Who are these guys

As the sun rose, its warm light streamed through the windows, gently waking the group. One by one, they stirred, stretched, and got ready for the day. They met downstairs in the inn's cozy dining area, where the smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs greeted them.

June sipped on a cup of Hot chocolate milk, looking more refreshed than usual. "Morning, everyone. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a rock," Axel replied, piling his plate with food. "We'll need the energy if we're heading back on the road."

Caius nodded, glancing at the map laid out on the table. "The Verdant Isles aren't far from here, but it'll still take most of the day. Better to be well-fed before we go."

Dylan, already halfway through his breakfast, grinned. "Yeah, let's make sure we eat enough. Who knows what kind of trouble we'll run into on the way?"

After finishing their meal, the group gathered their belongings, checked their gear, and set out once again. The village slowly disappeared behind them as they followed the plains path, their thoughts filled with anticipation for what awaited them in the mysterious Verdant Isles.

As they walked along the plains, the gentle breeze carried with it the sound of thundering hooves. Suddenly, a carriage came into view, barreling toward them at full speed, its wheels kicking up a cloud of dust behind it.

Caius narrowed his eyes, instantly alert. "Guys, look at that!" he shouted, pointing at the approaching carriage. "Something's not right."

The driver looked panicked, frantically whipping the reins. Behind the carriage, shadows moved swiftly something was clearly giving chase.

June furrowed her brow. "What's going on? Should we help them?"

Dylan tilted his head, watching closely. "Looks like trouble. Might be bandits or worse."

Axel cracked his knuckles, a grin forming on his face. "Guess our peaceful walk just got interesting."

The group braced themselves, ready to jump into action as the carriage sped closer.

As the carriage drew closer, the group finally caught sight of the threat behind it a horde of snarling lesser orcs, their crude weapons glinting in the sunlight. The orcs charged relentlessly, their eyes locked on the carriage with a frenzied hunger.

Caius clenched his fists. "Lesser orcs... That's a lot of them. They must be after something inside that carriage!"

June glanced at the driver, who looked pale and desperate. "We need to stop those orcs before they catch up."

Axel smirked and cracked his neck. "Alright, time for some action. Let's clear them out."

Dylan drew his sword, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Finally, some fun. Let's show these orcs they picked the wrong target."

The group spread out, ready to intercept the oncoming horde. The plains that had once felt peaceful were now filled with tension as the battle loomed ahead.

The air crackled with energy as June raised her staff, casting an area wide stun spell. A flash of blue light burst from her, freezing the lesser orcs in place. They struggled to move, their bodies locked by the magical force.

Alisan followed up swiftly, slamming her staff into the ground. "Crushing Surge!" she shouted, sending a powerful shockwave rippling across the plains. The ground trembled, knocking several orcs off their feet and creating an opening for the others.

Axel charged in with his fists, pummeling the stunned orcs with devastating blows, Dylan moved with lightning speed caused by his Accelerate, striking with precision, while Cauis cut through the remaining enemies with swift sword strikes Enchanted by his Aetherglow.

The team moved in perfect sync, quickly thinning the horde.

As the number of lesser orcs dwindled, their confidence quickly crumbled. One by one, they began to retreat, their guttural growls turning into fearful whimpers. Realizing they were no match for the group, the remaining orcs turned and fled, disappearing into the plains.

Axel cracked his knuckles, smirking. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Run."

June lowered her hands, the glow of her magic fading. "Well, that was easier than expected."

Cauis glanced toward the carriage. "Let's check on whoever's inside. We should find out what those orcs were after."

As they approached the carriage, the driver leaned out, breathing heavily. "Thank you! You saved my life!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with relief.

Cauis crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Before we accept your thanks… why were those lesser orcs chasing you? What's in the carriage?" His suspicion was evident.

Without waiting for an answer, Dylan silently slipped to the side of the carriage, peeking inside. His eyes widened as he noticed several small, frightened lesser orc children huddled together. He stepped back and whispered to Cauis, "Uh… I think I know why they were chasing him. There are lesser orc kids in here."

He turned back to the driver, his voice steady but sharp. "I think I know why now… You've got a bunch of lesser orc children in here. Care to explain that?"

The driver's face went pale, his eyes darting nervously between the group. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated, clearly searching for the right words. "I... I was asked to transport them," he stammered. "I swear, I didn't know it would cause this kind of trouble! They told me it was urgent, and I couldn't refuse."

Cauis crossed his arms, his expression hardening. "Urgent, huh? And who exactly told you to do this?"

The driver swallowed hard, sweat forming on his brow. "I… I can't say. If they find out I told you, I'll be finished."

Cauis paused, his thoughts racing, and then it hit him. "It's for slavery, isn't it?" he asked, his voice cold with realization

The driver flinched at Cauis's words, his face betraying the truth. He nodded reluctantly, lowering his gaze. "Yes... It was for the black market. They're being sold as slaves to the highest bidder. I didn't want to be a part of it, but they threatened me. I didn't have a choice."

Cauis's fists clenched, a mix of anger and disgust swirling inside him. "So you were helping to traffic children for profit, even if they're monster they're still kids" He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady.

The driver was visibly shaken, his voice pleading. "Please, you have to understand. I didn't mean for this to happen. I just... I didn't have a choice!"

The driver's desperate words were cut short as a crack of thunder echoed through the air, and a bolt of lightning streaked down from the sky. Before anyone could react, Dylan's enchanted senses flared. He immediately shoved everyone away from the blast's path, his own body taking the brunt of the lightning's strike.

A painful jolt shot through him, but he gritted his teeth, trying to push through the searing heat and the electrical current that coursed through his veins. The smell of burnt fabric filled the air as the lightning scorched his clothes, but he stood his ground, barely able to keep his balance. "Everyone... okay?" Dylan managed to say through clenched teeth, his body shaking from the impact.

The group immediately went on high alert, their eyes narrowing as three men in black cloaks emerged from the shadows. Their faces were obscured, but their presence was unmistakable an aura of danger clung to them like a heavy mist.

One of the men, his voice cold and commanding, spoke up. "Leave that carriage alone and forget about this, or you will all die."

The tension in the air thickened. June instinctively summoned a thin layer of frost around her hands, ready for whatever might come next. Alisan's eyes flicked toward Axel, who cracked his knuckles with a grim grin. Dylan, still feeling the aftereffects of the lightning strike, stood his ground, his gaze unwavering.

Cauis, ever the strategist, spoke up first, his voice calm yet firm. "We're not just going to walk away from this after you attacked us.

The tension erupted in an instant. The cloaked figures wasted no time, launching themselves at the group with lethal intent. One of the men made a beeline for Dylan, his hand crackling with dark energy as he aimed to finish what the lightning strike had started.

But Axel was faster. He intercepted the strike, pushing Dylan out of the way just in time. The enemy's attack missed, and Axel grabbed the man by the arm, his powerful muscles effortlessly tossing him aside like a ragdoll.

The remaining two cloaked figures, undeterred, began circling the group. Dylan, his heart still pounding from the lightning strike, quickly regained his composure. "Thanks, Axel," he muttered, scanning their opponents.

The clash of steel and the hum of magic filled the air as the two cloaked figures attacked with precision and speed. Cauis engaged with one of the men, his sword flashing as he parried and struck, but the cloaked man was quick, narrowly avoiding each of Cauis's blows. June and Alisan fought the other, their combined magic a formidable force, but the man seemed to slip through their attacks with unnerving agility.

The group, despite their skills, began to feel the pressure mounting. The cloaked men fought with a cold, calculated determination, their movements almost as if they anticipated every counter. With each passing moment, it became clear that their opponents were no ordinary mercenaries. The group was at a disadvantage exhausted from the earlier battle with the orcs, their mana reserves dwindling, and now facing opponents who seemed to know their every move.

Dylan, still recovering from the lightning strike, knew they couldn't hold out forever. His eyes darted between the group, gauging the situation, as he sensed the growing danger. "We can't keep this up!" he shouted, his voice tinged with urgency.

Axel, still on alert, gritted his teeth as he fended off one of the black-clad figures. "We need a plan! Now!"

Alisan, feeling the weight of the situation, cast a quick glance at June. "We can't outlast them like this. We need to hit them hard, together!"

The group knew that if they didn't come up with something fast, they would be overwhelmed. The odds were stacked against them—but they had to find a way to turn the tide.

As Dylan recovered, he approached Axel, who was still fighting, and touched him. "Axel, get used to this," he said, pouring his mana into him, Axel felt a sudden rush of energy surge through his body as Dylan's mana flowed into him. His vision blurred for a moment, and then everything around him seemed to slow, yet his body moved with lightning speed. Axel's muscles responded faster than ever before, the weight of his punches now carrying an immense force behind them. The world around him seemed to stretch, each movement feeling like a blur of intense motion.

Axel nodded sharply, his grin widening as the power surged through him. His every muscle screamed with newfound speed. Without wasting a second, he launched himself at the cloaked man before him, his fists a blur of motion. He could feel the magic's effect enhancing his natural brawler instincts, the impact of his punches now stronger and faster than ever.

The cloaked figure barely had time to react before Axel landed a crushing blow to his chest, sending him crashing backward with a grunt of pain. Axel didn't hesitate. He was already on the move again, closing the distance between him and his opponent, using the momentum of the spell to deliver a rapid barrage of punches.

The remaining cloaked figure facing Axel's newfound power hesitated for a split second, clearly surprised by the sudden speed and ferocity. That moment of doubt was all Axel needed. He swept the enemy off their feet with a sweeping leg kick, following it up with a powerful punch that sent the figure sprawling.

Dylan, watching from a distance, nodded with satisfaction. "That's it, Axel," he muttered. "Keep going."

With Axel now at full speed, the group began to see a shift in the fight's dynamic. The cloaked figures, who had previously held the upper hand, now had to contend with Axel's relentless speed and power. The battle was far from over, but with this new advantage, the group might just stand a chance.

As Axel surged forward, aiming to finish off the cloaked figure, the enemy suddenly vanished into a dark mist, dissipating into the air with unnatural speed. Axel stopped in his tracks, eyes wide, looking around in confusion. "What the...?" he muttered, his fists clenched, ready for whatever came next.

Axel's focus snapped back to the battle as Dylan shouted, "HELP JUNE AND ALISAN, AXEL, FAST!" He glanced at Dylan just in time to see him gulping down a mana potion. Axel's mind raced, knowing the urgency of the situation.

Without a moment's hesitation, Axel turned on his heel and rushed toward June and Alisan, his speed enhanced by Dylan's magic. His movements were a blur, faster than any of the cloaked figures had anticipated. He slammed into one of the enemies, sending them sprawling back, giving June and Alisan the opening they needed to regroup.

June and Alisan exchanged surprised glances as Axel effortlessly took down one of the cloaked figures, his speed unlike anything they'd seen before.

"Axel, you're fast! What happened?" June asked, her voice a mix of astonishment and curiosity.

Axel grinned, catching his breath. "Dylan did something. He… poured his mana into me and activated some kind of speed boost called 'Accelerate.' I don't know how long it'll last, but it's definitely a game changer."

Alisan raised an eyebrow. "He did that for you mid-battle? That's... impressive."

"Yeah," Axel replied, cracking his knuckles as he eyed the remaining cloaked figures. "I'll make good use of it while it lasts." He charged back into the fray, moving faster than the enemies could react.

Axel's punch connected with the cloaked figure, but instead of the satisfying impact he expected, the figure dissolved into a swirling dark mist, vanishing into the air. Axel stumbled forward slightly, his fist passing through where the figure had been.

"What the—?" Axel muttered, looking around for any sign of the enemy.

The remaining cloaked figure, watching from the shadows, remained eerily still. Dylan, fully recovered now, tightened his grip on his dagger. "They're not done yet," he said, his voice low and focused. "This isn't over."

As the cloaked figure moved swiftly toward June, preparing to land a deadly strike, Dylan's instincts kicked in. In an instant, his body blurred, and with the power of Temporal Dusk, it appeared as though he had teleported directly in front of the cloaked man. His dagger, coated in the magic of acceleration, pierced the figure's side, the attack landing with precision before the man could react.

The cloaked man froze for a moment, the shock of the attack coursing through him. He let out a choked gasp, his weapon slipping from his hand as he staggered back. Dylan's eyes were cold as he twisted the dagger, ensuring the man wouldn't recover.

"Don't even think about it," Dylan growled, his voice steady and menacing as the man collapsed to the ground.

June, still catching her breath from the near-miss, turned to Dylan with a mix of gratitude and surprise. "That was close... and impressive. Thanks."

une's words hung in the air, but before she could say anything more, the cloaked figure that Dylan had just struck began to dissolve. The man's form twisted, and within seconds, he evaporated into a swirling dark mist, disappearing into the air like smoke vanishing into the wind.

As Cauis continued to struggle against his cloaked opponent, his frustration and desperation clear in his voice, he shouted, "A LITTLE HELP HERE, GUYS?!"

Dylan, still on high alert, shot a glance toward Cauis. "On it!" he called, his voice determined. With a quick flick of his wrist, he activated his Temporal Dusk magic once more. As he coated his dagger with his magic, the blade seemed to shimmer, almost like it was speeding up in time itself. Without hesitation, he threw it with pinpoint precision at the cloaked man.

The dagger flew through the air, cutting through the distance between them in the blink of an eye. As it struck the cloaked figure, it seemed to distort the very air around him, a blur of motion that no one could quite follow except for the target, who recoiled in pain. The cloaked man staggered back, clearly surprised by the sudden speed and power of Dylan's attack.The others except Cauis stared at the dagger's impact, shocked to see how Dylan had manipulated the magic in such a way. They hadn't known he could apply his Temporal Dusk to weapons like that, and the revelation left them momentarily stunned.

"That was... insane," Axel muttered, eyes wide as he watched the cloaked figure struggle to recover.

Cauis, on the other hand, wasn't fazed. He was too focused on the fight at hand, and with the distraction of the dagger strike, he seized the opportunity to land a powerful blow on his opponent, sending him stumbling back. The group's combined effort now seemed to overwhelm the last of the cloaked figures, and they pressed forward with renewed determination.

As the last cloaked figure dissolved into dark mist, the group let out a collective sigh of relief, their adrenaline finally beginning to settle. They were battered, but victorious.

Dylan, wiping his brow with a smirk, looked over at the group. "Oh yeah, guys," he said casually, as if nothing had happened. "Forgot to tell you the carriage ran off."

The others turned to him, confused for a moment before the realization hit.

"What?!" Axel exclaimed, his hands still clenched in fists from the fight. "The carriage just took off? After all that trouble?"

Dylan shrugged, looking back toward the direction the carriage had gone. "Yep"

June shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "You're unbelievable, Dylan. But I guess it's too late to do anything about it now."

Cauis, taking a deep breath, nodded. "We'll deal with it later. For now, let's rest up."

The group agreed, finding a nearby spot to sit and catch their breath. For the moment, they could relax and prepare for whatever would come next on their journey.

While they were resting, Axel spoke to Dylan. "Dylan, I never knew you could move this fast. Now that I've experienced it, everything felt like it was in slow motion. I'm kinda sad it wore off after you took down the second cloaked man."

Dylan smirked, leaning back slightly. "Yeah, I guess it can be a little overwhelming. It's all about the magic, though. When you've got your senses in sync with time, everything just moves at a different pace."

He shrugged casually. "But it's not a permanent thing, unfortunately. Gotta be strategic with it."

Axel nodded, still impressed. "I gotta say, that speed you showed was something else. Made the fight feel like it was in slow motion for me."

Dylan chuckled. "Well, maybe next time."

June and Alisan bombarded Dylan with questions about his magic.

Alisan asked, "What did you do to Axel? Why was he moving so fast? Did you transfer some of your mana into him?"

Dylan grinned and replied, "Yeah, I did. I poured some of my mana into him and activated Accelerate. It gave him a burst of speed, but it won't last forever."

Cauis smirked, crossing his arms. "You guys forgot about me mid-battle, I'm hurt," he said sarcastically, his tone light but teasing.

Dylan chuckled, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. "You were doing just fine, I was just helping Axel out!"