After passing through the fortress that guarded the city, Jonan and his cohort moved in silence toward the battlefield. Some warriors fought in groups, while others battled alone. Blood and flesh littered the ground, some from beasts, some from humans.
The ghastly sight made Jonan nauseated. He covered his mouth and pinched his nose, struggling against the overwhelming stench of death. It was his first time witnessing such horror so closely.
Jonan understood that killing was inevitable in this world. He had seen beasts slaughtered countless times. But this battlefield, it was something else entirely.
A boisterous laugh snapped him from his thoughts.
"Haha! Look at this kid, getting all pukey over a little bloodshed. Don't worry, boy, there's plenty more to see as we move forward," Elias mocked, his voice laced with amusement.
Jonan's face darkened. He has wanted nothing more but to turn back at the moment, and to return home, where it was peaceful, but then memories of his helplessness within his own family surfaced, as well as his missing friends, and their uncertain fates, and If he wanted to change anything, if he wanted to find them, he had to become stronger.
Taking a deep hard breath, he steeled himself and continued moving forward, with tense expression.
Elias and Edric exchanged approving nods at his quick adjustment, while Marla merely scoffed.
Jonan broke the silence. "Where exactly are we heading?"
Elias unrolled a scroll and studied it briefly before replying, "Beyond our settlement, past The Wailing Shadow. First, we need to cross this battlefield. From there, we'll make our way toward the bestial tribes, where the newborn Abomination was first sighted."
"Tch." Marla crossed her arms. "Why not just head straight there? That way, we could finish the mission faster. Now we have to walk who knows how long. Hey, old man, I don't want to be exhausted before I even fight the damn thing."
Edric frowned but said nothing, while Elias chuckled.
"Well, you're not wrong, sweet Marla," he said jovially. "I'd love a shortcut too. But if we try to take any route other than covertly walking on land, we might get torn to pieces. At least this way, we have a sliver of a chance."
Jonan's stomach tightened. He had thought the Abomination was the only real danger, but now he realized how foolish that assumption had been. They weren't just marching toward a single threat, there were many other considerations to be taken, can they simply enter the bestial settlement as they please, and worse, can they even come out of it, if it's even possible.
Jonan couldn't fathom, he just wanted to experience fighting on the battlefield, a bit not to literally die, he wondered why did his step-mother arranged such way for him in confusion.
"Shut up, old man," Marla snapped. "Every time you say something negative, something bad happens right after."
Jonan chuckled lightly. That kind of superstition was ridiculous. He shook his head in denial.
Then, without warning, something struck.
A blur of blue streaked toward him at blinding speed. Too fast to react.
Before he could process what was happening, a broad figure stepped in front of him.
Edric.
In one swift motion, he drew his short axes and slashed at the incoming blur. The force sent it skidding across the ground, revealing its true form.
It was a Blue Steel Viper, a grade three beast.
It's iridescent scales gleamed like polished metal, a mesmerizing sight, if not for it's monstrous size, lightning-fast reflexes, and razor-sharp fangs.
Jonan was terrified. If Edric had been even a second slower, he would have been dead. He had fought a beast before in his field, but this Blue Steel Viper was different. It sent chills down his spine, so much so that he couldn't even look at it properly.
It was too menacing, too overwhelming for him. He had severely underestimated the front lines. He had assumed he would only face beasts of similar grade or slightly stronger. But this? This was far beyond what he had prepared for. He had never even considered that high-grade beasts would actively target him.
If not for his cohort, he would already be a corpse.
Edric, however, didn't move recklessly. He remained still, waiting for the viper's next attack. Nearby, Marla had drawn her bow, arrow nocked and ready, but she knew better than to fire just yet. The snake would easily deflect a premature shot.
Then, in a blur, the Blue Steel Viper lunged.
Edric reacted instantly, meeting it head-on with his short axes. The impact sent sparks flying, but the viper's tough, gleaming scales remained unscathed.
Undeterred, the snake coiled back before striking again, this time, with an even greater speed.
Edric didn't flinch. He met the beast's assault with raw strength, standing his ground like an immovable wall.
Just as the viper prepared for another strike, a dagger whizzed through the air.
Thud!
The blade pierced one of its eyes, it was Elias smiling playfully, while eyeing his opponents.
The viper let out a hiss of pain, writhing for a moment before instantly retreating, and moving back to where it came from.
Marla, who had been waiting for an opportunity, let out an annoyed tsk before releasing her arrow. The shot was precise, but the viper was fast and instantly retreated away, vanishing into the dense terrain.
She gritted her teeth in annoyance, and was ready to pursue the creature, when a hand suddenly blocked her path.
"I remember someone mentioning they didn't want to be too tired before fighting the Abomination," Elias said, amusement lacing his voice.
Marla clicked her tongue in frustration but lowered her bow.
Jonan, still shaken, stared at his cohort in astonishment. Edric had faced the viper alone, as if it were just another minor obstacle. The sheer strength and composure he displayed left Jonan speechless.
Then, Elias sighed dramatically.
"What a waste," he muttered. "You didn't even try to fight. Ah, I suppose I was expecting too much."
Jonan stiffened.
They wanted him to fight that thing? A beast of such high grade? Even its tail was enough to sweep him.
He clenched his fists. "How can you expect me to fight something like that?" he snapped.
Elias raised a brow. "Hmm. So you'd rather be its next meal than step up and fight? I see. Looks like the great Starfall Family has a coward among its descendants."
Jonan flinched. The words stung deep, but he couldn't retaliate, and just went quiet in frustration.
He wanted to retaliate, but the words wouldn't come. He had never been able to fight back in his family, and against outsiders, it seemed more impossible.
Marla scoffed in disdain, while Edric simply observed him with a thoughtful expression.
No one said anything else. They simply resumed their journey, moving deeper into the wilderness.
Elias led them forward, and soon, a dense forest canopy loomed ahead. They moved cautiously now, making sure not to alert any unseen dangers lurking within.
By the time night fell, exhaustion crept in. They had been walking all day, and the thick forest was even more dangerous under the cover of darkness.
Jonan trailed behind the group, lost in thought.
If another beast attacked, he would fight.
No matter how terrified he felt.
Unfortunately, his wish was granted.
A shadow flitted toward the group a hunched, goblin-like figure creeping through the darkness.
Jonan rushed forward without hesitation.
Under the moonlight, he could finally make out the creature, a goblin, gripping a short wooden club in its gnarled hands. But Jonan didn't pause to analyze his enemy. He attacked instantly, giving the goblin no time to react.
Instead of his spear, which he had barely practiced with, Jonan opted for his sickles. With a swift motion, he slashed at the goblin.
But the goblin's eyes gleamed with cunning.
It stepped back just enough to dodge his attack, making Jonan's blade slice through empty air.
Jonan froze, stunned.
Goblins are supposed to be stupid and greedy creatures… just how
Before he could finish the thought, a club came swinging toward his face.
Thud!
Pain exploded in his skull as he was knocked to the ground.
Humiliated, Jonan gritted his teeth. He refused to stay down.
He was appalled, he couldn't even handle a simple goblin? The weakest of all beasts?
His cohort was watching. He could feel their stares burning into him.
What will they think of me? I can't even defeat a goblin…
Fueled by frustration, he forced himself up. Blood dripped from his forehead, but he ignored it. He wouldn't let this shame consume him.
This time, he didn't charge blindly. He took a deep breath and calmly assessed the fight.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed his cohort.
They weren't moving. They weren't offering help.
They were simply watching.
Jonan's gaze flickered downward in shame, but he refused to ask for help.
I have to finish this fight on my own.
The goblin snarled, raising its club again, but this time, Jonan was ready.
He feinted an attack from the right.
The goblin reacted, shifting to dodge.
In that moment, Jonan's second sickle shot forward, piercing the goblin's chest.
The creature screeched in pain, stumbling back, but before it could lift its club again, Jonan lunged forward and delivered a vicious front kick to its chin.
The goblin crashed to the ground.
Jonan didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward, raised his sickle, and with a swift, clean slash, He severed its head.