Plan

As they headed south at a fast pace entering a forest, Ryu quickly found signals of beasts, and now that he knew what to search, it became easy with his enhanced vision skill.

Besides, a pack of 1,5 meters beasts running as a group wasn't exactly the most secretive thing in the world, and just by looking at the ground, it is possible to see four fingers paws mark, revealing the path taken by the horned lizard.

As they found the path, it was easy to keep on the trail, so they started to run, trying to catch with the pack.

However, as they progressed further, an uneasy arose in Ryu's mind, a feeling that he was missing something important, and no matter what, he couldn't get rid of this sensation.

A few minutes later, they heard the characteristic sound of heavy beasts running, just a few moments, and they made visual contact as a group of at least 30 horned lizards appeared ahead.

Varying in size according to their age, the tallest lizards reached 1,6 meters while the smallest had 40 centimeters and were riding at the back of the larger lizards. But what all they all had in common was their thick yellow skin, forming a pattern resembling scales, and the pair of curved black horns pointing forward menacingly.

"Most of them are at the beginning of rank 1, but the mother is a late stage at rank 1." Luise said, indicating the biggest of the lizards as the mother of the pack as the leader.

"Okay, we found the lizards. Now we just have to see if there is a village in this path." Nura said.

As Ryu heard Nura's words, his heart stopped for a moment, the sinister feeling he had been feeling took shape, the path they were heading is a place he knew very well, it leads to the village he spends the last month.

In the next few seconds, he remembered all the people he had met there, Clark, Kevin, John, Susan, and most important of all Anne. Although his time in the village was over, Ryu had a special affection for them as they welcomed him with open arms and helped him develop his resolution to become a cultivator.

"This path goes straight to a village." Ryu said, his voice indicating a severe tone.

"Don't worry, we have done this before, we just have to run ahead and help to reinforce the fence." Nura said, already deducting that this was the village Ryu passed his last month.

"No, this will not work. We have to divert this pack from this path." Ryu said.

"Why not? It worked a few times already, trust me, everything will be fine." Nura said, trying to tranquilize Ryu.

"You don't understand. Because I was there, they have dismantled the fence, I hunted most part of the stronger beasts around, and now they have lowered their guard. Even if you run ahead, you still won't be able to erect the fence in time, we must change these lizards' route." Ryu explained.

"Even if you say so, I can't see how we will do this, this group is running, seeking another home, with our strength, we can't change their route." Luise said, throwing a bomb on Ryu's plan.

"Nura, what about you? With your level, you must be able to take down these beasts, right?" Ryu asked, using the last spark of hope he had.

"Unfortunately, I can't. Truth is that I reached level 19, but the only skill I have is sprint, and with this much to fight, we will be overwhelmed in no time." Ryu answered.

"Luise, there must be something, think, you are the expert of beasts. How do we draw their attention?" Ryu insisted.

After thinking for a while and analyzing all possibilities, Luise opened her mouth to say something, but she stopped before speaking any word. Seeing her action, Ryu insisted until she resolved to speak.

"There is something, but it is impossible. If you take one of the eggs that the mother lizard is carrying, she will go after you and the whole group after her. But the problem is obvious as you will have to pass by all the lizards protecting her, take an egg, and flee." Luise spook, but her voice indicates dissatisfaction.

Luise's words gave Ryu a lot to think about, as there is indeed a way to divert the lizards but to do that, he would have to risk his own life. As for the major problem, she pointed out, bypass the horned lizards acting as bodyguards to the mother leader was not a problem for Ryu because he can skip them with his movement immortal grade skill, however, he would have to deal with a group of angry rank 1 beast chasing him.

The reason for his hesitation was not that Ryu was unwilling to risk his life but for what to do next, where he will take the lizards to make his escape. That moment he remembered a place, the quarry, where he extracted stones, exists a cliff separating a stone quarry from a mountain, the gap was big enough to prevent the lizards from jumping, but Ryu can jump if he uses his stats wisely.

"Okay, I've decided. Nura, you run ahead to the village and make sure to protect them, I will draw the lizards away, but if one or another keeps the route and reach the village, you will deal with them. Once you reach there, tell them you are my friend and what is happening, they shall trust you and follow your orders without any issue, ask for Leoric, Clark, and Susan for help, they will help you manage things." Ryu said.

"You can't be thinking in taking the egg. How will you reach close enough?" Nura asked.

"I have my own way, you don't have to worry if I can get close enough to pick an egg, the real problem is what is going to happen next. But for now, you just trust me, go now." Ryu said.

As Ryu finished his speech, Nura burst forward using his sprint skill, his speed was astonishing, and the trust he placed in his friend was admirable.

"What about us?" Luise asked, pointing to Cahya.

"After I take the egg and start running, you two follow the remaining lizards going to the village and assault them, do your stall them and gain time for Nura. Can you do that?" Ryu said.

"Of course I can. Who you think you are talking with." Luise said, in her always confidant way.

"Ryu... take care. I... nothing." Cahya said with a cute expression, running to keep up with Luise.

This way, everybody was assigned to a task, Ryu had the dangerous part to play, but he was also the most excited, as this was the kind of mission he's always wanted to become a cultivator.