The next morning came too soon. Orin awoke to the sound of rustling leaves and distant murmurs, the remnants of the night's conversation fading into the soft hum of the forest. He lay there for a moment, staring up at the faint light filtering through the canopy, feeling the cool morning air settle over him. The familiar weight of expectation pressed against his chest, but it wasn't unwelcome. It was a reminder.
*I'm almost there,* Orin thought, replaying Vince's words from the night before. *Just keep working hard.*
He dragged himself up from his bedroll, wincing slightly as his muscles protested. Yesterday's sparring session had left him sore, but there was a strange comfort in the ache. It meant he was pushing himself, getting stronger. *Getting closer.*
He caught the scent of breakfast—smoky meat and herbs—wafting over from the campfire. It mingled with the fresh morning air, and for a moment, Orin felt the calmness that had been so elusive the night before. The soft crackle of the fire, the gentle chatter of his companions, the sense of normalcy—it was all temporary, but it was enough.
Orin wandered over to the campfire, where Sonny was already up and tending to the meal. Vice and Vince were sitting nearby, casually sharpening their weapons. Lisa was off to the side, staring into the distance with her usual calm demeanor, her hand absentmindedly playing with the hilt of her knife.
"Morning, Orin," Sonny greeted, his voice deep and warm. "You sleep alright?"
Orin nodded, rubbing his eyes. "Better than expected."
"Good," Sonny replied, handing him a small portion of grilled meat. "Eat up. We've got a long day ahead."
Orin took the food gratefully and sat down beside Vince, who was still wearing that infuriatingly smug grin from the night before.
"You still riding high on that graze?" Vince asked, though his tone was teasing rather than condescending.
Orin shrugged, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A win's a win."
Vince chuckled. "We'll see if you can keep up that attitude when we're out there today."
The mention of today's mission sent a ripple of anticipation through Orin's body. They had received word of a beast—a Vrexus, a 5-star Monari-class creature that was far more dangerous than any they'd encountered before. The reports suggested it had been lurking near the outskirts of **Drillsoran City**, causing problems for a few nearby villages. The Vrexus was known for its terrifying speed and near-impenetrable hide, a beast that could decimate entire hunting squads if they weren't prepared.
It was supposed to be a 4-star mission, but the rumors about this Monari gave everyone pause. They had hunted many before, but this one was special.
For Orin, it wasn't routine. It was another opportunity—a chance to show that he was ready, that he could be more than just the kid tagging along with the mercenaries. *Today's the day,* he told himself.
"You ready for this, Orin?" Vice asked, glancing over with his sharp, predatory eyes. "This isn't just sparring. The Vrexus out there won't be pulling its punches."
Orin met Vice's gaze with a steady look. "I'm ready."
Vice studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good."
"Let's not overhype this, huh?" Vince cut in, still lounging near the fire. "It's just a Monari. We've taken down worse."
"Maybe," Sonny said, his tone measured as he glanced around the camp. "But it's still a Vrexus. And we don't get cocky with Vrexus."
Orin appreciated Sonny's grounding influence. Sonny had been around the longest, and his wisdom was often subtle but always present. He had taught Orin about more than just fighting—he had taught him about survival, about thinking two steps ahead, about being prepared for the unexpected.
The journey to the hunting grounds took most of the day. The forest gave way to rougher terrain as they neared the edges of the wilderness surrounding Drillsoran City. The trees grew denser, their trunks twisted and dark, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wild things. The further they ventured, the quieter it became, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.
Orin had been on plenty of hunts before, but this one felt different. There was a strange tension in the air, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. He kept his eyes sharp, scanning the surroundings, his hand resting on the hilt of the blade at his side. Every rustle of leaves, every flicker of movement, felt magnified, as if the forest was watching them, waiting.
"You feel that?" Vince asked, falling into step beside Orin. His voice was low, almost a whisper.
Orin nodded. "Yeah. Something's off."
Vince glanced ahead, where Sonny and Lisa were leading the way. "It's probably nothing. Just nerves."
"Maybe," Orin said, though he didn't quite believe it. There was something else—something bigger—lurking just beyond their senses.
The group pressed on, moving deeper into the forest. They had been walking for hours when Sonny raised his hand, signaling them to stop. Everyone froze, their senses sharpening as they listened.
At first, there was only silence. Then, a faint sound reached Orin's ears—a low, guttural growl that seemed to reverberate through the trees.
"It's here," Sonny whispered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. "That's the Vrexus."
Orin's heart began to race. He had read about the Vrexus before—a fearsome beast, standing nearly nine feet tall, its body covered in dark, jagged scales that gleamed in the dim light. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, and its claws were long, hooked weapons capable of tearing through armor.
The Vrexus was an apex predator, known to terrorize entire villages, feeding off the fear it inspired. Worse, its scales were said to be nearly impenetrable, reflecting most attacks. The few mercenaries who had survived an encounter with one spoke of its terrifying speed, its ability to vanish into the shadows before striking with lethal force.
Orin's stomach twisted. *A 5-star beast.* They were in for a fight.
"Hold your ground," Sonny ordered, his voice steady, though Orin could hear the edge of tension in it. "We can't let it reach the villages."
The Vrexus's eyes flicked toward them, its lips pulling back into a snarl. In an instant, it lunged forward, its massive body crashing through the trees with terrifying speed.
The battle erupted in a blur of movement and sound. Sonny was the first to engage, his blade flashing as he met the Vrexus's charge head-on. Lisa was right behind him, her whip slicing through the air with precision as she danced around the beast's massive frame, trying to find an opening.
Vince and Vice moved as one, their synchronized attacks targeting the Vrexus's flanks. Vince's beast trait activated, his body shifting into something more animal than human as he attacked with ferocity. Vice's stone serpent traits allowed him to slip around the Vrexus's movements, striking with deadly precision.
Orin watched from the sidelines, his heart pounding in his chest. His instincts screamed at him to jump in, to help, but Sonny's words echoed in his mind. *Be ready.*
The Vrexus roared, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying force. Sonny deflected the blow, but the impact sent him skidding back several feet. Lisa's whip wrapped around the beast's leg, but the Vrexus yanked free with a violent shake, nearly throwing her off her feet.
Orin's grip tightened on his blade as he watched, frustration building with every passing second. *I need to do something.* His body tensed, ready to spring into action.
But before he could move, the Vrexus's attention shifted.
Its glowing eyes locked onto Lisa, who was recovering from her last attack. The beast let out a bone-rattling roar and charged.
"Lisa!" Orin shouted, his feet moving before he could stop himself. In an instant, he was running toward her, his blade drawn, every instinct in his body screaming at him to protect her.
But he was too slow.
The Vrexus's massive claws raked across Lisa's side, sending her crashing into the ground with a cry of pain. Blood splattered across the forest floor, and Orin's vision blurred with red.
"No!" Orin screamed, his voice raw with desperation. He didn't think—he just moved.
The world seemed to slow as he lunged at the Vrexus, his blade aimed for its throat. But something was different this time. Something deep inside him stirred, something dark and primal.