But in as much as they were all fast in their own right, chasing after a mutant beast that had decided to flee for its life was an incredibly difficult task.
After several minutes of pursuit, they all had to give up the chase, exhausted and unable to keep up with its speed and desperation.
At least, most of them did.
—Woosh
Guilliman's shadow flashed in the air as he leapt atop one of the many hills, using the incline as momentum to push himself further. His figure darted through the terrain like a phantom, determined not to let the Tortie escape.
Despite being at level 2, Guilliman was the fastest person in the group. Chasing the beast was hard, but not impossible for someone with his level of speed and determination.
"Shit, he's still going after it," Jemie cursed from where he stood, his voice filled with exasperation. Guilliman's tendency to overdo things was becoming a source of constant frustration. He always pushed himself to the limits, frequently putting himself in harm's way without much consideration for the risks.
—Woosh
Jemie's complaint didn't stop Guilliman. The young slayer had already vanished from sight, his figure disappearing into the dense forest ahead. However, Jemie's words weren't entirely in vain. His shout managed to alert Victoria, who immediately sprang into action, her instincts kicking in.
Without hesitation, Victoria gave chase, determined to catch up with him. She had promised Guilliman a kill, but that didn't mean she would allow him to handle this alone. That wasn't who she was, and she wouldn't let him face danger unaided.
Just one more strike. One more, and it'll be dead, Guilliman thought as he narrowed his focus, keeping his eyes locked on the Tortie's movements. They had weakened the creature significantly, and he was sure that all it needed was one decisive blow to finish it off.
Unfortunately, the situation was becoming increasingly precarious. Guilliman could already see from his position that they were nearing the edge of the Wild Zone, which was opposite the Tortie communal zone. Venturing into the Wild Zone was dangerous at the best of times, but especially now, with a roaming beast they had barely escaped from earlier still somewhere nearby.
I can't be reckless this time, he thought to himself, his jaw tightening as he gritted his teeth. Guilliman leapt onto a tree branch and launched himself high into the air, his body soaring upward in an arc. For a brief moment, he dangled there, suspended, before plummeting toward the ground with incredible speed.
"Manifest Skill: Gale Slash."
Guilliman muttered the words under his breath, summoning a gust of concentrated wind around his blade. The air around him seemed to hum with energy as he prepared his attack.
When he had killed the sacred Dire Wolf, he had received an Echo. However, in order to complete his shaman ritual, he had been forced to forgo that Echo.
Later, he discovered something remarkable. The skill attached to the Echo was actually the innate ability of the wind Dire Wolf itself. As its master, Guilliman retained the ability to use the skill whenever he wanted.
Gathering the wind into a sharp edge, Guilliman aimed at the gaping wound on the back of the Tortie's neck. He slashed downward with all his might, hoping to sever it completely. But he didn't stop there.
"Ahhh!" he roared, cutting down once more, his own blade following closely behind the Gale Slash in rapid succession.
—Ding!
[Jade Back Tortie Slain]
+296 Blue Gene Points
Updating stats…
Name: Guilliman Naldir
Rank: Level 2
Gene: 412/500
Class: Soul King
Affinity: Wind, Ice, Arcane
Agility: 35 | Power: 38 | Stamina: 42
Hearing the notification, Guilliman let out a long sigh and collapsed onto his back atop the giant Tortie. Despite his efforts, the kill hadn't been enough to push him to level 3. That realization left him feeling a pang of disappointment.
However, the next notification brought a wave of excitement.
[Echo Found: Tortie Shroud (Mutant ~ Knight)]
[Description: The Tortie is a beast with a powerful shell, protecting it from predators and prey alike. But be careful—green attracts greed.]
[Effects: Greed Positive, Resistance Against Evil]
[Greed Positive: The shroud attracts monsters more powerful than the user.]
[Resistance Against Evil: With every mortal strike, the shroud's defenses double.]
A holographic explanation appeared before him, detailing the Echo and its abilities.
Feeling a surge of excitement, Guilliman sat up and summoned his newly acquired Echo. Green energy enveloped him like a radiant light, slowly materializing into a dark green piece of armor.
The armor wasn't particularly ornate or elegant—in fact, it was rather crude in its appearance—but it emanated a pulsating energy that brought a grin to Guilliman's face.
Meanwhile, a young woman emerged from the treeline, her eyes widening in disbelief as she caught sight of the massive corpse.
Guilliman had not only slain the Tortie on his own, but he had also managed to acquire an Echo. The odds of achieving such a feat were incredibly slim.
Victoria had been in this area for over a month, successfully hunting a dozen mutant beasts during that time. Yet, despite her efforts, she had only received two Echoes in total.
Guilliman was incredibly lucky.
"Are you good?" Victoria called out from the ground, drawing Guilliman's attention. She had come to assist him, but it seemed like her help hadn't been necessary after all.
"Huh?" Guilliman turned toward her, blinking in surprise before nodding sheepishly. He scratched the back of his head, feeling a little embarrassed. He hadn't expected anyone to follow him this far, but here she was.
"Sigh…" Victoria let out a deep breath and glanced around. They were already outside the communal zone, which made her shake her head in frustration. This kid was reckless, there was no denying it.
Still, as long as they hadn't attracted any trouble, she could tolerate it. Climbing atop the dead Tortie, Victoria sat next to Guilliman and spoke.
"Would you like to be part of my cohort?"
It was an unexpected question. Guilliman was already part of her team—or so he thought. They had been hunting together for weeks, after all.
Unbeknownst to him, the significance of her question was much greater than it seemed. Even Barthold, who had known her for far longer, had never been asked to join her cohort officially.
"Uh, yes?" Guilliman replied hesitantly, not giving much thought to the question. Victoria had always been a bit awkward, so he assumed she was just trying to make conversation.
"Hmm, good," she said with a small smile, her gaze drifting toward the horizon, where Barthold and the others were rapidly approaching.
They were coming to join them.
However, as she observed their body language, something about the way they were moving seemed strange—almost frantic.
Before she could fully process her thoughts, a massive hand suddenly grabbed her, lifting her into the air.
Gasping in shock, she twisted around to see the monster looming behind her.
The creature was five times the size of the giant Tortie, its dark eyes fixated on them with a chilling intensity.
"That's…" Her voice trembled as her eyes widened in horror.
It was the same beast they had fled from earlier. The one a team of high-level Slayers had supposedly been sent to eliminate.
But it was still alive.
And now, it was hunting them.