Scott slowed his steps.
For a brief moment—
He stopped.
Something moved.
Not in front of him.
Not behind him.
But beside him.
His eyes narrowed.
His shadow had just… shifted.
Scott didn't react immediately.
Instead—
A faint smile crept onto his face.
"…Let's go that way," he said calmly, pointing toward a dense stretch of vegetation ahead.
Jami—now fully alert—followed his gaze.
For a split second, their eyes met.
And in that instant—
He understood.
A grin spread across Jami's face.
"…Yeah," he said casually. "That path looks nice. Quiet. No beasts."
Scott nodded slightly.
"Perfect."
Neither of them said it out loud.
But both knew—
Something was there.
And they were walking straight toward it.
They moved forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
"Where have you been?" Jami asked as they walked. "I've been looking for you everywhere since yesterday."
"Cyris Prime," Scott replied. His voice was calm, but colder than usual. "With Rylan."
Jami scoffed.
"That guy again? I don't like him."
Scott didn't respond immediately.
But inwardly—
His thoughts sharpened.
He thinks he's better than everyone…
I'll deal with him later.
Just as Scott was about to speak—
BOOM!
The ground beside them exploded.
A massive figure burst out from the vegetation.
Scott's eyes snapped toward it instantly.
A beast.
Wolf-like.
But far larger than any normal animal.
Its fur crackled with violent streams of electricity, arcing across its body like living lightning. Its eyes burned crimson, filled with raw, unrestrained bloodlust.
Its jaws opened wide—
Revealing rows of dagger-like teeth.
Saliva dripped from its mouth, sizzling as it hit the ground.
It lunged.
Fast.
Too fast for a normal human.
But Scott—
Moved first.
He stepped slightly to the side.
Not a full dodge.
Just enough.
The beast's claws tore past his chest—
Missing by inches.
Scott's hand shot out—
Grabbing the side of its neck mid-motion.
The moment he touched it—
Electricity surged into his arm.
CRACK!
Scott's muscles tensed, but his expression didn't change.
"…Got you."
He twisted his body sharply—
Using the beast's momentum against it—
And slammed it into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact sent dust flying.
Before the creature could recover—
Scott's palm drove downward.
"Infiltration."
His force pierced through its outer body—
Striking directly inside.
The beast convulsed violently.
Its body spasmed.
Then—
Went still.
Jami whistled.
"…That was fast."
Scott didn't reply.
Because—
They weren't alone.
The vegetation around them rustled violently.
Then—
They came.
One.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Dozens of identical beasts burst out from all directions.
Each one crackling with electricity.
Each one faster than the last.
"…Now this is more like it," Jami said, stretching his arms slightly.
Scott's eyes scanned the battlefield.
Every movement.
Every angle.
Every threat.
His Astral Mind activated naturally.
Time didn't slow—
But to him—
Everything became clear.
"They'll attack in waves," Scott said calmly. "Don't let them surround you."
"Got it."
The first wave hit.
Three beasts lunged from the front.
Two from the sides.
One from behind.
Scott stepped forward.
Not back.
He slipped between the front attackers—
Tilting his body just enough to let their claws pass.
Then—
He spun.
His arm slashed across one beast's side—
Redirecting its movement into another.
CRASH!
They collided.
Scott ducked low—
Letting a claw pass over his head—
Then drove his elbow upward into its jaw.
THUD.
The beast staggered.
Scott didn't finish it.
He moved on.
Because more were coming.
To his left—
Jami was already fighting.
Unlike Scott's precision—
Jami was explosive.
He leapt forward—
Meeting a beast head-on.
BOOM!
Their clash sent sparks flying.
Jami grabbed its forelimb—
And flung it into another incoming beast.
"HAHA! Come on!" he shouted.
Back to Scott—
A beast lunged from above.
Scott stepped back—
Just enough—
Then raised his hand.
At the perfect moment—
He struck.
"Infiltration."
His palm connected with its chest mid-air.
The force passed through.
The beast dropped instantly.
Another came from behind—
Scott didn't turn.
He stepped sideways—
Letting it pass—
Then struck its flank as it moved past him.
Clean.
Efficient.
No wasted energy.
The battlefield shifted.
The beasts grew more aggressive.
Faster.
More coordinated.
Electricity surged wildly now.
One managed to graze Scott's arm.
CRACK!
The shock ran through his body.
He winced slightly—
But didn't slow down.
"Heal."
The damage faded almost instantly.
"…Annoying," he muttered.
Then—
A larger beast emerged.
Bigger.
Heavier.
Its lightning more intense.
It growled—
Low.
Threatening.
Scott's gaze sharpened.
"…That one's mine."
The beast charged.
Scott stepped forward.
They met in the center—
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath them.
The beast's claws tore downward—
Scott caught its wrist mid-motion—
Twisted—
And stepped inside its guard.
Then—
He struck.
"Infiltration."
Full force.
The beast froze.
Its eyes widened—
Then—
Collapsed.
Silence fell.
The remaining beasts hesitated.
Scott stood tall.
Calm.
Untouched.
"…Who's next?"
None moved.
Then—
They fled.
Jami blinked.
"…They ran?"
Scott exhaled slowly.
"They're not mindless," he said. "They know when they'll lose."
Jami grinned.
"Good. Saves us the trouble."
Scott turned slightly.
Looking ahead.
His eyes sharpened again.
Because deep down—
He knew.
This wasn't random.
Something had led them here.
And whatever it was—
Was still watching.