Capítulo 133: Chapter 131: The Predator's Shadow
Chapter 131: The Predator's Shadow
Many venture to the Lithic Bastion with different goals in mind—treasure, challenges against unique mana-beasts, or harvesting rare resources. But the group Haku now tracked had a different purpose for braving the Shattered Crags.
"You're too jumpy, kid. Loosen up and enjoy yourself," the man quipped, his tone playful. With his short-cropped brown hair sticking out from beneath his helm, the man grinned widely as he leaned on his polished spear. The lightning motifs etched along its shaft glowed lightly, matching the patterns on his battered yet well-maintained shield. "Look at Sir Garran. He's so serious that even his shits are scheduled. From what I can tell, the man hasn't bed a woman in years."
"Keep your damn voice down, idiot," Garran growled, his piercing blue eyes narrowing. Tall and broad-shouldered, the Water Knight radiated strength and stability, his meticulously maintained armor bore engraved water motifs, along with the edges of his well-polished shield. "At least I don't crawl into some disease-ridden hovel to satisfy myself. Unlike you, I can face the day without regret."
"Disease-ridden?! How dare you insult the fair ladies who grace me with their affections!" The lightning knight exclaimed, mock outrage in his voice. His gestures were exaggerated as he slapped his shield for emphasis, earning a few groans from the group. "It's not my fault that every time my coin pouch is full, a brothel just happens to be nearby. What about you, young master Tallow?" He turned to the youngest member of the group, his grin spreading mischievously. "Has your little dagger gotten wet yet?"
"You are by far one of the most disgusting men I have ever met, Konnor Braggin," Tallow spat, his flushed face growing redder with frustration. The roundness of his cheeks, coupled with his perpetually youthful features, gave him the appearance of a teenager—an unfortunate fact for a man in his late-twenties. Tugging at the hem of his rune-adorned robes, which were slightly smudged, he added, "Hiring you for an escort is one of the only mistakes my master has ever made." He turned sharply and bowed his head toward the older man behind them. "I apologize for speaking out of turn."
Tallow's master, walking at a leisurely pace behind the group, offered no immediate response. His sturdy, slightly heavyset frame carried a quiet authority, reminiscent of the earth he commanded. Though his practical robes bore faint traces of shifting runes, his appearance was otherwise unadorned. Graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard framed his weathered face, but it was his piercing bronze eyes that hinted at the intelligence and power beneath his calm exterior. Despite the outburst, he maintained his silence, his expression remaining unreadable.
"Seems he disagrees," Braggin laughed, his rugged face splitting into a mischievous grin. "Admit it, kid. You secretly like me, don't you? That's why you're so uptight around me. You hate me because you can't have me."
Before Tallow could fire back, a low chuckle came from behind them. The sound was quiet, almost unnoticed, but it sent a ripple of surprise through the group. All three turned to see Tallow's master clearing his throat, his sharp bronze eyes scanning the surroundings as though nothing had happened.
Seeing his master laugh at his expense, Tallow's aura raged. His round cheeks puffed out as veins bulged at his temples. "That's enough!"
While the verbal exchange grew increasingly heated, high above them, Haku darted across a narrow gap. His senses stayed glued to the humans, his flames barely flickering in his ghost-form. 'Idiots,' he thought, his lip curling slightly. 'They act like nothing can touch them with that Adept around.'
His form moved like a shadow, each step completely silent. Even the dust under his paws remained undisturbed. Positioning himself ahead of the group, he crouched low on a rocky outcrop, his ears swiveling to catch their voices. 'I shouldn't even be wasting time with them,' he thought, forcing himself to focus on his trial.
But his body betrayed him. His blood pulsed faster than it should, his breath quickened, and his jaws itched with the urge to sink into something. 'But I really want to kill them,' he admitted, his claws digging into the stone.
The images came unbidden, memories clawing their way into his mind. Ramman's camp—being beaten and bound. The raw, haunted look on Darius's face as he recounted what happened to Amara and Jarek. And then the werefolk children—their hollow eyes, their terror, and the scars that ran far deeper than their flesh. Rage surged through him, nearly propelling him down into the fray. His teeth bared for just a moment before he clamped down on his fury, swallowing it like poison.
Just as suddenly, another image rose unbidden: Marcus. The knight who gave everything for Darius. His boy, Percy, dying with honor, his sacrifice ensuring they all could live. Then Crelos, his acts of kindness towards the children flashing through his mind.
He shook himself, exhaling sharply. 'Not yet,' he resolved, forcing his trembling legs to still. 'I'll watch for a bit longer.'
"Quiet!"
The sharp command snapped his attention downward. The group below had gone from bickering to alert, their formation shifting as tension rippled through their ranks. The two knights now stood at the ready, their movements deliberate. Both positioned themselves in front of the younger Tallow, who was spinning in place, his head twisting frantically as he searched for the source of danger.
Behind them, the Adept stood motionless, his yellow aura faint but constant. He simply observed the situation with an air of practiced calm. The Shield Knight, Garran, was the first to step forward, his broad shield raised and ready in one hand, his dangling morning-star in the other. His steady movements exuded confidence, his experience was obvious even from Haku's vantage point.
Braggin followed close behind, his spear resting lightly on Garran's shoulder. His tone was unusually serious as he muttered, "Stay behind me and watch our flank."
Tallow gave a shaky nod, his hands trembling slightly as he gripped his fists and summoned his staff, its body forming from the ground itself. Turning his back to the knights, he scanned the area with exaggerated motions, his every movement betraying his inexperience.
As he followed them, Haku's sharp ears caught snippets of their earlier conversations, piecing together their purpose in the Bastion. The Adept had hired the knights to protect and guide his apprentice while providing real-world training. The young mage's constant fidgeting and wide-eyed reactions made it painfully clear he had yet to face real danger.
The ground beneath Haku trembled suddenly, a distant hissing roar echoed through the Crags. Dust and loose stones tumbled from the jagged peaks, the sound unmistakable. 'Burrowfang Terra Wyrm,' Haku thought, his fur bristling with anticipation. His glowing blue eyes narrowed as he crouched lower. 'Let's see how they do.'
The earth trembled beneath them as the second stage Burrowfang Terra Wyrm emerged from its burrow, its jagged scales coated in dirt and rusted streaks of iron ore. The massive beast hissed, its snake-headed tail snapping toward the group.
Although it was much smaller than the one he'd faced, it still towered at an impressive length of eight meters, its body as thick as two meters at some parts.
Sir Garran stepped forward first, his broad shield rising in one smooth motion. "Form up," he said, his voice calm but commanding. His blue aura enveloped him, solidifying into his heavy, manaforged armor that overlaid his own. Flowing water motifs radiated across the gauntlets, sabatons, and vambraces, the mana pulsing like a living current.
Beside him, Sir Braggin grinned, spinning his spear with practiced ease. His sharp, purple aura surged around him, forming sleek, manaforged armor crackling with lightning mana. The gauntlets, vambraces, and sabatons glowed with sharp edges, their jagged design mirroring the violent energy coursing through them. "Well, isn't this a lovely surprise? Big guy's got a snake tail and everything. I'm gonna call it Slithers. What'd you think, Garran?"
"think you should save your jokes for after the fight," he replied, his piercing blue eyes locked on the wyrm as it advanced.
Behind them, Orlen Tallow fidgeted with his staff, his round cheeks flushed. "If you two are quite done, perhaps we can focus on not dying?"
The wyrm roared, the sound shaking the crags as it lunged forward. Its claws gouged deep, scattering debris as it closed the distance.
"Brace!" Garran shouted, stepping into the wyrm's path. The impact of its massive head against his shield rang out like thunder, but he held firm, water swirled around the edges of his shield to increase it's size.
"Got your back!" Braggin darted in from the side, his spear a blur as it struck the wyrm's neck. Lightning crackled along the weapon, searing the beast's scales and forcing it back a step.
"Tallow!" Garran barked.
Tallow's hands moved with practiced precision. A surge of mana flowed from his aura, and jagged earthen spikes erupted beneath the wyrm, forcing it to rear back with a hiss.
Braggin grinned, lightning flickering along his spear as he pressed the attack. "Nice one, kid! Let's see if Slithers can dance."
The wyrm hissed, its tail whipping around with deadly speed. Garran intercepted it with his shield, the impact barely moving him. "Tallow, keep it pinned! Use smaller spikes to limit its movement."
Tallow nodded, his staff glowing faintly as he cast another spell. Thin pillars of stone shot up around the wyrm, corralling it. "Done! But it won't hold if it starts burrowing!"
"Then don't give it the chance." Garran's voice was steady as he advanced, his morning star glowing. With a precise swing, he slammed it into the wyrm's shoulder, water crashing against the scales like a tidal wave. The beast roared in frustration, its movements sluggish under the combined assault.
Braggin capitalized on the opening, his spear striking like a bolt of lightning. "Don't wanna dance, Slithers?" he joked, sidestepping a half-hearted swipe from the beast.
Tallow rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "Does he ever shut up?"
Braggin grinned over his shoulder. "Not when I'm having this much fun. Keep those spells comin, kid."
The wyrm roared again, its claws raking against the stone as it activated its Tectonic Tremor ability. The ground shook violently, cracks spidering out in all directions.
"Hold!" Garran shouted, planting his shield firmly as the tremors rolled through the terrain. He turned his head slightly toward Tallow. "Trap it! Now!"
Tallow didn't hesitate. With a sharp gesture, the ground beneath the wyrm shifted, forming a pit lined with jagged spikes. The beast's bulk dropped and slammed into the trap, its struggles growing weaker as the jagged stone dug into its flesh.
Braggin darted in for the finishing blow, his spear glowing with lightning. "Time to end our dance, Slithers. Nothing personal!"
"Wait!"
Tallow's voice rang out, stopping him mid-thrust. "I want to see how its scales react under stress. Just give me a moment!"
Braggin flinched, lowering his spear slightly. "Little... make it quick!" Still keeping it pointed at the struggling beast, he grumbled to himself, "interrupted my moment, who does that?!"
Tallow rolled his eyes and crouched slightly, they then narrowed as he examined the beast. A quick gesture sent another spike of stone driving into its side, pinning its tail. "Interesting. Its scales shift to distribute damage, but this limits it's movement… That explains why it hasn't broken free yet."
"Fascinating," Braggin said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Can I kill it now?"
"Go ahead," Tallow replied, standing back with a satisfied nod.
Braggin didn't need to be told twice. With a quick burst of speed, he drove his spear into the wyrm's head, the crackling lightning shattering its skull. The beast let out one final, pitiful hiss before falling still.
Tallow exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Well, that was… educational."
"Glad you're learning something," Braggin said, clapping him on the back. "You're welcome, by the way."
Garran rolled his eyes but offered Tallow a nod of approval. "Good work. But remember, I won't always be able to tell you what to do next. You need to stay adaptable."
Tallow nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Understood."
Above them, seated in the shadows, Haku watched the fight with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. 'They're strong… but careless. If they'd taken this seriously, the beast would've been dead in seconds.'
Standing to leave, he sighed and shook his head. 'This was a waste.' Irritation gnawed at him as he began his descent away from the group. 'I should skip using my phantoms for a bit to make up time.'
Leaping onto a large boulder, he glanced back down the ravine toward the group. Snorting softly, he turned to jump again, only to freeze mid-motion. A chill ran down his spine as the voice of the lightning knight carried to his ears.
"…how long? I want to be back in time to watch the last Valdene die. No amount of crystal would be worth missing that."
Haku's fur bristled as another voice joined the conversation, deeper and saturated with a power that made his claws dig involuntarily into the stone. "Don't worry. I myself intend to go. We'll spend only a few more months here before leaving for Rancito Cordoba."
The rest of their words faded, drowned out by the roaring of blood in Haku's ears. His heart thundered in his chest, and a dark, twisted grin stretched across his face. Turning slowly to face the group, his eyes glared at them as his flames trembled.
Up ahead, the Adept's face twitched, his stoic expression momentarily breaking. Slowly, he turned his head, his sharp yellow eyes scanning the space behind him. After a moment, he turned back to the trio, a fleeting smile curving his lips.
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