"It's too late…" Seth mumbled in despair, his breath unsteady as his enhanced sight pierced the darkness.
The shadows moved.
Dozens of heat signatures, shifting hunched forms- Dire rats.
His fears were confirmed in an instant.
With a rustle of leaves and the snapping of twigs, one of the creatures burst forth from the underbrush.
Its beady, soulless eyes locked onto the closest target- Seth.
And without a moment's hesitation, it lunged.
The impact sent Seth staggering backward, and eventually the weight of the Dire rat toppled him. Its rancid breath filled his nostrils, a mixture of decay and raw meat. Beady, soulless eyes gleamed with primal hunger as its maw gaped open, saliva dripping onto his face, thick and putrid.
Then-
SHUNK!
A spear whistled through the air, slicing through the tense air before embedding itself deep into the creature's neck. The force of the strike pinned the beast mid-motion, its body twitching as the life drained from its eyes.
This time, it wasn't drool that spilled from its gaping jaws.
A mouthful of warm, dark blood poured out, splattering across Seth's face.
Jacob stood frozen in his throwing stance, his wide eyes locked on the direction the spear had come from.
"I… I did it," he mumbled in disbelief.
The young noble had acted purely on instinct, hurling the spear without thinking. By some stroke of luck, it had struck the beast in the neck, ultimately saving Seth.
Jacob's hands trembled as he slowly lowered them, his mind still catching up to what had just happened. His breathing was uneven, his heart pounding so loudly it drowned out all other sounds.
"I-I did it…" he mumbled again, almost as if he couldn't believe his own actions.
Seth wiped the warm blood from his face with a shaky hand, spitting out whatever had gotten into his mouth. His purple eyes flickered toward Jacob, filled with something between shock and reluctant appreciation.
"Thank you," Seth muttered, still slightly dazed. But there was no time to dwell on it. The rustling in the shadows grew louder. The first Dire rat was dead, but the others… they were still coming.
Casper instantly took charge, yanking the spear from the beast's carcass before tossing it back to Jacob. Then, without hesitation, he reached down and helped Seth to his feet.
Unsheathing his sword, he spoke in a grim tone. "Get ready to fight. More of them are coming…"
As if to confirm his words, three more creatures emerged into the clearing, their eyes gleaming with hunger. Unlike before, the group had learned from their mistake, keeping their distance from the clearing's edge. Now, as the beasts rushed in, they were forced to close the gap before reaching their prey.
Seizing the opportunity, Seth quickly fired multiple bolts from his crossbow at the advancing Dire Rats. Some missed their mark, but the few that struck either startled the beasts or slowed their approach.
Wasting no time, Casper sprinted forward, launching himself into the fray.
"[Blackthorn Basic Technique: Inception Slashes!]"
His sword carved through the air with skill and precision, leaving deep, bloody gashes on his target. Not far behind, Jacob and Emily each engaged a Dire Rat of their own, refusing to fall behind. All the while, Seth continued providing support from the rear, picking off any openings he could find.
The battle had been grueling, but somehow, the group had managed to slay the beasts. However, victory hadn't come without cost. Casper bore several bruises from the Dire Rats' relentless attacks, while Jacob had fared worse- his arm marred by a bloody gash from a clawed strike. Emily, tending to Jacob's wound with a strip of cloth, had suffered injuries similar to Casper's, though hers were more numerous.
Seth was the only one left unscathed, a result of his position in the rear. Yet, despite his relief, a nagging guilt lingered. He had no time to dwell on it, though-his sharp eyes caught movement just a second before another pack of Dire Rats charged toward them.
Seeing the pack of eight, the group's spirits sank. With their injuries slowing them down, the odds were not in their favor.
"T-This isn't normal…" Seth muttered, his voice laced with both fear and disbelief.
The bestiary he had studied detailed the behavioral patterns of Dire Rats. While these creatures thrived in large colonies due to their high reproduction rate, they typically moved in small packs- ranging from a minimum of two to a maximum of six. But counting the four they had already slain, this new group brought the total to twelve, contradicting everything he had read.
Then there was the sword intent array behind them. Designed as a deterrent, it was meant to keep the beasts of Thornspire's deeper reaches at bay while preventing those in the outer areas from escaping during the trials. Yet, the Dire Rats ignored its presence entirely, pressing forward in overwhelming numbers.
'Which could only mean one thing… Something, something is driving them here,' Seth mused. It was unlikely the creatures had tracked them, not in these numbers. Something else was at play.
The Dire Rats squeaked and screeched as they crept forward, their movements cautious upon noticing the corpses of their fallen kin. For a brief moment, hesitation filled the air. But then, as if responding to an unheard command, the entire pack froze. Their ears twitched in unison, fur bristling as they turned their attention away from the group- toward something behind them.
Seth, blessed with exceptional vision that could pierce through the darkness, saw it first. His breath hitched, his purple pupils dilated, his expression twisted- a chaotic mix of fear, shock, and despair.
His companions held their breath, waiting for the horror he had seen to reveal itself.
(Author's Note: Words enclosed in '[ ]' are in the Arcane Tongue. The only exceptions are sword arts, martial and battle techniques, which will be distinguished separately.)