The moment Kelvin raised his fist, all three of them froze in place.
Hope's muscles tensed, fingers tightening instinctively around the hilt of his double daggers.
Walker, ever the reckless one, shifted slightly, his cutlass-like Memory resting lazily against his shoulder as his eyes darted around in search of movement.
Kelvin, however, didn't immediately speak. Instead, he slowly lowered himself into a crouch, his gaze fixed ahead.
Hope and Walker followed his lead, squatting low, their bodies blending into the rocky terrain as much as possible.
Then Kelvin pointed.
"See that cave?"
Hope's gaze followed his outstretched finger.
The cave opening was large, wide enough for multiple creatures to pass through at once. The entrance was jagged, with twisted, blackened roots protruding from the top, like claws clutching the edges of the stone. A faint, sickly glow pulsed from within, casting an eerie light onto the surrounding rocks.
Even from this distance, Hope could hear the low, guttural sounds emanating from inside.
"That's their fortress," Kelvin added in a low voice.
Hope's grip on his daggers tightened further.
That was where the corrupted fiends gathered—the horde that protected the Sacred Beast Centaur.
They had come all this way for this moment.
Kelvin turned his head slightly, his eyes scanning both Hope and Walker.
"You guys remember the plan, right?" he asked.
Walker gave a silent nod, his usual reckless grin replaced by something more serious. Hope nodded as well, but his mind was already racing.
The plan was simple in theory.
1. Hope and Kelvin would make themselves visible, drawing the attention of the corrupted fiends inside.
2. They would bait the fiends into chasing them, leading them straight into Walker's trap.
3. Walker, positioned at a higher vantage point, would be in charge of infusing essence into the soul cores, turning them into explosives powerful enough to wipe out a large portion of the horde.
4. If everything went well, they would weaken the Sacred Beast's defenses before engaging it directly.
But on paper, things were always easier.
In reality?
They had to outrun creatures that were faster than them. Creatures that could tear through flesh with a single swipe.
Hope exhaled slowly, his breath barely audible.
"What choice do I have anyway?" he muttered under his breath.
There was no turning back now.
Kelvin glanced at him, as if sensing his hesitation, but instead of commenting, he simply gestured forward.
"Get ready."