The monster had clearly noticed the expedition team as well.
It stopped in its tracks and fixed its glowing violet eyes on the group. The oppressive aura radiating from its body made one thing obvious: this was no ordinary beast.
"How strong is it?" Watanabe asked.
"Judging by its energy fluctuations, it's roughly at the seventh or eighth stage of the Planetary Rank," Karl Blackshark analyzed. "Not overwhelmingly powerful, but in an environment like this, we can't afford to be careless."
The two sides faced each other for several tense seconds.
Then the monster suddenly unleashed a thunderous roar and charged.
Its speed was astonishing.
In the blink of an eye, it had crossed dozens of meters.
"Spread out! Prepare for battle!" Karl shouted.
The expedition members immediately scattered, forming a loose encirclement. Several veteran mercenaries opened fire at once. High-energy laser beams and plasma shells rained toward the creature.
To everyone's surprise, the attacks proved far less effective than expected.
Although they inflicted damage, the monster's gray scales possessed extraordinary defensive properties. Meanwhile, the tentacle-like appendages on its back released a strange energy barrier that absorbed much of the incoming firepower.
"This thing's defense is stronger than we thought!" one mercenary yelled. "Conventional attacks aren't doing much!"
"Focus on its weak points!" Karl commanded. "Target the eyes and underbelly!"
The battle quickly intensified.
The monster wasn't just durable. Its offensive power was equally terrifying.
Its claws could tear through steel with ease, while the tentacles on its back unleashed waves of violet energy that forced the mercenaries to stay on constant alert.
"Rowan, should we step in?" Roronoa asked eagerly as he watched the fight unfold.
"Not yet," Rowan replied calmly, studying the battlefield. "They seem capable of handling it. There's no need to expose our true strength."
And indeed, the Blackshark Mercenary Corps was highly experienced.
They rapidly adapted their tactics.
Several members drew the creature's attention from the front while others attacked from the flanks.
"Aim for its eye!"
Watanabe fired a high-explosive grenade.
The projectile struck the monster's left eye with perfect accuracy.
Boom!
The explosion erupted in a burst of fire and shockwaves.
The creature roared in agony.
Purple blood streamed from its ruined eye.
It had been seriously wounded.
Enraged, the monster went berserk.
Its tentacles whipped wildly through the air, releasing increasingly violent energy pulses. Several mercenaries were struck and thrown backward.
Fortunately, their protective gear prevented fatal injuries.
"It's getting desperate! Be careful!" Karl warned.
Then something unexpected happened.
The monster abruptly stopped attacking.
The tentacles on its back began vibrating rapidly.
At the same time, the surrounding mist started flowing toward it.
"That's bad!" the team's technician shouted. "It's gathering energy from the mist! This must be some kind of special ability!"
The warning came too late.
As the mist converged around the creature, its wounds began healing at a visible rate.
Its aura grew stronger and stronger.
"We can't let it finish!" Karl barked.
"Full firepower! Interrupt it!"
Everyone attacked with everything they had.
Unfortunately, the concentrated mist formed a protective cocoon around the monster, greatly reducing the effectiveness of their attacks.
"This isn't good," Rowan muttered while observing the situation. "If it fully recovers, things will become much more difficult."
"Should we act now?" Roronoa asked.
"Wait."
Rowan's gaze shifted toward Karl.
"The captain looks like he's finally going to make his move."
Sure enough, Karl stepped forward.
A terrifying energy surge erupted from his body.
As a Star Rank powerhouse, he was vastly stronger than anyone else present.
"Everyone, fall back!"
The mercenaries immediately retreated.
Karl raised his right hand.
Blinding light began gathering in his palm.
The energy was so intense that the surrounding air distorted from the heat.
"Annihilation Beam!"
A massive pillar of light exploded from his hand.
The beam pierced straight through the mist barrier and slammed into the monster's chest.
Boom!
The creature was blasted dozens of meters through the air before crashing violently into a gigantic boulder.
It released one final unwilling roar.
Then its life force vanished completely.
Purple blood flowed from its wounds and quickly seeped into the ground.
"It's over."
Karl lowered his hand.
His expression remained as cold and calm as ever.
"Secure the area. Check the wounded."
After the battle, the team gathered around the corpse.
It was unlike any life-form they had ever encountered.
Its anatomy seemed specifically evolved for survival within the Mist Forbidden Zone.
"These scales are unusual," the technician said while examining a sample. "They're composed of several unknown elements and possess exceptional energy conductivity."
"The tentacles are fascinating too," another mercenary remarked. "They appear to be specialized organs designed to manipulate the mist."
"It seems the creatures here truly are unique," Karl concluded.
"Stay alert. This may only be the beginning."
Standing nearby, Rowan and Roronoa silently observed.
The battle had taught them an important lesson.
The creature itself hadn't been overwhelmingly strong, but its ability to adapt to its environment was frightening.
Inside the Mist Forbidden Zone, vigilance could never be relaxed.
"Collect any valuable samples and move out," Karl ordered.
"We've made too much noise. Staying here may attract even more trouble."
The mercenaries quickly gathered scales, blood samples, and sections of the creature's tentacles before reforming their ranks.
The battle was over.
But it was only the first step of their journey through the forbidden mist.
"Encountering something like that on the first day..." Roronoa muttered while they continued marching. "The rest of this trip probably won't be peaceful."
"Probably not," Rowan agreed.
"But it also proves this place is filled with secrets. If we can survive until the end, we may truly find treasures capable of accelerating our cultivation."
"Let's hope so."
Roronoa adjusted his backpack.
"For now, staying alive is our top priority."
The next morning, sunrise within the Mist Forbidden Zone was strangely unsettling.
The dense silver-gray fog blocked direct sunlight, allowing only a faint glow to filter through.
The entire world seemed submerged beneath a ghostly veil of pale light.
The expedition team had spent the night on a relatively open plain where the mist was thinner and visibility somewhat better.
Each member rested in an individual tent.
Even so, few had slept peacefully.
Lookouts rotated throughout the night to ensure no dangerous creatures approached the camp.
"Pack your gear and prepare to move," Karl announced.
"Today's route takes us through an area rumored to contain spatial distortions. Stay alert at all times."
Rowan crawled out of his tent and stretched his stiff muscles.
He had barely slept.
Part of it was the unfamiliar environment.
The rest came from a growing unease.
Yesterday's battle had only reinforced his concerns regarding the Blackshark Mercenary Corps.
Especially Karl.
The man's cold ruthlessness was difficult to ignore.
"How are you feeling?" Roronoa asked quietly as he approached.
"You were tossing and turning all night."
"I've got a bad feeling," Rowan admitted.
"These people are strong, but something about them isn't right. Did you notice their expressions after yesterday's fight?"
"You mean the excitement?" Roronoa nodded.
"Yeah. It felt strange. Most explorers would be relieved after surviving a dangerous encounter, but they looked like they enjoyed the killing."
"Exactly."
Rowan fastened his equipment.
"That worries me. We need to be even more careful. We can't reveal any weaknesses."
Just then, loud shouting erupted from the other side of the camp.
Rowan and Roronoa looked over.
Two mercenaries who had fought in yesterday's battle were arguing fiercely.
"That scale is mine!"
A tall, lean man with a scar across his face shouted angrily.
His name was Rex, one of the team's assault specialists.
He had fought fiercely during the battle.
"Bullshit!"
A heavily built man with a broad, brutal face glared back.
"My attack injured that beast first! The scale belongs to me!"
The man's name was Barton.
As the team's heavy weapons expert, he wielded a devastating heavy laser cannon.
"What are you two fighting about?"
Watanabe walked over with a frown.
"The ownership of this scale."
Rex held up a gleaming purple scale.
"After the battle, we both found it while collecting samples. Now we're deciding who gets to keep it."
Rowan examined the scale closely.
It was noticeably larger than the others.
More importantly, powerful energy fluctuations radiated from within it.
Clearly, this wasn't an ordinary trophy.
"It's just a scale," Roronoa whispered. "Is it really worth all this?"
"No."
Rowan shook his head.
"Feel the energy inside it."
Roronoa focused carefully.
Moments later, his eyes widened.
The scale contained a unique energy unlike anything he had encountered before.
It seemed capable of enhancing cultivation.
"No wonder they're fighting over it," he muttered.
"A treasure like this would be incredibly valuable."
The argument continued escalating.
Both Rex and Barton were notoriously hot-tempered.
Neither had any intention of backing down.
"Enough."
Karl's voice suddenly echoed through the camp.
Everyone immediately fell silent.
"What kind of disgraceful scene is this first thing in the morning?"
"Captain!"
Rex quickly turned toward Karl.
"Please judge fairly. That scale belongs to me."
"The hell it does!" Barton snapped.
"I saw it first!"
Karl slowly stepped between them.
His cold gaze swept across both men.
The atmosphere instantly became suffocating.
Everyone could feel the danger radiating from him.
"You both want this scale?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"Yes, Captain!"
Both men answered simultaneously.
"Good."
Karl nodded.
Then a chilling smile appeared on his face.
"In that case, we'll settle it the old-fashioned way."
"The old-fashioned way?"
Rowan frowned.
Looking around, he noticed the other mercenaries had suddenly become serious.
"A duel," Watanabe explained quietly.
"It's a tradition of the Blackshark Mercenary Corps. Whenever a dispute can't be resolved, it's settled through combat."
"A duel?" Roronoa asked in disbelief.
"Over a single scale?"
"In the Blackshark Mercenary Corps, duels are sacred," another mercenary said.
"And they're fought to the death."
A chill ran down both Rowan's and Roronoa's spines.
A death match over a single scale.
The rule was unbelievably cruel.
"You heard him."
Karl looked at Rex and Barton.
"The winner gets the scale."
"As for the loser..."
A cold smile crossed his lips.
"The loser gets nothing."
The two men exchanged uneasy glances.
Their earlier anger was beginning to fade.
Now they had to consider the possibility of death.
Risking their lives for a single scale required a different kind of courage.
"What?"
Karl's voice dripped with mockery.
"Afraid now?"
"If you're scared, you can quit."
"Of course, anyone who quits will be expelled from the expedition."
"And in the Mist Forbidden Zone..."
He paused.
"They'll be left to fend for themselves."
The threat was unmistakable.
Being abandoned here was practically a death sentence.
"I accept the duel!"
Rex clenched his teeth.
"Barton, you idiot. Today's the day you die!"
"Hah!"
Barton sneered.
"The one dying will be you!"
"Excellent."
Karl nodded with satisfaction.
"You've got guts."
"The duel begins now."
"The rules are simple. No ranged weapons. Only melee weapons and personal abilities."
"The fight continues until one of you is dead."
The mercenaries quickly cleared an open area, creating a crude arena.
Standing near the back of the crowd, Rowan and Roronoa watched with complicated emotions.
"This is insane," Roronoa whispered.
"They're risking their lives over a scale."
"No."
Rowan's eyes remained fixed on Karl.
"This isn't really about the scale."
"Then what is it?"
"Authority."
Rowan's voice was calm.
"Karl is establishing dominance. He's showing everyone that his rules are absolute and cannot be questioned."
The more Rowan watched, the clearer Karl's true intentions became.
The duel wasn't just a way to settle disputes.
It was a warning.
A demonstration of power.
A reminder that absolute obedience was the foundation of the Blackshark Mercenary Corps.
Rex drew a razor-sharp combat knife.
Ancient runes glowed faintly along the blade.
It was clearly a high-quality weapon.
Barton pulled out a massive war hammer.
The weapon looked heavy enough to crush bone with a single strike.
"Begin."
Karl's voice rang through the camp.
The instant he spoke, both men lunged forward.
Rex relied on speed, attempting to circle behind his opponent.
Barton relied on overwhelming strength, swinging his hammer head-on.
Clang!
The combat knife and war hammer collided.
A deafening metallic shriek echoed through the mist.
Although Rex's blade was sharp, the tremendous force nearly knocked it from his hand.
"Your strength isn't what it used to be, Rex!"
Barton grinned viciously as he swung his hammer again.
-------------------------------
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