Ashwood Forest…
Russell exhaled shakily, his arms trembling as the final traces of poison left Gravilis' veins.
A faint shimmer of healing nen faded from his palms as he slumped back against a tree.
"That… was exhausting," he muttered.
"But… my control over magical nen has definitely improved because of this…"
The young healer had grown stronger without even realizing it.
Yet as Russell wiped sweat from his brow, he finally noticed something strange Priscilla was gone.
"Priscilla?" he called out, frowning. "Where did you…"
***
Just moments earlier…
Behind a thick tree root, hidden from view, Priscilla stood motionless, her brows furrowed. The voice of Old Man Frank echoed clearly through her mind via magical communication.
"There's been a change of plans," the old man said calmly.
"For now, your mission is to stay close to the twins. Help them. Gain their trust. Do not act without direct instruction. Understood?"
Priscilla narrowed her eyes. "Understood, Grandmaster Frank. This little one will not fail you."
"Good. I'll be watching."
The link severed.
She remained still for a few seconds, processing the strange turn of events.
Gain their trust? Why would such a mission require this level of subtlety? Just what's so special about these twins?
Her eyes flicked back toward Russell, who was still lost in his healing trance.
As she reapproached, her thoughts lingered on what she had just witnessed.
His control over healing nen… it's far more refined than I expected. Has it always been this strong, or is it evolving as we speak?
There was something deeply unsettling about this mission now.
But she said nothing.
Instead, she composed herself and walked up just as Russell let out another breath.
"Are you alright?" she asked gently, crouching beside him.
"Heh… this?" Russell gave a tired smile.
"This is nothing. Compared to my brother, I'm fine. But…"
He looked down at Gravilis, whose massive frame still lay unconscious.
"…the poison was potent. Even with all my healing, it'll take time for her to recover. I just hope Davi wasn't seriously hurt."
Priscilla gave a small nod, masking her unease.
"Judging from the puncture patterns and toxin residue, the attacker was most likely a Green-Spined Monkey," she explained.
"Normally, they're low-threat creatures. Their sedative venom is mild. But this… this dosage was aggressive."
Russell blinked. "You… know your beasts pretty well."
"Don't flatter me," she said, waving it off.
"I grew up in a wild region. It's only natural I picked up survival knowledge."
Still, a faint pink tinge dusted her cheeks, a flicker of pride she'd never admit aloud.
"So, what kind of poison was it exactly?" Russell asked, curious.
"It's a neuro-sedative," she replied.
"Designed to induce sleep. The monkey waits until its prey is unconscious before feeding. Vicious little things. Normally the effects wear off in a few hours, but this… this was a lethal dose. Enough to paralyze even a Rank C beast's nervous system for an entire day!"
Russell stiffened and glanced at the discarded spines he'd pulled from Gravilis earlier.
Without hesitation, he moved farther away from them.
"What's wrong?" Priscilla asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Better safe than sorry," he said, shaking his head.
"Residual poison like that can mess with our systems. But…" He looked up at the sky.
"Nightfall's almost here."
"We'll need shelter," Priscilla agreed.
"Gravilis won't be waking anytime soon, but she's still the best chance we have of tracking your brother. Until then, we watch over her… and rest."
"Right… There is just one problem" Russell said.
"Which is?" Priscilla asked
"I cannot scale trees" Russell said embarrassed.
"Fine I will do it for you." She replied
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Both figures vanished into the treetops, hiding within the forest canopy as dusk bled into night.
They had 24 hours until the Lunar Purity Fruit revealed itself.
If they didn't find Davi by then he might be on his own and they would obtain the fruit on their own.
***
At the Edge of the Bonecradle Range
Under the dying light of the sun, Davi sat cross-legged on the upper branch of a crooked pine.
His body ached, his legs burned from the long sprint. But none of that compared to the growing frustration inside him.
He had been trying to infuse Asura Qi into his bones for hours.
And every single time, it failed.
The moment he condensed the energy and guided it inward, the Qi would destabilize and spiral out of control, escaping back into the air like mist evaporating from hot stone.
"What am I doing wrong?" he muttered.
He closed his eyes again and tried once more.
Again… failure!
He grit his teeth, considering opening the system interface for guidance, when…
Rustle.
A movement.
Distant, but close enough to alarm him.
Reflexively, Davi gathered the remaining Asura Qi and tried to reinforce his ears to listen more carefully.
Cough! Cough!
Instead of heightened senses, pain exploded in his head.
Blood burst from his ears.
"Ahhh!"
He gripped the branch, trembling.
Dammit! I overstrained my ears… too much today… they're rejecting the Qi…
Though he wasn't deaf, the pain was enough to disable his hearing boost for the foreseeable future.
***
A Few Dozen Meters Away…
"I hear something," whispered Daniel, crouching beside Princess Alyssia.
"Coughing. Might be another team."
Alyssia rolled her eyes and flipped her golden braid over her shoulder.
"Let them come," she said calmly. "Bluey will protect me."
Behind her, the silhouette of her tamed beast Bluey, a Rank A Eclipse Howler loomed like a mythical beast from an old war legend.
Despite its official Class 1 Level 4 rating, its combat ability was closer to that of a Class 1 Level 7, owing to its A-rank genetics and raw, innate nen compatibility.
Alyssia didn't even flinch.
Though she once appeared weak before the beast-taming trial, the truth was simple: her frailty had only been a mask.
A ploy to lower expectations.
Born into royalty, trained by the best tutors the Blue Sky Kingdom had to offer, Alyssia had never once doubted her path.
Daniel adjusted his sword grip. "Still… we should be cautious."
Alyssia's eyes glowed faintly with confidence. "Let's see who dares wander the edge of the Bone Cradle Range."
***
Mage Platform – Observation Tower
"Hahaha! That's my daughter!" The King of the Blue Sky Kingdom roared in delight, slamming his palm against the marble railing.
"Did you see that stance? Impeccable!"
"Indeed," said Zi Mou of the Knight Academies, offering a slight nod.
"A B-rank talent and an A-rank beast companion? That's not just commendable it's exceptional. The Blue Sky Kingdom has much to be proud of."
The King chuckled modestly and waved off the compliment, but his chest puffed with pride nonetheless.
However, while the king basked in Alyssia's rising glory, others on the platform were focused elsewhere.
Archons Alzerath and Draith, along with Grand Commander Dufus, all had their attention on the bloodied figure of Davi L.Vermillion still displayed in the mirror.
"Watch carefully," Dufus said, arms crossed behind his back.
***
Within the Bonecradle Range
"Don't get too smug, Princess," grumbled Gerald, stepping forward with arms crossed.
"You may have awakened a rare talent and bonded with an A-rank beast, but that doesn't mean you're invincible."
His tone was hard, but not disrespectful… just the gruff voice of a seasoned warrior. Gerald wasn't just anyone; he was a Magic Acolyte, a whole tier above most participants here.
Leader of the infamous Red Rock Mercenary Group, his power approached Class 2, Level 1, easily the strongest among the trio.
Despite being royalty, Alyssia nodded.
Even she couldn't deny Gerald's battlefield experience.
Then…
Cough… Cough…
The dry rasp of breath echoed from above.
"Who's there?" Daniel asked, unsheathing his blade.
Both Gerald and Alyssia fell into battle stances instantly, with Bluey, Alyssia's terrifying Eclipse Howler, emerging behind her, eyes gleaming with cold blue fire.
Then a voice answered faintly from above.
"…Gerald?"
Gerald paused, brows furrowed.
"That voice… Is that… Davi?"
"Wait Davi? As in Davi L Vermillion?!" Alyssia asked, shocked.
The trio looked up, and there he was, clinging to a crooked branch, blood trailing from his ears, but very much alive.
***
Moments Later…
Davi had spun a convincing tale.
He couldn't risk the truth, not that he had abandoned his team but instead claimed they were separated during a surprise beast ambush.
"So they might still be out there?" Alyssia asked, her tone softening.
Davi nodded with a sigh.
"I'm hopeful. I… plan to wait here. I don't want to leave in case they're trying to find me."
"You can join us," she offered sincerely.
"I'm sure the others wouldn't mind."
Gerald shrugged. "If he pulls his weight, I've got no complaints."
Daniel gave a nervous thumbs-up.
But Davi shook his head.
"Thank you, but I'd slow you down. I'm blind… and weak. I'll stay. Maybe they'll find me before sunrise."
Gerald rubbed his chin. "Reasonable. We don't have time to argue. Night's falling fast we should find cover."
"Agreed," Alyssia said.
But just as the group turned to leave…
Alyssia suddenly paused.
"…Hey, Davi," she said quietly. "Do red flowers bloom at night?"
"…Red flowers?" Davi blinked. "Princess, what are you…"
But Gerald's eyes widened in horror.
"No time!" he barked.
"That's not a riddle… that's a signal!"
Suddenly, from the darkness…
GRAWWWL!
Howls. Dozens of them.
Blood ran cold as glowing crimson eyes began appearing in the darkness, circling them from every direction.
"Grey Blood Hounds," Gerald growled. "A whole pack."
Alyssia paled.
"Those are Rank C predators… equivalent to Class 1, Level 9 at their weakest."
Daniel stuttered, panic rising.
"But the pack leader, its strength could rival a Class 2, Level 2! We're surrounded!"
The air grew thick with bloodlust.
***
Observation Tower
"Well, well…" murmured Magic Master Rhogar Flintmane, stroking his iron-grey beard.
"Looks like your precious daughter is in trouble, Your Majesty."
The King's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
His knuckles were white, fingers clenched tightly.
"She can handle it," he said at last, his voice resolute. "She must."
Alzerath leaned closer to the mirror. "Let's see what the princess is truly made of…"
***
Meanwhile, back in the range…
Davi crouched behind the thick trunk of a tree, fists clenched.
His body was trembling not from fear, but from fatigue.
His Asura Qi reserves were nearly depleted.
His ears throbbed.
He couldn't amplify his senses.
He was, for all intents and purposes…
Useless.
Dammit… this is the worst time for this!
He couldn't see.
He couldn't hear.
And worse, the enemy was fast, brutal, and many.
"What do I do?" he muttered, mind racing.
"Think, Davi. Think."
Then, it clicked…