Closing in on the Objective

The group moved through the forest cautiously, the faint sound of their boots crunching against the underbrush the only noise breaking the stillness. Evan kept his focus on Simulate, mapping the terrain and keeping an eye out for potential threats. Despite the tension in the group, the mission had gone smoothly so far.

That was until the rustling in the bushes began.

"Something's there," Mira said, drawing her weapon.

A low growl echoed from the shadows, and a beast—a Fangcrawler—stepped into view. It was a low-level creature, about the size of a large dog, with sharp fangs and a sleek, scaly body.

"Just one," Lars said confidently, motioning to Ilyra, Mira, and Callen. "We've got this."

The four of them immediately moved into formation, coordinating without hesitation. Evan and Cedric stood back, unacknowledged and ignored as the group dispatched the creature with relative ease. It was over in moments, the Fangcrawler collapsing under their combined assault.

"Simple enough," Lars said, wiping his blade on the grass. He glanced at Evan and Cedric. "Thanks for the support."

Evan didn't react, but Cedric tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing at his lips.

The group had barely moved another mile when the next threat appeared. This time, two Fangcrawlers burst from the trees. Lars immediately took charge again, calling for the others to form up.

"Evan, Cedric—stay back," he barked.

The group of four engaged one of the beasts, their movements practiced but not flawless. Meanwhile, the second Fangcrawler darted around the fight, circling the edges.

Evan's Simulate flared, showing him the creature's movements in perfect clarity. "There's another one coming up on your left," he warned.

But Lars ignored him, too focused on the fight in front of him. The second Fangcrawler lunged, slashing at Mira and leaving a shallow cut on her arm. She cried out, stumbling back as the beast reared for another strike.

Cedric reacted instantly. He conjured a dagger—a glowing, solid construct that materialized in his hand in an instant—and drove it into the creature's side. The Fangcrawler let out a guttural hiss before collapsing, its body twitching as Cedric stepped back, his breathing steady.

The group froze, staring at Cedric in stunned silence.

"Did you just—" Lars started, his voice incredulous.

"Finish the fight," Cedric interrupted, nodding toward the first Fangcrawler, which was still circling.

Lars scowled but didn't argue, turning back to deal with the remaining beast. When the battle was over, the group regrouped, their eyes lingering on Cedric.

"That was... efficient," Callen admitted reluctantly.

Cedric shrugged, his calm expression unchanging. "I didn't want anyone else getting hurt."

The group set up camp as the sun dipped below the horizon. They took turns keeping watch, rotating shifts to ensure everyone got some rest. Evan and Cedric shared a quiet moment near the edge of the camp, the firelight casting flickering shadows across their faces.

"You're getting the hang of it," Evan said, nodding toward Cedric.

Cedric grinned. "Thanks to you. But I think Lars is starting to warm up to me. A little."

Evan smirked. "Don't hold your breath."

The night passed uneventfully, and by dawn, the group was back on the move.

Evan's Simulate pulsed faintly as he walked, the terrain ahead lighting up in his mind. A signal appeared—clear, deliberate, and unmistakable. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the figure moving ahead. It wasn't an animal, and it certainly wasn't another apprentice.

"There's a Murkwalker up ahead," Evan said evenly, his tone calm but certain.

The group stopped abruptly, exchanging glances.

"Makes no sense," Lars said, frowning. "We're too far from the lagoon. They've never been reported this close to the camp."

Ilyra nodded in agreement. "If something that dangerous was this close, the Tower would've sent out a warning."

Mira, the group's tracker, closed her eyes briefly and murmured a spell. A soft green light emanated from her fingertips, spreading outward in faint ripples. She opened her eyes a moment later, her brow furrowed. "I'm not picking up anything unusual," she said. "Nothing that feels like a Murkwalker."

Evan didn't argue. He knew what he had seen through Simulate, but there was no point in trying to convince them further.

"Fine," Lars said after a pause, turning to lead the group. "We'll move ahead carefully, but there's probably nothing there."

Evan held back, slowing his pace as the group advanced. Cedric stayed close beside him, his calm presence grounding.

"What do you think?" Cedric asked quietly.

"It's there," Evan said without hesitation. "They'll see it soon enough."

Cedric nodded, activating the Potency Mark on his back. The glow rippled faintly, enhancing his strength as he adjusted his grip on his conjured dagger. He didn't doubt Evan's words for a second.

The forest grew denser as they moved forward, the air heavy with silence. Evan remained a few paces behind the main group, his eyes sharp and his awareness heightened. Then it came—a low, guttural growl that seemed to vibrate through the trees.

The group ahead froze.

"What was that?" Callen asked, his voice tight.

No one answered.

The Murkwalker appeared suddenly, stepping out from behind a large tree. It was hunched over, its webbed claws digging into the bark, as though it had been searching for something. Its scaled body glistened faintly in the dappled light, and every movement radiated raw power.

Mira gasped, her hand tightening around her staff. "No way," she whispered.

The creature turned, its sickly yellow eyes locking onto the group. Its mouth curled into a snarl, revealing rows of jagged teeth. The apprentices stood frozen, the reality of the situation crashing over them.

"That's a Murkwalker," Lars said, his voice trembling.

"It can't be this close," Mira whispered. "It's not possible."

The creature let out a screech, slamming one clawed hand into the ground. The forest seemed to shudder, and then a wave of thick, mud-like sludge surged forward, racing toward the group with terrifying speed.

"Get back!" Lars shouted.

The apprentices reacted immediately, their training kicking in. Mira raised her staff, conjuring a shimmering barrier of water that slowed the wave's advance. Lars and Callen worked together, creating powerful gusts of wind that deflected some of the sludge. Ilyra activated a body-enhancement spell, boosting her agility to leap out of the way just in time.

Despite their efforts, the wave hit with significant force. Mira and Callen were knocked to the ground, their barriers faltering under the weight of the attack. Lars stumbled, the mud clinging to his boots and slowing him down. Even Ilyra, despite her quick movements, was caught partially off guard, her breathing labored as she regained her footing.

Evan and Cedric watched from a short distance, the scene playing out exactly as Evan had anticipated. The group struggled to regroup, their coordination faltering as the Murkwalker advanced with deliberate steps.

Cedric glanced at Evan, his tone calm but resolute. "Guess they believe you now."

Evan smirked faintly, stepping forward as he activated the mark on his chest. A wave of energy surged into his core, steady and unrelenting.

"We've got this," Evan said, his voice steady.

Cedric nodded, his confidence unwavering. The glow of his Potency Mark flared brighter as he conjured a second dagger, the weapons gleaming in his hands.

The Murkwalker snarled again, its eyes flicking toward the two apprentices who hadn't been caught in its attack. It straightened, its posture predatory as it prepared for another assault.

"Let's finish it," Cedric said simply.

Evan's core pulsed as he stepped forward, ready to take control of the fight.