The arrival of the first batch of reinforcements from the Neutral Territory was a godsend. Carriages laden with supplies and medical personnel immediately began setting up medical tents. Within minutes, Zathis, Grund, Jian, and Kaelan were transferred and placed under the care of experienced field healers, beginning the long process of recovery.
Zane Bladeheart, while receiving first aid for the severe bruising on his face and chest, was approached by Guild Master Aethon Ironheart.
"Zane! Thank goodness you're all safe," Aethon exclaimed, a mix of relief and exhaustion in his voice. "What about the S+ rank monsters? What happened to the Armored Scorpions?"
Zane leaned back, wincing slightly. "They are all dead, Master Aethon."
"Impossible!" A voice, cold and sharp, sliced through the air. Riona Steelsworn, the leader of the Ironclad Aegis Guild, approached the medical tent, her heavy armor gleaming under the harsh light.
"Riona, long time no see," Zane greeted her, a faint smile touching his lips.
"Answer me, Zane. Where are the S+ rank monsters?" Riona demanded, her gaze unwavering.
Zane opened the bag Kaelus had handed him and rolled out four immense, glowing elemental cores onto the table. "Here." The three largest cores pulsed with dark, volatile energy, clearly identifying them as the S+ Armored Scorpion cores, while the fourth, slightly smaller core, was the S-rank Elderwood Troll's core.
Riona stared at the cores for a long moment, the air thick with tension. "I see. So your team defeated the S+ rank monsters. You're a bit stronger now, Zane. I will defeat you soon." With that declaration, Riona turned and left, her focus shifting instantly to organizing her deployment.
"Master Aethon," Zane said wryly, "you swallowed your pride just to invite the neighboring guild." Aethon, still reeling from the sight of the cores, turned back to Zane.
"I know your strength, Zane. Your team might defeat one S+ monster, but there's no way you guys can defeat three at the same time," Aethon confessed, his shock finally giving way to profound curiosity. "What really happened?"
Zane recounted the terrifying, three-minute battle to Aethon.
Aethon's eyes were wide. "Zane, have you forgotten the story of a hero from a millennium ago? I believe he has the makings of becoming the next hero—a hero arising from the Dragon's Fury Guild! This is insane. Also, he's only just a 4-star high-rank mage; he has a lot of room to grow."
Just then, Sylva entered the tent, her focused aura a contrast to the weariness of the injured.
"The reinforcements are now ready to deal with the fifth wave, Zane," she reported, her eyes tracking the movements outside. "Riona and the Ironclad Aegis have taken the front line. Their defensive formation is already solidifying."
Zane nodded, then lowered his voice. "Good. Now, about the broader situation. Our current station is the entrance of the forest, but there's no holding line on the hunting grounds at the border of the Northern Territory and the Southern Territory," Zane noted. "The hunting grounds must be completely overrun by monsters now."
Sylva shook her head, a confident smile touching her lips. "No. They are holding well. On the Southern Human Territory, your House of Bladeheart is with the other human race nobles, intercepting the monsters on the southeast territory. Meanwhile, my House of Moonshadow, together with the other Elven race nobles, are holding the northeast territory."
She continued, tracing lines on a nearby map with her finger. "They should be fine, even if another Armored Scorpion emerges from those sides; they can still win. All we have to do is focus all the Neutral Territory force onto this main entrance."
Zane stared at her, impressed. "So that's it. You considered everything. How did you mobilize my family by the way? You know my father wouldn't risk those hunting grounds for the guild."
Sylva's smile sharpened mischievously. "Simple. I asked Vara to deliver a message that if they didn't cooperate, I would file an annulment, and the House of Moonshadow would forbid the House of Bladeheart from ever seeing their princess."
Zane laughed, a genuine, pained sound. "Well, that will surely work. My father can't ignore that; he's very fond of our daughter." He sobered slightly.
Master Aethon Ironheart, still standing nearby, rubbed his temples. "I'm sorry, what?"
Zane frowned, looking at his Guild Master. "What happened to you, Master Aethon? You look completely dazed."
"I... I don't know you two are married with a daughter," Aethon confessed, his mouth slightly agape.
Sylva sighed. "Political weddings are normal, Master Aethon. By the way, where is Kaelus? I want to brief him on the overall containment strategy."
"I want to see Kaelus too," Aethon added, his focus shifting. "Where is he?"
"He's venturing deep into the forest," Zane said. "He said he would be quick."
Then, as if summoned by their words, a streak of emerald green mana zipped through the tent entrance. Kaelus suddenly appeared inside the tent, his silver-white hair flowing, his emerald eyes intensely focused.
Aethon didn't immediately recognize the form, which looked less like a human and more like a being sculpted from mana itself, but the voice was distinct. "Master Aethon, I have something to report."
"What is it, Kaelus?" Aethon asked, momentarily mesmerized by the sheer visual power radiating from the young man.
"Three kilometers from the Eastern Entrance, there's a dungeon break," Kaelus reported rapidly, his voice urgent. "So far, I saw three dungeon breaks that are constantly releasing monsters. Based on the rate of release from those three dungeons only, the monster wave will likely last for about a week."
Sylva's eyes widened with sudden, dreadful realization. "The lost link has generated a chain reaction. At the initial release, the monsters will rampage because of the broken commanding link. That causes a disturbance on other monsters with intact psychic links to other commanding monsters. The first two waves were the monsters commanded by the S+ Armored Scorpions. The third wave onward... those are monsters that have a completely intact psychic link to a different commander."
Zane absorbed the information, his face paling. "So you mean to say is—"
"Yes," Sylva finished, her voice strained. "There are other S-rank monsters, even S+ rank monsters among them. Oh no, not good."
"What?" Aethon demanded just as a loud shout erupted from outside.
Aethon immediately left the tent and approached one of the panicked adventurers scrambling near the entrance. "What happened?"
"A Two-Headed Crystal Wyvern has appeared, Guild Master! It's an S+ Rank!"
Sylva rushed to the tent flap, her gaze fixed on the horrifying spectacle unfolding outside. "Not good! Kaelus and Zane, let's join the fight!"