The morning sun rose quietly over the rolling plains, spilling golden light over grass that shimmered like woven silk. Dew clung to the stalks, bending them gently beneath its weight. For a moment, the world looked peaceful – as if yesterday's laughter and the scent of roasted rabbit had never left the air.
But peace never lingered long in this era.
Kiaria stood beside their chariot, adjusting the straps on the harness. His vitality had fully returned, his aura calm yet sharper than before. Diala sat near the front, her fingers tracing small patterns in the air – silent cultivation motions she used to balance spirit and breath.
The East Valley Wing mercenaries had already covered over fifty kilometers. The wind carried faint traces of salt and moss – a sign they were nearing the Hunter's Bay.
"East Valley Wing warriors, slow down. Stay alert."
The voice came suddenly, carried not by air but by vibration – a sound that rippled directly into their ears. It was smooth, confident, and tinged with faint arrogance.
Instantly, steel flashed.
Dozens of swords were drawn as the caravan halted in perfect unison. Horses snorted nervously.
"Come out!" Ferlin shouted, raising his blade toward the trees.
Kiaria placed a hand on his shoulder. "Brother Ferlin… let me handle this."
Ferlin hesitated, then stepped back.
Kiaria exhaled slowly, letting his eyelids drift shut. He remembered Sect Master's guidance about Fairy Nature Essence. "Who knew, his words will be useful this fast…" Around him, the air shimmered – the faint particles of Fairy Nature Essence began to gather, drawn to him like starlight to the night. He didn't absorb it; he let it breathe, ripple, and spread outward.
The soft hum of nature resonated through the forest. The dew on the leaves trembled, reflecting faint lines of light.
They were near the riverbank, and the scene turned ethereal – sunlight piercing through the canopy, glimmering through dew drops that now floated slightly above the leaves, like stars in a forest night.
Kiaria whispered under his breath, "Fairy Nature Essence – not just pure energy… but the breath of nature itself."
He extended his consciousness outward, infusing his energy into each drop of dew. His aura thinned – delicate as mist – and his awareness stretched.
Through the dew, he saw.
A cluster of faint shadows shifting behind the rocks. And one figure standing in the fog – her energy refined, her disguise crude. The "voice" they had heard belonged to her.
"Thank you for the warning," Kiaria said aloud, his tone calm but steady. "May I know your name, big sister?"
There was a pause – then a faint, amused laugh echoed from the fog.
"Big sister?" the disguised voice replied. "You're sharp, little one. I used a man's tone and hid my form, yet you saw through it. You're not as simple as you look."
Her voice turned playful but edged. "Still, curiosity can be dangerous. You'll learn that soon enough."
Then, in an instant, her presence vanished – dissolved into air.
Kiaria's eyes opened, violet shimmer fading. "Everyone, be cautious," he said. "That wasn't an ordinary scout. Her warning wasn't for us – it was for whoever's waiting ahead."
Ellein spun his spear with a grin. "Don't worry, little brother. If anything happens, I'll protect you and our little sister both."
Staley gave a faint nod. "Stay sharp, all of you. We move forward."
They continued, the rhythm of hooves resuming but slower, tighter – every rider scanning the shadows.
An hour passed.
Through the thinning mist ahead, they spotted movement. Several figures sprawled along the roadside, half-conscious and covered in mud. Torn dresses. Bruised arms.
"Wait!" Ferlin leapt down from his horse. "That's… Sica!" His tone cracked with recognition.
He rushed to her side, pouring water onto her hands. "Sica, it's me – Ferlin! Wake up!"
Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing eyes wide with terror. The moment she saw movement around her, she screamed and pushed away.
"Don't touch me! Go away! Don't–"
Ferlin froze. "Sica, it's me," he said softly. "You're safe now."
But her voice broke, trembling as she whispered, "Run… run for your lives! Don't go further!"
The mercenaries exchanged uneasy glances. Diala stepped closer, kneeling beside the woman. "You're safe. Breathe slowly. What happened to you?"
Five women in total were found – all injured, pale, and shaken. Ellein handed them water while Staley dismounted, his eyes narrowing.
"First a hidden warning, now frightened survivors." He drew his sword, resting the tip inches from Sica's neck. "Speak clearly, or I'll assume this is a trap."
Diala frowned. "Sheriff–"
But Sica broke before anyone could stop her. "We were ambushed," she cried, trembling. "Beasts… from the river… they attacked our wagons. The guards tried to fight, but they–" she swallowed hard, voice cracking – "they burned everything. The carts, the bridge… we jumped into the river to escape."
Her body shook with sobs. The other women nodded, fear written across their faces.
Staley's gaze softened slightly but suspicion still lingered. Their torn clothes were stained with algae and streaked with claw marks – clear signs of struggle. Yet, something about the story didn't fit.
Still, leaving them behind would be cruelty.
"Fine," he said gruffly. "You'll stay under watch. Ferlin, give them one wagon space. Ellein, take the rear guard."
They resumed their march. The wind grew heavier, the river's scent thicker. The path narrowed, leading to a wooden bridge that spanned a deep ravine.
Ellein rode ahead, scanning the path. "We're approaching Hunter's Bay," he called back. "Everyone stay alert."
The bridge came into view – long, half-rotten, swaying slightly in the breeze. On the other side, a single figure stood, cloaked in dark robes.
He raised his hands as they approached, his voice echoing eerily across the water.
"Oh, noble warriors," he said mockingly. "Welcome to Hunter's Bay. Such fine armor, fine horses, fine faces." He grinned, showing sharp teeth. "If you wish to cross, leave behind everything – weapons, food, clothes… and your women. Do this, and perhaps you'll leave with your lives."
A ripple of outrage spread through the group.
"How dare you!" Ellein roared, spurring his horse forward.
"Wait!" Kiaria's voice cut sharply, but too late.
Ellein's spear pierced the man's chest.
For an instant, victory seemed certain. But then the man smiled – blood didn't spill; instead, captured the hands with pierced spear, his skin began to glow.
"Ellein, back!" Staley shouted.
The man's body swelled, cracks of light spreading across his form. Ellein barely had time to move before the explosion hit.
A wave of heat and pressure burst outward, throwing dust and debris across the bridge.
Smoke spread. Staley held hand of scabbard and swing scabbard without unleashing the sword. The swing made wind attributed scabbard to clear the smoke temperory.
When the smoke cleared, Ellein was on his knees, gasping. His armor was scorched, his skin burned in patches. Staley was already beside him, grabbing his shoulders. Staley slapped on partial burned face, "Fatty! You fool! I told you to wait!"
Kiaria rushed forward, covering them with a barrier of spiritual energy just as another shockwave rippled through the air.
The bridge began to crumble. The ground trembled.
And then the world shifted.
The clear air filled with swirling gray. In seconds, a thick smog enveloped them – so dense it swallowed the sound of their breathing. Horses reared, panicking. The wagon wheels screeched against the earth.
"Formation!" Staley shouted. "Stay close!"
But even as he spoke, figures flickered within the mist – faint silhouettes moving like phantoms. Their shapes were wrong: too long, too jagged.
Ferlin's sword trembled in his grip. "They're not human…"
Kiaria's eyes glowed faintly as he scanned the haze. "This isn't smoke," he whispered. "It's spiritual camouflage."
Diala stepped closer, her voice steady. "Then someone's hiding in it."
A guttural growl rippled from the fog. The air twisted, and from within the smog's heart, a dozen red eyes opened – unblinking, hungry.
Kiaria's hand reached for his blade. "Everyone… prepare yourselves."
And as the first shadow leapt from the mist, claws slicing through the veil, the tranquil morning of the Grasslands shattered into chaos.