The large pack of Night Stalkers moved across the forest like a living storm. Their footsteps were quiet as drifting leaves, yet their glowing red eyes sometimes left faint, ghostly streaks in the dark.

Their speed rivaled that of a cheetah, only much larger, fiercer, and far stealthier.

At the front was the massive Alpha, its hulking silhouette slicing through the fog like a shadow of death.

It followed the strange, familiar scent of burning Night Stalker flesh that led toward a lone figure standing near the riverbank.

Grrr.

From the cover of trees, the pack crouched low, their growls rumbling like distant thunder. The crimson eyes of a dozen hunters locked onto the human's calm figure, curiosity flickering within their predatory instincts.

They did not attack yet. Not without the permission of their leader- the Alpha.

Their noses twitched as the scent grew stronger, leading them to a small glowing object at the man's feet—a purple orb, pulsing faintly, made of unknown materials yet with an extremely familiar smell.

To their senses, the orb smelled like one of their kin—a young Night Stalker's flesh and blood. The longer they inhaled that scent, the more their instincts howled in rage. It was an insult, a provocation, a mockery of their dead!

Grrrroar!

One of the pack's elders turned to the Alpha with an impatient snarl, eager for the order to strike.

But the Alpha didn't respond. Its piercing, intelligent eyes focused on the man standing by the water.

The human didn't flinch. His calm, almost amused expression made the Alpha hesitate. As if he had been waiting for them, and it's instincts are telling him to be careful.

It saw not a prey, but a challenger.

Grn.

With a low growl, the Alpha gave a subtle command to test him. One elder beast stepped forward excitedly, its black fur bristling, preparing to attack under it's stealth skill.

Behind that lone human, the river flowed wild and deep, stretching nearly twenty meters across.

The water was cold and fast, glimmering silver under the moonlight. That river was no accident—Herbon, or rather Auren, had chosen this spot for a reason.

Across the river, hidden in the foliage, the rest of the Blue Bound squad lay in wait.

"They're moving," Blas whispered from his perch high in a tree, a hundred meters away from Auren.

His eyes glowed faintly blue as he used his Observation Skill.

"The pack's coming toward Herbon! Damn, there's more of them than we thought."

The more he focused, the more his pulse quickened. He wasn't just seeing a group of beasts—he was seeing death itself.

"There's at least twenty of them," Blas muttered, his voice cracking slightly.

"They've surrounded him from all directions… and the Alpha's hiding somewhere in there."

Sweat trickled down his temple and then he turned to their leader.

"Are you sure we should leave him alone? I mean, look at that! There's no way he can take them all down like he did with the ogres!"

"Calm down," Alyssa said quietly, never taking her eyes off Auren's silhouette.

Her expression was calm but unreadable.

"We agreed on the plan and you have seen his secret weapons. As long as we follow it, he'll be fine. Remember—our job is to focus on the Alpha. Once it's down, the rest will break no matter their number."

Blas looked unconvinced, but Alyssa's tone carried certainty.

She believed in Auren.

For reasons she couldn't quite explain, she felt he was in control. He wouldn't stand there waiting to die. Not him.

Herbon—Auren—was always calculating, always one step ahead.

"Please be careful… Herbon," Essel murmured softly from behind the tree. She clutched her staff tightly, her eyes full of worry. Surrounding their positions are her scent repelling ward to prevent their smell being caught by the beasts.

"I hope he don't get too reckless."

Back on the riverbank, Auren noticed subtle ripples in the air, faint disturbances among the shadows. He knew the Night Stalkers were closing in.

He could feel their killing intent. The bloodlust was thick enough to taste.

The purple pill at his feet hissed faintly, releasing more of the synthetic scent. It was working perfectly.

"Come to papa, puss cats," Auren muttered under his breath, smirking.

He shifted slightly, scanning both sides.

With the golden glint of his Tiger Eyes, he spotted at least five hidden stalkers lurking near his escape path. Every exit was guarded.

Which left only one option—straight through the river.

It was a risky gamble.

The river was twenty meters wide and freezing cold, with currents strong enough to sweep a horse away. And if he dove in too early, he'd be skewered by the beasts' ranged attacks before he even surfaced.

He took a slow breath, feeling the weight of the sword at his side.

'Patience. Wait for them to make the first move. Let the trap spring itself.'

Grrrrr.

The Night Stalker sent by the Alpha lunged from the shadows. With a snarl, it swung its paw, releasing three crescent blades made of compressed wind mana.

SLASSSH!

The arcs cut through the air with a shriek, slicing rocks and leaves in half as they raced toward Auren.

"Here comes level one," Auren whispered, stepping lightly to the side.

The wind blades sliced through the space he'd just vacated, exploding against the river behind him. Water erupted skyward in a violent burst.

Groar!

Using the splash as cover, the beast charged. Its claws gleamed with mana, its fangs bared wide as it pounced for Auren's throat.

"Perfect," Auren muttered.

His figure blurred.

Alyssa's eyes widened. "Did he just—?"

In the blink of an eye, Auren's sword flashed. A sharp thrust pierced the Night Stalker's chest clean through, the steel tip bursting out its back. With his sword Aura making it sharper than normal, it went through the beast's body as if it was made of paper.

By the time its body hit the ground, Auren had already pulled the blade free. Blood sprayed across the rocky ground, the crimson glimmer catching the moonlight.

Grrrghkkk…

The beast staggered, trying to comprehend what had happened, but its heart had already been pierced. It fell without another sound.

"W-what happened?" Essel asked, peering from behind the trees. "Is Herbon alright?"

She couldn't see through the foliage, but Blas and Alyssa's silence told her everything.

Alyssa blinked hard.

'A level twenty-five herbalist had just taken down a Night Stalker—an apex predator—with a single precise strike.'

That wasn't luck. That was skill.

That was mastery.

"I… I'm sorry," Alyssa murmured, trying to steady her breathing. She gave a faint smile. "Looks like herbon got this under control."

GROOOAR!

Two more Night Stalkers burst from the treeline, their roars shaking the air. Their fury burned bright as they saw the corpse of their kin lying at Auren's feet.

They didn't hesitate.

Mana flared around their claws as they launched twin Claw Strikes, the air screaming with force. But Auren was already moving.

He stepped between the attacks, the blades slicing harmlessly past his cloak.

"Too slow," he muttered.

Their mana was spent. They wouldn't be able to cast again for at least thirty seconds. Which meant they'd have to fight him the old-fashioned way—with tooth and claw.

Unfortunately for them, that was exactly what Auren wanted.

The first beast lunged from the left. Auren met it head-on. He ducked beneath its swing, slid across the dirt, and sliced upward through its belly. The blade tore through flesh and bone, spilling the beast's entrails onto the soil.

The creature howled in agony.

Auren didn't hesitate. He quickly regainsed his position, stepped forward at terrifying speed and severed its neck with a clean, decisive strike.

The second beast roared in rage and swung its massive paw from behind.

But Auren was faster.

"Next," he said calmly, leaping backward while tossing his sword in a perfect throw.

The blade shot through the air like lightning, piercing the Night Stalker's open mouth and bursting out the back of its skull.

The creature dropped instantly, twitching once before going still.

"I-impossible!" Blas stammered, gripping the tree trunk to steady himself.

"He… he killed two more just like that! Is he even a herbalist? Or is his Divine Frame messing with our heads?"

Alyssa didn't answer. Her eyes were wide, her expression a mix of awe and unease.

Essel covered her mouth, trembling. For the first time, she realized just how terrifying Auren could be when he wasn't holding back.

Then, from the depths of the forest, a deep, resonant howl broke through the silence.

AWOOOOOO!

Every bird fled from the trees. The ground seemed to vibrate.

The Alpha had called.

The rest of the pack answered.

AWOOOOOOOOO!

From the darkness, shadows poured forth—dozens of glowing red eyes moving in perfect formation. The air thickened with bloodlust, the forest echoing with the chorus of snarls and pounding paws.

The Alpha emerged last, towering above the others, its mane streaked with silver, its body rippling with muscle. Its fangs gleamed under the pale moonlight as it stepped into view, eyes blazing with hatred.

It had seen enough.

Three of its pack were dead.

The insult would not go unanswered.

GROOOAR!

The roar shook the trees. The sound was both a challenge and a death sentence.

The Alpha's command was clear—no more testing. No more patience.

This time, they would go all out.

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