Year 1, Fall, First Month, Fourth Week.

While the team ventured into the forest, Chief Omero, back in the village, tried to reduce his guilt with optimism. "They should be nearing the location by now. Karl assured us they wouldn't need to delve too deep to find it," he muttered.

Grandma Marlen, however, tempered his positivity with a dose of reality. "But they will cross paths with beasts, you know that as well as I do," she pointed out. Her words cast a shadow of concern over the Chief, his gaze drifting to an empty table, reflecting the villagers' growing apprehension, especially with the impending harvest tributes.

Meanwhile, in the thick of the forest, Karl's thoughts were occupied by curiosity. ‘Master AI, where does spiritual energy originate? I understand magic energy comes from the Origin, and elemental energies are just magic energy imbued with the Origin's properties. But what about spiritual energy?’

‘-- Elemental energies represent the material properties of the Origin, while magic energy can also embody the symbolic properties of the Origin, manifesting as vital energies – Life, Soul, and Death. These vital energies birthed all beings. Life grants existence, Soul bestows consciousness, and Death resets the cycle."

‘-- Every being possesses life energy for survival. Sentient beings gain consciousness through soul energy, shaping unique souls. The soul has the power to transform magic energy into more soul energy until death resets this cycle. This transformation results in spiritual energy, with a pattern specific to each sentient being. –’

Karl absorbed the information, his gaze wandering over his teammates, imagining how the unique essence of their souls would look.

‘-- Just like elemental energies, vital energies can condense into crystals. These rare crystals might also be found in the cores of beings... –’

Realizing the trees were becoming livelier and denser, Karl softly advised the team, "Let’s not go deeper. The Contple Tree grows in the forest's outer layers, so let's avoid unnecessary risks." The team unanimously agreed, shifting their direction southward.

As they trudged through the dense foliage, the team's apprehension grew with every step. Karl led them deeper, his eyes scanning for their target. Despite the skepticism of his team, he was confident in his ability to identify it, trusting not just in luck, but in the silent guidance of Master AI.

The forest was notorious for its dangerous inhabitants, but under Karl's lead, they had miraculously avoided any encounters with beasts. The tension, however, was growing thicker, and the team's fatigue began to show. Diana weighed the risks of stopping, ultimately deciding against it for safety's sake.

Just as the team's endurance neared its limit, Karl's voice broke the silence. "There it is! The Contple Tree..." His finger pointed excitedly toward a magnificent tree, towering amidst a circle of smaller, pale counterparts. The sight was breathtaking – the tree's vigorous presence made it distinct among the feeble trees surrounding it. It was exactly as Karl had described, impossible to miss.

The team approached the tree, enveloped in its calm and healthy aura. Karl, focused on their mission, urged Diana to begin cutting it down. She quickly arranged a protective circle with the other fighters, drawing her sword to fall the tree. It took her less than ten strikes to bring it down, revealing a stump glowing with a soft green light.

Karl's excitement peaked as he saw the glow. "This is it... Quickly collect the roots, the leaves, the branches..." His command snapped the team into action. Within minutes, they had gathered the precious parts of the Contple Tree, now holding the key to their village's salvation as they made their way back through the dangerous forest.

As they tracked their path back, Toni's casual musings about the next feast abruptly ceased when he caught sight of a formidable red-scaled lizard blocking their path. The beast, no larger than a grey wolf but far more menacing, stood only 20 meters ahead, its scales shimmering ominously in the dim forest light.

The creature's imposing presence was accentuated by its long, powerful tail, which effortlessly sliced through a thick tree trunk, leaving the stump ablaze. The team's initial evaluation of the beast vanished as they witnessed its deadly capabilities.

‘-- Karl, leave quickly! This beast is way above your team’s abilities. The salamander is not slow as it seems and it can shoot fireballs. Fortunately, it is still in its infancy so you might survive it. --’

Karl's expression darkened with urgency. "Run, we need to run. The beast can shoot fire," he urgently whispered to Diana. Her face mirrored his concern. They had prepared for many threats, but a fire, long-range assault was not one of them. Their wooden shields offered no protection against flames.

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Amidst the growing chaos, Tael's focus remained unshaken. He noticed the two leaders above him were panicking, so he quickly assumed command, his voice cutting through the tension. "Move to formation D and retreat towards the southwest. Archers, ready your arrows, aim at the beast, and wait for my signal."

The team, well-drilled in their tactics, instinctively fell into Formation D, a strategic retreat pattern designed to defend against extremely strong beasts. In this formation, the group moved diagonally away from the threat, with the majority facing the enemy. A select few at the front and rear kept watch for new dangers, ensuring a protected retreat.

The formation was devised for scenarios where they had to outmaneuver an enemy without turning their backs. The forest's dangers meant a deeper retreat was not an option; stronger creatures lurked within. The formation enabled them to press forward, evading the enemy as effectively as possible.

The tension in the air grew to unbearable levels as the team braced for the salamander's assault. Toni, standing resolute at the forefront, was their bulwark against the fiery onslaught. The formation, a strategic design for emergency retreats, held firm, with three defenders at the front, three close-range attackers behind them, and four archers providing long-range support. Karl and the carriers were safely ensconced between the layers, with another group facing the opposite direction, vigilant for any additional threats.

As the salamander menacingly swung its tail, turning in their direction, the team's desire to flee was overpowered by their disciplined adherence to their formation. Tael kept his bowstring taut, an arrow nocked and aimed at the salamander's head.

The distance between them and the salamander shortened rapidly. Just ten meters away, the beast's throat began to glow ominously, heralding a fireball. The team's hearts raced in unison, but Toni, with resolute bravery, stepped forward to intercept. His shield, recently enhanced by Karl with the extracted properties of earth, vibrated under the impact, barely withstanding the exploding inferno.

Toni's skin prickled from the searing heat, and he realized with a sinking heart that his shield wouldn't survive another hit. Despite the overwhelming heat and fear, the team pushed onward, knowing that falling within the range of the salamander's tail would spell their doom.

As the salamander prepared for another attack, its deadly tail ignited in flames, Toni, driven by courage, positioned himself to block it. Tael, seizing the moment, ordered an archer to fire. They needed to know if their weapons could penetrate the beast's defenses before risking their arrows.

The arrow whistled through the air as Toni absorbed the full force of the salamander's attack. The team winced at the sound of splintering wood; Toni's shield had given way under immense pressure. Miraculously, it held long enough to prevent the tail from slicing through him.

The team's fleeting hope was crushed as they witnessed the arrow barely graze the salamander's scales, causing no significant damage. The creature advanced, its intentions clear and deadly. Tael, with unyielding focus, let loose another arrow, this time leaving a mark, though small, on the beast's head.

Diana, snapping out of her initial shock, leaped into action, her firm voice cutting through the chaos. "Jay, hand your shield to Toni and fall back with the carriers," she commanded. "Archers, keep only one arrow each; pass the rest to Tael. His shots are our best bet against this monster."

Her orders brought back some order to the frantic scene. Toni, now equipped with another shield, braced for the next attack. The beast, undeterred, launched another fireball. Toni's shield absorbed the impact, but the burn marks on his arms revealed the direness of the situation.

Despite losing arrows and a shield, the team was slowly making their way out of the forest, the threat of the salamander at their heels. But the beast was relentless, unwilling to let its prey escape so easily. It charged again, its tail a lethal weapon. Toni attempted to block the charge but was caught off-guard and sent flying into a tree with a heavy thud.

The beast continued its rampage, striking down another defender who failed to activate his Arrays in time. Panic and chaos ensued as Carion, the next in line, couldn't evade the deadly swipe of the tail in time, his knife doing nothing to smooth the beast’s attack. He collapsed, clutching his bleeding throat, his life ebbing away rapidly.

Just as the salamander prepared to launch another attack, Diana, with the agility and precision of a seasoned warrior, stepped in. Her sword arced through the air, slicing through the beast's cheek. The cut was shallow, but it was enough to halt the creature's charge, giving the team a precious moment to regroup and react.

She continued her onslaught, lashing the beast’s scales with slice marks. She nimbly evaded another swing of the tail, her blade slicing through the air, landing a deeper blow on the beast's back. Tael kept his focus, his arrows trying to find mark on the salamander's already wounded flesh.

Just as the creature prepared to launch another vicious charge at Diana and Tael, an unexpected ally entered the fray. Karl, flanked by Toni, sprinted in a maddened dash before burying the wind-empowered Sharpness-enhanced spear into the back wound of the salamander. The beast trashed around trying to dislodge the weapon, its deadly tail edging dangerously close to Karl. The Alchemist tried to jump back, but the tail was already on track to slash him. Until Toni, who was just two seconds behind him, surged from the side crashing the earth-reinforced shield into the beast, halting the deadly attack and giving time to Karl to retreat.

Seizing the opportunity, Diana jumped forward and unleashed another powerful slash, while Tael positioned himself strategically, his arrows relentlessly targeting the beast's wounds. The salamander writhed under the weight of Toni's shield, struggling to free itself. But the combined assault of arrows and sword proved too much for the creature, and with a final shudder, it lay motionless.

The immediate threat gone, the forest fell into a deafening silence, broken only by Karl's desperate pleas. "What can I do?... Please, something, anything to save him..." His voice echoed his despair.

All eyes turned to Karl, who had reached the fallen Carion, his hands futilely trying to stem the flow of blood. The wound was severe, too deep for any hope of recovery. Master AI only sent a ‘sorry’ as an answer in his mind. The silence returned, heavier this time, as they realized the inevitable. Carion's life slipped away.

The forest, a witness to their struggle, stood silent and indifferent.