The early morning air was thick with nerves and the earthy scent of rain. Rows of recruits stood in formation on the training field, their beast weapons glinting faintly under the overcast sky. Sergeant Smith paced before them, clipboard in hand, his tone firm but calm.
"Listen up! Today you'll be heading out beyond the academy walls for your first live hunt. You'll be split into two teams of ten. Sergeant Marek will command Alpha Squad. Sergeant Cassie will lead Bravo. I'll be overseeing both operations from the Tower."
Alpha Squad gathered around Marek. His expression was as stoic as ever, arms folded, the faintest trace of approval in his eyes when he saw Elena among his team. "All right," he said. "Our focus is precision and coordination. We don't rush, we don't panic, and we don't let fear make our decisions. Billy, Max, Elena — you're my front line. Scarlett, you stay mid with Fin and the medics. If something looks off, you call it. We move as one." "Yes, sir," they chorused. Across the yard, Cassie's squad — Bravo — was forming ranks. Her whip hung lazily from her belt, its vines occasionally twitching as if alive. "You'll be my eyes and hands," she told her students. "These beasts may be weak, but the wild doesn't forgive carelessness. Stay light, stay alert, and listen for the land — it'll warn you before I do." Elena stole a glance across the gap. The two squads looked ready enough, but the tension was unmistakable. The air itself seemed to hum with expectation.
"You'll be hunting level one beasts only," Smith continued. "Stay alert, stay disciplined, and don't get cocky. Those who break formation will be pulled out and marked unfit for field missions. Understood?"
A chorus of "Yes, Sergeant!" echoed across the field.
Elena adjusted the strap of her quiver, Blue Beautiful Bow resting against her shoulder. Beside her, Scarlett was trying to calm her own jittery energy by spinning one of her daggers, while Max flexed his fingers, the small pouch of needles clipped to his belt. and Fin double-checked their gear.
Nearby, Billy stood motionless, face unreadable.
---
By midday, both squads were deep in the outer forests. The tall oaks blocked most of the light, turning everything beneath their canopy a deep shade of green. Alpha Squad — led by Marek — moved in a staggered formation, Elena and Scarlett walking near the front with Fin scouting ahead.
The first sign of movement came as a low rustle from the brush. Marek raised a hand, signalling halt.
"Two o'clock," he whispered. "Movement — small pack."
Elena nocked an arrow, lowering her breathing. The others drew their weapons. Then the beasts appeared — a group of snarling, hairless wolf-like creatures, their bodies pulsing with faint red veins. Level ones, but fast.
"Hold formation!" Marek barked.
The first beast lunged — and was met mid-air by one of Elena's arrows, pinning it to a tree trunk with a guttural yelp. Scarlett vanished, reappearing behind another and slicing its leg, before blinking out of reach again just as its jaws snapped shut.
"Nice work!" Fin called, his voice a blur as he dashed past, leaving streaks of dust in his wake, striking with quick kicks that disoriented the smaller beasts.
For a while, it went well. Too well.
Scarlett, caught in the thrill of the moment, tried to teleport mid-motion, appearing just ahead of Fin — only for him to burst forward at the same second.
"Scarlett, wait—!"
They collided hard. Fin's speed and Scarlett's uncontrolled blink exploded in a burst of yellow and white light. The shockwave sent leaves spiralling and wind whipping through the trees.
When it cleared, nearly half of Alpha Squad — Elena, Scarlett, Fin, and Max — were gone.
---
They landed in a heap somewhere deeper in the forest, the world spinning.
Scarlett groaned. "Oh Fucking hell, my head…"
Elena blinked the dizziness away, scanning their surroundings. "Everyone alright?"
Max pulled himself up, brushing off his uniform. "Define blady, 'alright'."
Fin was flat on his back, gasping. "Remind me to never run near you again, Scarlett."
Scarlett winced. "Sorry, that… wasn't supposed to happen."
Elena steadied herself, eyes narrowing. "No point panicking. Let's regroup and get our bearings."
Before they could move, a low growl rumbled from the underbrush. The group turned — and froze. Emerging from between the trees were three larger beasts, their hides dark and ridged with molten-orange cracks that glowed faintly.
"Level twos," Max muttered, drawing his weapon.
"Stay tight!" Elena ordered. "We handle this smart — don't break formation!"
The first beast lunged. Elena rolled aside, drawing and firing an arrow in one smooth motion — it struck the creature in the neck, making it snarl but not fall. Scarlett teleported behind it, her daggers flashing, slicing its Achilles as it stumbled.
Fin shot forward, a blur of motion, striking the beast's jaw with his Gauntlets sending a flying punch that cracked bone. Max hurled debris with his telekinesis, slamming another creature into a tree.
But they were stronger than expected. The third beast pounced, swiping Max clean off his feet. He rolled, clutching his side as blood seeped through his shirt.
Scarlett blinked forward to help him — but she misjudged the distance, reappearing a metre too short. The beast turned toward her, jaws opening—
"Scarlett!" Elena shouted.
Without thinking, she raised her hand, energy pulsing beneath her skin. Her fingers glowed faintly blue as she released it — a shockwave burst from her palm, slamming into the creature's side with the force of a cannon.
It flew back, hitting the ground so hard the forest floor cracked beneath it.
For a moment, there was silence.
Fin looked up from his crouch, wide-eyed. "What the hell was that?"
Elena blinked at her own hands. "I… I don't know."
But there was no time to think. The last beast charged — and this time, they fought as one. Max hurled stones, Fin struck low, and Elena fired an arrow that pierced straight through its skull. When the dust settled, the three beasts lay motionless.
---
They stood among the bodies, panting. Scarlett knelt beside one of them, brushing aside scales and blood until she saw it — a faint blue glow beneath its ribs.
"Found something!" she called.
Elena crouched beside her. The Heart pulsed softly, rhythmic — almost alive still. She reached out, feeling its warmth, its energy. For a heartbeat, it resonated with her, sending a thrum through her chest. Her eyes widened — she could feel it calling to her.
"Elena?" Scarlett whispered.
Elena pulled her hand back quickly. "It's fine. Just… feels strange."
They didn't get the chance to inspect it further.
---
A slow clap echoed through the trees.
"Well, look at you lot. Playing heroes already."
They turned to see Billy walking out from the shadows, Blob trailing behind him, that same grotesque grin plastered across his face.
"Billy?" Max asked cautiously. "What are you doing here?"
Billy shrugged. "Thought I'd help. You looked like you were having trouble."
"You weren't authorised to leave your squad," Elena snapped.
"Authorised," Billy mocked, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You sound like Smith."
He stepped closer, the dark air around him seeming to hum with energy.
Fin moved between him and the others, his tone sharp. "If you're here to cause trouble, turn around and—"
Billy moved faster than anyone expected. One sharp movement — his fist connecting with Fin's jaw. The sound cracked through the clearing. Fin dropped instantly, legs like jelly, hitting the dirt hard.
"Fin!" Scarlett screamed, Blinking to him.
Billy flexed his hand, grinning. "He waffles too much."
Elena's voice trembled with anger. "You're out of control, Billy."
Billy's eyes glinted. "No, Elena. I'm finally in control."
Blob laughed behind him, hefting his weapon. "Time for round two, eh"
Elena raised her bow, fire in her eyes. "If it's a fight you want, Billy—"
Billy interrupted her, his smile cold and lifeless. "No, Elena. This isn't a fight."
He took a step forward, his aura crackling.
"This… is FUN."