章節 33: Let Loose
The team wasn't finished with their hunt yet. While Essei had met her kill target, Laura, Eric, and Miara still had creatures to slay.
Miara had ten left to reach her goal, and Eric and Laura were far from done. Despite their exhaustion, Laura rallied them to continue, determined to see everyone meet their targets before returning to base.
It didn't take long for Laura to locate another group of over thirty creatures scattered in a rubble-strewn square. The creatures were varied, some hulking and brutish, others smaller but unnervingly quick.
Their guttural growls echoed through the desolate area as Laura and her team prepared to engage.
"Same strategy as before," Laura commanded, her voice steady. "Essei, take the high ground. Eric, you're vanguard. Miara, you know the drill—I'll keep sending them your way. Let's finish this."
Essei nodded, quickly finding a crumbled wall to climb for a better vantage point. Eric stepped forward, his dagger glinting in the dim light, while Miara readied her blade, her hands trembling slightly but her resolve firm.
The battle began in an instant. Eric charged forward, his Fireball ability lighting up the battlefield as he created space for Laura to direct creatures toward Miara.
Essei fired arrow after arrow from her perch, her aim steady and precise, picking off creatures that strayed too close to Eric or Laura.
Miara, still adjusting to her newfound combat confidence, took each creature one at a time. Laura made sure to engage any beast that threatened to overwhelm her, redirecting them with swift, calculated strikes. Slowly but surely, Miara's kill count climbed.
As the battle raged, Miara reached her target first, her blade sinking into the neck of her final creature. She stepped back, panting heavily, a mixture of exhaustion and pride etched on her face.
Laura gave her a nod of approval before turning to finish her own quota. Eric, with his usual speed and precision, quickly closed the gap on his own target number.
By the end, all the creatures lay dead, their bodies scattered across the square. Miara sat down heavily on a piece of rubble, her hands trembling from fatigue. "Forty," she muttered to herself, disbelief and pride mingling in her voice. "I actually did it."
Laura walked over, kneeling beside her. "You did well," she said simply, offering her a water flask. "But we're done for the night. Let's head back."
Miara nodded, too tired to argue, and Eric stepped forward. "I'll carry her," he offered, already moving to crouch in front of her.
Miara hesitated, but Laura gave her a look that brooked no argument. "Take the help," she said. "You earned it."
Miara sighed but climbed onto Eric's back, her arms draped loosely over his shoulders. Essei, while not as visibly exhausted, walked a little slower, her own weariness showing in the set of her shoulders.
As they walked back, Laura asked for a report on their progress. Eric spoke first, a hint of pride in his voice. "Level eighteen," he said.
Miara chimed in next, her voice soft but satisfied. "Level eleven."
Essei, wiping sweat from her brow, added, "Level nine."
Laura nodded, taking note of each advancement. Internally, she felt a pang of surprise. Eric was rising faster than she had anticipated. He was only two levels behind her now, and at the rate he was going, he might catch up soon. His potential was undeniable, and while it was a boon for the team, it also made Laura acutely aware of how quickly he was growing into his power.
The group was only a few miles from their base when a new challenge presented itself. Emerging from the shadows, a small group of creatures blocked their path.
Unlike the hordes they had faced earlier, these were fewer in number but far stronger individually. Their glowing eyes and muscular frames exuded danger.
Laura immediately issued commands. "Essei, take Miara and head to the nearest high-rise. Find cover and wait for my signal."
Essei hesitated for only a moment before nodding. She adjusted her bow and grabbed Miara by the arm, pulling her along as they ran toward a nearby building. The creatures snarled, their attention snapping to the fleeing pair.
"Eric, cover them!" Laura shouted.
Eric didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, intercepting the two creatures that had begun chasing Essei and Miara. With quick, precise strikes, he knocked them back, blocking their path long enough for the others to escape.
"Keep going!" Eric called over his shoulder. Once Essei and Miara were safely inside the building, he turned to Laura, who was already engaging the remaining creatures.
Laura faced the beasts with a calm focus, her movements swift and deliberate. Eric joined her, his flames flickering to life as they prepared to fight side by side.
"These things are stronger than anything we've fought tonight," Eric noted, his grip tightening on his weapon.
"Exactly," Laura replied, a hint of a grin on her lips. "Show me what you've got."
Eric hesitated, glancing at her. "You sure?"
"I want to see you let loose," Laura said. "Go all out. I'll cover you."
Eric's hesitation faded, replaced by a steely determination. He shifted his stance, taking a deep breath as he began chanting a fire magic spell.
The temperature around him spiked, the air shimmering with heat as the spell built in intensity.
Laura moved swiftly, keeping the creatures at bay as Eric chanted. Each strike of her blade was precise, buying him the time he needed to complete the incantation.
As the final words of the spell left his lips, a ring of fire erupted around him, its edges razor-sharp and glowing white-hot.
Woooong~
"Expand!" Eric commanded, and the fiery ring shot outward in all directions. The creatures let out guttural shrieks as the flames tore through them, their bodies reduced to smoldering, dismembered remains.
The ring dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind a circle of scorched earth and silence.
Eric exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping from the effort. "That… was intense," he muttered.
Laura grinned, wiping her blade clean. "Marvellous," she said, her tone filled with approval. "You're full of surprises."
As they caught their breath, Essei's voice called down from a rooftop. "What the hell happened here?" she shouted, her eyes wide as she took in the carnage.
From her vantage point, the creatures' remains were scattered in uneven, charred pieces, the aftermath of Eric's devastating spell.
Laura smirked, gesturing to Eric. "Ask him."
Eric rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Just… testing my limits," he said.
Essei shook her head in disbelief but smiled. "Remind me to stay on your good side."
Laura chuckled, motioning for Essei and Miara to rejoin them. "Let's head back. We've had enough excitement for one night."
The group regrouped and began their journey back to the base, their spirits high despite their exhaustion. They had tested their limits, faced tougher challenges, and emerged stronger.
Laura couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. They were growing into a formidable team, and this was only the beginning.
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