The jagged rocks of the Wasteland cast long shadows in the late afternoon sun as Aryan and the team crept toward the lone C-rank beast.
It stood on four muscular legs, covered in pale blue scales that shimmered like ice under the light. A single sharp horn jutted from its forehead, and frost clung to the ground around its feet. Cold vapor curled from its open maw as it growled low, sensing something was coming.
Kat raised a clenched fist, halting the group. "Alright," he whispered. "We stick to the plan. Mal, you move behind it—distract it. Make it turn. Kira, Aryan, Reno—attack from the sides when it's vulnerable."
Aryan tightened his grip on his blade, his heart pounding. It was his first time working in a team. He didn't want to be the one to mess up.
Mal gave a quick nod and broke off from the group, looping silently behind the beast. It hadn't noticed them yet—at least not all of them.
Kat leaned toward Aryan. "Keep your eyes open. C-ranks aren't mindless brutes."
Aryan nodded, exhaling slowly. Just like before. Breathe, wait, strike.
Suddenly, Mal let out a loud shout, throwing a rock toward the beast's back. The creature snarled and spun around, distracted—just as planned.
"Now!" Kat roared.
The team surged forward.
Aryan ran in from the right, blade poised to strike its hind leg. Kira lunged from the left, her curved dagger flashing. Reno went for the horn, trying to blind it.
But just as Aryan was mid-swing—
A loud screech tore through the air.
Another beast—identical in appearance—leapt from a nearby ridge, its claws extended, its mouth aglow with freezing blue light.
"Mal!" Kat shouted, too late.
The new beast slammed into Mal with full force, pinning him to the rocky ground. Mal screamed—but it was short-lived. The creature bit down.
Snap.
The scream stopped.
Aryan stumbled back in shock, eyes wide.
"What the hell?!" Reno shouted. "There's more of them?!"
Kat's face twisted in horror. "It's a pack—! These bastards never travel alone!"
From the ridges and ruined trees around them, three more beasts emerged, snarling, frost curling from their mouths.
They had walked into a trap.
"Circle up!" Kat yelled, drawing his dual blades. "Defensive stance—now!"
Aryan's hands trembled as he backed up toward the others, blade raised. His breath hitched in his throat as the temperature around them began to drop rapidly. The ground beneath his feet turned slick with frost.
"They're surrounding us…" Aryan muttered.
Kira stood beside him, her voice cold and low. "If we panic, we die."
One of the beasts let out a piercing howl that echoed across the Wasteland like a death bell.
Aryan's fingers clenched tighter around the hilt of his weapon.
He wasn't just fighting for survival now.
He was part of a team—and they were already one man down.
Chapter 7 End