Chapter 275: The Hunt

The roar echoed through the passage long after the group had started walking. Arthur glanced back. Nothing followed them. At least, nothing they could see.

He looked down at the map again. The route Halburn had marked continued straight through the enormous region beneath the city.

Chief Beast territory.

Dozens of markings were scattered across it, some small, others large enough that Athena had circled them twice.

Sun leaned over his shoulder. "How many?"

Arthur counted. "A lot."

"That’s not a number."

"I stopped counting."

Sun stared at him. "Wonderful."

Mithra laughed. Luna looked at the map more carefully. "These markings aren’t random." She pointed toward several symbols. "Some are clustered together, while others have much larger areas around them."

"Territories," Athena nodded.

"So the stronger Chiefs have larger territories?" Arthur asked.

"Most likely."

Sun sighed. "Which means the farther we go, the worse this gets."

"Probably," Arthur said, folding the map.

Sun looked at him. "Why do you always say ’probably’ when the answer is obviously yes?"

"Because there’s still a chance you’ll be pleasantly surprised."

"I’m never pleasantly surprised around you."

They continued, and the passage eventually opened into an enormous cavern, unlike anything they’d encountered underground so far. It was practically an underground wilderness, huge stone pillars rising from the ground like mountains, supporting a ceiling hidden in darkness. Trees had somehow grown around pools of glowing water, their roots spreading across the stone. Large patches of grass covered the ground, streams flowed between enormous rocks, and everywhere there were tracks, deep footprints, claw marks, broken trees, crushed stone.

Athena looked around. "This entire area is an ecosystem."

"It must have existed down here for thousands of years," Luna said.

Arthur crouched beside one of the footprints, enormous, his entire palm smaller than one of the claws when he placed his hand beside it.

Kong grinned. "Grrr!"

"You want to fight whatever made that?" Arthur asked.

Kong nodded enthusiastically.

Sun groaned. "Why did you even ask?"

Arthur stood. "I had to make sure."

A thunderous sound rolled across the cavern.

BOOM.

The ground trembled, everyone turning as another roar answered from the opposite side, then another.

Arthur frowned. "Those aren’t the same Beast."

Athena looked toward the map. "No." She pointed toward three enormous markings. "There are three territories overlapping here."

"So they’re fighting?" Mithra asked, smiling.

Another roar answered, this one followed by a tremendous crash, trees collapsing in the distance.

"Looks like it," Arthur said, already looking toward the sound.

Sun’s expression immediately changed. "Wait."

Arthur started walking. Sun grabbed his shoulder. "Don’t."

"Why?"

"Because I know that look."

"What look?"

"The one where you’re about to walk directly toward something dangerous because you’re curious."

Arthur considered that. "...I’m curious."

"I knew it."

He gently removed Sun’s hand. "We should see what’s happening."

Sun stared at him. "You say that like it’s a reasonable thing."

Mithra laughed, and the group moved forward. They didn’t have to go far. The first Beast appeared between the trees, enormous, a massive tortoise with a shell that looked like a stone tomb, its back covered in jagged slabs of gray rock, thick moss growing between them, its four legs like stone pillars, each step crushing the ground beneath it. It raised its head, a pair of ancient-looking eyes glowing beneath its rocky brow.

Athena’s expression turned serious. "Chief Beast."

Arthur stepped forward. The Graveback Tortoise roared, and before it could attack, something struck its shell from above.

BOOM!

A massive blue bolt of lightning slammed into its back, and it staggered. Arthur looked upward. A gigantic bird-like Beast swooped between the cavern’s pillars, its body covered in dark feathers, lightning crackling around its talons, wings enormous. The Thunderclaw Raptor let out a shriek, and the tortoise immediately turned toward it.

Then another roar came from behind Arthur. Everyone turned. A large golden wolf stepped through the trees, its mane bright gold, sunlight-like energy radiating from its body despite being hundreds of meters underground. The Goldmane Direwolf bared its teeth.

Three Chiefs, all three staring at one another.

Arthur slowly smiled.

Mithra noticed. "You look excited."

"I am."

Sun groaned. "Of course."

The Goldmane Direwolf suddenly charged. The Thunderclaw Raptor dove. The Graveback Tortoise slammed its head into the ground. The entire cavern exploded into chaos.

"Everyone, move!" Arthur shouted.

The three Chiefs collided, the Raptor striking the wolf from above, the wolf twisting away as the lightning attack slammed into the ground, the tortoise charging both of them while the wolf leapt over its shell and it crashed into a tree instead, shattering it.

Arthur watched carefully. "They’re fighting over territory."

"And we’re standing in the middle of it," Athena said.

"Then let’s not stay in the middle."

The Goldmane Direwolf turned toward them, its golden eyes locking onto Arthur, and charged. He raised Dusk. Vedas stepped forward, but Arthur held up a hand. "Vedas, take the tortoise." Vedas nodded. "Mithra, keep the bird away from everyone."

"Got it," she smiled.

"Athy, watch from above." She immediately flew upward. "Eden, share your vision with everyone."

Eden nodded, golden light spreading from her body, and suddenly Arthur could see the battlefield from multiple perspectives at once, the raptor’s position, Mithra’s movements, Vedas’s position, the Goldmane Direwolf rushing toward him, Kong, Sun, Melo, everyone.

His eyes narrowed. It was different. Before, they’d often fought together by simply reacting to one another. Now he could actually coordinate them, without needing to shout every instruction, Eden’s shared vision letting everyone understand what the others were seeing.

He moved. The wolf lunged, and he sidestepped, its claws tearing through the stone, and he struck its flank. It spun around, and he activated his new Silver ability.

[Beast Manifestation — Golden Strength]

Golden armor spread across his arm, the physical characteristics of Vedas’s Beast strengthening his body.

His eyes widened. So that’s what it feels like.

The wolf attacked again, and he blocked with his transformed arm.

BOOM!

The impact pushed him several meters backward, but he didn’t lose his balance. He smiled. "That’s useful." It lunged again, and he caught its paw, his transformed arm straining, then threw it sideways, sending the Goldmane Direwolf crashing through several trees.

He stared at his arm. "Very useful."

Sun’s voice came from behind him. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

"Maybe."

Nearby, Vedas had engaged the Graveback Tortoise, jumping over a swing of its massive head and striking its front leg.

[Armor Piercing]

The attack cracked the stone-like hide, and the tortoise immediately pulled its head into its shell.

Vedas frowned. "That’s troublesome."

"Try the joints," Arthur called over.

Vedas nodded and attacked again.

Mithra was fighting the Thunderclaw Raptor, moving between lightning strikes, weaving through the air and landing attacks against its wings. It tried to climb higher, but Athy was already above it, her vision giving Mithra the exact moment it was going to change direction.

"Thanks!" she smiled, changing direction before the Raptor could, its wing passing directly beside her as she struck it. It shrieked.

Meanwhile Melo’s dream mist spread through the forest, the Goldmane Direwolf’s senses growing confused, and Eden’s vision showed Arthur exactly where it was. He turned. It attacked from behind, but he already knew, stepping aside as the claws missed, then striking its exposed side. It stumbled.

Kong charged.

[Nova Burst]

His fist slammed into its chest, throwing the Beast backward. Sun followed.

[Point Shockwave]

The ground exploded beneath it.

Arthur looked around. Vedas was still fighting the tortoise. Mithra was controlling the raptor. Athy was providing aerial information. Eden was connecting their vision. Melo was disrupting the enemy. Kong and Sun were controlling the battlefield. He suddenly realized something. They were moving almost perfectly, no wasted movement, no one accidentally getting in another person’s way, everyone understanding where the others were.

He smiled. "We’re not fighting like we used to."

Vedas looked toward him while blocking another strike from the tortoise. "No." He glanced toward the others, then back at Arthur. "We’re fighting together."

Arthur’s smile widened. "Yeah."

The Goldmane Direwolf roared. He turned. "Then let’s finish this."

The battle intensified. Mithra forced the Raptor lower, Athy guiding her toward its blind spots, Melo suppressing its senses, and Mithra landed one final strike against its wing. It lost control and crashed toward the ground. Sun’s staff slammed into the earth.

[Point Shockwave]

The impact launched it back upward, and Kong jumped, grabbing one of its legs. It shrieked. He swung it sideways, and Mithra appeared above it, her attack striking its chest. The Thunderclaw Raptor fell.

At the same time, Vedas finally found the opening in the Graveback Tortoise’s defenses, striking the joints beneath its shell.

[Armor Piercing]

The stone cracked, and it roared. He struck again. Then again. The Graveback Tortoise collapsed.

Only the Goldmane Direwolf remained. It growled. Arthur slowly stepped forward, its golden mane beginning to glow, its body growing faster.

His eyes narrowed. "Looks like it’s getting serious."

Sun looked at it. "So are we."

Arthur smiled. The Direwolf charged, and he charged as well, their attacks colliding.

BOOM!

His transformed arm blocked the Beast’s claws, the force pushing him backward, and he dug his feet into the ground. Then Vedas appeared behind it and struck its hind leg. It stumbled. Mithra flashed past its face, and it turned. Kong struck its side. Sun’s shockwave hit its feet. Melo’s dream mist returned. Athy attacked from above. Eden shared everything.

Arthur saw the opening. He moved.

[Guardian Strike]

Golden light exploded from his mark, the Guardian’s force striking the Goldmane Direwolf directly. It flew backward and crashed into the ground.

He landed. Silence returned. Three Chief Beasts lay defeated.

Arthur looked toward Vedas. The Goblin was glowing.

[Level Up!]

[Goblin King]

[Level 30 → Level 31]

Vedas grinned. "Thirty-one."

"Good," Arthur nodded.

Then he felt something bounce against his leg. He looked down. Star, the little slime glowing faintly. He crouched. "Your turn?"

Star bounced. A familiar light appeared.

[Level Up!]

[Starborn Slime]

[Level 10 → Level 11]

"Level eleven," he smiled, and Star bounced even harder.

Eden immediately floated closer, and her own body began glowing.

"You’re next," Arthur said.

The light around her intensified. For a moment he expected another increase. Instead the light disappeared. Eden stared at herself. Nothing had changed.

He blinked. "Eden?"

A small notification appeared.

[Level 30.]

[Current Species Level Limit Reached.]

Eden froze, her cheeks puffing out, looking down at herself, then at Arthur. "..."

He understood immediately. "You can’t level up anymore."

Her cheeks puffed even further as she crossed her arms.

Mithra covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "She’s upset."

"I’m not upset," Eden said, though her expression clearly said otherwise.

"You’re definitely upset," Sun said.

Her cheeks puffed harder.

Athena smiled. "She has reached the natural limit of her current species."

"That means I can’t get stronger?" Eden asked.

"Not until you evolve."

Her eyes widened, and she looked at Arthur. "When can I evolve?"

He crouched in front of her. "We’ll find your next path."

Her eyes brightened slightly. "You promise?"

"I promise."

She immediately hugged his head, and he laughed. "I guess that means you’re feeling better."

She nodded against him.

"You’ll evolve soon," Mithra smiled.

"We’ll help you," Vedas added.

Star bounced beside them, and Eden looked at it. It bounced again. She smiled.

Even Sun softened. "Don’t worry. You’ll get there."

She finally smiled. "Okay."

Arthur gently patted her head. "Until then, Level 30 isn’t bad."

She nodded, still looking slightly pouty, but not upset anymore.

Arthur stood and looked across the battlefield. Three Chief Beasts. Three victories. And unlike their earlier battles, they had barely needed to speak. Everyone had understood what to do.

He looked at Vedas, who nodded. He looked at the others, Mithra smiling, Sun leaning against his staff, Athena already examining the remains, Luna looking toward the enormous cavern beyond them.

He turned toward the path Halburn had marked. "We should keep moving."

Luna looked at the map. "There’s another territory ahead."

He smiled. "Then let’s hunt."

Sun sighed. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

Arthur started walking, and this time, everyone followed without hesitation.

Behind them, the three defeated Chiefs remained scattered across the cavern. Ahead waited dozens more.

And somewhere beyond them, the Earth Mirror.