On the opposite side of the rift—far from the noise of Nyx's battle—the metallic scent of blood mixed with an air charged by strange energy. Deep within the thick forest, a young man moved with deadly precision, his soft blond hair brushing lightly with each step, and his golden eyes glowing with razor-sharp focus.
This was Leander Vallis.
Before him stood two Silverfang Wolves, their gray coats shimmering faintly under the filtered light, revealing a metallic sheen beneath the fur—hence their name. Their muscles were tense, tails lowered, bodies coiled like springs ready to strike. What made these wolves dangerous wasn't only their long fangs, but the sudden bursts of speed and short-range leaps that came like flashes of light.
One of them growled—and both wolves lunged in perfect unison, as if sharing a single mind.
Leander stepped back once, not out of fear, but almost… amused. A faint, calm smile crossed his lips.
The first wolf's claws slashed toward his chest, but Leander shifted smoothly to the side, his movements elegant and controlled. His fist, wrapped in a faint aura of martial energy, struck the creature and sent it crashing into the ground. The second wolf attacked from behind, but Leander pivoted and delivered a swift kick straight into its ribs.
Both wolves snarled and charged again.
This time, Leander didn't retreat—he advanced.
His blade flashed as he drew it with a single fluid motion. A sharp glint, a soft slicing sound… and both wolves fell motionless to the earth.
Leander exhaled slowly, sheathed his sword, and murmured with a small smile,
"This is only the beginning."
---
Not far from there, in a deeper, darker sector of the forest, the shadows writhed unnaturally… as if something was swimming through them.
A young man stood in the heart of that dim area—black hair falling over his forehead, and cold blue eyes like a winter sky.
This was Rayne Harold.
Four small creatures surrounded him. They were tiny yet incredibly fast—Shadow Rabbits. Their long ears twitched constantly, and their glowing violet eyes reflected the darkness enveloping them. What made these creatures truly troublesome was their ability to slip into the shadows and reappear behind their prey in fractions of a second.
One of them vanished instantly.
Rayne didn't move. Instead, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, then reopened them—flames flickering around his clenched fists.
The rabbit burst out from behind him, but Rayne's hand ignited with fire. He swung upward with a swift, decisive strike that burned through its leap.
"One…"
The second rabbit dashed from the left, but Rayne ducked, grabbed it by the ears, slammed it to the ground, and finished it with a burst of flame.
The remaining two began darting chaotically, disappearing and reappearing around him—but Rayne stepped over to a tree trunk, placing his hand against it. A thin line of fire snaked across the forest floor.
When the third rabbit crossed that line… flames erupted violently and consumed it.
"Two… three…"
The last rabbit tried to flee, but Rayne rushed forward in two quick steps, leapt above it, and crushed it with a fiery downward strike.
He let out a short breath, brushing the soot off his hands.
"Well… I'm going to need more points," he muttered, sounding mildly annoyed.
Without wasting another second, he sprinted deeper into the forest, disappearing among the trees.
____________
Well, guys, Leander is actually a spear and sword user.