THE PALM CLANS RESISTANCE

From the mountain ridge, Edward narrowed his eyes as he spotted movement below. A group of ten beast warriors emerged from the forest, their postures alert as they approached the resource base, ready to take up defensive positions.

"Company's arrived," Edward muttered through the link. "About ten of them. Looks like a patrol squad."

"Are we moving in?" Storm's voice was eager, but measured.

Edward smirked, pulling Sky's Requiem from his back. "I'll go first. Once I fire, you all move in. Cause havoc."

With controlled precision, he nocked an arrow, the moment he pulled back the string, the winds shifted—as if nature itself bowed to the legendary weapon. A spiraling gust of air swirled around the arrow, and the moment he released, it pierced through the sky with a deafening whistle, tearing through the air at impossible speeds. The projectile left a spiraling cloud trail behind it, slicing downward toward the beasts below.

The moment it struck its target—a broad-shouldered boar beast—there was an explosive impact, sending a shockwave of wind blasting outward. The boar was sent flying back, crashing into a stack of supply crates with a sickening crunch, unmoving.

Chaos erupted.

"Ambush!" A deep voice bellowed.

The gusting explosion sent a shockwave rippling through the trees, dust and splinters flying as the boar beast was flung back, crashing through a pile of supply crates. His comrades barely had time to react before Storm and Rain were already upon them, moving like phantoms through the chaos.

Four warriors stood firm despite the ambush, unshaken by the sudden assault.

They were Palm Clan's Squad four, sent to guard the resource base. At the front was Hagan, a towering rhino beast, his thick, armor-like hide making him look like an immovable force. He gripped a massive warhammer, the sheer weight of it making the earth beneath him crack with every step.

Beside him, crouched low like a predator ready to pounce, was Vekta, a tiger beast, his orange fur slashed with dark stripes. His sharp, golden eyes gleamed with hunger as he twirled a pair of curved daggers, their edges gleaming wickedly under the sunlight.

To his left, Zorrel, a lean antelope beast, spun a long spear with expert precision, his hooves barely making a sound as he shifted into a defensive stance. His speed was unmatched among his squad, and his dark eyes flicked between the attackers, calculating.

At the rear, standing with eerie stillness, was Selka, a leopard beast. Her body was covered in sleek black rosettes, her muscles coiled like a viper ready to strike. She wore clawed gauntlets, flexing her fingers as she studied Storm and Rain with a cold, unsettling gaze.

Hagan snorted, his deep voice cutting through the chaos. "You've got some nerve coming this deep into Delria."

"Brazen, aren't they?" Zorrel mused, his spear spinning lazily in his grasp.

Vekta bared his fangs in a feral grin. "Been a while since I had some fun."

"Then let's not waste time," Storm shot forward, her twin scythes—Chione's Embrace—flaring with frost.

The Battle Ignites

Vekta met Storm's charge head-on, his twin daggers flashing like streaks of silver. His speed was relentless, each slash aimed to carve her apart. But Storm was faster—she twisted through his attacks, her scythes whirling like a deadly blizzard.

Ice formed with every swing, frost trailing behind her as she met each strike. Vekta lunged low, aiming to slice at her exposed legs, but she vaulted over him mid-spin, her scythe grazing his shoulder. A layer of ice formed over the wound, spreading rapidly.

Vekta hissed and tore himself free before it could lock his muscles. "Tch—annoying."

Rain, meanwhile, was a blazing inferno, her Ashen Fists igniting with every strike. Selka was fast—too fast—but Rain's reflexes kept up, her fists meeting the leopard's razor-sharp claws in a flurry of fiery clashes.

Selka ducked, rolling under a flaming punch, then twisted mid-air, aiming a devastating claw strike at Rain's exposed side. But Rain was already moving—she caught Selka's wrist and launched a scorching uppercut, flames erupting upon impact.

Selka flew back, rolling into a crouch, her gauntlets singed black. She snarled, eyes narrowing.

Zorrel moved to assist, his spear stabbing toward Rain's ribs with blinding speed. But Edward's arrow shrieked through the sky, tearing through the air like a vengeful god.

The wind howled.

Zorrel barely dodged in time, the projectile grazing his arm before it struck the ground behind him. A violent gust erupted upon impact, sending debris flying, nearly knocking him off balance.

"Damn sniper!" Selka hissed, her sharp eyes flicking toward the mountain ridge.

Above them, Edward was already drawing another arrow, his cold gaze locked onto his next target.

Hagan finally moved. The ground trembled as he swung his warhammer at Storm with terrifying force.

Storm dodged just in time, but the shockwave of the impact blasted her back, sending ice and dust scattering into the air.

Vekta pounced, using the opening—but Edward's arrow ripped through the sky again, aimed directly for his chest.

Vekta twisted his body mid-leap, avoiding the deadly shot by mere inches, but the force of the wind still sent him crashing into the dirt.

Hagan gritted his teeth, frustration flashing in his dark eyes.

"We need to take out that sniper—NOW!"

Hagan's resolve hardened as he gripped his warhammer. His dark eyes flicked toward the distant ridge where Edward stood, releasing arrows with lethal precision. Every shot sent gusts of wind howling through the battlefield, disrupting his squad's movements.

"This isn't working," Hagan growled. "You guys keep these two occupied—I'm taking out that sniper."

He turned, his massive form thundering toward the ridge.

Storm and Rain moved to intercept, but they were stopped.

Vekta rushed Storm again, his twin daggers a blur. She barely had time to react before he was right in her face, his strikes cutting through the air like fangs seeking flesh. She twisted, parrying one blade with a scythe, but the second came too fast— slicing through the fabric of her sleeve, leaving a thin red line along her forearm.

"Tch—persistent," she muttered, retaliating with a wide arc of her blade. A surge of frost erupted from her scythe, forcing Vekta to leap back before the ice could cling to him.

At the same time, Selka and Zorrel lunged at Rain.

Selka moved first, her leopard-like agility making her a blur as she dashed forward, claws aimed for Rain's throat.

**Rain ducked low, fire bursting from her gauntlets as she countered with a rising punch—**but Zorrel's spear shot toward her side, forcing her to twist away. The spearhead barely missed, grazing her ribs as she spun.

"Not bad," Zorrel admitted, his hooves kicking up dust as he shifted into another stance. "But you're outnumbered."

Rain smirked, her fists igniting. "Then I'll just burn through all of you."

Hagan kept running, ignoring the battle raging behind him. His target was clear—Edward. And he wouldn't let anything stop him.