After the group had long fallen asleep and tooken all their shift they woke up quickly in the morning.
Once awake the group had quickly packed up their camp before quickly leaving. Although the group seemed dim they were just tired.
The fear they had faced yesterday shocked them to much. Although now they were slowly getting used to the wilderness life.
After leaving Alex had taken a short look behind them. What he saw wasn't to surprising but opened his mind to feedback.
As Alex had seen a pack of gray disgusting wolves rummage through where they had jus been.
Alex of course did not care about the wolves upcoming arrival nor their group size. This was casual to him now.
Yet Alex had noticed he needed a way to cover their scent. With their long stays in one place alerting all nearby animals with a good sense of smell.
This wasn't a major worry or problem for Alex but he put it on his priority list. Through out the trip Alex was almost certain they would encounter many horrors.
So every thing Alex could do in the early game to improve their chances was a must. Although even he knew it would take time to make precautions to every little detail.
Alex Quincy decided to stop thinking about his priorities. It only made his head ache and he knew when the time was right all of his problems would solve one by one.
All Alex needed to do know was relax and await for the incoming attack of the strange wolves.
From an outside perspective many would think Alex should go and warn the group of the incoming danger, yet he didn't.
Alex leisurely walked forward with the group, paying little to no attention to the wolves quickly approaching with the obvious intent to rip his group apart and feast on their flesh.
Except the reason Alex had not warned the group was because their was no reason to.
As he had three big reasons not to worry, with the first being once close enough but not close enough to attack the group would already be aware of the wolves and need to preperations to obliterate the group.
The second was that although their were stage two beasts their was only three among that group.
The third on the other hand was the greatest, as they Xavier. Xavier was a ruthless powerhouse that could easily rip apart the entire group alone.
Yet Xavier had also been recruiting people to his protector group. He had already racked up some powerhouses that were pretty talented.
Although they weren't on the level of Alex, Lyra and Xavier they were still strong none the less, although how Xavier was able to find and recruit them and Alex couldn't was beyond Alex.
Not a minute later from when Alex had noticed the wolves did Xavier also see them. Alex watched as Xavier's face lit up with joy.
Ooh fresh meat!
Xavier grinned as he couldn't wait for the upcoming battle. For so long now he had taken the easy way out.
Now Alex felt like he was set free from his own restrictions. Free to test out his new strength against the wolves and other abominations.
Xavier quickly stopped in his tracks before floating to the back of the group where Alex was.
Alex noticed Xavier's approached and gave him a quick smile before Xavier reciprocated the kind gesture.
"Hey Alex did you notice those wolves back their?"
"Yea, but they should be child's play, only two of them are stage two."
"Really, how do you know?"
"Well the stage two thunder wolves usually have their fur sticking up because of the electricity flowing through their body."
Alex had directly quoted the system description of the thunder wolves. He had also learned a new thing.
That in groups of abominations subjects could evolve by gaining recognition in their group. Once enough they'd evolve their stage.
Some could even evolve their realm, although this was extremely rare especially for non kings of a species.
Yet Alex had noticed as they neared the volcano the monsters had dwindled in numbers, but the remaining ones had been much strong then any others they faced before.
This made sense, as only the stronger creatures would be able to stay near the volcano even though it was active.
Luckily they had chosen a path that didn't go to close to the volcano. So the group would be relatively safe from horrors.
Although sometimes stray horrors wandering around would run into their group, like what had happened yesterday.
Xavier was still pondering Alex's words before stopping his nagging and heading back to the center of the group.
Xavier was now heading to find his group that he had been recruiting the past few days. Xavier was planning on getting his group to fight the wolves as a test.
Without asking Alex Xavier knew that he'd be fine with the test. Now Alex was going to split from the group to fight the wolves.
Alex didn't need to ask Xavier his plans either, already knowing the blurry picture of Xavier's plan.
Once Alex watched Xavier and his new group split off Alex knew he had been right about his theory.
Alex didn't care to much about Xavier leaving due to his new trust placed in Xavier. He also knew if anything bad arose Xavier would be with them as quick as lighting.
Xavier on the other hand was now cordinating his group to take out one of the stage two thunder wolves.
At the same time Xavier was holding back the rest of the pack. Sending out duties of barrages with his battle axe.
Xavier group was now sloppily attacking the wolf with no coordination and communication.
On the other hand the wolf was sending out precious attack with lightning streaks that originated from his fur.
Xavier desperately wanted to stop the fight and give pointers on what the group was doing wrong.
Except he couldn't, Xavier already had his hands full and couldn't just ask the wolf to stop.
Suddenly Xavier had an idea as jumped back from the barrage of slashed and bites that had raged toward him from the wolves.
"Switch, you guys take the normal ones!"
On the way their Xavier had already given the details of the wolves. Due to the knowledge bestowed upon them the group easily distinguished their targets.
Immediately splitting up to cut and slash multiple of the dirty wolves alone. As they lashed left and right, occasionally cutting off a limb.
Xavier on the other hand was now fighting off three of the stronger thunder wolves. Except this was no problem for him.
With his battle axe he was quickly able to icomoacitate one by cutting off all its limbs while beautifullly dodging the array of thunder bolts sent at him.
Quickly dodging a simultaneous attack from the beasts by flipping Xavier had swung down his battle axe into the incapacitated wolf.
Xavier decapitated the bear, leaving a strange clump of the blood that refused to flow. It seemed as though the blood had been scorched by an extremely hot flame.
It was extremely noticeable that Xavier's battle axe was letting off steam. Making it clear of its tempature and ability.
After seeing this one of the wolves had hesitated leaving Xavier a great opening. Using it cut the wolf's face in half without mercy.
The immense pain and the severing of the brain cause the wolf to die soon after. Yet given may chances to obliterate the last wolf Xavier took none.
He instead played around with the wolf while glancing back at his group. Once it had finished against the weaker wolves Xavier called them over.
Once again Xavier had them face off against the stage two wolf. Except this time Xavier explicitly told them to use teamwork.
Xavier then watched as the group fought together, although not in unison their plans were now working instead of utterly failing.
The group started talking to each other making plans. As they used bait to attack the wolf, while making new and more devious schemes.
Xavier's plan to start a team between the group was now set into motion. As the group had quickly defeated the wolf and joking back with the group.
Alex had heard Xavier's report and was growing curious of how much change he had brought, and surprisingly it was good change.
Xavier was starting to make their lives progressively easier. Although Alex
Was still worried about the journey ahead of them.
It was going to prove extremely difficult with it without Xavier. Luckily they still had time before major discussions were made for the future were to be made.
Although Alex thought about none of this, instead he was overcome with a sense of pride and achievement.
As their entire group had just reached the side of the volcano. they were now able to see new parts of the volcano they couldn't before.
Sadly there was nothing to not, being almost exactly similar to the original side, except for one thing.
Something the wouldn't be able to be noticed from the plane with their angle. Although at the side of the volcano Alex could see something.
He was a seeing a red streak vertical and zigzagging across the volcano. This would normally be usually due to the volcanoes status of being active.
Except Alex was extremely shocked when he watched the streak start moving across the volcano.
After the streak traveled for a bit it eventually traveled out of Alex's view. Once this happened Alex ordered a break letting everyone rest.
Alex was extremely perplexed by what the red streak could be. Although he wasn't able to now without encountering it.
…
After the break Alex and his group had continued forward on their journey. While the sun was getting to the point just before setting behind the mountains.
Then Alex and everyone else heard sizzling and the sound of branches and twig being broken. Alex immediately searched for the perpetrator.
Xavier was doing the same, but the moment the two found who or wha they were looking for both of them were sent into a panic.
As a snake the size of a tree was coiled in front of their group. Except the striking feature about the snake was not at all its size.
Instead the snake had obsidian black scales scattered across its body and many streams of encase lave flowing through the enormous snake.
God I hate my luck!