Chapter 765: Finding The Way

The Evolver team led by Moon followed the Mountain Stalker down the mountain.

Moon had taken control of one of the beasts through Curse, using it to guide them toward the source of the packs. And as the Stalker led them along hidden trails through the treacherous terrain, Moon couldn’t help but feel an appreciation for the class he’d copied.

Layla’s class. The Witch of Charm. If she hadn’t crossed paths with me, I wonder how far she’d have gone on her own path. A class that takes over the minds of beasts and humans alike, it’s one of the most valuable abilities I’ve ever come across. The scouting alone has saved me a lot of trouble.

The Curse had become one of his most relied-upon tools, and moments like this, quietly steering a beast to reveal its own kind’s secrets, reminded him just how powerful it truly was.

Ten minutes of following the controlled Stalker led them to a den.

They entered cautiously, and were immediately greeted by more than twenty Mountain Stalkers, a dense cluster of the beasts packed into the sheltered hollow, heads snapping toward the intruders with long fangs and dripping saliva.

"Everyone, into formation," Moon ordered, and the team moved into position without hesitation. He nodded toward Mirage and Honeybun, directing them to the front line alongside Garrett.

But he kept a careful eye on Honeybun. Five-Star beasts were pathetically weak to a Surpasser-tier turtle, and a single serious attack would obliterate them. So he passed a instruction through their connection.

Tone down your attacks. Just tank the hits and let Mirage and the others take most of the kills. Throw in a strike here and there, but don’t overdo it. We’re keeping your real strength hidden.

Honeybun obeyed without complaint, settling into a more defensive role. He planted himself at the front and simply absorbed damage, the Mountain Stalkers’ claws and fangs skittering harmlessly off its golden shell, while Honeybun threw out occasional strikes to pick off one or two beasts.

Within five minutes, the twenty-plus Mountain Stalkers lay dead across the den floor, their blood seeping into the soil.

"Was that it?" Priya asked, lowering her staff and looking around. "Is that the end of it?"

Moon stayed silent for a moment, studying the den. This couldn’t have been the objective. It was just a larger gathering of the same beast, a bigger pack in a bigger shelter. Nothing about it marked it as the heart of the gate.

"No," he said finally. "This isn’t it, this is just one den among many." He gestured around the hollow.

"It seems the Mountain Stalkers have complete control over this entire mountain range. They’ve established multiple dens across it, spread throughout the peaks and ravines. This is one of them, and there are others we probably haven’t found yet."

Staring at his team, he said, "So we have two options. Either we clear every single den across the entire mountain, which could take days given how slow this terrain is to traverse, or we find the main one. The central den, where the alpha or whatever rules this whole population resides. Clear that, and the rest likely collapses with it."

He glanced at the controlled Stalker still lingering at the den’s edge under his Curse.

"And I have a way to find the center. These beasts don’t know where their heart is, but that’s because they’re not part of it, just an outer den, disconnected from whatever rules this mountain. So we keep following the trail, keep pushing, until we find one that does have the answers we need."

Priya’s frustration eased at having a follow-up plan, and the rest of the team gathered around.

"The main den," Garrett grunted, hefting his greatsword onto his shoulder. "Sounds a lot better than clearing this whole mountain one hollow at a time."

With their next goal in sight, the team left the den and continued their descent.

For the next four hours, they were repeatedly attacked by groups of Mountain Stalkers, pack after pack emerging from the treacherous terrain. Each time, after the fight, Moon kept the last beast alive and cursed it, interrogating its instincts for information about the central den.

Unfortunately, none of the beasts they encountered belonged to the den they were searching for. Each was an outer pack, disconnected from the core, unable to point them toward the heart of the mountain. But the team didn’t let it discourage them. They understood by now that this wouldn’t be quick or easy. Clearing a B-Rank gate took time, patience, and persistence, and as long as they had a goal to work toward, they were content to keep going forward.

After clearing the pack in yet another den, the group decided to take a well-earned break.

They set up a small camp, Garrett dragging over several logs to serve as seats, Moon conjuring a modest campfire. The team settled in, sharing a hot meal together. The food a welcome respite after hours of relentless fighting and travelling across punishing terrain.

The atmosphere had shifted over those hours. The initial tension and reservation the newcomers had carried at the gate’s entrance was gone, replaced by camaraderie.

"You’re a really good leader, you know," Priya said, watching Moon as he ate. "I’ll be honest, I had my doubts at the start. The way the Surpasser told us to just follow you without question rubbed me the wrong way. But I sort of get it now, any other leader would’ve been just as frustrated as the rest of us were early on, when this gate felt pointless and vague.

But you stayed composed the whole time, patient even. And because you were calm, we stayed calm too. You knew how to keep us steady when the frustration started building. That’s not a common trait. Most leaders feed off their team’s mood instead of managing it."

Moon gulped down the mouthful of food and smiled softly.

"And you’re good teammates, it works both ways." He gestured to them with his fork. "You followed the plan, adapted, and trusted the process even when it was frustrating. A calm leader means nothing without a team that can hold itself together, and you’ve all done exactly that."

The three newcomers exchanged glances.

Priya grinned, "And you also have your way with words."

Theo, listening from his spot by the fire, hid a small smile. He’d seen this before, in the Rivergate expedition. By the time this gate was cleared, these three would trust Moon completely, the same way he and the others had come to.