The trio navigated the maze, relying on Ren's keen hearing and Lily's magical vision.
The paths were lined with trees, each adorned with glowing runes set into their trunks.
"What are those runes? I've never seen any rune like them! These symbols—where did they come from?" Lily exclaimed, reaching out to touch one that radiated a bright yellow glow.
"Wait, you've never seen them? Do you… know about ancient runes?" Elias asked, intrigued by Lily's excitement.
"Well, I know a bit. You could say studying ruins is one of my hobbies," Lily said nonchalantly, walking straight into a wall of thick vines and bushes.
As soon as she made contact, the wall shimmered, revealing a hidden illusion.
"I still can't wrap my head around it! You just walk through walls…" Ren sighed.
Lily shot him a playful wink. "Well, if that's the case, I guess I'm still getting used to your… ears."
Ren paused, then muttered, "Yeah, you're right. We're all just a bunch of anomalies!"
Lily's laughter broke the tension, bringing a sense of ease to the otherwise oppressive atmosphere. For the first time since entering the maze, they relaxed a bit.
They exchanged light-hearted banter, smiles, and laughter, even managing to ease Elias's tension.
But they were blissfully unaware that they were heading straight into danger.
The trees around them underwent slight change, but no one noticed.
Suddenly, Ren stopped dead in his tracks, raising a hand to signal them to halt.
"Ren, why—" Elias started, but Ren quickly put a finger to his lips, urging silence.
Both Lily and Elias turned to see Ren's face, which was pale with fear, his eyes wide in shock.
And then it happened.
Five pairs of blue lights appeared before them, accompanied by low, menacing growls as the lights grew larger.
Five massive creatures came into sight.
These beasts resembled a mix between tigers and zebras. Each stood at least six feet tall at the shoulders and stretched about ten feet long. Their fur was white, adorned with zebra-like stripes all over.
Three of the beasts approached slowly, their eyes locked onto the trio.
"Crap! Zerathian tigers!" Lily shouted.
[ Beep…
Beast name: Zerathian Tiger
Level: 83 (Beast Level 4)
Description:
The Zerathian Tiger is a mysterious beast type with an unknown origin. Its physique is both muscular and agile, built for power and speed. Legend has it that encountering a Zerathian tiger usually spells doom.
Abilities:
1) Lightning Summon: Can call down lightning from the sky, their signature move.
2) Electric Discharge: Can unleash electricity from its claws and mouth.
3) Camouflage: Can adapt its skin color to blend into different environments.
Host's win probability: 3%]
The system chimed in.
"Crap! We can't take them on! No way!" Ren shouted, "Run, run!"
'Why are there five of them? And they're all level 4?' Elias thought to himself.
The beasts roared in unison before leaping toward them.
As the creatures landed, Elias and Lily rolled aside, narrowly escaping their deadly claws and sharp teeth. Unfortunately, Ren wasn't as lucky. He hit the ground hard, crushed beneath the weight of a Zerathian Tiger.
"Ren!" Lily cried out as the tiger began to claw at him.
But Ren wasn't ready to give up.
His body tensed for a moment, then a faint red aura enveloped him. His muscles bulged, giving him a more powerful look.
With a fierce yell, he kicked the beast off him, sending it stumbling back.
The creature roared in anger, shaking its head before letting out another deafening roar.
"Let's move!" Elias shouted, pulling Lily along with him.
Ren got to his feet and followed after them, his entire body still glowing red.
Out of nowhere, the sky darkened as stormy clouds rolled in, covering the moon. Thunder rumbled overhead, accompanied by the fierce howls of the four beasts.
[Warning…
The Zerathian Tigers have united to unleash a massive lightning strike.
Immediate action required.
Suggested action: Run…Run and run.]
"Seriously?! Why did they use that right off the bat? You save your trump cards for later, right?" Elias shouted, frustration evident in his tone.
"What did you say? What do you know?" Ren panted, keeping pace beside him.
"Nothing! They're about to zap us!" Elias replied, picking up speed.
"If you want to survive, just run! Don't look back!"
The dark clouds swirled ominously above them, lightning crackling through the air.
Elias noticed the red alert flashing urgently, pushing him to sprint faster.
"It's happening now! Get ready!" Elias yelled.
Then, a blinding flash accompanied by a deafening roar struck them.
For a brief moment, Elias was engulfed in silence and darkness. The force of the blast knocked him off his feet, propelled by the wind that followed.
The ground split apart, rocks scattered, and nearby trees ignited.
Once the dust settled and the light faded, Elias found himself sprawled on the ground. His clothes were torn, and his body felt completely numb.
Ren lay next to him, face down, coughing as he rolled over.
Elias turned his head and saw Lily unconscious on the ground.
With great effort, he pushed himself up, every muscle aching from the shock. But he refused to give in, gathering his thoughts and standing unsteadily to scan for the beasts.
Ren also managed to get up, his face bruised and clothes tattered, quickly rushing to help Lily.
"Where are they?" Ren asked, his voice trembling.
"There!" Elias pointed.
The five beasts lingered at a distance, their eyes shimmering with a bright blue energy. They kept their gaze fixed on the group, disappointment evident in their expressions.
Ren immediately tensed up.
"Chill, Ren. No need to waste your energy," Elias said nonchalantly.
"Why not? Aren't we supposed to fight them?" Ren replied, taken aback.
Elias turned to him and asked, "Do they look like they're about to attack again?"
Ren glanced over at the Zerathian Tigers.
"Why are they just standing there?"
"I think it's because we've crossed into their territory!"
Both Ren and Elias looked at Lily.
"You… okay?" Ren asked, concern creeping into his voice.
"Yeah, I'm good. Just feeling a bit lightheaded," Lily said, shaking off Ren's grip.
"What did you say… a territory?" Elias asked, confusion written all over his face.
"Every beast has its own territory. In that space, it's the ruler. They're super protective of their own territory, so anyone they don't accept can't step foot in," Lily explained.
"Really?" Elias slowly turned back to the five beasts. "They don't look too thrilled about it!"
"So, basically, they can't come after us anymore, right?" Ren asked.
"Yeah, pretty much," Lily said, a proud smile spreading across her face.
She felt a sense of accomplishment for knowing something the guys didn't.
"Alright then," Ren sighed in relief, "Let's find a spot to rest."
"Definitely, but let's keep our distance from those jerks!" Lily agreed, her eyes darting nervously at the howling beasts.