Suddenly, a voice came from outside.
"Chief Mahendra! Please come outside, Chief Mahendra!"
Chief Mahendra, who had been lost deep in the memories of how he had found Ahaan, slowly came out of his thoughts as the voice echoed again. Gradually, he opened his eyes and returned from meditation. Rising calmly from the platform, he stepped out of his chamber. Putting on his casual robes, he walked straight toward the main hall.
When he arrived, he saw Ahaan and Aarav—the leader of the Beast Hunter group—already there. Aarav was sitting on a chair, his face tense and anxious, as if something serious had occurred. Ahaan stood nearby, having come out after hearing Aarav's voice earlier.
Ahaan had respectfully greeted Aarav and informed him that the Chief was in meditation. Aarav, though troubled, was not daring enough to interrupt Chief Mahendra's Cultivation, so he had waited patiently in the hall.
When Chief Mahendra entered, his gaze fell upon Ahaan. The boy instantly understood his grandfather's unspoken meaning and quietly left the hall.
Aarav stood up as soon as he saw the Chief, bowing respectfully. Mahendra nodded slightly and sat down with him.
"Aarav, what happened?" Mahendra asked, his tone calm but serious. "Why do you look so anxious? Has something serious occurred?"
Aarav took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Chief, for the past two or three days, strange things have been happening near Mount Meru. A kind of chaos has erupted among the beasts in the Ancient Forest. Last night, several powerful beasts broke into our village. Many people were killed, and even our strongest warriors lost their lives trying to defend the villagers. The disturbance hasn't ended yet, and there are unnatural phenomena occurring near the mountain. It feels as if something great or terrible is about to happen."
Chief Mahendra's brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
"I feel," he said after a long pause, "that in the deep wilderness of the northern region of Mount Meru, something extraordinary must have appeared—perhaps an ancient relic or Divine Treasure. It must be drawing the attention of every powerful beast nearby."
Aarav frowned. "A mountain treasure… could that really be possible? But no one dares to enter those depths. For generations, no one has ever returned from that place. All kinds of terrifying and overpowering things exist in that mountain range. Even if every warrior in Vrindavan Village went together, we might not accomplish anything—we could all die there."
"Do you have any more news about this, Aarav?" Mahendra asked.
"Yes, Chief," Aarav replied. "It seems that whatever has appeared in the northern wilderness is attracting the most powerful and mysterious beasts. The weaker ones, terrified by this chaos, are fleeing toward the village. If we do nothing, we could face disaster. We can handle ordinary beasts, but if even one powerful beast, or a horde of them, comes toward the village, we may not survive."
Chief Mahendra's face grew tense, the weight of responsibility reflecting in his sharp eyes. He nodded gravely.
Behind the wall, Ahaan had been secretly listening. His eyes shone with curiosity rather than fear. "An ancient treasure... beasts..." he murmured softly.
Chief Mahendra looked at Aarav. "Aarav, gather all the warriors of your Beast Hunter group and contact the powerful Cultivators of the village. Tomorrow, we must set up a Formation Barrier along the village boundary near the northern path to Mount Meru. We will also hunt—this is a good opportunity to collect food for the villagers. Since many beasts will die in the chaos, we can gather their meat and resources while defending the village."
Aarav nodded quickly and immediately left the courtyard to begin the preparations.
Ahaan, who had heard everything, quietly slipped away as well. A spark of excitement danced in his eyes—he had already decided to secretly follow the hunters to witness the battle.
The next day, the sun rose, spreading its golden light across the land. Near the river, a large group of people had gathered. Most stood in disciplined formation, their posture like trained soldiers, wearing matching attire with an insignia gleaming proudly on the chest.
At the front stood Aarav, alongside a few elderly men in simple robes—the renowned Cultivators of the village. Chief Mahendra stood with them, his calm face carrying a commanding air.
One of the old cultivators looked at him. "Chief Mahendra, why have you assembled us here? Has something important happened?"
Mahendra turned to them. "Respected Cultivators, a grave problem has arisen."
He then explained everything—from the chaos among the beasts to the disturbances near Mount Meru. Unease spread among the old men as they listened.
Finally, one of them asked, "Chief Mahendra, tell us—how can we lend our strength?"
Mahendra nodded. "I need your help to create Formation Barriers around the village boundary and the northern path to Mount Meru, since all the beasts are entering from there. That region is dangerous. I will share the Formation Pattern with you, and together, we will set it up and activate it."
Chief Mahendra turned his gaze to the assembled Beast Hunters. His voice was calm but iron-true as he addressed Aarav.
"Aarav, you and your group will move into the northern wilderness of Mount Meru. Hunt the beasts, but do not venture deep into the mountain's heart. Seek out ordinary beasts and avoid the powerful ones. Gather what you can; do not be greedy. We will remain here and begin the formation preparations. Return by evening and take only measured risks—if you stumble upon a great creature, you may not return."
Aarav bowed and nodded in agreement.
Hidden beside a large tree, Ahaan watched, quietly setting his plan in motion: he would follow them.
Meanwhile, Chief Mahendra and the Cultivators seated themselves at the village boundary facing the northern path. Cross-legged, they prepared to lay the formation that would guard the village.
After that, the group of Beast Hunters set out, with Leader Aarav at the front. Beside him walked Rohan, the deputy leader. Together, they led the hunters deep into the Ancient Forest, following the northern wilderness path that stretched beyond the river.
Ahaan, hidden far behind, began to follow them. He was skilled at concealing his presence—his grandfather had taught him well. Even from a distance, he moved like a shadow through the trees, unnoticed by anyone in the group.
Aarav divided the hunters into three squads as part of his strategy. The first group was tasked with detection. The second would engage and fight alongside the first once a beast was found. The third group, smaller yet crucial, was responsible for treating the wounded during battle.
Aarav personally led the first group, while Rohan commanded the second. Together, they advanced cautiously, their weapons ready and their senses alert to every rustle of the ancient forest.