As everyone leaped from the borrowed path, the steep incline caught them off guard. They tumbled uncontrollably, like a wheel of fate spinning toward an unknown destiny.
Lloyd, quick on his feet despite the chaos, grabbed Shin and Lix mid-fall, pulling them close to his broad chest and shielding them from the harsh terrain. "Man, it's tight in here," Shin thought, awkwardly pressed against Lloyd's muscular frame.
"Ahh, thanks," Lix muttered, his voice muffled.
Behind them, Jack's voice echoed through the descent. "OUCH! OH, FUCK!" he screamed, his flailing form resembling a cartwheeling disaster. George, ever composed, covered his face with his hands, bracing against the ground as he rolled to minimize the impact. Gorrath, adapting effortlessly, turned his momentum into a smooth recovery, landing upright as though the fall had been planned.
Finally, they all reached the base of the path. Lloyd landed heavily, still shielding Lix and Shin in his arms. Jack hit the ground face-first, groaning in pain. "Fuck! My head hit a stone earlier!" he complained. George and Gorrath were already standing—George exuding his usual calm demeanor while Gorrath stretched with a yawn, unfazed.
Lloyd opened his arms, letting Lix and Shin free. "Finally, I can breathe!" Shin thought, taking a step back.
"Thank you," Lix said, bowing politely. George extended a hand to Jack, helping him to his feet. "Thanks," Jack mumbled, still nursing his head. George nodded silently.
Gorrath scanned their surroundings, breaking the momentary silence. "Hey, nerd. Where are we?" he asked, his tone casual.
"I'm not sure," Lix admitted, pulling out the map. "This thing's limited, but if it's still a straight path, we're probably heading the right way."
"He's right," George affirmed with a nod.
"Tsk," Gorrath scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
Shin's eyes darted between George and Gorrath. "Man, they keep glancing at each other," he thought, observing the unspoken tension.
Jack interrupted the moment, still wincing. "Don't you think it's weird? We haven't seen anyone before forming a group."
Lloyd's gaze swept across the area. "Yeah, I can't feel or see anyone near us either."
"Feel or see?" Shin's curiosity piqued. "That must be a trait," he thought. He looked up at Lloyd. "Hey, Lloyd, was that a trait you used earlier?"
Lloyd scratched his head, a bit hesitant. "Ah, yeah. It's from my innate trait called Aura sight. Although, it's pretty underdeveloped."
"Wow, that's cool! Can you explain what it does?" Shin asked, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Lloyd sighed, scratching the back of his head again. "Sure. I can sense anyone's presence or see them clearly within 50 meters—even if they're hidden or inside something."
"WOW!" Shin exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavernous area.
"Hey, we can't be wasting time here," Gorrath reminded him, his sharp tone snapping Shin back to reality. Shin nodded quickly.
"Everyone, make sure you don't have any white azure on your bare skin!" George yelled, his commanding voice cutting through the group's chatter. Good thing there isn't much white azure here, George thought, glancing around to confirm the area was relatively safe.
After thoroughly checking and cleaning themselves of any traces of the dangerous substance, the group pressed forward. Eventually, they stumbled upon a small clearing devoid of white azure. At its center stood a modest tent and a humble fireplace,
"Wow, they're really kind for leaving this behind," Jack said with a laugh, though his sarcasm was evident as he glanced at the tent's shabby state.
"Hey, at least this part of the map is clear of white azure," Lloyd pointed out, shrugging.
"Everyone, let's rest here for a bit. Do whatever you need to," George ordered, his voice steady and authoritative.
The group dispersed, each focusing on their tasks.
Shin sat near the fireplace, letting its warmth seep into his bones as he stretched his aching limbs. He watched as Lloyd busied himself gathering wood, hammering it into smaller pieces before shattering them effortlessly with his bare hands. "His grip strength is insane", Shin thought, eyes wide in amazement.
Jack, ever meticulous, began cleaning his double swords, wiping them down with practiced precision. Nearby, Lix flipped through the pages of a thick, worn book, his eyes scanning for any additional knowledge about white azure that could aid them.
George positioned himself a short distance away, practicing the Academy's martial arts forms. His movements were smooth and controlled, a combination of power and precision that demonstrated his expertise.
Meanwhile, Gorrath wandered into the edges of the clearing, picking through fallen branches. "This one's good," he muttered, snapping off a sturdy piece of wood. He pulled a small knife from the pouch on his belt, carefully stripping away bumps and uneven edges from the branch to craft something usable.
The quiet sounds of their tasks filled the air, a brief moment of calm amidst their perilous journey.
The group froze as the ground beneath them trembled. A massive footstep echoed in the distance, sending a chill through the air. Everyone instinctively turned toward the source of the sound, their hands inching toward their weapons.
And then it appeared.
A colossal, white-azure monster emerged from the shadows, its body gleaming like polished ivory under the dim light. It let out a deafening roar, shaking the trees around them.
"ROAAARRRR!"
The sheer force of its voice made the group flinch. Its massive form loomed over them, the monstrous energy radiating off it almost suffocating.
Gorrath stepped forward, his jaw tight but his hands steady.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?" Lix called out, panic creeping into his voice. "You know it's useless to attack that thing!"
Gorrath ignored him, his eyes narrowing. Without a word, he grabbed a massive tree branch, its sharp, broken edge gleaming like a blade. With all his strength, he hurled it toward the beast.
The branch spun through the air and pierced the monster's chest, leaving a shallow wound. The monster paused, its glowing azure eyes glaring at the injury.
Then, with a guttural growl, it yanked the branch out and snapped it in half with its bare hands.
"ROAAAARRRR!"
The beast was angrier now, its roar reverberating like a shockwave. Tendrils of white-azure energy began to ripple and coil around its body, glowing with an eerie light.
Gorrath's crimson eyes glinted as he watched the energy with a calculating gaze.
"Tch. I knew it," he muttered under his breath.
Gripping the broken branch tightly, he spun it with expert precision, turning it into a makeshift bo staff. The force of his movements created a small whirlwind, tearing through the swirling azure energy and pushing it back.
The group watched in awe as the energy dissipated, revealing the beast's furious expression.
Gorrath smirked, the intense aura radiating from him making his crimson eyes burn brighter.