*GRRR….!*
The Mauler let out one final, guttural roar before its massive frame gave way. Its legs collapsed, and it crashed heavily to the forest floor, shaking the ground beneath them. The orb embedded in its chest shattered into countless fragments, each flickering briefly before fading into nothingness.
For a moment, all was still. Smoke curled into the damp forest air, the acrid scent of burnt foliage lingering as silence reclaimed the battlefield.
"We did it!"
Jerry hollered, breaking the tension with a triumphant laugh.
Caleb, panting from the effort of casting back-to-back spells, leaned heavily on his wand but managed a weary grin. "That... was tough" he breathed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"One down. Only who-knows-how-many more monsters left to go."
Jerry slapped Caleb on the back, nearly knocking him over. "Come on, don't ruin the moment! We just wrecked that huge thing!"
The two laughed breathlessly, riding the high of victory.
Mia, however, wasn't celebrating. She stood a few paces away, her posture stiff and strained. Sweat glistened on her brow, and her hands trembled faintly as she lowered her bow.
The aftereffects of channeling so much power into those final shots had taken their toll. Her usually sharp eyes were dulled by exhaustion, though she tried to mask it.
Leo, groaning softly, forced himself up from the ground. His body protested every movement, muscles still twitching from the electrical surge he'd taken earlier. His breathing was ragged, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through the pain.
"You okay?" Caleb called over, concern flickering across his face.
Leo waved him off weakly. "Still in one piece," he managed, though his voice was hoarse. "Barely."
Mia stumbled slightly, and Leo's eyes immediately flicked toward her. "Mia?" he called, his tone sharp despite his weakened state.
"I'm fine" she insisted, though her voice wavered. Her attempt to straighten up only highlighted how drained she was.
Jerry jogged over, his grin fading as he took in her condition. "You sure? You look like you're about to keel over."
Mia shot him a glare, but the effect was weakened by how pale she looked. "Just... need a second."
From her belt pouch, she pulled out a small vial filled with shimmering blue liquid
The healing potion Leo had insisted they carry after their last dangerous encounter. Without hesitation, she uncorked it and downed the contents in one swift gulp.
The effects were immediate. Color returned to her face, and the tremor in her hands subsided. She let out a slow breath, shoulders relaxing as the potion worked its magic.
"Better?" Leo asked as he limped toward her, each step measured and deliberate.
"Yeah," Mia admitted reluctantly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "Still tired, but... better."
Leo nodded, his gaze steady despite the pain etched across his features.
He took a moment to assess the scene, Jerry and Caleb still catching their breath, Mia recovering from the strain of her enhanced attacks, and the Mauler lying lifeless on the ground.
"You guys were amazing," Leo said, his voice low but filled with genuine admiration.
Jerry grinned, puffing out his chest. "Damn right. Did you see that punch? Knocked that beast halfway to new dimensions"
Caleb rolled his eyes but smirked. "Sure, Jerry. Let's ignore the fact that it almost fried you afterward."
"You're good at lying"
Jerry shrugged, unbothered.
Leo turned to Mia, his expression softening. "But you, Mia... those last shots? That was something else. Took guts and a whole lot of strength."
"I just did what needed to be done"
Mia blinked, clearly caught off guard by the praise. She shifted awkwardly, her usual composure faltering.
"You carried us through that fight. Without you, that thing would still be up, frying us all like breakfast." Said, Leo.
Mia's lips quirked into a faint smile despite herself. "Um…thanks for the compliments"
"You earned it"
Their brief moment of peace was shattered by a sudden, gut-wrenching scream. The sound pierced through the forest, raw and desperate
Human roar fueled by pure terror.
Leo's heart kicked into overdrive. His body, still battered and twitching from the last fight, protested violently, but instinct overrode pain. Without thinking twice, he surged forward, legs pumping despite the strain.
"Leo, wait!" Caleb shouted, but Leo barely heard him.
Mia exchanged a glance with Jerry and Caleb before nodding sharply. "Follow!" she urged, already sprinting after Leo.
The group raced through the forest, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over tangled roots.
The faint metallic tang of blood wafted through the trees as they drew closer to the source of the scream.
Leo's breathing was ragged, each step a battle against his own battered body. 'Not fast enough!' he cursed silently, pushing harder. His instincts screamed that whoever had made that sound was in serious trouble.
When they finally burst through a dense wall of foliage, the scene that greeted them made Leo's stomach drop.
The clearing was littered with bodies
Iron Claw guild members sprawled across the ground, groaning in pain or lying deathly still. Blood smeared the forest floor, dark and glistening under the faint light filtering through the trees. Weapons lay scattered, some shattered, others still clutched in trembling hands.
Jerry skidded to a halt, his usual bravado replaced by wide-eyed shock. "Holy crap…"
Caleb's face went pale as he surveyed the carnage. "This... this is bad."
Mia's bow was already in her hand, her eyes darting around the clearing, searching for threats. "Who the hell did this?" she whispered, her voice tight.
Leo scanned the scene, forcing himself to stay focused despite the rising nausea.
Many of the guild members were still alive, but barely
Gashes tore through armor, and burns marked several bodies. The air crackled faintly, remnants of some kind of intense energy lingering in the atmosphere.
Zane, the self-proclaimed leader of the Iron Claw guild, lay propped against a tree, blood trickling from a deep cut on his forehead. His breathing was shallow, his face twisted in pain.
"Tell me, what happened?"
Leo knelt beside him, ignoring the sharp protest of his wounds.
Zane's eyes fluttered open, unfocused and glassy. He coughed violently, spitting blood onto the ground. "Th-that… came out of nowhere," he rasped, voice barely audible. "We didn't stand a chance..."
"Who?" Leo pressed, his voice steady despite the dread coiling in his gut. "What did this?"
Zane's lips trembled as he tried to form words. "Monster… not like the Maulers… faster… smarter…" His head lolled to the side, consciousness slipping away.
Leo swore under his breath. He pressed his fingers to Zane's neck, relieved to find a faint but steady pulse.
Jerry crouched nearby, his expression grim. "These guys got demolished," he muttered. "And we thought the Maulers were bad."
Caleb knelt beside another injured guild member, casting a weak healing spell. The faint glow of magic did little to mend the deep wounds. "We need to stabilize them," he said, his voice tight with urgency. "They're not gonna last long like this."
Mia's gaze swept the treeline, every muscle in her body tense. "Whatever did this might still be nearby," she warned. "We can't let our guard down."
"Jerry, Caleb get to work on the wounded. Mia, stay sharp. If you see anything, don't wait to take the shot."
Jerry and Caleb moved fast, doing their best to patch up the injured guild members with limited resources.
Leo forced himself to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain that radiated through his body since his healing ability got cooldown from the last recovery.
'What kind of monsters are we dealing with here?'