The sun hung low in the sky as the group made their way toward Fuja Hazu Forest. Tau's heart raced with every step. His excitement from earlier had now given way to a mix of nerves and doubt. The looming prospect of facing real Karoriens for the first time made him feel exposed.
Cove glanced at him and smirked. "What's the matter, newbie? You look like you just saw a ghost."
Tau forced a grin. "Me? Nah, just… saving my energy. That's all."
Aera, the short yet fiery team member, snickered. "Saving your energy for running away, maybe."
Tau clenched his fists but held his tongue. He didn't want to give Aera the satisfaction. Averil, ever calm and collected, stepped between them. "Ease up, Aera. Everyone's nervous their first time."
Aisly, walking a few steps ahead with her katana strapped to her back, turned slightly and added, "Don't worry, Tau. Just stick close to us, and you'll be fine." Her words were reassuring, but the stern look in her eyes reminded him of the seriousness of their mission.
The forest grew denser as they advanced. Towering trees cast long shadows, and the air became cooler and still. Despite the calm surroundings, Tau couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
"Stay alert," Aera suddenly said, his voice serious for once. "This forest may seem quiet, but Karoriens can appear out of nowhere."
Tau nodded, swallowing his fear. For the next twenty minutes, the group walked in relative silence, with only the crunch of leaves and the occasional distant bird call breaking the quiet. But nothing happened. No strange noises, no sudden attacks. Just an eerie stillness.
"This is taking forever," Tau mumbled under his breath.
Just as he began to relax, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead. Aisly immediately unsheathed her katana, her movements sharp and practiced. "Stay back," she ordered, stepping into a battle stance.
Tau's eyes widened as a thin, humanoid figure stepped out from the shadows. Its skin was a sickly brownish-purple, its arms and legs unnaturally long, and its massive single eye glowed faintly. It looked like something out of a nightmare.
"A Grade 4 Karorien," Aisly muttered.
Before Tau could respond, three more identical creatures emerged from the trees, surrounding the group. Their lanky forms moved with a jerky, unsettling rhythm, their glowing eyes fixed on their prey.
"Four of them," Averil said with a raised eyebrow. "Shouldn't be too much trouble."
Aisly took a step forward, her neck glowing as her necklace Jewel activated. She glanced back at Tau, her confidence unshaken. "Watch closely, rookie. This is how a Grade 2 Kai Worker handles things."
Two of the Karoriens lunged toward her, their movements almost too fast to track. But Aisly was faster. Her katana flashed in the sunlight as she sliced through both creatures with precise, fluid movements.
Tau watched in awe. It was as if Aisly already knew exactly what the Karoriens were going to do before they did it.
She turned to him, smirking. "Impressed? That's the power of Future Sight. With this ability, I can predict an enemy's movements within a ten-minute window."
Tau blinked, confused. "Ten minutes? How does that work?"
Aisly sighed and explained, "Let's say I activate my ability now. If a monster appears within the next ten minutes, I can read its movements up to ten seconds into the future. But if it shows up after ten minutes, I can't read it. However, if I'm still fighting the same monster after those ten minutes, I can read its movements every twenty seconds for another twenty-five minutes."
Tau scratched his head, trying to piece it all together. "So… basically, you're unbeatable as long as the monster shows up within ten minutes?"
"Not unbeatable," Aisly corrected. "Just better prepared."
As they spoke, the remaining two Karoriens, standing at a distance, raised their elongated arms. A pulse of energy surged through the air, and purple beams shot toward Aisly. She dodged the first volley with ease, her Future Sight guiding her movements. But the rapid, relentless attacks kept her from closing the distance.
"Damn it," she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice.
Cove and the others watched from the sidelines, letting her handle the situation. But even with her skill, the Karoriens' relentless barrage kept her at bay.
"Aisly!" Tau shouted. "What do you need me to do?"
She glanced back at him, her expression firm. "Your ability. Use it to close the distance between me and those two."
Tau's heart skipped a beat. This was his chance to prove himself. He nodded and focused, raising his hand toward the Karoriens.
Aisly planted her feet, preparing to strike. "Now, Tau!"
Tau concentrated, his ring glowing faintly. He visualized the space between Aisly and the Karoriens shrinking. In an instant, the distance collapsed. Aisly was suddenly inches away from her targets. With one swift motion, she swung her katana, slicing both creatures in half.
The Karoriens let out guttural cries before vanishing into thin air, their bodies dissolving like smoke.
Aisly turned to Tau, a rare smile on her face. "Not bad, rookie. You've got potential."
Tau grinned, his chest swelling with pride. "Thanks! I guess I'm getting the hang of this."
Cove chuckled. "So your ability is useful after all. I was starting to wonder."
Averil crossed his arms, a thoughtful look on his face. "Still, it's strange. Why would the higher-ups send us for just four Grade 4 Karoriens? They're barely a threat."
Cove's expression grew serious. "These guys are just lackeys. I've got a feeling there's more waiting for us deeper in the forest."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Tau tightened his grip on his ring, steeling himself for whatever lay ahead.