The forest was unnervingly quiet as Team 510 moved cautiously through the dense underbrush. Towering trees stretched toward the heavens, their silver bark glowing faintly in the dim light. Autumn leaves crunched softly beneath their boots, and a cool breeze carried the faint scent of damp earth and decaying foliage. The scene was almost serene, but the tension among the group was palpable.
Kael's golden eyes scanned their surroundings, his longsword drawn and ready. He walked near the center of their loose formation, a natural position for a swordsman who could pivot between offense and defense. Freya was slightly ahead, quietly preparing rune papers, her nimble fingers moving with practiced precision. Higan lingered at the edges of their group, his black-clad form blending into the shadows like a wraith. At the forefront, Varric strode confidently, his arrogance as tangible as his wind magic swirling faintly around him. Lily, trembling slightly, stayed close to Kael, clutching her artifact like a lifeline.
The uneasy silence of the forest shattered without warning.
A blur of motion burst from the foliage, fangs gleaming in the dappled light. The first Haste Wolf lunged at Varric, who narrowly dodged the attack, his wind magic propelling him backward.
"We're under attack!" Varric shouted, though it was obvious to everyone.
Three more wolves emerged from the shadows, their glowing green eyes fixed on their prey. The pack moved with unnerving coordination, their speed making them difficult to track.
Kael reacted instinctively, stepping in front of Lily as one of the wolves lunged at her. His sword clashed against its claws with a metallic screech, the impact reverberating up his arm.
"Regroup! Don't get separated!" Kael barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.
The group hesitated, scattered by the sudden assault. Freya slapped a rune onto a nearby tree, and an explosion of light briefly blinded the wolves, forcing them back.
Freya took charge, her voice calm yet commanding. "Higan, flank them! Kael, cover me while I set more traps! Varric, don't rush like an idiot."
Kael nodded, stepping into position as Freya began placing rune papers on trees and rocks. Her traps activated almost instantly, sending sharp tendrils of energy and bursts of fire at the wolves.
Higan vanished into the shadows, his movements silent and precise. One of the wolves yelped as he appeared behind it, his dagger slashing across its hind legs.
Varric unleashed a flurry of wind blades, their sharp arcs tearing through the air. One wolf was struck in the side, tumbling into a tree with a sickening crunch. His attacks were aimed properly, and some even came close to hitting his other teammates
Kael held the line, intercepting wolves that strayed too close to Freya or Lily. His swordsmanship was precise, each swing calculated to maintain their defensive position.
The wolves began to falter, their numbers dwindling under the coordinated assault.
A low, guttural growl froze the team in their tracks. Emerging from the shadows was the Alpha Wolf, its size nearly double that of its packmates. Its fur shimmered with an unnatural energy, and its glowing green eyes seemed to pierce through their souls.
Without warning, the Alpha threw its head back and let out a deafening howl. The sound disoriented the team, causing Kael's vision to swim and his ears to ring. Around him, his teammates staggered, their formation breaking apart.
Freya was the first to recover. "That howl... It's no ordinary F-rank wolf. This thing is at the peak, almost E-rank!"
The Alpha charged with terrifying speed, aiming for Varric. The mage barely avoided its snapping jaws, a burst of wind magic propelling him out of harm's way.
"I'll take it down myself!" Varric shouted, his arrogance unshaken.
"You idiot! We need to work together!" Freya snapped in frustration, her hands slapping a rune onto the ground. Glowing spikes erupted in a line, forcing the wolf to change direction.
Kael and Higan moved in tandem, flanking the beast. Higan struck first, his daggers slicing into the wolf's hind legs and slowing it slightly. Kael followed up with a swing of his sword, aiming for its side, but the wolf twisted mid-air, and his blade barely grazed its fur.
Varric launched a massive wind slash, the arc slicing into the wolf's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the ground, but the beast barely faltered. With a roar, it retaliated, swiping at Varric with its claws and sending him crashing into a tree.
Kael seized the opening, rushing in to deliver a powerful overhead slash. His blade bit into the wolf's flank, drawing another pained howl.
Freya saw her chance and slapped a slowing rune onto the wolf's chest. The glowing mark pulsed, and the beast's movements became sluggish. "Now! Finish it!" she yelled.
Varric, bloodied but still standing, launched a concentrated burst of wind magic, striking the wolf's head with enough force to daze it. Kael followed up with a precise thrust, his blade piercing the beast's heart.
The Alpha let out a final whimper before collapsing, its massive body hitting the forest floor with a thud.
For a moment, the clearing was silent except for the ragged breaths of the team. Blood dripped from small cuts and gashes, but they were alive. Lily emerged from her hiding spot, her hands trembling as she began healing the team. Warm light emanated from her palms, closing wounds and easing pain.
Freya offered a small smile, and even Higan nodded in quiet approval. But the mood didn't last.
"See? I told you I'd handle it! You're lucky to have me," Varric boasted, his grin as insufferable as ever.
Kael shook his head, sighing as he sheathed his sword. "Let's just focus on surviving the next..." He pulled out his artifact and glanced at the timer. "...38 hours."
As the team moved deeper into the forest, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that their biggest challenges were yet to come.
***
In the cozy yet sophisticated ambiance of the teachers' lounge, Blaire and Canary sat side by side, their eyes fixed on the screen displaying the performance of Team 510 in real-time. The room was quiet, save for the occasional clink of glasses and the murmur of other faculty members in the background.
A waiter approached their table and gracefully served a drink to Canary. Blaire glanced at her companion, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she leaned slightly closer.
"Aren't you too young to be drinking?" she teased, her tone playful but with a hint of mischief. It was clearly a jab at Canary's petite stature, a feature that often caused people to underestimate her.
Without missing a beat, Canary turned to her, her voice dangerously soft. "Do you wish to die?"
Blaire chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Ha, ha, ha... Relax, Canary. I was just joking. So, what do you think about him?" He gestured toward the screen, shifting the topic to Kael, trying to deescalate the situation.
Canary sipped her drink, her gaze unwavering as she observed the team's performance. "Mediocre at best," she replied bluntly, her tone devoid of emotion. "If there's anyone worth my attention, it's that girl called Lily."
Blaire raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Hmm, why her? She seems like a regular healer to me."
Canary turned her head slightly, fixing Blaire with a piercing stare. "Do you even understand how healing magic works?"
Blaire hesitated, briefly wracking his brain for the details before replying with exaggerated confidence. "Of course, you know I'm not a director for no reason."
Canary smirked, unimpressed. "Well, let me enlighten you anyway. Healing magic is divided into three primary methods: Recovery, Repair, and Restoration."
Blaire nodded, recalling the classifications.
Recovery: This advanced form of physical enhancement boosts a person's natural regeneration, allowing them to heal at an accelerated rate. It's commonly used for minor injuries and is the foundation of most healing techniques.
Repair: A highly precise and controlled method that involves repositioning, adjusting, or reconnecting tissues and organs. Once the adjustments are made, Recovery is applied to finalize the healing. This method is essential for treating severe injuries like fractures, dislocations, or severed limbs.
Restoration: The most difficult form, this is high-level bio-creation magic that involves creating body parts from scratch using creation magic. Few healers ever master this technique due to its complexity and resource demands.
"Alright, I remember all that," Blaire interrupted, his tone defensive.
"Good. But what you might not know," Canary continued, her voice calm yet firm, "is that there are unconventional methods of healing, some of which are unique to certain races. Among these is a technique common to elves, where they share their life force to heal others."
"Oh? Is that child a half-elf?" Blaire interjected, his curiosity piqued.
"No," Canary replied sharply. "Now, let me finish."
Blaire raised his hands in mock surrender again. "Carry on."
"During my travels, I encountered an elf who mastered this life-sharing technique. I studied it for months and eventually replicated it using the Tier 5 Light Concept of Addition. And that girl, Lily, is doing the same thing. She's using a high-level concept without any formal education or even reaching the Awakened Plane. That is true talent."
Blaire's eyes widened in astonishment. "If she's really using a Tier 5 Concept at her age, then she's a bona fide genius."
"Exactly," Canary said, her gaze returning to the screen. Her voice carried a note of determination. "How do I accept students?"
Blaire grinned, sensing an opportunity. "If you're taking Lily, you should also consider Kael. He has potential too."
Canary frowned, but after a moment's thought, she sighed. "Fine. But Lily is my priority."
Together, they searched for the student IDs of both Kael and Lily. Once they located the necessary information, Blaire flagged down a waiter, handing him the request forms.
"Qualify both of them under my name," Canary instructed the waiter, her tone leaving no room for argument.
As the waiter left to process their request, Blaire leaned back with a satisfied grin. "You might've just found your next prodigy."
Canary didn't respond, her focus already back on the screen where Kael continued to fight. Though the performance was far from perfect, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was destined for greatness.
---
Striker - 1/1000
Guard - 0/1000
Ranger - 0/500
Mage - 0/500
Support - 3/2000
Striker-1672/2688480/00371 has been qualified with 149 points by Canary
Healer-1672/2688480/00019 has been to qualified with 41 points by Canary
---
Team 510, having tended to their wounds after the brutal battle, prepared to move on, their steps cautious yet driven by the need to make the most of their limited time.
Suddenly, Miara's voice echoed in Kael's mind, her tone calm but with an edge of intrigue.
[Unidentified energy source has been located in the corpse of the Alpha Wolf.]
The notification piqued Kael's interest. He turned back toward the massive corpse of the slain wolf, its fur still glistening with blood under the fading sunlight. Without a word, he approached the body, his sword in hand. His teammates watched him, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity.
What's he doing now?" Varric muttered, leaning on his sword.
Ignoring the stares, Kael knelt by the wolf's side and plunged his blade into its flesh, cutting deeper into the beast. The sickening sound of metal slicing through muscle and bone made Freya wince, and Lily averted her gaze.
After a few moments of searching, Kael paused. There, nestled within the wolf's chest cavity, was a faintly glowing yellow crystal, no larger than a child's fist. Carefully, he pulled it free, blood dripping from its jagged edges.
The moment the crystal was revealed, the tense atmosphere shifted. Freya and Higan exchanged surprised glances, while Varric's eyes widened, a greedy glint flashing across them.
"Hey, hand that over," Varric demanded, stepping forward. "As the team leader, I'll hold on to the crystals."
Kael slowly rose to his feet, the crystal still in his hand. For a moment, he simply stared at Varric. But something had changed. His golden eyes seemed to glow faintly, and an unearthly presence radiated from him. The aura was so intense that the others froze, unsure of how to react.
Kael's voice, steady and calm, held a strange weight as he spoke.
"Greed, the serpent among the seven, A sin so quiet yet insidious in its hold.
It lures man with promises of abundance, Yet leaves him chained to an endless void.
Of all their flaws, this I despise most- Not the hunger for more, But the way they kneel so willingly to its call, Blind to the ruin it sows in their hearts and in their world."
Varric's face twisted into an annoyed scowl. "Stop spouting nonsense and hand over the crystal. Or do you want to fight?" he challenged, his voice hardening.
Kael's intense gaze lingered for a moment longer before he shook his head and then tossed the bloody crystal shards toward Varric without a word. The fragments landed at Varric's feet with a soft thud, and the self-proclaimed leader smirked, clearly satisfied.
"Good call," Varric said, his tone smug. "At least you know your place."
Kael didn't respond. He turned away, his focus already elsewhere. He didn't need to fight over a single crystal when Miara could lead him to countless more. Let Varric gloat-it didn't matter.
***
The day continued in a similar pattern. They trekked through the dense forest, encountering and battling various monsters. Each fight left them more exhausted, but they pressed on, driven by the knowledge that their survival- and success-depended on their efforts.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, the team decided to stop for the night. Unfortunately, none of them had thought to bring proper camping gear, so they had to improvise.
Freya took charge of dinner, using meat from a cervid-like monster they'd killed earlier and wild herbs she'd foraged. The resulting soup wasn't anything remarkable, but it was warm and filling, enough to stave off their hunger.
The group sat around the crackling campfire, the orange glow casting flickering shadows across their faces. The air was filled with the sound of crackling wood, the distant rustle of leaves, and the occasional howls of unseen creatures in the distance.
Kael stared into the flames, lost in thought, while Freya and Lily chatted softly. Higan remained quiet, as always, his attention seemingly fixed on the surrounding darkness. Varric, on the other hand, leaned back, boasting about his exploits earlier in the day.
Suddenly, Miara's voice rang out again, this time laced with urgency.
[Warning: 1 potential dangerous individual has been detected nearby.]
Kael's head snapped up, his senses immediately on high alert. Before he could warn the others, a bright flash of light erupted across the camp, followed by a guttural grunt that shook the air.
The team barely had time to react as the overwhelming presence bore down on them.
And then-darkness