The battlefield was still chaotic.

Even with the Greater Beast momentarily disoriented, the Glimmermucks were pressing harder. More of them had broken off from the city siege, converging on Arial's position like a tide of hungry creatures wanting to eat them all.

But Rayven wasn't watching the front line anymore.

His eyes were locked on a single target, one of the Glimmermucks that stood taller than the rest…

It roared for a brief moment, and the surrounding Glimmermucks responded with renewed aggression.

But Rayven was already in position.

"Fireball."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

The orb of flame burst from his hand and struck the Beast's exposed flank, right where the scales had cracked from Edward's earlier arrow.

The explosion wasn't massive, but it forced the creature to stagger as its casting rhythm was disrupted again.

"Gust Step."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

Rayven dashed sideways, avoiding a tail swipe that shattered a nearby stone. He landed cleanly, and slid across the dirt. Then, he raised his hand again.

"Telekinesis I."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

A broken spear lifted from the rubble and spun mid-air. Rayven guided it with a flick of his fingers, sending it straight into the Beast's left eye socket which was already damaged from Edward's earlier shot.

The creature reeled, screeching in pain.

"Whisper Link."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

Rayven's voice echoed in Miki and Narra's minds.

"Now. Push it."

"Copy," Narra replied, already ducking beneath a claw swipe of the large Glimmermuck

"Already moving," Miki growled as her blade glowed faintly.

Rayven stepped forward again.

"Fireball."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

Bang!

The orb struck the base of the Beast's neck, igniting the barnacle-like growths that lined its spine.

The creature thrashed, its movements were unstable now and less coordinated. It even seemed more desperate.

Narra darted in from the mist with her blades carving into the exposed joints behind its rear leg.

Ssak! Ssak!

"Got a weak spot!" she shouted.

Miki leapt again, using her greatsword, crashing down with a burst of force.

Thud!

The blade bit deep into the creature's upper back. Just like that, the Beast roared and its body started convulsing.

Rayven didn't hesitate as he released another Spell. This time, it was point-blank range.

"Fireball."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

Boom!

The explosion tore through the weakened flesh, and the Greater Beast collapsed with a screech that echoed across the battlefield.

For a moment, everything stopped.

Then the Glimmermucks froze.

Their snarls turned to confusion. Their formation started to wave. One by one, they began to retreat from the walls, while some were screeching, others simply started turning and fleeing into the mist.

"They're scattering!" Vanna shouted.

Torren was shocked… "The leader's dead…"

Jiya lowered her staff, exhausted. "They're breaking off. It's over."

Arial didn't speak. He was still watching Rayven. He had witnessed everything from the start to the end.

At first, he didn't recognize the young mage. However, after watching the battle, he immediately realized that it was the guy who had easily become a Silver-Rank Adventurer.

Rayven didn't acknowledge them. He turned to his team.

"Whisper Link."

[ 1 Gold Coin deducted. ]

"Regroup. Watch the perimeter. We're not done until the last one's gone."

Miki nodded while dragging her blade free.

Narra also retreated as she started hunting stragglers.

***

The mist brought by the Glimmermucks was thinning.

After about half an hour, the battlefield had quieted into a grim silence. The Greater Beast lay motionless… Its massive body had sunk into the torn earth. Around it, the Glimmermucks had scattered. Some fled into the forest, others collapsed where they stood, twitching and dying as the adventurers hunted them down since Feral Beasts like them still had something they could loot.

Arial lowered his sword, and at this point, his blade was filled with acidic blood. He turned toward the trio who had turned the tide.

Rayven stood near the Greater Beast's corpse… Miki was dragging her blade free from the creature's spine, while Narra crouched beside a fallen Glimmermuck, checking for movement before slicing its throat cleanly.

Arial approached slowly, flanked by Vanna and Torren.

"Hey," he called out to the young mage.

Rayven turned as he recognized Arial's voice.

Arial stopped a few paces away. "You're Rayven, right? Silver Rank?"

Rayven nodded once.

"I heard about you a few weeks ago," Arial continued. "Didn't expect to see you here. But… I'm glad we did."

Rayven didn't respond immediately. He glanced at the battlefield, then back at Arial.

"You held the line longer than most would've."

Arial gave a tired smile. "We tried. But still we lost too many."

Behind him, Jiya was tending to a wounded mage, even though her mana reserves were nearly drained.

Arial looked back at Rayven. "You're going to hit Gold Rank soon. No doubt."

Rayven didn't smile, but his voice softened. "That's not why I came."

Vanna stepped forward. "Still. You saved a lot of lives today. If you ever need backup, you've got friends here."

Torren nodded. "We owe you."

Rayven glanced at Miki and Narra. Both gave subtle nods.

"…Fine," he said. "Let's clean up."

Rayven helped with the cleanup as they needed to gather the corpses and burn the beast parts that couldn't be used.

As he walked past the edge of the crater where the Greater Beast had fallen. His boots crunched over broken stone and discarded weapons.

He was looking for survivors as well…

It was then that a shout broke through the silence.

"Medic! Over here!"

Rayven turned toward the voice. A young adventurer, barely older than sixteen, was kneeling beside a collapsed shieldbearer. The man's armor was cracked open, and blood pooled beneath him…

Jiya rushed over with her staff, but her hands were trembling. Her mana reserves were nearly gone.

"I… I can't cast again," she said, voice strained. "I need a mana recovery potion or a break…"

Rayven stepped forward as he realized that the matter was urgent.

"Move," he said.

Jiya blinked, startled. "Wait, you're not…"

"Stabilize."

[ 2 Gold Coins deducted. ]

Rayven knelt beside the shieldbearer, one hand pressed to the man's chest.

This wasn't an instant spell this time. It had 2 2-second cast duration, so a soft glow could be seen spreading from his palm, sinking into the wounded man's body.

The bleeding slowed. The man's breathing steadied and his eyes fluttered open…

Jiya stared at this since Rayven's Spell casting just now was too short!

"That's… not a standard healing spell."

Rayven didn't answer. He stood and moved on.

The young adventurer looked up at him, eyes wide. "You saved him. I will pay!"

Rayven then stopped walking and turned to the young adventurer, waiting for payment.

'Right… This is not for free.' Rayven thought.

"Uhmm… I don't have the money with me… Please tell me your name and how to contact you later…"

Just like that, Rayven gave his details and his connection to Eterna Script and Eterna Mayonnaise.

The young adventurer was shocked including Jiya and the others who were listening.

Still, Rayven just continued as he might earn money…

Rayven was soon called out as someone was still breathing, barely. A mage whose robes had melted into his skin. His fingers twitched, and his lips moved without sound.

Rayven crouched again.

"Stabilize."

[ 2 Gold Coins deducted. ]

The glow returned, wrapping around the mage's chest and head. The spasms stopped. His breathing deepened. He wouldn't be casting again anytime soon, but he'd live.

"Bring him to the doctor immediately… This is just a temporary solution." Rayven reminded…

Torren and the others from Arial's group also arrived just in time to see that Rayven had done it again.

"That's not a spell I've seen before," Jiya said quietly.

Still, she didn't bother Rayven asking about the Spell he used. That was considered rude for fellow mages unless they were already close to each other.

***

The next hour was a slow and boring event…

The adventurers moved through the battlefield in small groups, checking bodies, retrieving gear, taking Beast Cores, and burning the remains of the Glimmermucks that couldn't be used.

Their acidic blood was still dangerous, and several corpses had to be neutralized with Jiya's Purity Veil before they could be safely handled.

Thankfully, Jiya was able to consume some recovery potions, allowing her to purify some bodies that might cause infection.

Rayven joined the effort without ceremony.

He helped lift broken weapons from the mud, stacking them near the supply carts.

Well, he wouldn't use his Telekinesis on this work after all.

He didn't speak much, but he worked hard like everyone else who just wanted this done.

At one point, he paused beside a fallen adventurer. The man's armor was melted through, and his face was unrecognizable. He was already dead…

'That the seventh one...' Rayven sighed as she saw this. He was sure that more dead bodies were lying around somewhere. He could only hope that the families they left behind would be properly compensated by the Adventurers Guild.

Rayven then crouched, placed a hand on the chestplate, and stood again.

No words. It was just an acknowledgment of the sacrifice that the man had made.

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