The First of Many Victories

"More Beasts approaching behind you guys."

"Oi, Ju'Shal, can you guys hurry up already?"

"Glad to see you as well, give up defense and focus on getting out of here."

"No signs of flying Beasts, ranged units, don't hesitate in taking the Beasts down."

"Ludin is bothering Drevid again."

"Ignore him, we can deal with him later."

"The three rank fives are approaching, seems we will finally get to test out the equipment properly."

"Save some for us, we will join you guys after getting these people to safety."

"Just take your rest, we got this." Ju'Shal chuckled as she brought her axe down on the head of a Horned Rabbit.

While they looked like rabbits, they were much larger and had a large sharp horn that were only as fearsome as their unusually long claws and sharp canines. She was a bit disappointed to be told to wield a shield for this battle, but found her new axe cut easily into the hard pelt of these Beasts.

Behind her, a Bird-Kin expertly jabbed her spear twice into the side of a Rager after side-stepping the thrust of its tusks. The beast looked like a wild boar, though it was shaped mostly like a wolf and primarily uses its tusks to pierce its prey after charging them.

As the Rager dropped to the ground with a whine, she stabbed the spear into its head before dragging it aside to let the group of refugees run past her. The system counted 37 people in total, with only 28 running while carrying the rest.

"Defend them until they are clear of the battle field. Then you can go wild." Nix's voice suddenly called out with a yawn in everyone's helm. They were all glad to hear her voice, making them feel much safer as they cut down beast after beast.

"Glad to hear you're awake Nix. Or should I call you Commander now?" Ju'Shal asked as she bashed a Dusk Wolf's muzzle with her shield before finishing it off with a chop to its neck.

"Just Nix is fine, and sorry I can't be there in person." Nix apologized in a faraway voice before she came back with a sigh.

"You're fine, we all know of your condition." The Bird-Folk said nonchalantly as she jumped back from a pounce from a Horned Rabbit. It was quickly met with a bolt to the side that came from the rampart.

"I've been wondering, are we going to be a city now with so many people?" A Gnome asked from the ramparts as he fired a few more rounds into the battle, clicking his tongue as one of his bolts missed the Rager he was aiming at.

"Why are you guys so calm? This is a fight to the death you know." Nix spoke up quizzically. The group could already see the woman raising her brow like she usually did in these situations.

"There aren't that many Nix, we will be fine." A Stone-Folk answered with a grunt as he rushed a Rager and collided with its tusks. The sounds of bones snapping was heard as the tips broke off before it yelped and tried to flee, only to be met with a sword stabbing into its back.

"Don't be complacent. If I have to come down and save you, you'll all be going through hell later." Nix snapped, sending chills down everyone's back.

For the next few minutes, the only words spoken were some updates and callings for assistance. The villagers had long recieved the weary and wounded group that managed to reach them, letting the people close the gates before climbing up on the ramparts to observe the battle. A third red flame was sent up to allow everyone to see the battle in full view. Though they were amazed at the strange light, they were more amazed by how controlled the battle was.

Those on the ground were easily outnumbered, each having to fend off three Beasts on their own if they were left without any protection from those firing from the ramparts. As the Dark Beasts were quickly thinned out and made to scatter away from the battlefield, a roar of cheers erupted from the villagers.

It was then that the forgotten roars were heard from the forest, causing the villagers to grow silent once more. With another red flame shot up into the sky as the other one disappeared, everyone could see the forms of the three rank fives that walked slowly towards the five left alone among the corpses.

Due to the red flame, the already ghastly forms of the three Beasts seemed much more demonic than necessary. Everyone knew them as Stalkers, fearsome rank fives that stood at the highest danger level. They were almost as tall as an apple tree each, carrying obsidian like antlers on top of their wolf looking heads. While the top half of their heads were practically bone, drool dripped down their grey fleshed jaws and down onto the ground far below. Their bodies looked as if they were on the verge of starvation, looking like a taller Ghoul while their hands hung down to their backwards knees. Long claws jutted from each of their four fingers, scraping at their own bone-like shins as they walked towards the group.

Everyone else seemed rather calm at the sight of these horrors that would only be spoken of to children to keep them well behaved. All except for Nix, who was suddenly jolted awake as she saw the forms on her screen. "By the Moon, what are those things?"

"Ah, I almost forgot. Nix, these creatures are known as Stalkers. They always travel in groups, ranging from a couple, all the way to a group of five. There was once rumors of 20 gathered together, but that occurrence is very rare." Ju'Shal answered as she activated her Mana Blade and Shield. The others followed in suit as they watched the three Stalkers crouch down and observe them.

"Can you take them?" Nix's voice was laced with worry. If it wasn't for Sheeva, she would've immediately set off to put her armor on and run out to help them.

"We will be fine. If they were three fingered, we would be worried, but four fingers show they have no proficiency in blood magic." The Bird-Kin answered as she rolled her neck and hopped a few times in place.

"Wait, blood magic? What the hell is wrong with this world?"

"Sheeva, I thought I told you to have Nix read the books I gave you." Drevid sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"...So that's what they were..."

"Nix..." This time it was Ju'Shal who sighed and shook her head.

They hadn't expected Nix to behave like a child with things like this, though it did make them feel a bit better about hearing Nix had a few things that she tried to stray away from like a normal person.

"Judging by how calm everyone suddenly got, I assume there is no danger?" Nix asked as she leaned forward in her chair and rested her elbows on the desk.

"Well, normally we would avoid them no matter what." The Tiger-Kin chuckled softly as she shook her head and targeted the one on the far right.

"And now?"

"Now, we have some doubts that these things even want to fight. They are very smart and rely on surprise attacks if they cannot use magic. Right now, they are waiting for the flare to disappear before either running away or simply attacking us outright." Drevid spoke calmly, resting his hands on the wooden wall and leaning on his arms.

"Since they rely on stealth, they must not have strong resistances to magic or physical damage." Nix nodded as Sheeva suddenly tugged on her sleeve and offered her a book. Nix then grimaced a bit before gently pushing the book away. "M-maybe later sweety."

"You're right, though their claws are still able to cut through regular steel. Their antlers are valuable as well, some mages seek them to use as ingredients for various rituals or medicines." Ju'Shal said after biting her cheek, preventing herself from letting out a chuckle. Knowing Sheeva's personality, she was probably trying to make Nix read up on them right now.

"Well, if they are useful, let's go ahead and take them out before the flare dies out." Nix ordered with a sigh, feeling like she was worrying over nothing. Seriously, were the ranks for Dark Beasts for show or something? What's next, a rank 10 that only hid among the mist or something?

After the order was given, the three on the ramparts fired round after round at the Stalkers. The one on the right drooped immediately with a hushed whimper as it's neck and heart were pierced swiftly. The one on the left tried to raise its arms to defend itself as it rushed forward, only to take a shot to the knee and tumble forward and roll onto its back. The one in the middle roared loudly to try and bring fear among the group, only to be met with several shots to its chest and one to its open mouth.

The group on the ground rushed the Stalkers as they fell, with Ju'Shal, the Bird-Kin, and a Stone-Folk bringing their weapons down on the one that tried to roll back onto its feet. The Bird-Kin swung around to the side as the Stalker swung its arm frantically at Ju'Shal, who met the claws with her shield and stood firm with a grunt. As the Bird-Kin stabbed her spear into the Stalkers neck, the Stone-Folk slashed at its chest and cut it open across its abdomen. Thanks to the heat that the weapons produced, hardly any blood splattered onto the poor Bird-Kin, who glared through her bloodied visor at the Stone-Folk. The other two ran to the other two Stalkers each to make sure they were properly dead by lobbing their heads off in one swift motion.

To Nix, it all seemed a bit to easy. Such horrifying Beasts that only her long-lost lover would make up and tell Nix over a drink to give her the creeps, easily felled in under a minute. "Seriously, how are these things even dangerous?"

Sheeva puffed her cheeks as she swiped the tablet she held and brought some texts fir Nix to read on the woman's screen.

[Stalkers. They were given this name due to the nature of their hunts. They primarily lurk in places where the sunlight barely reaches. Using their bone-like forms to blend into their environment, they will follow unsuspecting travelers through the night before using their claws to tear them to pieces before devouring everything from their equipment to their bones.

They are mostly attracted to blood, and can track prey as long as there is an open wound. If one is found, it is advised that the person is to run as far as they can to an open and well lit area, as they can travel in packs between two to five. If a group of more than five is found, the persons who find them must immediately report to the lands lord so a subjugation force can be formed.

Never hunt them alone, never hunt them in a dense forest or in a cave. If you see any with three fingers instead of four, the Stalker must be killed in one move or with fire to prevent it from using its own blood to defend itself.]

...Alright. So they are dangerous, extremely dangerous in this world I see.

Nix turned to Sheeva after reading the text and gave an apologetic smile as she pat the pouting child's head. "I'm sorry sweety, I'll let you read those to me at a later time, okay?"

Sheeva simply huffed and turned away, clutching the tablet against her chest. "I told you Drevid would be angry at you."

"Yes yes, I know." Nix sighed as she dropped her head.

A roar of laughter was heard from the screens, making Nix blush a bit and pout herself.

"Alright everyone, that's enough. Let's clean up and get ready to recieve the next group. We still have a lot of work to do. Clark, go ahead and continue with the runes." Drevid spoke up with a chuckle. He then cut his own line to gather the villagers and refugees to get them all sorted.

"Don't worry Nix, I'll swing by later and teach you everything about the Dark Beasts that I know of." Ju'Shal gave a chuckle of her own as she checked her shield for any damages.

"Sure you will." The Bird-Kin retorted with a huff as she cleaned her spear of the blood.

"A drink says she fumbles her words again." The Gnome on the ramparts teased with a roar of laughter, making the rest of the group laugh.

Ju'Shal's tail poofed as her face began to heat up. Before she could interject, the Stone-Folk next to her gave a chuckle and gently pat her back. "Yu'Rai, Junker, leave the poor pup be, you'll make her cry at this point."

"Wouldn't that be a sight?" Yu'Rai giggled as she sheathed her spear and shield onto her back and took her knife out.

"Don't worry Ju'Shal, at least now you have someone to run to." Another Stone-Folk teased as he picked up the head of the Stalker he just cut off.

"Gu'Chak, by the God's I swear." Ju'Shal growled as she stomped her foot on the ground.

"Nix, help, your pup is rabid." Junker laughed as she leaned against the railing to watch the sight.

Everything was heard by Nix as she rested her head on the desk. The situation was plenty entertaining, reminding her of when she'd first fallen for Karen all those years ago. It was a struggle to hold in her own laughter to not make the poor Wolf-Kin feel worse than she probably already did.

Sheeva stood next to Nix as she looked between the screens and the woman, deeply confused on what was going on. Towards the end of the conversation, she turned to Nix and tilted her head a bit. "Uhm, Mommy, is Ju'Shal going to-"

"Sheeva, please, don't encourage them more." Ju'Shal spoke in a hurried voice that finally broke Nix into a roar of laughter.

Though normally she would still be embarrassed, Ju'Shal could only sigh and shake her head as Nix laughed so openly for the first time since she had arrived. While it warmed Ju'Shal and Sheeva's heart to hear it, everyone else that was listening was quite shocked at the laughter. Unlike her usual demeanor, Nix somehow seemed much more friendly now, like her walls were slowly breaking down to show the soft self she really was.

"Alright alright, let's stop bullying Ju'Shal and get to work people. We don't wanna scare the other group to badly when they arrive." Nix said as she barely managed to recover, giving Sheeva some gentle rubs on her back as the child climbed onto her lap.

"Yes Commander." The group responded with another round of chuckles before continuing to work, finding that some of their people had come out of the village to help them retrieve their prizes.

Ju'Shal could only sigh softly as she knelt down to aim her axe at the neck of the Stalker that tried to strike her. As she raised her axe, she suddenly froze as her helm was filled with Nix's voice. "We will speak more about this later dear. At least bring a drink if you're going to try and whoo me."

The sudden words caused Ju'Shal to absent mindedly swing her axe down on the Beasts neck and stare off into space in shock. It took her a few moments to realize it wasn't her mind playing tricks on her, quickly turning to the others to see if they had heard it as well.

"Mommy, does that mean she won't make snacks for us anymore?"

"I have a feeling you'll be getting plenty of snacks from now on dear."

As the two spoke into Ju'Shal's ears, her tail began to sway quickly behind her, thumping hard on the ground. How evil Nix was to leave the line open like this, and how evil this equipment was for letting her hear such forward hints.

Lad'Vik, the Stone-Folk that had made the comment about Ju'Shal crying earlier, watched the girls reactions as she stared off in a daze with a warm heart. Even without hearing the conversation, he could tell just how happy the Wolf-Kin was. To him, she was still the same pup he took in when her mother perished all those years ago after finding refuge in their village and giving birth to her.

Looking up to the sky, he cut off the communications for a bit to stare up at the crescent moon and smile. "Do you see your daughter Le'Sha? It's been so long since your daughter has been this happy."

He breathed a sigh of relief before turning the communications back on and went to assist Ju'Shal in chopping the prize up to bring in. Though his thoughts were mainly on Ju'Shal's future, as well as the dowry he'd kept safely hidden.