The Ironhide Boar wasn't slowing down.
Its wounds were deep, its hide was torn, and yet it refused to surrender.
This was what made beasts dangerous—not just their strength, but their endurance. Even creatures of the lowest ranks, like this F-rank boar, had incredible resilience.
Leon tightened his grip on his sword, scanning its movement.
Kara was the first to strike again, her dual blades moving with sharp precision as she landed another hit near its flank. Her shadow ability made her movements unpredictable, slipping in and out of visibility for the briefest moments before attacking.
Arin followed, gathering wind around his sword, refining it into something sharper—more precise.
He pushed forward, delivering a concentrated gust along the beast's armor plating.
The wind carved into the beast's thick hide—not deeply, but enough to stagger it.
Laina fired a flaming arrow, aiming for the beast's front leg, landing a hit that forced it to shift its stance.
Leon moved immediately, closing the distance.
His sword arced toward the creature's neck—
But at the same time, Laina stepped forward, adjusting her aim for a second shot.
They collided—not hard, but unexpectedly, his shoulder knocking into hers mid-motion.
The impact threw off her balance.
She stumbled slightly—her footing shifting over loose dirt just enough to send her weight backward, straight into Leon.
He reacted fast, catching her before she could completely fall, bracing her weight before she could crash completely.
But the position?
Not ideal.
Her bow had slipped slightly from her grip, and his hands—without thinking—had landed around her waist to steady her.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then—
"Oh, no way," Arin groaned.
Kara laughed immediately.
Reid sighed.
Leon stepped back fast, releasing Laina just as she cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at him.
"I—" She shook her head. "That was—"
Reid wasn't impressed. "We're still fighting."
Arin groaned again, shaking his head. "I swear, every time—"
That was his mistake.
He got distracted.
The Ironhide Boar noticed.
It turned sharply, locking onto Arin, lunging forward with heavy force.
Leon saw it a second too late.
Arin barely reacted—his attention still caught in frustration.
And then Reid moved.
Without hesitation, he stepped between them, bracing himself as the Ironhide crashed into his side.
The impact was heavy—Reid's arm taking a solid scrape along the boar's tusk—but he held his ground, keeping Arin from getting hit.
Leon reacted instantly, lunging toward the Ironhide, landing another strike near its jaw.
Arin shook off the shock, exhaling sharply.
"You really just saved me," he muttered, steadying himself.
Reid gave a curt nod. "Fix your stance. End it."
Arin grinned. His energy shifted.
He inhaled deeply, lifting his sword, wind forming around it—not just a gust, but something refined. He shaped the current into a tangible edge, sharper than before.
The others stepped back, giving him space.
Leon adjusted his stance, watching carefully.
Arin moved.
His feet barely touched the ground before the wind carried him forward, accelerating his movement as he closed the gap.
One clean stroke.
The wind-enhanced blade sliced through the beast's neck, cutting deep—deeper than any previous strike.
For half a second, everything felt still.
Then, the Ironhide staggered—its legs weakening—its frame shaking as the final blow settled in.
And then, it fell.
Arin exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulder, nodding once.
"That," he muttered, "was satisfying."
Leon lowered his sword slightly, glancing toward the fallen beast.
The fight was over.
Reid stepped closer, scanning the body.
"Crystal," he reminded them.
Leon moved forward.
Carefully, he reached toward the Ironhide's chest, pressing his palm over the center.
A faint hum of energy pulsed against his skin.
Every beast, upon death, left behind a core—a crystallized fragment of energy contained within its body. These crystals varied in shape and size, but their true importance lay in their rank.
Leon pulled the crystal free.
It was solid, about the size of a clenched fist, dark brown with a faint silver hue.
The color mattered.
In the world of adventurers, beast crystals were ranked according to their strength and rarity.
F-rank crystals, like this one, were common—usually dark brown or gray, containing minimal energy. They were used mainly for small-scale enchantments or sold for basic currency.
E-rank crystals had stronger energy, often appearing deep green or navy, making them slightly more valuable.
D-rank crystals were where things got interesting—they came in red, violet, or orange, carrying enough power for low-tier magical enhancements.
C-rank and above started glowing.
Blue, silver, and sometimes gold, depending on the type of creature. These were sought after, their energy refined for weapons, potions, or more specialized enchantments.
And then there was S-rank and higher.
These didn't just glow.
They pulsed.
A true S-rank crystal wasn't just valuable—it was dangerous. Containing enough raw power to alter spells, weapons, and even the land itself in some cases. Anything beyond S—SS or even the legendary SSS-rank—was the kind of thing adventurers didn't encounter unless they were prepared to die.
Laina tilted her head slightly, studying the crystal Leon had pulled free. "It feels warm," she muttered.
Leon nodded, storing it away.
"It's faint energy," Reid explained. "Nothing strong, but enough to sell."
Arin sighed. "Well, that was fun."
Kara smirked. "You almost died."
"And you almost got thrown," Arin shot back, grinning.
Kara waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah."
The night settled quietly for the first time.
The tension faded—just slightly.