--Azron woods--
The disheartening "Ding!!" of successful captures from other teams continued to echo through the Azron Woods, a constant reminder of their own struggle. With only eight hours left on the clock, the pressure was immense. Adam's team, though exhausted and disheartened, refused to give up. Edward's words, "They are outwitted.
This test is not of power, but of patience. And of understanding the nature of the prey," resonated in Adam's mind.
"So, 'outwitted' how?" Panchenko's voice crackled over the comms, laced with frustration. "My net just goes through it!"
"The micro-teleportation isn't constant," Tom replied, his voice strained but still analytical.
"There's a brief moment of vulnerability before and after each 'blink.' And the energy signature suggests it's a high-energy maneuver. They can't do it indefinitely, or constantly, especially when stressed."
"But they do it enough to evade us every time," Astrid countered, her breath coming in short gasps.
Adam looked at Edward, whose crimson eyes were still scanning the shadows, a deep, ancient wisdom in their depths. "Edward, what do you see? What are we missing about their 'fear' and 'habit'?"
Edward remained silent for a long moment, then spoke, his voice low and deliberate. "These creatures are not merely running from us. They are seeking refuge. They move towards what they perceive as absolute safety. A place where the scent of predators, and the chaotic energy of the hunt, is diminished. They seek the calm eye of the storm."
Adam's mind raced. "A calm eye… but in this chaos, where would that be?"
"The dens," Tom suddenly interjected, his eyes widening as he looked at his data-pad.
"Their burrowing patterns suggest they have specific, heavily shielded dens. They use their displacement ability not just to run, but to quickly enter these safe zones. They're running to something, not just from us."
A new spark of hope ignited in Adam. "So, if we find a den, and corner one near it… it might try to enter the den, exhausting its displacement ability in the process?"
"Precisely," Edward confirmed, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "They expend energy to reach safety. If that safety is denied, and their displacement ability is taxed, their last resort will be pure flight, or submission."
They immediately changed tactics. Instead of chasing erratically, they began to systematically search for signs of boar dens – subtle disturbances in the earth, faint residual energy signatures that Tom could detect, or even specific types of flora that typically grew around Azron Boar lairs.
It was a slow, painstaking process. The minutes ticked by, each one a hammer blow against their dwindling time. Other teams continued to struggle, their shouts of frustration echoing through the woods.
Then, Edward stopped abruptly. He knelt, his fingers brushing against a patch of undisturbed moss. "Here. A recently used entry. The scent is strong."
Tom confirmed it, his data-pad glowing faintly. "A den. And… a faint signature. A boar nearby. It's been driven towards this location recently, trying to get home."
Adam's heart quickened. "Alright. This is it. We create a bottleneck. Edward, cut off all escape routes except the den entrance. Tom, you monitor its displacement signature. Tell me when it's taxed. I'll be ready with the nets."
They moved with renewed purpose, a grim determination replacing their earlier frustration. Edward positioned himself, a silent, unmoving guardian, his crimson eyes fixed on the surrounding forest. Adam, with both his meta pistols ready, held the capture net, his eyes scanning for movement. Tom, data-pad glowing, hunched low, his brain already calculating displacement energy.
Minutes crawled by, thick with tension. Then, a rustle. A shimmer of grey. The Rare Azron Boar burst into the small clearing, its eyes wide with panic. It was exhausted, its displacement blinks becoming less frequent, less powerful. It had been driven towards its den, seeking refuge.
It spotted them. Its intelligent eyes darted, searching for an escape. Its first blink was short, desperate, trying to evade Edward. But Edward merely shifted, blocking its path.
"Now!" Tom hissed, his eyes glued to his data-pad. "It's taxed! Displacement capacity at 30 percent and falling! It will run straight for the den!"
The boar, denied its usual escape, charged for the perceived safety of its burrow. It was a straight line, no more evasive blinks.
"Adam! Now!" Edward's voice was a low rumble.
Adam moved. With a powerful, coordinated effort, he fired both his pistols. Not at the boar, but slightly in front of it, creating a sizzling barrier of energy that forced it to hesitate, to briefly slow down. In that precious fraction of a second, Adam leaped.
He didn't throw the net. Instead, remembering Edward's advice about 'submission,' Adam tackled the boar, rolling with its momentum. He wrestled it to the ground, holding it firmly as its powerful legs thrashed. It was surprisingly strong, but its exhaustion, combined with the panic of being cornered and denied its escape, made it less effective.
"Net! Tom!" Adam grunted, struggling to hold the boar down.
Tom, abandoning his data-pad, scrambled forward, unwrapping the capture net. Edward, seeing the boar's final burst of resistance, placed a single, firm hand on its flank. A subtle wave of energy, not harmful but profoundly calming, emanated from Edward, momentarily stilling the creature.
In that moment, Tom threw the net. It landed perfectly, enveloping the boar. Adam quickly pulled the drawstrings tight, securing the creature. It bucked once, then twice, then slumped, its chest heaving, trapped but unharmed.
Silence. Then, a triumphant, if breathless, cheer from Adam. "We got one! We actually got one!"
Tom collapsed beside the netted boar, panting, a wide grin spreading across his face. "We did it! The den strategy worked!"
Edward gave a rare, approving nod. "Well done. You observed. You adapted. You succeeded."
A quick glance at Tom's data-pad showed only about one hour and forty-five minutes left on the clock. They still needed to get the boar to a collection gate.
"We need to find Julian's group," Adam said, already pulling out his comms device. "They need to know the weakness. There's still time for them."
He quickly patched through. "Julian! Do you copy? We've got a boar! And we figured out their weakness!"
Julian's voice, though weary, held a surge of immediate interest. "Adam! Excellent! What is it?"
Adam quickly explained their discovery: the boars' reliance on dens for escape, their micro-teleportation draining their energy when denied entry, making them vulnerable to capture.
"They seek the 'calm eye of the storm'," Edward's voice added, resonating through the comms. "Drive them towards their dens, deny them entry, and they will exhaust themselves."
A brief silence on the other end, then Julian's excited voice. "That's it! Brilliant! We'll change our approach immediately. See you at the collection gate!"
With their captured boar secured, Adam, Edward, and Tom carefully transported it towards the nearest collection gate, a large, glowing portal that had appeared after the first capture. The boar, though netted, remained a formidable animal, and they moved cautiously.
As they reached the gate, a few other teams were already there, presenting their own netted boars. Adam saw the relief and exhaustion on their faces, mirroring his own.
They presented their boar to a Guild official, who meticulously inspected it for injuries.
"Capture successful. Boar unharmed. Team Adam Ashbourne: Qualified for the next stage," the official announced, their voice clear. Adam felt a surge of elation, quickly tempered by the knowledge that Julian's team was still out there.
They waited patiently by the gate, watching other teams arrive, some successful, many more empty-handed and disheartened. The minutes ticked by, each one a drumbeat of anxiety for their friends.
Armed with Adam's crucial intel, Julian's team moved with renewed focus. They were exhausted, but the understanding of the boar's weakness had ignited a fierce determination within them.
"Dens!" Julian barked, his eyes scanning the forest floor. "Look for any sign of recent burrowing. Any specific flora."
Astrid, her agility invaluable, darted ahead, her senses honed. Panchenko, his powerful frame pushing through the undergrowth, watched for any subtle signs.
"There!" Astrid hissed, pointing to a cleverly concealed burrow entrance. "Fresh tracks!"
Julian immediately took charge, orchestrating their movements. "Panchenko, take the net. Astrid, you're on the far flank, ready to cut off any wider evasions. I'll drive it towards the den. Remember, keep denying the escape into the burrow."
It wasn't long before they found a boar, a shimmer of grey in the twilight. It was already agitated, likely sensing their presence and the general chaos in the woods.
Julian initiated the chase, his movements swift and precise, pushing the boar subtly towards its den, without directly engaging it. The boar, true to its nature, began its frantic blinks, trying to escape.
It darted for its den, a grey blur. But Julian was there, his sword hilt used to tap the ground, creating a subtle vibration that startled the boar, making it hesitate just outside its burrow. Astrid, a phantom in the shadows, materialized to block another escape route.
The boar, now frantic, its displacement ability taxed, started to run in wider circles, seeking any clear path. Its blinks became slower, less precise.
"Now, Panchenko!" Julian roared.
Panchenko, a giant in the fading light, lunged. This time, his throw was perfect, aided by the boar's desperate, predictable flight. The net unfurled, descending upon the creature. It struggled, bucked furiously, but Panchenko, leveraging his immense strength, quickly secured the drawstrings.
"We got it!" Panchenko roared, his voice echoing through the woods, thick with triumph. He was covered in mud and sweat, but a victorious grin split his face.
Astrid rushed over, her face beaming. "We did it! One hour left! Just in time!"
Julian, though outwardly composed, allowed a triumphant, weary smile to cross his lips.
"Excellent work, both of you. Now, quickly. To the collection gate."
They moved with surprising speed, adrenaline coursing through their veins, carrying their netted boar. The sounds of "Ding!!" were still chiming in the distance, but they paid them no mind now. They had their own victory.
As they approached the collection gate, they saw Adam, Edward, and Tom waiting, their faces anxious. A wave of relief washed over both groups as they spotted each other.
"You made it!" Adam exclaimed, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
"Thanks to your intel, Adam!" Julian replied, gesturing to the netted boar. "The den strategy was flawless."
They presented their boar to the Guild official. The inspection was thorough.
"Capture successful. Boar unharmed. Team Julian… Qualified for the next stage."
The announcement was met with cheers from Adam's group. With just one hour left before the time ran out, both teams had succeeded. They had overcome the seemingly impossible challenge of the Azron Boar. The first hurdle cleared. The Adventurer's Exam had just begun, and they were ready for the next test.