a wide grin.
"Don't talk nonsense, Ryker!" Zairia shot back while rolling her eyes at him while a blush crept up on her face.
Meanwhile, Eclipse cast Zairia a fleeting glance filled with affection before quickly masking it again.
"We're just friends, so quit joking around," she insisted while continuing her work. Ryder chuckled and joined them as they efficiently dealt with more monster remains.
Before long, they finished handling their share of corpses.
Eclipse lifted his gaze to meet the fierce, burly man and the brooding figure beside him, whose eyes burned with envy.
"Captain Brutus is incredibly strong," Eclipse sighed, a hint of longing in his voice. "He took down that Rift Monster like it was nothing. I wish I could be that powerful, then maybe I wouldn't be stuck as a scavenger."
"Yeah, he's definitely impressive," Ryker chimed in, nodding thoughtfully. "After all, he wouldn't be the Captain of the Sixth Division of the Darkstar Alliance Guild if he weren't a top-tier Rune Warrior. Those who rise to captaincy are anything but weak."
"But hey, don't lose hope! Your chance is coming soon, it'stoday right?!" Ryker glanced at Eclipse and said.
"Yeah," Eclipse replied, his expression calm yet distant.
"Why aren't you more excited? Today is the turning point in your life! You should feel something, excitement, nerves… anything!" Ryker urged.
"I guess I just don't have high expectations," Eclipse admitted with a shake of his head. "A scavenger like me probably won't find anything good after all."
"Hey now, don't sell yourself short! There are plenty of stories about scavengers who got something good and rose above their circumstances," Zairia interjected passionately.
"Exactly! Look at Captain Brutus himself, he was also a scavenger like us but now he leads the Sixth Division of the Darkstar Alliance Guild. So keep your chin up!" Ryker added.
Eclipse stared blankly for a moment as he watched Captain Brutus in the distance.
Slowly shaking off his daze, he turned to Ryker and Zairia with gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thanks for your support, guys. I really appreciate it; I wouldn't know what to do without you."
"Haha! No worries at all!" Ryker laughed heartily while giving Eclipse a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "That's what friends are for!"
"Absolutely," Zairia agreed warmly.
"Yeah... friends," Eclipse echoed softly.
Suddenly, a figure clad in striking grey armor approached them, there was an orb glowing ominously on his chest. "What are you three doing standing around? Get back to work! We only have an hour until the rift closes!"
"Oh right!" The trio exchanged embarrassed smiles before quickly diving back into their tasks