Velos ran after Sterling, his boots kicking up dirt and underbrush as the trees blurred past. "Sterling!" he called out. "Wait—just stop!"

Sterling kept running, his axe held tight in his grip as he pushed through the branches and leaves. "You saw it!" he barked over his shoulder. "It's wounded! We can catch it before it bleeds out!"

Velos clenched his jaw and pushed himself harder, closing the gap between them. "That thing's headed for the alpha’s territory. We can't risk it—it's too dangerous!"

Sterling skidded to a halt and turned to face Velos.

“Velos,” Although most of his face was obscured by his visor, there was palpable fury. “Stay in your damn lane.” His voice was harsh and raw, more visceral than Velos had ever heard before.

For a split second, Velos stopped in his tracks. The words froze him, leaving him standing there as Sterling’s figure vanished into the thickening trees ahead. His breath came in heavy gasps, but it wasn’t just the running—it was the weight of his thoughts, crashing down on him all at once.

What was he doing? The division had entrusted them with this mission, and here he was, losing his grip. If he stood there and let Sterling go, what then? Would Sterling survive alone, or would Velos come back to camp hours later to find his partner’s mangled body in the woods? What would the Division think of him if that happened? Another partner lost under his watch, another failure to add to his already faltering record.

Three months. Three months of being shoved around in the Archives, trying to shake off the guilt of the last mission gone wrong. In another six months, he would have to face the reminder of all he stood for in this division. He couldn’t bear to do nothing. He wouldn’t.

Velos’ teeth ground together.

He adjusted the crossbow in his hands, steeling his resolve. "Damnit," he muttered under his breath before taking off again, sprinting after Sterling. The trees blurred past once more, but this time Velos pushed through the ache in his legs.

Finally, he saw him—Sterling's broad figure cutting through the darkness. Velos drew closer, his breath coming in ragged bursts as he sprinted up to Sterling’s side. His crossbow was still in hand, a quiver of bolts rattling at his side, and his sword and shield were strapped tightly to his back.

Sterling glanced over at him, eyes wide with surprise. “What—you?!”

“I’m done running.” Velos said between gasps.

Sterling’s surprise quickly melted into something else—begrudging respect, and seething frustration. Remaining hardened, Sterling insisted, “You slow me down, Velos, and I’ll leave you in the dirt. You die out here, that’s on you. Understand?”

Velos nodded, tightening his grip on the crossbow. “I get it.”

Sterling turned forward again.

With a shared glance, they bolted together into a clearing, the scent of blood faint on the wind as they tracked the wounded Darau. It would lead them deeper into dangerous territory, but they were ready now—or at least, Velos was willing to risk it.

The dense forest gave way to an open field, the grass swaying lightly in the breeze as Velos and Sterling sprinted forward. There, limping across the field, was their quarry—the Darau, slick with blood from Velos’ earlier shot. Its movements were slower now, erratic, its taloned feet dragging through the grass.

Sterling shouted, lowering his head as he sped up, his axe poised for a heavy swing. Velos raised his crossbow, tracking the wounded creature, his finger ready to pull the trigger.

Then the ground trembled. A low, guttural howl vibrated through the air, like the sound of a mountain shifting. Velos froze, his aim faltering. The underbrush at the edge of the field stirred, parting to reveal a towering shadow—massive, scaled, and feathered.

The alpha Darau.

It stood three times the size of a regular Darau, its head crowned with a sweeping crest and its body adorned with a thick, feathered mane. Every step it took was slow and deliberate, muscles rippling beneath its dark scales. Its taloned feet sunk into the earth, and the creature fixed its piercing eyes on Velos and Sterling, letting out a shrill roar that echoed across the field.

Velos’ blood ran cold.

As if summoned by their leader, five more Darau slunk from the trees, flanking the alpha. They moved in sync, forming a crescent around the two slayers, each with the same pointed talon raised, waiting for the signal to strike.

"Shit..." Sterling muttered, sliding to a stop. His eyes darted between the alpha and its pack.

Velos cursed under his breath, lowering his crossbow. He reached back for his sword and shield, the familiar weight offering little comfort as the pack closed in. They were forced into a tight formation, back-to-back as the Darau began to circle, sensing their fear.

"They’re not attacking yet," Velos whispered. "It’s intimidation."

"I could care less," Sterling grunted. “Keep close.”

The Darau moved in deliberate, fluid motions, their talons scraping against the ground as they circled closer, like vultures waiting for their prey to collapse. Velos’ heart pounded in his chest. He knew what they were doing. They wanted him and Sterling to make a mistake, to leave an opening for a coordinated attack. One slip-up, and it would be over.

Velos clanged his sword against his shield, a loud metallic ring piercing the air. He hoped the display might give them pause, but the Darau didn’t even flinch. Their eyes stayed fixed, unblinking. He then remembered something—an obscure feature built into the Division’s sword-and-shield set, one he hadn’t used in combat before. It was a long shot, but they were out of options.

Velos raised his shield and positioned the pommel of his sword against the inner edge of the metal. He knew the design—rub the pommel against the shield’s specific spot, and it would strike a spark large enough to start a fire. Something that might just give them a moment’s reprieve.

With a sharp motion, he scraped the pommel hard against the shield. A loud, grinding noise pierced the air, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then—sparks. Bright, fiery embers flew off the surface, bigger than Velos had expected, each one catching in the air like a small flame.

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The Darau flinched, their eyes narrowing as they halted their advance, taken aback by the sudden burst of light.

But it wasn’t enough. They weren’t fooled. Not deterred.

The creatures slowed for only a moment, then pressed the advance. The alpha Darau, watching from behind, let out a low, rumbling growl, unfazed by Velos' desperate attempt at intimidation.

Sterling shot a glance at Velos, his voice thick with exasperation. "What the fuck was that?"

Velos let out a harsh breath, lowering his shield. "It’s a damn party trick."

“Well if you have any more surprises, now’s the time.” Sterling shifted uncomfortably. "I can’t swing shit with you glued to my back like this!" he growled. His axe, with its wide arc, needed room to be effective, but they were pressed too close together.

A sudden lunge—a Darau darted forward, teeth sinking into the edge of Velos’ shield. The impact rattled his arm, and he barely had time to react before he slashed upward, catching the creature across the face. The blade carved a deep gash over its eye, and the Darau let out a shriek, stumbling back with a new scar to show for its effort.

Velos barely had time to catch his breath before the alpha moved, eyes narrowing as it spotted the vulnerability in his side of the formation. With terrifying speed, it lunged forward, jaws wide. Velos brought his shield up just in time, bracing as the alpha’s teeth clamped down, nearly tearing the shield from his grasp. The force knocked him back a step, pain shot up his arm.

"Velos!" Sterling shouted, seeing the alpha’s relentless attack. He knew his partner couldn’t hold it off for long, not with the way the pack was circling them, waiting for a single slip-up. If Velos fell, they’d both be torn apart.

Sterling’s mind raced. They needed a big move, something drastic. Then, an idea hit him.

"On my mark!" Sterling barked. "Get low. As low as you can!"

Velos was in no position to question. By this point, he’d have to trust in Sterling’s combat experience. Something he thoroughly lacked.

"Now!" Sterling roared.

Velos hit the dirt, and Sterling took a massive step forward, his axe swinging in a wide, deadly arc. The blade whistled through the air with all the force Sterling could muster, cutting a perfect circle around them. The swing caught two of the Darau, their shrieks of pain filling the air as the axe bit deep into their flesh. The alpha barely avoided the full brunt of the attack, but even it couldn’t escape completely unscathed—Sterling’s axe grazed its side, leaving a long, bleeding wound. One Darau fell entirely, cleaved in half by the strike.

Velos looked up, eyes wide in disbelief. He had never seen that kind of strength before, not from a rookie like Sterling. It was no wonder they’d sent him for a promotion.

It was a matter of survival. Sterling’s mind had calculated the trajectory of his next attack. If Velos was foolish enough to be caught within the arc of his swing, that was on him. But damn it, the kid would dull the impact.

Sterling needed space—needed Velos to stay the hell out of the way.

But before he could shout at him again, Velos stood up, resolute, his shield clanging against his sword. The sharp sound echoed in the field, and even the alpha Darau hesitated, if only for a brief moment. The creatures, now limping and reeling from their injuries, slowed their advance.

Normally, a Darau pack would retreat after losing one of their own. But with an alpha in their ranks, they had the confidence to shift the battle in their favor. The wounded Darau instinctively weighed its chances in a split second, but the fight took an unexpected turn. Velos recognized this moment of hesitation and was quick to exploit it.

Velos lunged forward, his movements sharper, more deliberate. He wasted no time, driving his blade into the nearest Darau, the one Sterling had injured earlier. It let out a guttural cry before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching once before going still. Sterling followed suit, swinging his axe with enough force to finish off the second injured beast. Two down.

Two Darau still remained, circling, snarling, while the alpha watched from a distance, its predatory gaze fixed on the pair.

Sterling squared off with one Darau, his axe gleaming in the fading light. He moved swiftly, his footwork almost effortless. With a single, brutal stroke, he split the creature’s head open, its body crumpling under the blow. Blood spattered across his face, and Sterling paused, licking it off with a wicked grin.

Out here, it was survival of the fittest. He knew that. Velos needed to hold his own. If the boy couldn’t fend for himself, that was his problem. Sterling had his own fights to win. Velos had chosen to be here. He had chosen this path.

But even as Sterling thought that, he knew the truth—it was more of a justification than a belief. He watched as Velos struggled with the remaining Darau. The boy was fighting back, sure, but his movements were too hesitant, too careful. He lacked the sheer brutality that came with experience.

Velos, meanwhile, recalled the lessons from his training. His mind flashed through the basic moves drilled into him as a rookie. Left foot, right foot—keep moving. Strike with control. Don't overextend. His sword met the Darau's claws in a series of clashing strikes.

As he battled the Darau, the alpha lifted its head, scanning the battlefield. Its yellow eyes gleamed as it zeroed in on Velos, realizing he was the weaker link. With a low growl, it began stalking toward him, its massive talons digging into the earth with each step.

Velos was too preoccupied to notice. His attention was locked on the Darau in front of him, parrying its claws with his shield while looking for an opening to land the finishing blow.

He never saw the alpha coming.

Sterling did.

“Velos, MOVE!” Sterling’s voice cut through the air.

Before Velos could react, Sterling threw himself forward, slamming his shoulder into Velos, shoving him hard to the side. Velos stumbled and fell, hitting the ground near a tree. His vision blurred as he tried to piece together what had just happened.

Sterling, now exposed, faced the alpha alone. The massive creature didn’t hesitate. With a vicious roar, it lunged, its jaws snapping down on Sterling’s armored body, lifting him clean off the ground. Velos could only watch in horror as the alpha’s teeth clamped around Sterling’s torso, the sound of metal screeching under pressure filling the air.

The alpha growled, shaking its head, but Sterling’s plate armor held, too tough to pierce. Frustrated, the alpha whipped its head violently to the side, sending Sterling flying. His body crashed through the underbrush, disappearing into the dense foliage with a loud thud.

Velos gasped for breath, his body slumped against a tree. Sterling had just saved him. Sterling—who had barked at him to stay out of the way, who had treated this mission like a solo operation—had thrown himself in front of the alpha to protect him.

And now Sterling was gone, lying somewhere in the woods, out of sight.

Velos dragged himself to his feet, the weight of his sword and shield suddenly feeling like a burden. His mind raced, weighing every possible decision against one another.

He was alone.

And the alpha wasn’t done yet.

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Slayer's Notes

Property of Velos Rendhal

Alpha Darau (darau alpha)

* Classification: Reptile

* Rank: ▲ (one-mark)

The alpha Darau... it's a beast larger than any of its pack members, but size alone doesn’t make it the alpha. No, that’s not the only reason it leads the pack. The phenomenon behind it is something known as dimorphism. Typically, when we talk about dimorphism in nature, it’s related to sexual dimorphism — the way males and females of the same species can look different from each other, like how two mating birds can look wildly different from one another. But the alpha Darau isn’t about sex. It’s something else entirely.

Alphas are born that way, their body type drastically different from the others in their pack, male or female. While most Darau are driven by pack hierarchy, the alphas are bigger, more aggressive, and far more dangerous, no matter their sex. And although it's mostly the males that handle the hunting and gathering, with females guarding nests and rearing the young, an alpha’s sheer presence ensures the formation of a hunting pack.