Chapter 309: Something In The Bushes.

Chapter 309: 309: Something In The Bushes.

Ally closed her eyes, running her fingers over the soil as she tried to see if she could sense anything.

At that moment, her pheromones spread throughout the area, blending into the surrounding atmosphere as she attempted to pick up any lingering energy connected to what had happened there.

And then, she sensed something.

A powerful presence was nearby, and as she focused on it, her expression gradually changed.

Lord Vale and the others watched her closely, growing curious about what she had discovered.

"What is it? Did you sense anything?"

"What did you find?"

Ally couldn’t respond while she concentrated on her task. However, just as she was about to speak, a wild beast suddenly sprang out of the bushes!

Everything happened so quickly. They had all been focused on Ally and whatever she was trying to sense when, in the next instant, a wild boar monster came flying through the air and lunged straight at her.

Its claws were extended, ready to tear her apart!

But before it could land, Lord Vale swiftly drew his sword and swung it through the air. The blade struck the boar monster, sending it flying sideways.

He didn’t want its blood splattering all over Ally, so he first knocked the beast away from her. Then, without hesitation, he followed up with another attack, slashing through it and killing it mercilessly.

Ally was left in shock. She couldn’t quite comprehend what had just happened, and by the time she managed to stand up and turn around, the wild monster was already lying dead on the ground.

"Don’t look," Lord Vale said as he kicked the carcass aside, sending it straight into the bushes to get it out of sight.

Ally blinked in surprise. "Whoa! That’s the energy I sensed earlier, but I wasn’t completely sure..."

Lord Vale sighed and sheathed his sword before approaching the scene again. "Then I guess your skills are improving."

The group carefully surveyed their surroundings once more, making sure there were no other threats lurking nearby.

"It’s a wild boar monster... and it’s emitting the same energy as the previous wild monsters," Lord Vale observed.

"What energy?" one of the beastmen asked curiously.

Lord Vale hesitated before answering. "Wild monsters infused with S-rank energy..." He glanced around the area, his expression growing serious. "It seems the Dark Circle is infusing even monsters that aren’t originally S-rank with S-rank energy."

He paused before adding, "This is practically becoming a pandemic at this point."

One of the warrior beastmen sighed. "Either they’re gathering enough monsters to build an army, or they’re randomly experimenting on different species to see which ones work best."

"Or both," another added. "They might be closer than we think, or they could be working on something much bigger than we imagined."

The beastmen continued speculating while Lord Vale stood there, studying the scene thoughtfully.

"I guess the wild boars were a failure because they weren’t as strong as they were supposed to be... They’re probably discarded experiments."

One of the beastmen sighed. "I wonder what other experiments they have..."

While they were occupied with their discussion, Ally turned around. Her pheromones were still sweeping through the surrounding atmosphere, and she had just picked up something else.

She closed her eyes briefly before slowly opening them again. There was another presence nearby. It didn’t feel particularly dangerous, but there was something unusual about the energy. It felt weak and vulnerable.

This immediately piqued her curiosity.

Ally turned and began walking toward a nearby cluster of bushes, following the faint energy she had sensed.

"What are you doing?" Lord Vale asked, noticing her movements. "Where are you going? That’s dangerous!"

Ally paused and turned toward him. "I’m sensing some energy around here. It doesn’t feel like a wild monster or anything dangerous, but there’s definitely something here. I want to see what it is..." she explained, pointing toward the bushes.

Lord Vale and the other beastmen fell silent, turning their attention toward the spot she had indicated. For a moment, none of them spoke. Then Lord Vale stepped closer to her.

"Are you sure about what you’re sensing?" he asked.

Ally nodded firmly.

"Then stay close behind me. I’ll check it out myself," he instructed.

Ally obediently moved behind him, following closely as Lord Vale and the other beastmen approached the bushes to investigate the presence she had detected.

Lord Vale gripped his sword firmly as he advanced. But just as they drew closer, the bushes began to rustle.

They moved again, then a second time, and even a third.

Everyone immediately stopped.

"Oh, there’s definitely something hiding in there..." one of the beastmen remarked, and the others nodded in agreement.

Lord Vale maintained a firm expression, raising his sword and preparing to attack in case anything dangerous emerged. He then cautiously approached the bushes.

The moment he reached them, he pushed the leaves aside with one hand, keeping his sword raised and ready to strike.

"Please... don’t kill me..."

A weak, trembling voice suddenly emerged from within.

"....."

Everyone froze, staring down at the figure lying in the concealed bushes.

There was no wild monster, nor was it a warrior lying in wait to ambush them. Instead, they found a young boy curled up on the ground, badly injured.

He was a rabbit beastman, judging by his long, white rabbit ears. His frame was lean, and his complexion was deathly pale, making him look as though he had been sick and exhausted for days.

The numerous injuries covering his body made it obvious that he had been attacked by the wild monsters, yet somehow, he had managed to survive.

"What’s..." Lord Vale stared down at the frail-looking boy, his expression filled with confusion and surprise.

The young beastman appeared to be around Ally’s age, yet he looked as though he were on the verge of death. He coughed up blood, his body trembling weakly beneath the weight of his injuries.

"Please... don’t kill me..." he pleaded again, struggling to lift his head and look at them.

His face was so pale that he seemed unlikely to survive much longer.

And on his forehead was a strange blue tribal mark.

"Who is that?" one of the beastmen asked, peering down at him. "Is he still alive, or...?"

But Ally wasn’t concerned with those details at that moment. All she could see was an injured patient on the verge of death, someone who desperately needed help.