[Quest: First Evolution Path Initiated]
Objectives:
Evolution Aura: 96% / 100% ⬜
Fire Element Material: 1/1 ✅
Dark Element Material: 0/1 ⬜
Monster Points: 174 / 100 ✅
Status: In Progress
Remaining: EA +4% | Dark Essence Core x1
---
Qalish stared at it for a moment.
So close.
Just one more fight.
He closed the panel.
"Let's move."
---
The three of them entered the tree line.
The outer zone was quieter now. Most students had already pulled back toward the main group. The afternoon light filtered weakly through the canopy above.
Foxy sat alert on Qalish's shoulder, her eyes scanning ahead.
She hadn't relaxed since they turned back toward the deep zone.
She knows where we're going.
Qalish kept his pace steady. Calm. Measured.
Aiden walked beside him, hands behind his head.
"So just to confirm," he said quietly. "We're walking toward the thing that nearly killed us an hour ago."
"Yes."
"And your plan is...?"
"Fight it."
Aiden was silent for a moment.
"...Cool. Great. Fantastic plan."
Ailyn said nothing.
But the faint tension in her jaw said enough.
---
They hadn't gone far when a familiar voice cut through the trees.
"Well."
Qalish stopped.
He didn't need to turn.
He already knew.
Nateant
stepped out from behind a cluster of trees, arms crossed.
Four others stood at his back — five in total including himself.
All well-equipped. All wearing the confident expressions of people who had never struggled a day in their lives.
Qalish's eyes flickered.
Monster Analysis.
---
Nateant's Group — Quick Scan
Nateant — A Rank / Light Horn Lion / Level 2
Member 2 — B Rank / Storm Hawk / Level 2
Member 3 — B Rank / Iron Shell Crab / Level 2
Member 4 — C Rank / Mud Crawler / Level 1
Member 5 — C Rank / Flame Toad / Level 1
---
Four others. Mixed ranks. Higher average than us on paper.
But their formation is loose. No coordination.
They're relying on individual strength.
That's their weakness.
Nateant smirked.
"Didn't think you'd still be in here, F-Rank."
He glanced at Aiden and Ailyn.
"Dragging your friends down with you?"
Aiden's expression shifted immediately.
"Say that again."
"Aiden." Qalish's voice was quiet. "Stand down."
"He's—"
"I said stand down."
Aiden exhaled sharply through his nose. But he stepped back.
Nateant laughed.
"Smart. At least you know your place."
He took a step forward.
"Hand over the materials you've collected today."
His tone was casual. Entitled.
"Consider it a toll for using our side of the forest."
Silence.
Ailyn's eyes narrowed. Aiden's fist tightened at his side.
Qalish didn't move.
"No," he said simply.
Nateant blinked. As if the word didn't quite register.
"...What did you just say?"
"I said no."
Qalish looked at him directly.
"And if you push this further — you'll regret it."
A beat.
Nateant's expression darkened.
"You're an F Rank. You have one monster." He almost laughed. "A fox."
"You think you can threaten me?"
"I'm not threatening you," Qalish said calmly.
"I'm warning you."
---
Nateant raised his hand. The signal was clear. His group moved.
Qalish didn't hesitate.
"Foxy — Shadow Bite. Left flank."
"Ailyn — center, wide spread."
"Aiden — hold right. Don't overcommit."
They moved before Nateant's group had even finished spreading out.
---
Wind Blade!
A wide crescent of air tore through the center of Nateant's formation. The Mud Crawler stumbled backward — taking a direct hit before it even reached attack range.
Shadow Bite!
Foxy blurred across the left — dark energy erupting from her jaws as she struck the Storm Hawk mid-lunge. The B Rank monster let out a sharp cry and staggered hard.
Steel Bite!
Rex slammed into the Iron Shell Crab from the right. The metallic crunch of impact echoed through the trees. The crab's defense held — but it was pushed back several steps.
Nateant's eyes widened.
This is—
It had taken less than ten seconds.
His group of five — scattered. Disorganized. On the back foot.
Three of them hadn't landed a single clean attack.
"How—"
"Formation," Qalish said flatly, stepping forward.
"Your group has no coordination. Everyone fights alone."
He stopped a few steps from Nateant.
The Light Horn Lion growled low between them.
Foxy met its gaze from Qalish's shoulder. Didn't flinch. Didn't blink.
Nateant's jaw tightened.
"You — you got lucky—"
"No."
Qalish's voice was quiet. Even.
But there was something behind it now. Something that made Nateant go still.
"Listen carefully."
Qalish held his gaze without blinking.
"I've let your words go every time. I've ignored it. Walked away."
"But I won't always."
"The next time you point your group at us—"
"I won't stop at a warning."
Silence.
Not a single person in Nateant's group moved.
Nateant stared at him.
For the first time since Qalish had known him—
There was something in his eyes that wasn't arrogance.
Something quieter.
Something that looked almost like doubt.
He said nothing.
He turned.
"...We're done here," he muttered.
His group followed without a word. They disappeared into the trees.
---
Aiden watched them go.
Then slowly turned to Qalish.
"...You good?"
"Yeah."
"You sure? Because you looked like you were genuinely about to destroy him."
Qalish started walking.
"I was."
Aiden blinked. Then jogged to catch up.
"Right. Okay. Moving on then."
Ailyn fell into step beside Qalish without a word.
But her eyes stayed on him a moment longer than usual.
He's changed since this morning...
Not in a bad way.
Just... more certain of himself.
They moved deeper into the forest.
Toward the dark zone.
Toward what was waiting.