The morning sun bathed the Hellfire Outpost in a golden hue, casting long, flickering shadows as torches were extinguished one by one. The recruits gathered near the central clearing, their murmurs and small talk blending with the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves from the Great Forest. Ethan stood among his team, adjusting the straps of his greenish-black duffel bag as Herbie stood beside him, stifling a yawn.
“Well, here we are,” Zane said, stretching his arms and cracking his knuckles. “The big day. The start of our glorious adventure.”
Yara, her messy braid half-tucked into her jacket collar, smirked. “Glorious? You make it sound like we’re off to slay dragons.”
“Hey, you never know,” Herbie chimed in. “I mean, they could throw some mutated lizard god at us. You’d love that, wouldn’t you, Zane?”
“I’d rather not,” Zane replied with mock seriousness. “I’d like to keep all my limbs intact, thanks.”
Ethan chuckled softly, though his eyes remained fixed on the horizon, where the forest loomed like a dark sentinel. Iris noticed his distant expression and nudged him lightly.
“Nervous?” she asked, her tone softer than usual.
He hesitated before shaking his head. “Not nervous. Just… focused.”
Before Iris could reply, a loud horn sounded from the clearing, silencing the conversations. The recruits turned their attention to the makeshift stage that had been set up overnight. Standing atop it were Gabriel, Charon, Sergeant Gorran, and a few other higher-ranking officers. The crowd of recruits straightened instinctively as Gabriel stepped forward, his presence as commanding as ever.
“Recruits of Region 13,” Gabriel began, his voice carrying effortlessly over the gathered crowd, “Today marks the beginning of your recruit exchange. This is not merely a competition. It is a test—of your strength, your teamwork, and your ability to rise to the challenges that await you in the wilds.”
His piercing gaze swept over the sea of faces. “You have trained for months. You have honed your skills. Now, it is time to prove that you are worthy of the title of soldier. But remember, this is not just about individual glory. Your actions reflect on your teams, your mentors, and this entire outpost. Carry that responsibility with pride.”
Sergeant Gorran stepped forward next, his booming voice filled with energy. “Alright, listen up! You’ve got your maps, your supplies, and your shiny new weapons. Use them well. Stick to your team, don’t get cocky, and for the love of the gods, don’t wander off alone. The prairie might seem tame compared to the Great Forest, but it’s still got plenty of ways to chew you up and spit you out.”
The recruits murmured among themselves, some nodding, others glancing nervously at their teammates. Gorran grinned. “But hey, no pressure. Just remember… if you screw up, it’s a long walk back to the outpost. Now, let’s get this show on the road!”
With that, the higher-ups stepped back, signaling the start of the ceremony. The recruits broke into scattered applause before the crowd began to disperse, each team checking their gear one final time before departure. Ethan knelt beside his duffel bag, unzipping it to double-check its contents. Spare clothes, food rations, medical supplies, and his trusty spear, now upgraded with a reinforced prana-inscribed tip.
“You good?” Herbie asked, peering over his shoulder.
Ethan nodded. “Yeah. Just making sure I didn’t forget anything.”
Iris joined them, her expression calm but determined. “We’re all set. Let’s move before the other teams start clogging up the path.”
The team regrouped, their footsteps steady but unhurried as they joined the flow of recruits heading toward the horizon. The path led them toward the Great Forest, its towering trees casting long shadows over the trail. The atmosphere was a mix of excitement and solemnity, the recruits’ chatter subdued as they approached the first leg of their journey.
Ethan’s team walked in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts. Zane eventually broke the quiet, his voice light but tinged with seriousness. “So, anyone else feel like this is the calm before the storm?”
“Always the poet,” Yara teased, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “But yeah, I get what you mean. It’s… unsettling, how peaceful it is right now.”
Herbie laughed nervously. “Let’s hope it stays that way. I’m not in the mood for any surprises.”
As they continued, Ethan’s attention was drawn to the ground. The morning sun cast long shadows behind them, but something about his own shadow made him pause. It seemed… off. The edges blurred and shifted unnaturally, almost as if there were two figures moving in perfect synchrony. He blinked, shaking his head to dispel the thought, but the image lingered in his mind.
Iris noticed his distraction and fell into step beside him. “Something wrong?”
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Ethan hesitated before shaking his head. “No. Just… shadows playing tricks on me.”
She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Instead, she adjusted the straps of her own bag and kept her gaze forward. “Let’s stay focused. The forest isn’t dangerous this close to the outpost, but we shouldn’t let our guard down.”
The team fell into a steady rhythm, their boots crunching softly against the forest floor. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled patterns on the ground. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. As they walked, the faint sounds of other teams echoed through the trees, a reminder that they were not alone in this journey.
Eventually, the forest began to thin, and the horizon stretched out before them. Rolling plains of golden grass swayed gently in the breeze, the vast expanse broken only by the occasional cluster of trees or rocky outcrop. The recruits paused, taking in the sight of their destination.
“Well,” Zane said, letting out a low whistle. “There it is. Our battlefield.”
Yara crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. “Looks peaceful enough. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Ethan’s gaze lingered on the horizon, his mind once again drifting to the strange shifting of his shadow. As the team moved forward, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them, lurking just beyond the edge of perception. But he pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the journey ahead.
The prairie stretched endlessly before them, a sea of golden grass rippling under the soft touch of the wind. The vastness of the landscape was both awe-inspiring and unnerving, a reminder of just how small they were in the grand scheme of things. Ethan and his team trudged forward, the weight of their gear and the silence of the prairie pressing down on them.
Herbie, walking a few paces ahead, pulled out his map and unfurled it with a practiced flick. "Guys, have you looked at this map?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and unease. "This prairie is massive. Like, it’s ridiculously huge."
Zane glanced over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. "How massive are we talking?"
"Big enough that it makes no sense," Herbie replied, tracing his finger along the faint lines on the map. "I mean, why are there only low-level monsters here? This is prime territory for something much stronger to take over. It’s like... it was designed this way."
Yara snorted. "Designed? You make it sound like the gods themselves planned this place out."
Herbie shrugged, folding the map back up. "Maybe they did. Who knows? All I’m saying is, don’t let your guard down. Just because we’re not in the forest doesn’t mean we’re safe."
Ethan nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. "At least we don’t have to worry about running into other teams as often. There’s enough space here for everyone to spread out."
"Thank the gods for that," Iris muttered. "The last thing we need is to deal with rival recruits on top of everything else."
As they continued, the terrain began to shift. The flat expanse of the prairie gave way to a slightly raised hill, dotted with sparse shrubs and rocks. It wasn’t much, but it offered some semblance of elevation—a vantage point that could be useful.
"There," Elara said, pointing toward the hill. "That’s our spot. It’s sheltered enough to block some of the wind, and the height gives us a decent lookout."
Zane smirked. "Perfect for a picnic."
"Or a camp," Elara shot back, rolling her eyes. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, cube-like device. Its metallic surface gleamed faintly in the sunlight, etched with intricate runes. "This will mark our territory. Everyone, infuse it with a bit of your prana."
One by one, the team members placed their hands on the device, channeling a small portion of their energy into it. As the last of them finished, the runes began to glow softly, and a faint barrier shimmered around the hill before fading into invisibility.
"This should keep unwanted visitors out," Elara explained. "Unless they’re stupid enough to try and force their way in. But doing that would cost them a lot of energy, so it’s unlikely."
"Smart," Herbie said, nodding appreciatively. "Alright, let’s set up camp. We’ve got a few hours before the sun starts setting."
They worked quickly and efficiently, setting up their tents and organizing their supplies. The hilltop soon transformed into a makeshift campsite, with a small circle of stones in the center serving as a fire pit. Zane gathered dry grass and twigs from the surrounding area, while Yara struck a flint to ignite the fire. The flames flickered to life, casting a warm glow that contrasted with the cool breeze sweeping across the prairie.
As the team settled around the fire, Herbie pulled out a leather-bound guidebook, its pages filled with handwritten notes and sketches. "Alright, let’s talk food. According to this, there are a few monsters around here that are both edible and relatively easy to hunt."
"Relatively easy?" Iris repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That doesn’t sound very reassuring."
Herbie grinned sheepishly. "Hey, it’s better than nothing. Anyway, we’re looking at things like prairie hares and horned grazers. Both are common around here and not too aggressive."
"What about the taste?" Zane asked. "If I’m risking my life to hunt something, it better be worth it."
"Prairie hares are apparently pretty good if you cook them right," Herbie replied. "Horned grazers... not so much. But they’re bigger, so there’s that."
Yara sighed. "Great. Rabbit stew it is. Let’s split up and get this over with."
The team quickly divided themselves into two groups: the hunters and the stay-behinds. Ethan, Yara, and Zane volunteered to go hunting, while Iris, Yin Xue, Elara, and Herbie stayed behind to guard the camp and prepare for their return.
"Don’t go too far," Elara warned, her tone firm. "We’re not looking for heroics. Just bring back enough to get us through tonight."
"Got it," Ethan said, gripping his spear. "We’ll be back before you know it."
With that, the hunters descended the hill, their figures disappearing into the tall grass. The sun hung low in the sky, its golden light painting the prairie in warm hues as the day slowly gave way to evening. Back at the camp, the remaining team members busied themselves with preparations, their focus unwavering despite the growing shadows around them.
The first night of their journey was fast approaching, and with it, the unknown challenges that the prairie held. But for now, they were ready.