The group tensed as they eyed the three foxes, their glowing pink flames casting an eerie light against the swirling snowfall. A collective sigh escaped them—there was no avoiding this fight. One by one, they raised their arms, readying themselves for the inevitable clash.
Then, without warning, one of the foxes lunged.
Something felt off. Unlike before, it didn't ignite its flames before attacking.
Zay narrowed his eyes, his instincts flaring. 'Why isn't it using fire?' His gaze flicked behind him—something was wrong. The other two foxes had vanished.
Only this one remained.
Before he could process it further, Renzo surged forward, his aura-infused leg snapping toward the charging fox. But the beast stopped—abruptly halting just an inch from impact. Its tails flared outward in a sudden burst of movement before it leapt high into the air.
In a flash, two of its six flaming spheres shot downward, streaking toward them like meteorites.
The woman at their side stepped forward. Without hesitation, she caught both spheres with her bare hands. The fiery energy crackled violently against her palms, but she clenched her fingers tighter—until the flames flickered and shattered into nothing.
The fox, still midair, twisted its body and landed in a deep bank of snow. The moment it touched down, its golden eyes shifted—turning pure white.
Instantly, its flames vanished.
Its fur darkened beneath a coating of fresh snowfall, blending seamlessly into the storm around them.
"It's not gone—it's stalking us." Zay's voice was firm, his eyes darting across the snowy expanse. "Astris Foxes are dangerous, and Smart. They use their environment to their advantage. Stay sharp. Keep your guard up, your eyes and ears open."
A sudden crunch echoed through the storm as snow shifted all around them.
Then, pink flames ignited in the sky.
Renzo's head snapped upward, his breath catching. One of the foxes was hovering above them, its golden eyes gleaming with a predatory focus. Its six flaming spheres circled its body, pulsing with energy, keeping it suspended in the air.
Then—it attacked.
Two orbs shot downward, spiraling toward the group like falling stars.
At that moment, another fox erupted from the snow, its chilling howl piercing through the storm. A brilliant star-shaped inferno formed in front of it, twisting and expanding.
The two descending spheres suddenly shifted direction, veering straight into the blazing star. Upon impact, the fiery construct swelled, its pink flames raging with newfound intensity.
The fox on the ground poured all six of its flaming pink orbs into the star, causing it to surge even larger—an infernal mass of devastation.
And then—the fox in the sky leapt.
Abandoning its floating position, it plummeted toward the ground, the four spheres that once held it aloft now hurtling toward the group like a storm of falling meteors.
Zay finally activated his [Seal of the Eternal Hunt] passive.
[Predator's Hunting Grounds]
Patterns shimmered into existence across the battlefield as he forced his aura to separate from his body. It surged outward, colliding with all four spheres above, countering them instantly. A shockwave erupted from the impact, sending ripples through the air.
His eyes flared a brilliant violet as he turned his focus toward the blazing star of flames. He expanded his aura, shaping it into a protective barrier.
Renzo noticed this and immediately leaped beside him, mirroring his movements. His crimson aura flared to life, intertwining with Zay's violet energy as the two shields fused into a single, powerful defense.
The flaming star crashed into their barriers, the force sending tremors through the ground. Fine cracks splintered across the aura shields, spiderwebbing outward before, at last, the star flickered and died.
The moment it faded, both shields shattered into fragments of energy.
Zay glanced at Renzo, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Damn, you're quick to learn."
'That shouldn't even be possible for him yet… What the hell is this guy's growth rate? And Lily's is even faster than his… I wonder what she's truly capable of.'
Before he could dwell on it further, a blur of movement caught his eye. One of the foxes lunged from beneath the snow, its fangs bared, aiming to tear straight through Zay's hand.
Patterns flickered within Zay's eyes, tracing the fox's exact movements before it even struck. Anticipating its attack, he ducked left, the beast's fangs barely grazing past his face.
In a swift motion, aura surged around his hand as he caught the fox by its tails mid-air. Without hesitation, he channeled his aura into his knee and drove it into the creature's stomach with crushing force. The impact sent a tremor through its body, knocking it unconscious instantly.
"While they're dangerous, intelligent, and excel at ranged attacks, if you catch one off balance like that… they're among the weakest beasts."
Zay hurled the beast to the ground with a sharp thud. Without hesitation, he channeled a surge of aura into his leg and brought it down with crushing force. A sickening crack echoed through the hail and snow as blood splattered across his clothes and stained the snow beneath him.
Before he could steady himself, patterns flashed in his vision—warning him of an incoming attack. Acting on instinct, he lunged forward, shoving the other woman to the ground just as a fox streaked past, its fangs coated in searing pink flames. The beast let out a sharp howl, skidding to a halt before turning back to strike again.
Lily's sharp eyes tracked the fox's rapid movements, her gaze following its erratic, airborne dodges. Without a word, a surge of aura ignited around her leg, dark clouds churned above, heavy rain crashing down, and distant bolts of lightning illuminating the sky.
She struck—her leg slicing through the air at the exact moment the fox entered her range. The beast barely had time to react before a blinding bolt of lightning tore through the skies, striking down upon it. A deafening crack split the air as the fox let out a final, agonized whine before disintegrating into nothing but ash.
Zay quickly stood. Without a word, he reached down, offering his hand to help her up.
She took his hand, getting back up on her feet, her gaze locking onto his with a playful glint. "I'm expecting dinner after that," she teased, her voice laced with an oddly confident charm.
Zay rolled his eyes, his face unreadable. "That's not happening."
"Oh, it will," she replied smoothly, her confidence unwavering as a sly smile tugged at her lips. There was something about the way she said it, as if she knew more than she let on.
Zay exhaled sharply, pushing the thought aside. He turned his focus back to the vast snow-covered wilderness before them, scanning the surroundings.
"Where's the real bastard?" Zay muttered, the eerie silence stretched on, leaving him with nothing but the whistling wind and the crunch of snow beneath his boots.
Renzo, eyes wide, glanced nervously around. "Maybe it ran off, using clones as a distraction?"
Without warning, lightning pierced the sky, striking the snow in sporadic bursts, the flashes illuminating the bleak landscape. Then, as quickly as it had appeared, the storm began to fade, the rain and lightning vanishing as Lily's aura faded.
"Maybe it did just run," Lily murmured, her expression thoughtful. "You did say it was smart. If it sensed it couldn't win, it might've decided to bail using the clones as a distraction."
The sound of heavy wheels crunching through the snow reached their ears, followed by the faint murmur of voices.
"ARE YOU OKAY?" One of the voices called out as the caravan drew closer, coming to a halt. Two men, wrapped in thick coats, stepped down from the vehicle.
The first man glanced at Zay, who was releasing a faint ripple of aura, and chuckled. "Are y'all four Arbiters?" he asked, his tone curious.
Zay let his aura fade completely and nodded. "You one?"
"Yes, sir. Name's Rick Henderson." The man smiled and gestured toward his companion.
The second man stepped forward, his gaze steady. "Malic Henderson. We're brothers."
Before any of the others could speak, the woman with them spoke up. "Lyra Moon." Her blonde hair shimmered as snowflakes stuck to the strands, her piercing blue eyes studying the two men. With a small, graceful bow, she stepped back, folding her hands behind her.
Malic gave a short laugh. "Well, I'd love to stick around and chat, but we've got to head back to the village. I'll see y'all… possibly later, if you survive." He waved to his brother, who nodded, and both climbed back onto the caravan as it continued down the snowy path.
Lyra turned to the group with a smile, "Let's head east," she said simply, already starting to walk in that direction. As if she wasn't concerned about the fox or anything else that might be lurking in the snow.
The siblings exchanged wary glances. "Should we follow her?" Lily asked, her brow furrowed as she looked between Zay and Renzo.
Renzo crossed his arms. "Well, if she tries anything funny, it's three against one." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "But… something's off with her. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something off with her."
Zay let out a slow exhale, his breath visible in the frosty air. "I agree with Renzo. There's definitely something strange about her. Let's just see what happens."
The two brothers exchanged a brief look, and then their sister sighed softly. "Alright," she said, her tone resigned but resolute. "Let's go."
'I can't afford to keep burning through my aura…' Zay thought, his breath misting in the cold air. 'That shield drained a hell of a lot. I'm running low—and fast.'
He clenched his fists inside his coat pockets, he exhaled quietly, frustration lingering on his breath. 'Last thing I need is to pass out for the next damn week.'