CHAPTER 27: THE FIRST CONFRONTATION IS HAIR-RAISING

The first confrontation is hair-raising

27

A hunter tried to touch one of the birds in the tree, which turned to dust upon contact. The group of more than 50 walked in a pre-established formation along the path. They came across signs of battle.

There were countless craters created by the clash of countless creatures that they could not distinguish, the strangest thing was that there were no bodies, there was no fresh blood,

Liam stopped his orbs created with his abilities spinning faster

"Leader, the mana field in this area is chaotic, it’s as if someone is deliberately erasing their tracks after a battle, the scene here is too clean."

Tiffany covered her nose, there was a smell of blood that permeated the air, the other hunters also covered their noses, they looked around but could not identify where the smell was coming from.

"I don’t see any recent footprints, leader, it looks like nothing has passed by here in the last few days," Daniel said when questioned by the expedition leader.

"But there is a sign that the ground has been disturbed, by someone or something," he added after pausing.

Everyone became even more vigilant and grabbed their weapons just in case.

"So whoever did this does not wish to be found, we must be cautious before we encounter the enemy" Rouke the leader said with his stern voice.

"Everyone stay in formation, if you see anything, report it immediately," he added, increasing the seriousness of the situation.

The hunters responded in one voice, but low and cautious of the situation, Tiffany was kept in the center protected by the most experienced hunters on 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 feared the unknown above all else.

There were no small creatures, no animals in the woods, no insects to symbolize that there was life in the place, the only sound they heard was the one they themselves made as they walked.

Finally, when something snapped in the distance, everyone turned around almost instantly, to everyone’s surprise, it was nothing, just an ancient tree that had split.

Tiffany kept her steps short, trying not to show the agitation in her heart. She didn’t like being afraid; whenever she was, that man saw her mind and she didn’t want that.

Serah approached Tiffany with her bow on her shoulder.

"Tiffany, are you okay? You don’t need to be afraid. If something happens, we’ll protect you above all else."

"That’s exactly why I’m not comfortable, you all treat me like I’m going to break, I’m a hunter too, you know? I’m a level 2 star hunter, just like you."

Serah raised her eyebrows but didn’t pursue this topic, she didn’t want to get involved in the dramas of a seemingly spoiled princess, she had a job to do

Ahead, Tiffany heard Brem say something

"It’s very calm, if we weren’t the first to enter this dungeon, I’d bet another guild would be ahead clearing this forest, I’ll bet my money on that"

"You better save your money, it’s still too early to say that" Daniel said as he touched the ground feeling something down there .

"Leader, this place is hollow, it looks like someone dug underneath," added Daniel.

Liam, always aware of the mana in the surrounding air, said slowly

"I agree, there are signs of combat here, but it’s like someone is hunting some prey or something."

His eyes looked quite serious as he said with gravity in his words.

"Whoever was here doesn’t want witnesses, he’s covering all his tracks as he goes."

Rouke raised his axe and struck the ground with a loud metallic sound.

"Stay in formation and prepare for whatever is hidden here."

Serah motioned for Tiffany to stay close to her, she adjusted her quiver and prepared herself accordingly.

"Stay close, the ground could go dry at any moment."

"Don’t worry about me, I can take care of myself." Tiffany’s voice came out harsher than she intended.

Brem of the attitude demonstrated

"Young lady, I’m sorry for your attitude, but you’d better obey. I’m saying this for your own good. Places like this always hide danger, and the enemy hasn’t been identified yet."

Tiffany remained silent, she knew they were just doing their job, but being treated this way was something that really irritated her, she wanted to prove herself and gain respect just like her sister did.

A scout was chosen from among the hunters to investigate and report the situation, time passed and Daniel tried to contact the hunter who was in front.

With no response, everyone walked to explore the dark cave that was silently pulsing with signs of life, so far, this was the first sign of monsters they had encountered.

Tiffany felt the corridor tremble along with the change in the dungeon’s wind, she knew something was coming, she didn’t have a class yet, therefore, she didn’t have the perception attribute .

"Prepare for combat, whatever these monsters are, they are coming"

The hunters prepared themselves at the command of the five leaders, the cave was very large, they were more than 50 hunters but it was still as if it could fit triple their current number

"All defensive formation"

Rouke used his skill, taunt lv3, this way all the monsters could focus on him.

The ground shook and the creatures came into view, rewarding everyone’s field of vision. Now the horror was visible for all to see. They were hybrid humanoid spiders, their bodies deformed as if they had come 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 with his skill.

Three blue projects cut through the air, freezing the first ant in a violent impact. Liam extended his hands and used lv2 mana orbs. They curved through the air, deflecting the obstacle and hitting the second spider, exploding it completely.

Daniel attacked using his sword, the bloody strike lv3, was used when the abdomen of a spider was opened like a knife melting butter, a viscous jet splashed from the body of the hybrid spider.

Tiffany took a deep breath with her heart racing, she knew what she had to do, that was why she was there, to fight monsters, she used cutting winds and sliced the webs that the spiders threw towards the team

"Thirty more of them are coming that way," Tiffany shouted, moving across the battlefield.

Seeing the enemies approaching, Rouke took the lead and used a sand skill, seismic hammer lv2, the ground exploded and the approaching creatures were knocked down at once.