In the outskirts of the bustling Capital, a frantic chase unfolded. Three figures raced through the rugged forested terrain, their hearts pounding in their chests. Behind them, a pack of Jackaleo, fearsome creatures with imposing curved horns jutting from their heads, pursued with unyielding determination. These formidable beings, adorned in yellow fur, boasted manes reminiscent of lions and possessed a haunting gaze with their three red eyes, one positioned upon their foreheads.
"Damn you, Tatsumi! Look at the mess you've caused!" Ieyasu's voice dripped with frustration and panic as he sprinted at full speed.
"I didn't mean for this to happen, Ieyasu! I had no clue it was one of their kin, let alone that they would hunt us down! I underestimated the brains of these danger beast," Tatsumi responded, his voice filled with desperation as chaos ensued around them.
"No time for explanations now! We have to keep running!" Sayo's urgent voice cut through the chaos, urging her companions to focus solely on escaping their relentless pursuers.
The three individuals—Ieyasu, Tatsumi, and Sayo—found themselves in a perilous situation, triggered by Tatsumi unknowingly hunting and killing a young Jackaleo cub for their meal.
Just as they were preparing to settle down for the night, a sudden rustling of leaves jolted Sayo's senses, instantly alerting her to the fact that they were surrounded.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the three friends sprang into action, working together seamlessly to break free from the encirclement. Despite their formidable abilities to overpower these creatures, they collectively concluded that it was wiser to flee rather than engage in a fight. Confronting danger beasts in the dense forest, particularly under the shroud of night, held little appeal for them. The scent of blood alone would draw numerous predatory creatures to their location, exacerbating an already precarious situation. In fact, the considerable amount of noise they had inadvertently generated was already proving to be problematic enough.
Suddenly, Ieyasu's keen eyes detected a Jackaleo flanking him from the right. Its fierce, red gaze locked onto him as they continued their desperate sprint. The creature let out a roar, launching itself towards Ieyasu with lethal intent. Just as Ieyasu prepared to intercept the attack with his spear, a lethal arrow swiftly zipped past him, finding its mark in the creature's heart. The Jackaleo halted mid-air, a pained groan escaping its jaws as it crashed to the ground.
"We need to run faster! More are closing in on us. I can hear the sounds of numerous creatures approaching from a distance!" Sayo urgently exclaimed.
Having grown up together, Ieyasu and Tatsumi were well aware that Sayo possessed the sharpest sense of hearing among the three of them. In their childhood, they often attempted to sneak a glimpse of her while she was bathing, only to be swiftly deterred by an arrow whizzing past them. Sayo's acute hearing prevented them from even approaching the riverbank undetected. Thus, if Sayo claimed to hear more approaching despite their own inability to perceive anything, they knew better than to disregard her words.
The three friends wasted no time and swiftly increased their speed, determined to escape the forest as quickly as possible. They shared a unanimous desire to put as much distance between themselves and the treacherous woods.
In an instant, with only the moonlight lighting their path, the three friends became acutely aware of the ground ahead starting to shift and stir. It was as if something unseen was clawing its way out from beneath the earth. Exchanging quick glances, their eyes filled with determination, the trio instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons. They knew that once whatever emerged from the ground showed itself, they would launch an immediate and decisive attack.
In the midst of their sprint, Sayo swiftly retrieved three arrows from her quiver, deftly nocking them onto her bowstring in a seamless motion. Tatsumi and Ieyasu maintained a firm grip on their weapons, their muscles coiled with tension, ready to strike at the emerging threat from the ground.
A thunderous roar reverberated through the air, signaling the creature's emergence. The surface shattered as a colossal, dark brown entity burst through the hole. It bore a resemblance to a gigantic cockroach, with long antennae protruding from the sides of its head, formidable claw-like appendages, and menacing red eyes.
Its imposing presence alone was enough to instill fear in the Empire's populace especially traveling merchants who were unfortunately enough to meet such a creature in their travels.
"It's a Class 1 Danger Beast!" Sayo shouted, her voice resolute as she released her arrows.
"An Earth Dragon!" Tatsumi and Ieyasu exclaimed in unison, recognizing the formidable opponent before them. Without delay, the two friends leaped high into the air, wielding their weapons with skill and precision. Descending with remarkable force, they unleashed a powerful blow upon the creature's shoulder blades, aiming to disable its monstrous form.
Blood spurted in all directions, painting a grisly scene as the creature's limbs were violently torn asunder. The three arrows found their mark, firmly piercing the creature's forehead. Despite the immense pain it suffered, the creature seemed disoriented, unable to comprehend the swift and devastating attacks that befell it.
Unfazed by the sight, the trio pressed forward, their determination unyielding as they charged ahead, resolute in their mission to escape the treacherous forest. Their aspirations were clear, driven by a shared goal to reach the Imperial Capital and carve out a brighter future for their impoverished village. Even faced with the formidable Class 1 danger beast, nothing would deter them from pursuing their dreams and bringing prosperity back to their community.