It has been three and a half weeks since Erkden and the caravan left Pilosophis, and the journey has been extremely harsh and unforgiving. The caravan traveled quickly to Ambrosia Village, pushed by Erkden's constant urging, and arrived about two days from the village almost a week ago. However, unforeseen events have caused them to be stuck in their current location.

The last four days, in particular, had been a living nightmare, with the caravan being constantly surrounded by beasts from dawn to dusk. Only when night fell would the beast stop their relentless assaults, but that did not help with rest as every night, more and more guards and employees of the caravan would vanish, not even leaving their life lights behind. Between the attacks, hysteria, and lack of resources, sleep, and relaxation had become a rare luxury, with all members of the group being forced to remain vigilant and on high alert at all times. The constant terror and stress of the situation had taken a toll on everyone, leaving them exhausted, fearful, and desperate.

"Master Erkden, we cannot continue like this. We need to turn back or press forward. If we stay like this any longer..."

"I refuse! That Zindra made it through this mess; how could someone as marvelous as I not do the same!"

The captain couldn't argue with this since there was no proof of whether the prior caravan had made it to the village. The caravan had left too soon that the notice from the Ambrosia Village had not reached Pilosophis, and the likelihood of them running into the small group with the notice was small. All of that didn't matter as it was more important to return and accept the loss, inform the lord of the distribution center about the events that had taken place, and send a unit to clear the route, but it seemed like the caravan master was not going to accept that.

Erkden paced back and forth, frustrated at how someone as talented and exquisite as he could have a situation like this happen. The closer he got to the village, the more beasts attacked, and the more guards disappeared. At first, it was barely noticeable one or two had vanished on the night patrol about six days ago, just before they set up camp where they are now, but since then, of the five thousand men that were in the caravan, about eight hundred had vanished. It was a terrifying number. Almost one-fifth of the Seedlings had just vanished, but Erkden couldn't afford to fail his first mission, not when he was being compared to that waste Zindra.

"It must be a test, or that vile Zindra is trying to hinder me. Yes, it must be that." As if coming to a realization, a wicked smile spread across Erkden's face. "I will not let your tainted machinations come to fruition. I am Erkden, the most talented and magnificent of the Alchimic Race!"

Erkden had concluded that the men did not disappear; they just left and were in Zindra's pocket. She was trying to make him fail so that she could hold all the glory for helping the Feyrisians. The more Erkden thought along those lines, the more he agreed. He needed to weed out Zindra's other spies before he had no choice but to turn back. Now, to Erkden, it was a race against time. Would he gain control of the situation before Zindra's men could destroy his chances?

Erkden charged forward, screaming instructions to the guards and other caravan employees, but every word fell on deaf ears. What was the point of the guards and employees listening to this incompetent leader when it was obvious that he had no idea what he was doing? Like this, hours passed as the guards and employees fought beasts ranging between zero and two stars, and before they knew it, night descended on the camp.

"Thankless puddles! How dare they ignore my commands! I am the leader and master of this caravan! How dare they!"

Erkden sat at the table, his head propped up on his left hand as he gazed at the plate before him. The plate was still full of food, untouched and unappetizing. His forehead was furrowed with worry as he pondered his next move, his eyes fixed on the plate as if searching for answers. His thoughts seemed miles away while the food on his plate remained untouched.

"Did Zindra already sink her claws into all of my men? This is the only thing I can think of. Why else would they question my genius?"

chk chk chk chk chk

A chilling sound came from somewhere outside the tent, and a sudden movement caught the corner of Erkden's eyes. As he turned to look, he saw a shadow glide past around the outside of his tent. The flaps around the base were lifted by the wind, created by the movement of whatever created the shadow.

"What was that?" Erkden mumbled

"Hey, Guards, What was that noise?" Erkden asked, but the only thing that greeted his question was silence.

"Guards?"

chk chk chk

The sudden appearance of a Night Beast, its dark mandibles the first to enter the tent. The rhythmic clacking of its jaws echoed through the air as if it were laughing. The creature seemed to be on a mission, its movements purposeful and calculated, as if it knew exactly what it was looking for. The sight of its sharp, menacing mandibles was enough to send shivers down one's spine as it stood there, its presence casting a shadow over the entire tent.

chk chk chk

"Wh-Wh-Wh..."

Erkden was petrified but knew he had to do something to save himself from the beast staring at him with its soul-piercing blue eyes. He took a deep breath, building up enough courage to speak, not even considering that a beast like this could never respond. His only concern was to stay alive.

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"B-Beast, what do you want!"

The beast answered his question with a slow pace toward him, ignoring his words for bugs in the air. Erkden, in panic, moved his hand frantically and searched the table for something to use as a weapon. His fingers wrapped around the only utensil he had, a small grey metal pick used to skewer his fruit, but he knew that this wouldn't be useful against the beast since it could barely pierce a fruit.

In desperation, his hand moved over the plate of food on the table. He grabbed a handful of cold meat and fruits and hurled it at the beast's face. The food slid down its scales, leaving a trail of juices from the fruit while the meat flopped to the ground. But instead of being scared or intimidated, the beast seemed annoyed.

Erkden's spirit sank. He knew he had to come up with a better plan if he wanted to survive.

The beast slowly moved and stood over Erkden, who crawled backward, throwing whatever he could at the beast, trying to make any noise. However, when his eyes met the eyes of the predator, he knew that it was already too late. The tail of the Night Beast flew through the air and quickly arrived at the nap of Erkden's neck, injecting the paralytic poison into his body. With a slight twitch, Erkden lay motionless, his eyes glancing around the room, looking for anyone who could help.

The beast chittered away as if excited for another successful hunt; its tail swiped through the air as if wagging before it sniffed the prey below its feet, looking for what it came for. Before the beast could pry the life seed out of its prey, it seemed to remember the instinct to move the prey before it ate, so it grabbed hold of what it could between its mandibles and began to pull the prey outside.

***

The captain strolled through the makeshift camp. His eyes drooped from exhaustion after the last few days. He thought about the news from the meeting he had just finished with his team leaders. They had enough resources to last a couple of days, or they could use the supplies they were transporting to last a little longer. However, he realized that none of it would matter if the morale of his team didn't lift up.

"I should have known that this would have happened when we were put under such a waste of a leader." the captain said

The captain was on his way to confront Erkden about the information and try to convince him to turn back and accept the losses.

"Let's hope this time is..."

The captain's eyes widened in horror as he witnessed a massive creature, towering as tall as him, dragging Erkden out of his tent. The first thought that floated in the captain's head was an epiphany that this must be what is taking the others, and then it was the thought of needing to rescue the useless Master Erkden, who seemed unconscious.

"Useless, could you not have injured it to make this a little easier." The captain shouted

The captain tightened his grip on his sword and muttered, "It feels uncomfortable now," he said.

The captain was one of the few secret test subjects for a new alchemic weapon created by Zindra Arnovin, the only battle alchemist in the Alchemic Race. Because of these tests, the weapon he had grown accustomed to in his two thousand years of life felt strange.

"I hope she finishes the prototype soon so I can have one. It would make things like this much easier," he mumbled.

The captain leaped towards the Night Beast, his sword raised high. As the creature's tail swept towards him, he skillfully parried the attack with a swift slash. He couldn't help but notice that the strength behind the tail was calculated - enough to test his skills but not enough to overpower him.

Erkden, still stuck like a prisoner in his own body, could only observe the battle between the beast and the captain if it could even be considered a battle. The beast stood over Erkden as if guarding its prey; its tail would swing only at the last second, blocking the swipes of the captain's sword. To Erkden, it seemed like the beast was playing with the captain.

The captain grew agitated whenever he thought he had found an opening; he would slash at the beast, only to have its tail unexpectedly slide in from nowhere to parry the sword away. Experienced in fighting, the captain could tell this beast outclassed him, and the chances of either him or the master alchemist making it out alive from this were close to zero unless someone intervened. Even with all the noise he was making, no one seemed to be coming.

The captain huffed for breath and could only click his tongue in frustration. If only he had been born into a battle race instead of a supply race, then maybe he could have had some art to help fight. If only he had been more talented, then he could have made that weapon before that battle alchemist, but what are regrets good for in the face of death?

chk chk chk chk chk

The sound of the Night Beast chirping echoed as it raised its head into the air.

"Are you laughing at me?"

The captain swung his arm forward but noticed something missing from the end. Half of his forearm was gone; it seemed that it had been cleanly sliced through.

"What..."

The captain fell as he noticed one of his legs had also gone missing. His mind seemed to shut down as his other arm and leg vanished soon after. He heard the chitter behind him as two beasts the same size as the one he had just fought walked over to him. His body couldn't move; only his eyes could glance around. The only question that floated in his head was when?

Erkden watched as two beasts stalked behind the captain.

'When did they get behind him?' he thought.

Erkden, still unable to move, wanted to scream a warning, but all he could do was watch as the beast above him cackled, and the captain was stabbed in the back of his shoulder. The captain didn't even seem to notice as he jumped and swung his sword again; when he landed, the other stalking beast took the chance to swing its tail, slicing off the hand holding the sword. The other moved to attack the leg, then that was it. Erkden could only watch as a flood of smaller beasts poured into the camp. This was it. His hubris had cost him his life.

As the beast began to sniff around his body

'If only I had not been so stubborn...'

The beast moved toward Erkden's head, drool spilling out of its mouth, dripping down its mandibles.

'If only I had listened...'

The beast's maws grew closer to Erkden's shaking eyes. He knew what it was looking for: his Life Seed.

'If only I had been better...'

The beast ripped away Erkden's nose, tearing into his body, and all he could do was watch.

'If only...'

Erkden could feel the beast holding his Life Seed between its mandibles.

'I don't...'

crack