The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the members of Celestial Tempest and the leaderless Black Squad gathered near the academy's outer gate. Today marked an important milestone—if they succeeded in hunting the Red-Horned Minotaur, they would advance in rank.
Bolt adjusted the strap of his combat gear, scanning the group. Aether, Akane, Darian, Sylva, and Kairos stood by his side, ready for the mission. Across from them, the remnants of the Black Squad kept to themselves. Without Carlos, their former leader, they lacked direction, but their pride wouldn't let them back down from the challenge.
A faculty instructor, clad in a silver-lined uniform, cleared his throat. "Your target is a B-rank Red-Horned Minotaur—a large, highly aggressive beast. Its speed and brute strength make it formidable, but it lacks advanced intelligence. Stick to the plan, work together, and you should be fine."
Bolt frowned slightly. Something about this felt too simple.
Once the briefing ended, both factions moved out beyond the academy's Safe Zone, crossing the invisible boundary that separated security from the wild lands beyond. The shift was immediate—no protective barriers, no watchful eyes from the academy. Just the open wilderness, filled with ancient trees, shifting shadows, and the unknown.
Sylva crouched down, inspecting a large footprint embedded in the dirt. "It's close," she murmured. "Judging by the size, it's even bigger than we expected."
Kairos cracked his knuckles, a grin playing at his lips. "Good. This'll be fun."
Aether shot him a look. "Recklessness will get you killed."
Kairos shrugged. "So will being too cautious."
Bolt listened to the exchange but focused on the unnerving silence around them. There were no sounds of birds, no rustling of leaves—only an eerie stillness that set his instincts on edge.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the tension thickened. Claw marks raked across tree trunks. The air carried the stench of blood and raw earth.
Akane gripped her weapon. "Something isn't right. If it's this close, why hasn't it attacked yet?"
Darian exhaled sharply. "It's hunting us, too."
The realization settled in—this wasn't a normal B-rank monster.
Bolt took a slow breath. "Stay sharp. It might be smarter than we thought."
A distant thud echoed through the trees. Then another.
The ground shuddered beneath them as something massive moved closer.
Then, from the dense shadows of the forest, a hulking figure emerged.
The Red-Horned Minotaur towered above them, its muscles bulging, its dark crimson horns gleaming in the dim light. Its fur was thick and coarse, battle scars visible across its hide.
But something was wrong. Its eyes glowed with intelligence, something unnatural for a beast of its rank. And then—
It smiled.
A slow, predatory grin that sent a chill down Bolt's spine.
This isn't right. This thing… it knows exactly what it's doing.
The Minotaur lowered its head, its horns crackling with an ominous energy.
It wasn't just watching them anymore.
It was challenging them.