27 The First Confrontation Is Hair-Raising
A hunter tried to touch one of the birds perched on a tree, but it turned to dust at his touch. The group of more than fifty hunters walked in a pre-established formation along the path. They soon came across signs of battle.
There were countless craters created by clashes between numerous creatures that they could not identify. The strangest part was that there were no bodies and no fresh blood.
Liam stopped, the orbs created by his abilities spinning faster.
"Leader, the mana field in this area is chaotic. It's as if someone is deliberately erasing their traces after a battle. The scene here is too clean."
Tiffany covered her nose. There was a smell of blood lingering in the air. The other hunters also covered their noses. They searched the area but couldn't identify where the smell was coming from.
"I don't see any recent footprints, Leader. It seems like nothing has passed through here in the last few days," Daniel reported when questioned by the expedition leader.
"But there are signs that the ground has been disturbed, either by someone or by something," he added after a pause.
Everyone became even more vigilant and drew their weapons just to be safe.
"Then whoever did this does not wish to be found. We must exercise caution before encountering the enemy," Rouke, the leader, said in his severe voice.
"Everyone, maintain formation. If you see anything, report immediately," he added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The hunters responded in unison, but quietly and cautiously given the situation. Tiffany was kept in the center, protected by the most experienced hunters in the expedition.
Everyone's heart skipped a beat when they realized that nothing in the forest was moving. There was no wind, no rustling of leaves. Sometimes, people fear the unknown above all else.
There were no small creatures, no animals in the woods, not even insects to indicate that there was life in the area. The only sound they heard was the noise they themselves made as they walked.
Finally, when something snapped in the distance, everyone turned almost instantly. To everyone's surprise, it was nothing, just an old tree that had broken.
Tiffany kept her steps short, trying not to show the agitation in her heart. She didn't like being afraid. Whenever that man was around, he could see into her mind, and she didn't want that.
Serah approached Tiffany with the bow on her shoulder.
"Tiffany, are you okay? You don't need to be afraid. If anything happens, they will protect you above all else."
"That's exactly why I'm not comfortable. You all treat me as if I would break. I'm a hunter too, you know? I'm a Star Hunter Level 2, just like you."
Serah raised her eyebrows but didn't pursue the topic. She didn't want to get involved in the drama of an apparently spoiled princess; she had work to do.
Ahead, Tiffany heard Brem say something:
"This is very calm. If we weren't the first to enter this dungeon, I'd bet another guild was ahead, clearing this forest. I'd bet my money on it."
"It's better for you to keep your money. It's still too early to say that," Daniel said, touching the ground as if sensing something below.
"Leader, this place is hollow. It looks like someone dug underneath," Daniel added.
Liam, always attentive to the surrounding mana, spoke slowly:
"I agree. There are signs of combat here, but it's as if someone was hunting some prey or something of the sort."
His eyes looked very serious as he spoke, the gravity evident in his words.
"Whoever was here does not want witnesses. They are hiding all their tracks as they advance."
Rouke raised his axe and struck the ground, producing a loud metallic sound.
"Maintain formation and prepare for whatever may be hiding here."
Serah signaled Tiffany to stay close. She adjusted her quiver and got ready accordingly.
"Stay nearby. The ground could give way at any moment."
"Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself," Tiffany's voice came out harsher than she had intended.
Brem reacted to her attitude.
"Young lady, I understand your attitude, but it's better for you to obey. I say this for your own good. Places like this always hide danger, and the enemy has yet to be identified."
Tiffany remained silent. She knew they were only doing their job, but being treated this way irritated her greatly. She wanted to prove herself and earn respect, just as her sister had.
A scout was chosen from among the hunters to investigate and report the situation. Time passed, and Daniel tried to contact the hunter at the front.
Receiving no response, everyone walked forward to explore the dark cave, which pulsed silently with signs of life. Until now, this was the first sign of monsters they had encountered.
Tiffany felt the corridor tremble along with the changing wind of the dungeon. She knew something was coming. She didn't have a class yet and therefore didn't possess the Perception attribute.
"Prepare for combat. Whatever these monsters are, they're coming."
The hunters readied themselves at the command of the five leaders. The cave was very large. There were over fifty hunters, but it still seemed as if it could fit three times their current number.
"Full defensive formation."
Rouke used his ability, Taunt Lv3, so that all the monsters would focus on him.
The ground shook, and the creatures came into the light, revealing themselves to everyone. Now the horror was visible for all to behold: humanoid hybrid spiders, their bodies deformed as if they had come straight out of a horror movie.
The spiders had parts of wolves and snakes, creatures that inhabited the dungeon. They had sharp jaws and claws. Brem pulled the string and fired arrows using his skill.
Three blue projectiles cut through the air, freezing the first spider in a violent impact. Liam extended his hands and used Mana Orbs Lv2. They curved through the air, dodging obstacles, and struck the second spider, exploding it entirely.
Daniel attacked using his sword. Bloody Strike Lv3 was used as the abdomen of a spider was opened as easily as a knife cutting through butter, a viscous jet splattering from the body of the hybrid spider.
Tiffany took a deep breath, her heart racing. She knew what she had to do. That was why she was there: to fight against monsters. She used Cutting Winds and sliced through the webs that the spiders had launched toward the team.
"Another thirty of them are coming in that direction!" Tiffany shouted, moving across the battlefield.
Seeing the enemies approaching, Rouke took the lead and used a sand ability, Seismic Hammer Lv2. The ground exploded, and the approaching creatures were knocked down all at once.