The group were still jumping from rooftop to rooftop, talking about the quest and how they would succeed in it.
The bison at the peak stage was about three meters tall and five meters long, with two giant horns almost two meters high — he was truly massive.
Yet, the quest was far from impossible. Four martial artists at the late stage were stronger than one at the peak stage by a sufficient margin.
Someone at a stage above is at least one and a half times stronger, and at best three times stronger than the previous stage. Four late stage were largely enough.
Not to mention that the group, except for Sirius, was experienced in fighting monsters. They've been mercenaries for years.
"What is the main difference between fighting humans and monsters?" asked Sirius. Colin looked surprised by the question.
You've never fought a monster before?"
"Never. I've only fought humans, nothing as big as a bison."
"Oh, so you're that kind of person? The one who kills for pleasure?" joked Zoe.
But Sirius looked at her with a murderous gaze, and she stopped her jokes at that moment.
Colin answered the question properly.
"Monsters have less intelligence, but often more strength and durability. Sometimes they're faster too. For the bison, who's quite tall for example, we'll have to either land shallow hits to make it bleed and exhaust it, or successfully stun it to cut or pierce an important part of its body. While fighting big monsters, option one is usually the easiest."
Sirius nodded.
"So we'll exhaust him, then Rosie will kill him with her Zhanmadao?"
"Yes, that's the plan."
They reached the southern gate. The immense gate stood in front of them, and guards glared at them.
"Why are you leaving?"
"We are mercenaries," said Colin, showing his crest. "We're leaving for a mission."
The guards nodded.
"But why do you have a kid with you? A red-haired one no less."
Sirius showed both his mercenary crest and his officer one.
The guards paled at the sight, a officier was two whole grade above them.
"I'm here for the same mission, and I'd be glad if you stopped talking about me. Why are you all, guards, believing in fate? It's so annoying!!"
"All?" asked the guard. "Which guards were asking the same question? Only a small part of us believe in fate."
"The previous guards at the gate."
"Oh...."
The guards seemed in a bad mood after hearing that. "Why are you reacting like that?"
"The previous guards died less than thirty minutes ago. We have no idea how — they just... died like that."
Colin frowned.
"Who dares kill guards? Weren't they afraid of repercussions?"
"They're surely fools. We asked the Grand Officer about it, he said he'd find who killed them."
"I'm sorry for your compagnon but we'll take our leave. We have a mission to accomplish."
"Indeed and thanks, good luck."
The group continued and passed through the gate, leaving Sephoria City.
"By the way, Sirius, why do you have an officer crest? It's reserved for officers at the early and mid stage of the Echo of Resolve realm, and you're still at the Self Vision realm."
Charlie asked, confused about that.
Rosie added a layer.
"Yeah, I was about to ask too. It's so weird, you're not even a guard, are you?"
"The Grand Officer gave me one so that others wouldn't annoy me about my hair, that's all."
"The Grand Officer gave you one? Are you a noble or something? Maybe his son?"
Sirius smiled at the answer — him? A noble? A secret son of someone? How laughable!
"Who knows."
The group was silent for a time, then resumed running. They had slowed while passing through the gate; now they could go at a decent speed.
But thinking about the guards who died… isn't it strange? Sirius left, then talked to the Grand Officer, and then they died?
Wait, the Grand Officer…
Sirius's eyes widened at the thought.
Isn't it possible that he killed them? Sirius told him not to do that, just to remove them from their post. Yet, they died. Is it possible that he really killed them?
No... that makes no sense, right? Why would he kill his own guards, who protect the city, for something like that? I'm surely misunderstanding something.
Because if it were true, then the Grand Officer was a horrible person who killed as he pleased.
And Sirius's intuition leaned more toward the bad option than the good one.
The group continued to run. They were now in a forest, the forest stretched for about forty kilometers, and then a wide plain would follow — they would find the bison there.
The forest had only tropical trees and plants. Red and brown mushrooms were scattered here too.
Deer and foxes crossed their path as well, either seeking food or simply enjoying time with their group — animals didn't have that much to do in their lives.
Charlie and Rosie were talking about how delicious it would be to eat them, and Zoe, horrified by that thought, kicked both of them. Charlie dodged while Rosie took the hit and laughed, happy.
The group was not worried at all about the bison.
And maybe it would be better if they actually were.
There's always the possibility that the bison, like humans, could gain enlightenment while fighting and ascend to a higher stage or realm.
The problem was that he was currently at the peak stage, meaning that if he ascended, he would reach the Completion realm.
And that would be a disaster. After all, while four late-stage fighters can handle a peak-stage enemy without worrying too much, they had no chance against something at the Completion realm — they would surely die.
They tranquilly traveling through the forest, observing the vegetation and making stupid jokes.
And so, one hour passed quickly. The end of the forest was in sight.
The land beyond the forest was like a copy of the continent's middle: a vast open space with a wind at the perfect temperature. Absolutely no tree in sight. Only animals were here, grazing peacefully.
No predators were seen on the plain. After all, they couldn't trap anything here; they had no way to hunt.
The group continued across the land, and slowly, a figure appeared in front of them — the bison.