Dozens of monster cores littered the ground as Ida and Lena continued their ruthless slaughter.
"I wasn't expecting to see a monster swarm today! This is gonna be a far better lesson than I expected!" Lena shouted.
She raised her bow and pulled back on a translucent string. As it approached the rear, a bolt of pure mana formed between the bow and its string. With a gentle release of her fingers, the mana surged forward. Its arc was completely straight, as if wind resistance and gravity were irrelevant to its travel.
The arrow's path brought it straight past Ida, who stood as a bulwark against the approaching monsters, before finding purchase in a massive birdlike creature. It plummeted to the ground with a pathetic shriek where it crashed and disintegrated into ashe. With that kill, only seven monsters remained.
The four remaining birdlike creatures, who were shaped like hawks but were adorned in scaly armored skin beneath their feathers, began to fly erratically. Their evasive maneuvers made it difficult for Lena to line up a shot.
"Is this a challenge?" Lena asks through a vicious grin.
On the ground, three massive boars with white wings wrapping their sides, howled deeply as they prepared to charge.
Seeing the new threat, he threw his massive two handed shield off to the side and grabbed the small shield and mace from his hip. He charged forward in an instant. His massive metal frame became a cannon ball as he bashed into the closest boar with his shield. The monster's head exploded on impact and the creature dissolved moments later.
The second boar charged straight through the ashes of the first. The bold challenge brought a smile to Ida's face. He swung his mace with delighted fury. Steel met flesh with a crack that shook the room. In a devastating show of force, the entire upper half of the monster's body exploded into viscera that showered the room.
The final boar charged from Ida's blind spot. The man heard the charging beast and turned slightly, while lifting his leg. As the monster prepared it's vengeful blow, Ida's leg launched straight into the boar. The massive creature was launched back, flying through the air faster than it's useless wings ever could.
Ida runs toward the downed creature as four arrows fly overhead at a dizzying speed. He didn't bother watching them fly as he already knew the outcome. Four shots, four kills. As Lena had finished her battle, he prepared to finish his. He brought his mace high above the boar that whimpered at his feet. He brought it down with a powerful strike. It passed straight through the unfortunate creature and into the ground, which had cracked under his might.
Reid and Anna could do nothing but stare at the carnage they had just witnessed.
"That wasn't anything like the tricks Amadeus and I use. That just pure skill, nothing else." Reid looked down to his spear with pursed lips.
"She's amazing…" Anna murmured.
With the slaughter over, Ida and Lena walked back to the young hunters.
"So, did you learn anything?" Ida asked.
"That I need a lot more training…" Raid answered as his shoulders slumped.
"Don't worry, you're going to get plenty of training in the future. But I'm asking if you learned about tactics or strategies. That kind of thing."
"Hmm…" The boy rubbed his chin in thought. "I guess the main thing I noticed is how much trust you have in each other. You didn't pay any attention to the flying monsters because you knew Lena would take care of them." He responded in earnest.
"Good point. But it takes a long time to build that level of trust. Besides, we have a 'special' bond, so it's not a fair comparison." Ida joked.
"Then we'll just have to work on that, right Anna!" He boldly declared, while his eyes burned with passion.
"Right! Wait… wHAT?!" Her voice cracks as blood rushes to her cheeks.
"Our teamwork. I know we have a long way to go before we get to their level, but to tell you the truth, I trust you more than anyone else, so I know we can get there eventually!" His eyes shone with an unrelenting sincerity.
"Reid, wha… hold on…" She stammered. The unexpected and honest confession was more than she could handle at the moment.
"Oh my." Lena brought a hand to her mouth to cover her gleeful smile. Her knowing eyes bore into the girl who's face was a deep crimson.
"No! It's not like that!" She shouted while pointing at her elven mentor.
"Dammit! This is the opposite of how it's supposed to go!!!" The girl shouts to herself.
⁘⁘⁘⁘
"What the hell do you mean they failed!?!" A man shouted as he rose from his chair and slammed his fist onto his desk.
The expensive dark wood desk shook from impact. Papers and exquisitely detailed ornaments threatened to topple and fall from the shock. On the other side of the table three men sat on an elegant black leather sofa. Behind them were rows of lackeys arranged in front of the bookshelves that lined the side walls.
The man's hair was a deep black that matched his unsettling mono colored eyes. He wore a well tailored black suit with a deep purple undershirt. An opulent gold chain studded with amethyst crystals hung from his neck, and a similar ornament adorned his wrist.
"We're sorry boss!" The man in the middle pleaded while bowing his head deeply.
"You're damn right you're sorry! Actually, I'd say you're down right pathetic!" The boss shouted again, while a large vein began to pulse on his forehead.
The three on the couch wanted to defend themselves, to say anything back, but the words caught in their throats. Instead they all turned away, their trembling gazes choosing to look at anything other than their furious boss.
The boss saw that his subordinates were reduced to a useless cowering state. He let out a deep sigh before adjusting his tone.
"I gave you dozens of soldiers, multiple mages, and even allowed you to send Garta into battle. Not only did your target survive, but my forces were completely wiped out. So please explain it to me. How. Did. You. Fail." His words came out low and deep. They had a dangerous edge to them that threatened to cut down the listener.
After a brief silence the boss spoke again. "Answer." He commanded. His piercing gaze let his subordinates know exactly what was at stake in this situation.
"From the intel we gathered they had a powerful order of knights protecting them." The subordinate on the left answered.
"An order of knights? How many were there? And who was their leader?" The boss asked. He put a hand to his chin and his eyes unfocused, as if looking at some far off situation.
"Four in total, they were led by Dagon boss." The man on the left answered again.
"Dagon huh... That does change things. Though Dagon is more of a defensive warrior. Impressive as he is, with our numbers and firepower we should have been able to overwhelm him with enough time. Shaul, is there anything more to report?" The boss asked the man on the left.
"Yes boss. Based on our intel, hunters intervened in our attack. We checked the gate logs and the only hunters who entered the city that day were named Reid and Anna." Shaul said.
"Are they famous hunters?" The boss asked.
"No boss, they are both young and were only recently promoted to D rank." Shaul said.
The boss took a moment to process that new information.
"I suspect they just happened to be passing by, I doubt they will be relevant to us, but I will remember their names. The real issue is why the Clyde brat had so much manpower protecting her. Even if she is a lesser noble's daughter, having a quartet of high ranking knights protecting her is unusual." The boss says as his gaze shifts to the man on the right.
"V-Very unusual boss..." The man on the right replied with a shaky voice.
"Yes. Its almost like they knew something was going to happen, but how could that be, Rin?" The boss asked.
"I- I don't know boss. If there's a traitor here, then we need to flush them out right away!!!" Rin replied.
"I haven't said anything about traitors yet. But I do agree that a traitor seems to be the answer. So tell me Rin... What should I do if I find a traitor amongst us?" The boss asked with a smile that didn't match his cold gaze.
"We need to execute them on the spot! How dare they betray you boss! After all, you're the greatest man I've ever met!" Rin replied.
"Why thank you Rin. I agree, execution does seem appropriate in this case. So would you care to explain why you were seen exiting the Clyde estate a few days ago?" The boss asked. His smile remained unchanged, but the air around him grew heavy.
"What? No! That's a misunderstanding boss!" Rin shouted as he rose to his feet. Sweat beaded on his forehead as his knees threatened to give out at any moment.
"Then explain it to me. What exactly am I misunderstanding?" The boss asked. He began to slowly walk around his desk toward his subordinate.
"I- I was just gathering information! Insider information on the Clyde family's inner workings!" Rin shouted.
"That's good news. I would have hated to be forced to kill one of my most trusted subordinates." The boss replied as he finally stood directly in front of Rin.
"Right boss. I'll make sure to report everything I learn to you directly!" Rin said as his trembling hands begin to settle.
Rin was so relaxed that the boss hadn't figured him out that he didn't notice the man reach into his pocket. With a movement that was so fluid it seemed practiced, the boss slammed an item onto Rin's neck. The metallic tool wrapped around his neck to form a shining collar.
Rin reflexively stumbled back and fell onto the couch.
"Boss...What is this..." Rin asked as his eyes went wide.
"Oh, its just a fun little enchanted tool I found the other day. If it detects the wearer is lying it will inject a deadly venom into their body. But it's nothing for you to worry about. After all, why would you lie to me?" The boss asked as his smile widened.
"Of course! I would never." Rin replied as his skin went pale.
"Good, good. So tell me, Rin. Did you betray me." The smile on the bosses face vanished completely.
"I-" Rin started to answer, but stopped before reaching for the collar.
The boss snatched Rin's arm with a grip so tight it made the man's bones creak.
"Argh!" Rin screamed.
"Answer me. Now!" The boss demanded.
"No! I didn't betray you." Rin shouted.
Immediately after his declaration, Rin felt a sharp sting in his neck. Black lines began to spread from his collar using his veins. The pain was immediate. It felt like someone had poured boiling water directly into his veins. Every single part of his body screamed out in agony.
"No! Help! Heeeeeelp!!!!" Rin shouted desperately, but no one dared to answer his call.
The boss walked away as his subordinate writhed in pain. He calmly sat down in his chair before looking out at the rest of his subordinates.
"Get him out of here before his corpse starts to stink up the place." The boss said.
""Yes Boss!"" Two subordinates standing in front of the bookshelves answered simultaneously. They rushed forward and removed Rin from the room as fast as their bodies would allow them. As the door closed behind the two, the boss let out a heavy sigh.
"This is gonna push back my plans... Shaul, I need you to do a recon on their storefront. Tell me what their security looks like. Then I want you to get in contact with our agent within the hunters guild and deliver this letter." The boss said while handing over a black envelope with a purple seal.
"Understood boss." Shaul replied while taking the letter.
"Leo, I need you to handle recruiting some more numbers for us. I don't need quality here, just grab me thirty or so mongrels from the slums that we can use as expendable pawns." The boss said.
"Understood boss! I'll get it done right away!" The man on the middle seat of the couch, Leo, shouted his response.
With his orders given, the boss dismissed his subordinates, leaving him all alone in his office. He spun around in his chair to look out the large window behind his desk. He saw the city of Forterra spread out under the night sky.
"This city will be mine Clyde. I pray I get the honor of walking over your corpse to get it." The bosses eyes narrowed sharply.