Around fifty or so kilometers west of Everwood Village, outside a colossal cavern, five people stood still, patiently waiting for their captain to return from his scouting.
The cavern entrance was a massive archway of jagged stones, standing tall like a gateway to a hidden realm. Its gaping mouth was shadowy, almost half a mile in width.
The soft glow of bioluminescent moss danced across the walls, painting the scene with an eerie green light. Water trickled from the rocks above, creating a small, clear stream that meandered into the cavern's depths.
Despite it being morning, the entire atmosphere around the cave was dark and spooky.
After waiting for a few more minutes, Stormborne, their captain, walked out of the cavern with his usual calm gait.
He was tall, with piercing blue eyes and a trimmed beard and mustache. He wore a navy-blue coat adorned with gold trim, a tricorne hat with a few feathers attached, and carried a beautifully crafted sword at his side.
After reuniting with his team, Stormborne shook his head and informed them, "This Newborn-stage Rank 3 Mana Beast has already left this place."
Stormborne was a Rank 4 Master Rank and the captain of Celestial Maelstrom's fifth branch, a terrifying and famed adventuring group that operated all across the world.
"C-Captain, a-are you sure the Rank 3 has really left?" Thalia, a slim girl with long, curly auburn hair, asked nervously.
She donned a set of forest-green leather armor and wielded an ornate sword strapped to her waist, which looked very similar to Stormborne's.
"Come on, Thalia, how can you doubt the Captain? Also, can't you sense there's no active Mana Beast presence here? There are only markings showing that it's been around and has already left," Tiberius, a stocky man with a shaved head and a thick mustache, clad in heavy steel plate armor with intricate engravings of gears, said while shaking his head in disapproval.
Thalia glared at Tiberius, and just as she was about to retort harshly, Stormborne calmly responded, "Hm... My spiritual sense has already scouted the entire cave, and there are no Mana Beasts around. Though..." His voice suddenly deepened. "This will be slightly troublesome."
At once, all five people felt a chill run down their backs. They immediately became vigilant.
If their captain said something was troublesome, then it was truly troublesome—something they couldn't easily deal with.
"What should we do then, captain? Should we check for more clues inside to figure out which Mana Beast it is?" Kairos, an imposing and broad-shouldered man with a stern expression, asked.
He was draped in a bearskin cloak over chainmail, carrying a large, rune-covered shield and a warhammer. He was the vice-captain of this fifth branch of Celestial Maelstrom.
Stormborne shook his head gently. "No need. I've already recognized the species." Then he continued, lightly frowning. "This Mystical-type Mana Beast has gone through its Rank 3 metamorphosis in this cavern and left in a hurry, without even waiting a day or two to stabilize its new, profound strength and body."
"Mystical Type?!" all five cried out in shock.
Mystical Types were far more dangerous than other types, especially at Rank 3 and above.
Though the fact that a Rank 3 had left in a hurry was strange—they usually took days, even weeks, and in some instances months after evolving to adjust to their bodies—that was not the current worrying factor for the five Apprentice-Rank individuals.
Stormborne nodded calmly in response.
Thalia laughed nervously but rejoiced internally.
A Rank 3 of any type was no joke! If possible, she didn't even want to come near it, much less fight it—a single casual attack could send her to the afterlife. At least until she became a Master Rank, she only wished to admire its huge body from afar.
"T-That Beast must have realized it would die by the Captain's hand if it stayed around, so it must have run away in fear as soon as it could move!" she said while celebrating inside—they didn't have much free time to find a Rank 3 Beast in this vast wilderness anyway.
Kairos shook his head. No Apprentice Ranks were qualified to fight a Rank 3 yet, but that didn't mean they hadn't encountered a few in the past—of course, only while accompanied by Stormborne. Thus, he wasn't afraid like Thalia, the youngest of their team. Nevertheless, a Mystical Type was still no joke; they were as crafty as Spirit Types.
He faced Stormborne and asked gravely, "Captain, which Mana Beast is it?"
Stormborne replied with equal seriousness, "The Crimson Tide Spider Queen."
Slowly, all five members' faces turned pale as they recalled the information.
Crimson Tide Spiders were not only powerful but also coordinated in huge numbers with perfect synchronization. Facing one was the same as being attacked from behind at the worst possible time—and Rank 3s were massive, extremely powerful, and agile. Not only that, she also possessed a formidable trump card for defense, something all Master Ranks would salivate to obtain.
Without a doubt, there were more Crimson Tide Spiders of various ranks under this Queen's control.
Thalia murmured, her whole body shuddering with horror and disgust, "I-I hate s-spiders..."
Everyone ignored Thalia.
Tiberius asked with confusion, "How did such a rare Mana Beast find its way here? Rank 3 Crimson Tide Spiders are highly sought after, especially for their unique Tier 4 armor, which they produce while still at Rank 3. I heard they're practically extinct and very rarely seen anywhere in the world."
Stormborne shook his head. "They are indeed rare and hardly seen, and very few among them successfully reach Rank 3 and above—but they're not extinct. They are just exceptionally skilled at hiding and smart enough to avoid attracting powerful people's attention."
Kairos pondered for a moment, then asked solemnly, "Then, captain, should we try to take her head-on? Or should we contact the guild master of Batley City and inform him first? Although this is an opportunity—if we manage to obtain the unique Tier 4 armor, famously known to block even a Master Rank's Spiritual Sense—it's still questionable if we can even penetrate, much less break, such thick armor. I doubt even you could break it easily if she encases herself in it."
There were arrays and materials that could block Spiritual Senses, but Crimson Tide Spider Tier 4 armor remained highly prized for its unique properties. Finding it even in black markets was rare, and the same went for guild shops. Just a pound of it was exorbitantly expensive—if it was ever available in any shop at all.
The rest of the members glared at Kairos for underestimating their captain, but Stormborne didn't mind—Kairos wasn't wrong. Normally, he couldn't break that armor. But if the Queen truly encased herself, he'd simply have to get serious—that was all.
The armor of an entire large Crimson Tide Spider would be invaluable for Celestial Maelstrom. The only real issue was transporting it—fitting the entire armor into his spatial ring was nearly impossible. Even using multiple rings would take too long, requiring cutting it into pieces—something that might necessitate calling other captains for assistance, which could take weeks. And they did have an important mission they couldn't delay indefinitely. Still, this was an exceedingly rare opportunity—their employers would just have to wait a little longer.
"Let's find her first and figure out why she left in such a hurry. And don't worry—even after transformation, their eyes remain wide open. Killing her won't be difficult for me, especially since it hasn't been long since she completed her evolution."
All of them, including Kairos, sighed in relief.
Stormborne added, "Though this Rank 3 is mine, and you don't need to interfere, there should still be Rank 2s and 1s—you'll need to deal with them."
Hearing this, Thalia's face rapidly changed. She quickly stepped back, her voice trembling. "I-I'm fine with giving you guys the credit! I'll cheer from afar!"
Aria snorted. "If you're that afraid, why pick a sword? Just grab a bow and arrows like Jasper and stay behind."
Aria was the fifth branch's strategist—intelligent and refined, wearing spectacles with her dark hair tied into a bun. She wore an elegant adventurer's outfit with a utility belt filled with potions and scrolls.
Her words earned two unfriendly glares while the rest laughed.
Kairos turned to Aria. "Aria, any guesses where the Queen might've gone?"
Aria nodded, unfolding the map for the others to see. She pointed. "We're here." Then she gestured eastward. "There's a village marked here—Everwood Village. It's the only notable settlement nearby. So I suspect the rest of the Crimson Tide Spiders have overrun it, and the Queen has gone there as well." Though her tone was indifferent, there was a hint of emotion beneath her words.
They all nodded in understanding, some sighing in pity. Aria's implication was clear—the village had been massacred and was now the spiders' stronghold—a feeding and breeding ground.
Tiberius asked casually while studying the map, "Captain, can't you sense the village from here?"
An early-stage Rank 4 Warrior could barely scan a hundred meters with their Spiritual Sense—but Stormborne wasn't one. He could perceive up to ten kilometers.
Stormborne shook his head. "The village is over ten kilometers away. It's better if I don't scan—otherwise, the Rank 3 Queen will notice and flee, turning this into a real headache. But don't worry—I'll keep watch within one kilometer for any ambushes."
They all nodded. One kilometer was barely enough to guard against sneak attacks from a Newborn-stage Rank 3.
Then they all turned and sprinted toward Everwood Village.