Chapter 75 — The Second Day
Azrael opened his eyes before sunrise.
The camp was quiet.
Seraphina and the others were still asleep while Lyanna sat near the edge of the clearing, finishing the final part of her watch.
She noticed Azrael moving.
"You’re awake."
Azrael nodded.
"How was the night?"
"Quiet."
Lyanna looked toward the forest.
"Almost too quiet."
Azrael glanced at her.
"Anything unusual?"
"No monsters came close."
She paused.
"But I sensed several groups moving through the forest during the night."
"Other teams?"
"Most likely."
Azrael stood and stretched.
"Then we should leave early."
Lyanna nodded.
A few minutes later, the others began waking.
Seraphina rubbed her eyes before looking around.
"Already morning?"
"Not quite."
Azrael pointed toward the sky.
"The sun is coming up."
Orin yawned.
"I could sleep for another day."
Caelan laughed.
"You’ll have plenty of time after the selection."
Orin reluctantly stood.
"That’s what everyone keeps telling me."
They quickly packed their equipment.
Before leaving, Seraphina looked around the campsite.
"We should clean everything."
Orin nodded.
"Agreed."
They extinguished the remaining fire and removed anything that might attract monsters.
Once everything was prepared, the five began moving deeper into the territory.
The forest became denser as they traveled.
The trees were larger here, and the mist was thicker.
Their visibility dropped considerably.
Lyanna moved carefully ahead.
"This area has more monsters."
"How many?" Caelan asked.
She paused.
"Hard to tell."
She closed her eyes.
"There are creatures everywhere."
Azrael activated Origin Perception.
Immediately, dozens of faint auras appeared throughout the forest.
Some were weak.
Others were considerably stronger.
A few were completely different from anything he had encountered before.
He deactivated the ability.
"We should avoid unnecessary battles."
Orin smiled.
"That’s the first time I’ve heard you say that."
Azrael looked at him.
"I like fighting."
"I know."
"But fighting everything we see isn’t efficient."
Caelan nodded.
"We need to conserve our strength."
Seraphina looked toward the surrounding forest.
"And our resources."
They continued.
The group moved in formation without needing to discuss it.
Lyanna remained at the front.
Orin stayed near the center.
Seraphina moved between the others.
Caelan watched the sides.
Azrael stayed slightly behind, observing the entire group.
They were becoming more coordinated with every hour.
After another hour, Lyanna suddenly raised her hand.
Everyone stopped.
"People."
Azrael looked ahead.
"How many?"
"Six."
"Distance?"
"About three hundred meters."
Caelan tightened his grip on his spear.
"Another team."
Lyanna nodded.
"They’re moving toward us."
Azrael looked at the surrounding trees.
"Then we don’t need to hide."
The team continued walking.
A few minutes later, six disciples appeared between the trees.
They were carrying several weapons and wearing Academy expedition badges.
Their equipment was slightly damaged, suggesting they had already fought several monsters.
The leader was a tall young man with dark-red hair.
His eyes immediately moved across Azrael’s group.
"You found a ruin yesterday."
It wasn’t a question.
Azrael remained calm.
"Why do you think that?"
The young man smiled.
"We saw the collapse."
Lyanna’s expression changed slightly.
"So you were nearby."
"Yes."
His eyes moved toward the others.
"We were planning to investigate it."
Caelan frowned.
"It’s already collapsed."
"That doesn’t mean there’s nothing left."
The young man’s gaze returned to Azrael.
"Did you find anything?"
Azrael smiled.
"Some monsters."
"And?"
"Nothing worth mentioning."
The young man clearly didn’t believe him.
But he didn’t press the matter.
Instead, he stepped aside.
"We’re heading north."
Azrael nodded.
"We’re heading east."
Neither group attacked.
They simply passed one another.
Once the other team disappeared, Orin finally exhaled.
"I thought they were going to challenge us."
"They considered it," Azrael said.
Seraphina looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"Their leader kept looking at our equipment."
Caelan nodded.
"He was assessing our strength."
Lyanna glanced backward.
"They’re following us."
Azrael smiled.
"I know."
Orin immediately turned.
"Should we confront them?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Because they’re curious."
Azrael continued walking.
"If they want to follow us, let them."
Caelan understood.
"They’ll reveal themselves eventually."
Several hours later, the terrain changed.
The enormous trees gradually disappeared.
The mist became thinner.
A massive grassland stretched before them.
Golden grass moved gently beneath the wind.
A wide river crossed the middle of the plain.
Beyond it stood a mountain range covered in clouds.
Lyanna took out the expedition map.
"We’re almost at the central region."
Caelan studied the mountains.
"There’s supposed to be a resource zone somewhere nearby."
Seraphina looked toward the river.
"There."
Something glimmered beneath the water.
Lyanna immediately crouched beside the river.
She focused her senses.
"Spirit Crystals."
Orin’s eyes widened.
"How many?"
"Dozens."
Caelan looked around.
"And we’re not the only ones who noticed."
Several figures appeared on the opposite side of the river.
The same six disciples from earlier.
Their leader smiled.
"Looks like we found something worth mentioning."
Azrael sighed.
"Of course."
The young man stepped forward.
"We can share."
Caelan looked at him suspiciously.
"How?"
"Half."
Lyanna shook her head.
"There are enough for everyone."
The young man smiled.
"Then there shouldn’t be a problem."
Azrael looked at the river.
The crystals were spread across a large section.
He could already sense several energy signatures beneath the water.
"This isn’t just a resource zone."
The others looked at him.
Azrael pointed toward the river.
"Something is guarding it."
The red-haired disciple’s smile disappeared.
"You sensed it too?"
Azrael nodded.
The water suddenly moved.
A large shadow passed beneath the surface.
Everyone became silent.
The river began forming small waves.
Then the waves grew larger.
SPLASH!
A massive creature burst from the river.
Water exploded into the air.
Both teams immediately raised their weapons.
The creature landed heavily on the riverbank.
BOOM!
It had the body of a massive crocodile, but its back was covered with thick blue crystal armor.
Its four legs dug deep into the ground.
Two enormous jaws opened.
Rows of sharp teeth reflected the sunlight.
The System appeared before Azrael.
[Monster Detected]
Name: Azure River Tyrant
Race: Crystal Beast
Level: 31
Rank: Rare
Status: Territorial
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"Level thirty-one."
Caelan tightened his grip on his spear.
"Stronger than the Stonefang."
Lyanna stared at the creature.
"And it’s protecting the entire river."
The red-haired leader looked at his teammates.
Nobody spoke.
They all understood the situation.
Trying to collect the crystals while the monster was alive would be suicidal.
The young leader looked at Azrael.
"Temporary cooperation?"
Azrael looked at the beast.
Then at the crystals.
Then back at the other team.
"Agreed."
Seraphina stepped forward.
"But everyone gets an equal share."
The young man nodded.
"Fine."
Orin raised his shield.
"Then let’s take it down."
The Azure River Tyrant suddenly lowered its body.
Its tail slammed against the river.
BOOM!
A wave of water exploded toward both teams.
"Move!"
Everyone scattered.
Azrael leapt backward as the water crashed across the riverbank.
Caelan disappeared to the left.
Lyanna rolled behind a large stone.
Orin planted his shield into the ground.
Seraphina raised her staff.
"Genesis Barrier!"
Golden light formed in front of her.
The wave struck the barrier.
BOOM!
Water sprayed in every direction.
Seraphina was pushed backward several steps.
"Strong!"
The Azure River Tyrant charged through the remaining water.
Orin immediately stepped forward.
"Come!"
The beast slammed into his shield.
BOOM!
Orin’s body shook from the impact.
His feet sank into the earth.
"Heavy!"
The red-haired leader shouted.
"Attack the sides!"
His team moved.
Three disciples attacked from the left.
Two attacked from the right.
Their weapons struck the crystal armor.
CLANG!
Most of the attacks bounced away.
Azrael observed carefully.
The armor wasn’t equally thick everywhere.
The back was heavily protected.
The legs had thinner sections.
The underside of the neck was even weaker.
"Caelan!"
Caelan looked toward him.
"Neck!"
Caelan immediately understood.
He moved forward.
The spear in his hand flashed.
BOOM!
He stabbed beneath the beast’s jaw.
The spear pierced the softer scales.
Blue blood spilled.
The monster roared.
Its head snapped toward Caelan.
Caelan barely escaped the jaws.
Azrael moved at the same time.
Astraeus flashed.
Slash!
His sword struck the creature’s eye.
The beast recoiled.
Lyanna appeared behind it.
"Left leg!"
Her dagger struck a weak point between two crystal plates.
CRACK!
A section of armor shattered.
The Azure River Tyrant became furious.
Its tail swept across the battlefield.
Azrael jumped over it.
Orin blocked it.
BOOM!
The force pushed him several meters backward.
Seraphina immediately restored his injuries.
"Orin!"
"I’m fine!"
He raised his shield again.
"Keep attacking!"
The battle intensified.
Both teams stopped thinking about competition.
They moved together.
When one fighter created an opening, another immediately exploited it.
Caelan attacked the neck.
Lyanna targeted the exposed joints.
The red-haired leader’s team attacked the creature’s sides.
Orin absorbed its strongest attacks.
Seraphina kept everyone alive.
And Azrael watched for the decisive opportunity.
The Azure River Tyrant suddenly raised its head.
Blue energy began gathering inside its mouth.
Azrael’s expression changed.
"Everyone!"
The beast opened its jaws.
"Get behind cover!"
A massive torrent of condensed water exploded forward.
BOOOOOOM!
The river itself seemed to rise into the air.
Trees were ripped from the ground.
The grassland was torn apart.
Both teams scattered in different directions.
Azrael spread his Eclipse Wings.
The water crashed against his wings and pushed him backward.
He gritted his teeth.
"This thing has more tricks than the Stonefang."
Seraphina stood behind a large rock.
Her eyes remained fixed on the monster.
"We need to finish it."
Azrael nodded.
He looked toward the damaged crystal armor.
Then toward Caelan.
Then Lyanna.
An idea formed.
"Everyone!"
They turned toward him.
Azrael pointed at the beast.
"Same target."
The others understood immediately.
The Azure River Tyrant roared.
The five members of Azrael’s team charged together.
And this time...
The second battle of their Outer Territory expedition truly began.