At the same time, deep in the forest where the new cadets were supposed to be tested
"Did you hear that?" an officer asked Lieutenant Zei, his brow furrowed.
Zei stood still, listening. A faint tremor ran through the earth beneath them. "It feels like…" He hesitated. "Like a swarm of monster."
The officer paled. "Did the final test change without us knowing?"
Zei shook his head, gripping his weapon tightly. "No… something's wrong."
Before anyone could react, a piercing screech split the air. From the treetops, a pack of Stromclaw Wyverns dove toward them, their massive wings slicing through the air like blades.
"EVERYONE, READY YOUR WEAPONS!" Zei yelled.
The cadets scrambled, panic gripping their hearts as they fumbled to aim.
"SHOOT THEM DOWN! PROTECT YOURSELVES AND THOSE AROUND YOU! RUN BACK TO CAMP!"
Gunfire erupted, bullets soaring through the air, striking some of the beasts, but it wasn't enough. The Stromclaws were relentless, their piercing cries sending shivers down the cadets' spines.
Zei reloaded his gun, cursing under his breath. "Why the hell are Stromclaws here?! This isn't part of the test. If this keeps up…" His grip tightened around his gun as the reality sank in. "At this rate, we're all going to die."
Present Time…
"How did he cut through the bindings?" Aeron asked, his brows furrowed.
"Someone intentionally left a knife within his reach," Lieutenant Zei replied, his voice laced with frustration.
Aeron's expression darkened. "Did you find out who did it?"
"No," Zei admitted, his jaw tightening. "But one thing is clear—someone in this camp is working with the cultist."
Aeron's mind raced. "Do you think that boy—the one we encountered—came here and planted the knife?"
"We're looking into it," Zei answered, but his tone suggested they had no solid leads yet.
Aeron exhaled sharply. There were too many questions and not enough answers. "I have a question." He paused before continuing, his voice firmer. "How did you even get that Queen Shadowfang in the first place?"
Zei's expression shifted. "That's classified."
"They found it in the forest while patrolling a year ago," Mihon chimed in casually. "Just a few days before the previous batch of recruits before ours arrived. They captured it alive."
Zei glanced at Mihon, his eyes narrowing slightly. "How did you learn about this?"
Mihon smirked, unfazed. "I did some digging." He shot Zei a pointed look.
Aeron's voice dropped as he put the pieces together. "The cultist infiltrated our camp because we hurt the Queen Shadowfang…" His jaw clenched. "That's why he holds such a grudge against us."
A tense silence hung in the air before Aeron broke it. "I have more information to share."
Zei's eyes flickered with curiosity. "Go on."
"That cultist," Aeron continued, his voice steady, "he's a member of the Demon King's Representative Cult."
Zei's eyes widened slightly, while Mihon leaned forward, intrigued. "And how do you know that?" Mihon asked.
Aeron crossed his arms. "We fought another one at Riverbranch Town. He escaped, but he gave us valuable intel. The cultist we're dealing with is said to be one of the most dangerous in this world—he has the power to summon monster swarms."
"That explains the attack," Zei muttered, realization dawning on him.
"And why he's so enraged at us," Aeron added.
"We have to prepare for battle," Zei said, his tone sharp. "He'll come back to finish what he started—and to make sure Colonel Leona is dead."
Mihon's eyes glinted with certainty. "He'll strike at dusk."
Aeron raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure?"
"A summoner gains most of his strength at night," Mihon explained. "And, more importantly, we saw his shadow dummies disappear when exposed to light."
Aeron processed that information before nodding. "Then I think we should take a gamble."
Mihon grinned confidently. "Now we're talking."
"Let's strategize, then," Aeron suggested, his mind already formulating a plan.
Zei exhaled, his expression grim. "Earlier we barely survived."
"This time," Aeron said, clenching his fist, "we end this psycho's rampage."
Everyone exchanged determined glances, the weight of the upcoming battle settling over them. The tension in the air was thick, but beneath it was something else—anticipation. A storm was coming, and this time, they would be ready.
As Dusk Settles…
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of crimson and violet. Aeron and Mihon sat at the edge of their camp, gazing toward the dense forest that loomed before them. The air was thick with tension, an eerie stillness settling over the land.
"How did you complete your mission so quickly?" Aeron asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Mihon leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. "Our mission was canceled," he said, his tone unusually serious. "Our client was killed."
Aeron frowned, turning to face Mihon. "Killed? By who?"
"They say it was done by a group called the 13 Assassins."
The name sent a shiver down Aeron's spine. "Who are they?"
Mihon exhaled, his gaze darkening. "The 13 Assassins are an elite group—thirteen of the deadliest killers in this World. They're ghosts in the night, striking before their targets even realize they're in danger. No one has ever survived an encounter with them." Mihon glanced at Aeron, his expression grave. "You'll face them soon enough."
Aeron narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher Mihon's words. "What do you mean?"
Before Mihon could answer, his ears twitched. His body stiffened. "I hear something."
Aeron turned his attention to the forest. The low, guttural growls of Shadowfangs echoed from the darkness, their glowing eyes piercing through the gloom. Overhead, the powerful wings of Stormclaws cut through the sky, their monstrous forms silhouetted against the dimming light.
"They're here," Aeron muttered under his breath, his muscles tensing.
"Everyone, get to your positions!" Aeron's voice rang through the camp.
As the soldiers scrambled into action, Mihon smirked slightly. "Hope the plan works."
Aeron took a deep breath, steadying himself. "It will."
The Battle Begins…
"Team A, move in!" Zei's sharp command echoed across the camp.
Five cadets rushed forward, each throwing glass bottles filled with blood onto the ground. The pungent scent spread through the air in an instant. The Shadowfangs, drawn to the smell, snarled and lunged forward, charging blindly toward the source. More than a hundred of them emerged from the forest.
"That's… a hell of a lot of them," Zei muttered under his breath, gripping his weapon tighter. "Team B, begin your phase!"
Ten more cadets stepped forward, throwing bottles filled with antibiotics in a wide circle around the rampaging beasts. As the pungent chemical spread, the Shadowfangs recoiled, their bodies trembling as they struggled to escape the overwhelming scent. But as they turned, another set of cadets rushed forward, reinforcing the barrier with more bottles, sealing them inside the toxic ring.
The creatures thrashed violently, unable to bear the suffocating odor. Their snarls turned to panicked whimpers.
"Team C, ATTACK!" Zei roared.
From the trees near the forest, hidden cadets launched grenades toward the trapped Shadowfangs. Explosions erupted across the battlefield, sending fire and debris into the air. But the real destruction came from beneath them—TNTs had already been buried under their feet. The force of the grenades triggered a chain reaction, and in a matter of seconds, a deafening BOOM echoed through the air, consuming the Shadowfangs in a violent inferno.
As the smoke cleared, silence fell over the battlefield.
Zei let out a breath, a rare smirk crossing his face. He thinks of Aeron. "That was a damn good plan."
"Now we have to deal with the Stormclaws," Zei muttered, looking up as the winged beasts circled above.
"Anti-air unit, get ready!" Zei commanded, his voice sharp.
Meanwhile…
In the dense underbrush, hidden from sight, Aeron and Mihon observed the battlefield.
"Everything's going according to plan," Aeron murmured.
Mihon, however, didn't look convinced. His sharp eyes darted through the shadows. "I just hope nothing unexpected happens."
Aeron glanced at him, sensing the unease in his tone. "We should get moving."
"Let's go. Mihon smirked,