Morning broke fast for them, and they wasted no time packing up.

The hunt was routine by now, though none of them could deny how much stronger they felt.

Each step carried more power, and every swing of their arms or ripple of their energy reminded them of the changes the elixirs had carved into their bodies.

Arden walked in front as usual, guiding them deeper into the second zone. He had no map in hand, yet his senses tugged them steadily from one trail to another, straight toward beasts hiding behind stone ridges or nesting among the twisted trees.

Nyra and Rael followed close, restless with energy, eager for something that would test them properly.

Zephyra padded along their flank, her cerulean flames faint in the daylight but still carrying that low heat that made the air shimmer around her.

It wasn't long before Arden lifted a hand, signaling them to halt. His eyes narrowed toward the clearing ahead where the ground seemed to tremble faintly.

A shadow peeled from between the broken trees, stepping into view.

[Danger Detected.]

[Name: Stonehide Ravager

Rank: B

Affinity: Earth

Traits/Abilities:

Stonehide Carapace: Thick natural armor of hardened rock plates, resistant to piercing and blunt damage.

Burrow Strike: Dives underground before erupting beneath prey with explosive force.

Earthen Roar: A bellow that disrupts energy flow, momentarily staggering enemies.

Seismic Quake: Slams the ground, causing localized tremors to destabilize footing.]

The beast towered over them, its body plated with layers of jagged stone that flexed like muscles. Its claws carved lines into the dirt as it dragged itself forward, a guttural roar shaking through its throat.

Nyra's eyes lit up first. "That one's mine."

Rael snorted. "Like hell it is. I already called next shot last night."

"You never called anything," she shot back.

"I did, you were too busy pretending to meditate," Rael grinned, puffing his chest.

Arden chuckled at their bickering, shaking his head. "You two sound like children fighting over scraps."

But before either of them could retort, the Ravager roared and lunged, claws snapping toward Nyra. She braced instinctively, but a faint bloom of lotus-shaped energy flared before her, Arden's Lotusfang Aegis had already formed, petals of light closing in just as the claws struck. The impact rang out with a sharp clang, the shock absorbed fully.

The beast staggered back, confused, before turning to swipe at Rael. Again, the aegis blossomed into place, petals reshaping to shield him.

Rael blinked, then gave Arden a sidelong look. "You're really going to make it wait while we argue?"

"Why not?" Arden replied calmly. "If it's that desperate to fight, it can survive a little coin toss."

Nyra smirked and folded her arms. "Fine. Let's flip for it."

They both turned to Arden at once.

"Referee," Rael said.

Arden sighed but dug a coin from his pouch, holding it up. The Ravager roared again, pounding its claws against his aegis, but he didn't even glance at it. He simply raised a brow. "Heads or tails?"

"Heads," Nyra said firmly.

"Then I'll take tails," Rael followed, smirking.

Arden flicked the coin into the air. It spun high, catching the morning sun in flashes, and for a ridiculous moment even the Ravager's small eyes tracked the spinning metal. The coin fell, landing neatly in Arden's palm.

"Tails," he announced.

Rael's grin widened as he stepped forward. "Sorry, princess. This one's mine."

Nyra rolled her eyes, arms crossing tighter.

Arden dismissed the barrier with a flick of thought. The Ravager lunged instantly, but Rael blurred from the ground, reappearing above it with lightning sparking around his limbs and ice condensing around his gauntlet.

"Let's see how much I've changed," he muttered, and slammed down.

The first strike cracked against the beast's stone armor, sparks and frost exploding across its surface. The Ravager staggered but didn't fall, bellowing as its plates re-formed, sealing cracks with earthen grit.

It lashed upward with claws, forcing Rael to twist aside. His movements were sharper now, his reflexes almost too quick to follow.

Arden leaned back against a tree, arms folded. "Not bad," he remarked. "The old Rael might have been gutted already."

Rael smirked as he landed, energy coursing down his arms. "You're welcome."

The Ravager slammed the ground, a quake rippling out. Rael stumbled, but he recovered faster than before, springing back with frost forming at his feet.

He thrust a hand forward, a jagged spear of ice shot forth, laced with crackling arcs. The Ravager blocked with its carapace, but the moment the spear shattered, arcs of lightning crawled across its body.

It roared in pain, limbs stiffening under the dual assault.

"Lotus Frost," Arden muttered under his breath, studying the effect. He could see the crimson- tinged chill running through the beast's body, slowing not just its movements but its energy flow as well.

Rael didn't stop. His other hand sparked violently as he compressed lightning into his gauntlet, then slammed it into the Ravager's chest. Boom! The explosion rocked the clearing, dust and stone spraying outward as the beast reeled back, smoking where its plates had cracked open.

Nyra clapped once, unable to hide her excitement. "Okay… that's actually impressive."

Rael glanced over his shoulder, grinning like a fool. "See? Better than your chilly breeze."

Nyra scoffed. "Please. Let's see if you can finish it."

The Ravager dove suddenly, burrowing underground. The ground shook as it vanished beneath them.

"Below you," Arden warned simply.

Rael reacted instantly, leaping back just as the Ravager erupted from below. He crossed his arms, forming an ice wall infused with lightning. The beast's claws slammed into it, crrrk! but arcs surged through its limbs, forcing it back.

"Stormpulse Guard," Arden noted, eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

Rael clenched his teeth, pushing forward. "Crimson Lotus Conduction!"

Both ice and lightning surged together, wrapping his gauntlet in a chaotic glow. He charged, his body flickering with arcs, and drove his fist into the weakened chest of the Ravager. The strike pierced through the cracked plates, ice spreading like veins, lightning bursting outward in sharp discharges. The beast convulsed, pinned in place by the frost as shock rippled through it.

One final roar escaped its throat before it collapsed, its carapace splitting apart as the light in its eyes dimmed.

Rael stood over it, chest heaving, then shook out his arm with a cocky grin. "Wasn't even worth the stress."

Nyra stepped past him with a scoff. "Then maybe you should've left it for me."

Zephyra's low growl rolled through the air like laughter, her flames flickering faintly. Arden just pushed off the tree, walking past them toward the corpse. His expression was calm, but there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"You did well," he said, voice steady but firm. "But don't get too cocky. That was only B rank."

Rael rolled his eyes, but the pride in his chest burned brighter.

The others knew it too, he wasn't the same fighter from yesterday.

And as they prepared to move on, the promise of stronger foes waiting ahead set a fire in all of them.

A/N:

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