Ch 40 : The Raid

It was a quiet Sunday at the Spell Training Ground, with most students either enjoying their day outside the academy or resting in their rooms. Under the shade of a large tree, Auron and his friends sat peacefully, each absorbed in their cultivation practice. Auron, using his mystical eyes, monitored their progress as they operated the Soul Harmonization Art, watching the erratic flow of spirit energy being absorbed by each of them.

"You're all doing well. Just take it slow and steady," Auron encouraged, his voice calm yet focused.

"Alice, calm down. You're going too fast," he advised, noticing her trying to rush the process.

A while later, Auron could see their souls beginning to swell, signaling the next stage of cultivation. "Your souls are starting to swell. You must feel the discomfort by now," Auron said, his tone more serious. "Now, follow the compression part of the Soul Harmonization Art."

He gave a stern warning. "Focus and hold on to the pain. If you lose concentration, your soul could explode, and you'll die."

The tension in the air thickened as his friends began the soul compression process. Their bodies trembled, and they clenched their teeth in agony. The pain was intense, but it was a necessary step toward strengthening their souls.

After a grueling session, Alice and Thyra were the first to finish, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion but with a sense of achievement. Eliot followed soon after, breathing heavily but relieved. Walter, as an Augmenter, took longer than the others. His soul was naturally weaker, as Augmenters focused more on physical training than soul refinement, unlike Conjurers, who naturally cultivated their souls alongside their spellcasting.

"How do you all feel?" Auron asked, watching them recover. "Painful, right? But there's no shortcut to strength. You've got to endure hardship to grow."

Thyra, still catching her breath, looked at Auron curiously. "Where did you get this Soul Harmonization Art, Auron? It's so powerful… I don't think your parents could have given you something like this."

Auron paused, then smiled faintly. "Let's keep that a secret, alright? Don't mention this to anyone—not even your parents. It could bring us all trouble."

His friends nodded, sensing the seriousness behind his words.

"I can also help you with your Grimoire and mana circulation manual," Auron continued. "I don't understand why the academy separates these two things when they complement each other perfectly. But I'll need your Heavenly Rune sets to create the most suitable combinations."

Without hesitation, his friends handed over their Heavenly Rune set books, trusting Auron completely. After all, he had already shared his secrets with them and was genuinely invested in their cultivation progress.

"Thanks for trusting me," Auron said, tucking the books away. "Creating the Grimoire and mana circulation manuals will take some time. In the meantime, you should focus on adjusting your spell arsenal to suit your Heavenly Runes."

He then turned to Walter. "As for you, Walter, you should focus on training your body and shield techniques. Your body is already being nourished by your dense earth like mana, so you'll progress even without a body refinement manual. But I'll try to find one for you. It might just take a while."

Walter smiled, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "That's fine. I can wait."

"I know you can," Auron replied, reassuringly. "We'll all get stronger together, step by step."

Deep in the heart of Gloom Wood Forest, a troop of soldiers set up camp near the infamous Dead Water Hollow. The swamp, filled with poisonous plants and venomous beasts, was one of the most dangerous regions of the forest. Under the dim light of their encampment, Old Chris and Old Tim sat in a spacious tent, discussing their plan with a man whose tan skin was adorned with tattoos that marked him as Chief Moonclaw, leader of the local wolf clan.

"Thank you, Chief Moonclaw, for your cooperation. Without your help, it would've been nearly impossible to track this abyssal creature," Old Chris said, gratitude in his voice.

"It's no trouble. This beast has affected my tribe as well. Our Nightmare Wolf was driven out of its territory, and this area is practically our backyard," Chief Moonclaw replied, his tone sharp with determination.

"You've been a great help. I've been after this creature for months, and every time it's slipped through my fingers, leaving its minions to wear us down," Old Tim added, frustration evident in his expression.

"My scouts have reported no unusual activity near the ancient tree. Are you certain it's still there?" Old Chris asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

"I can't be entirely sure, but my wolves sense something off. Their instincts don't lie—there's an abyssal aura nearby," Chief Moonclaw said, his eyes gleaming with the confidence he had in his wolves.

Old Chris nodded, turning to his team. "Prepare yourselves. I'll lead the vanguard, Chief Moonclaw will be the second attacker. Old Tim, stay back and provide ranged support. Do not let that thing escape again."

With their plan in place, the soldiers made their way to the swamp. Old Chris, clad in his black armor, raised his sword and shouted, "Commence the raid!" His blade slashed down toward the ancient tree, signaling the beginning of the attack.

Suddenly, the ground erupted as a swarm of infected beasts emerged. Twisted and deformed, their grotesque bodies thrashed wildly in their maddened state. The soldiers quickly formed a battle line, suppressing the rampaging beasts with practiced precision.

"There it is, trying to run!" Old Chris spotted the abyssal creature attempting to flee. "Thunder Sword Skill: Thunderous Gale Slash!" His sword glowed with a dazzling light as it cleaved through the air, striking the creature with a crackling force.

The abyssal howled in pain, its voice dripping with malice. "Curse you pests! Once I regain my full strength, I will devour every human in this region!" It writhed in agony, trying to slip through the lines of soldiers.

But Chief Moonclaw and his Shadow Wolf were ready. "You won't escape this time! Ravenous Claw Assault!" The chief unleashed a flurry of saber strikes, each blow as heavy as a mountain.

To their surprise, the abyssal creature dodged the attacks with unnatural agility. "You think you can sneak up on me? I sensed you from the beginning!" the creature sneered before attempting another escape.

Just as it moved, a volley of arrows sliced through the air, pinning the abyssal to the bark of the ancient tree. "Got you now!" Old Tim shouted from the distance, his aim precise.

Furious, the abyssal cursed them all. "You think this will stop me? Dream on!" Its body began to swell ominously, the unmistakable sign of an impending self-destruction.

"Take cover!" Old Chris shouted, retreating as fast as possible.

Boom! The ancient tree was obliterated in a massive explosion, sending debris flying in all directions.

As the dust settled, Old Chris scanned the battlefield. "Is everyone alright?"

"I'm fine. I retreated the moment I saw it swell up," Chief Moonclaw answered, his Shadow Wolf sniffing the air with a puzzled expression.

"I can't smell the abyssal anymore. My wolves have lost its trail," the chief added grimly. "I don't know if it's truly dead, but we can't track it now."

Old Chris cursed under his breath. "All troops, gather here. Check for injuries and account for all personnel," he ordered.

"Sir, no casualties, but a few of the men are heavily injured. They'll need time to recover," reported the Vice Commander, his voice laced with concern.

"Tend to the wounded. The rest of you, begin a full search of the area. I want confirmation that the abyssal is dead. If you see anything suspicious, report back immediately—do not engage," Old Chris commanded, his voice hard and unyielding.

"Yes, sir!" The soldiers dispersed under the Vice Commander's orders, combing through the wreckage of the swamp, hoping that their long battle against the abyssal had finally come to an end.