As they ventured into the night, Paul and Zaell made their way through the forest, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. The stars twinkled above, adding an almost magical quality to their journey. Paul hovered above Zaell as they moved forward, the hours passing in silent anticipation.

"How much farther, Zaell?" Paul broke the silence.

Zaell squinted at the map before answering, "Not sure. I’m just following the directions he gave me."

"Who exactly gave you this information?" Paul asked, curiosity evident in his tone.

“I managed to interrogate one of them before I left him hanging from a tree in the forest,” Zaell replied, a note of coldness in his voice.

“Well done, but I would’ve finished him off if I were you,” Paul muttered, frustration tightening his jaw.

They continued westward, Zaell’s footsteps the only sound in the stillness of the forest. Soon, they came across a hidden campsite, its fire pit casting flickering shadows on the figures gathered around it. Zaell’s sharp eyes quickly recognized one of them.

"Paul, I know that man. He’s one of the key figures in the guild I visited. I think it’s safe for us to show ourselves," Zaell whispered with confidence.

"If you’re sure," Paul replied.

Paul descended to join Zaell, and together they approached the camp. As they neared, the hunters on watch quickly noticed them.

A guard stepped forward, his voice sharp, "Who goes there?!" He leveled his spear at them, and every eye in the camp turned their way, the tension thickening.

Both raised their hands in a gesture of peace. "I’m a hunter," Zaell announced, "and this is my brother. We’re here to speak with Sir Chris."

Paul couldn’t help but smile when Zaell referred to him as "brother." Chris rose from his seat, initially cautious, and asked, "Who’s asking?" But as soon as he recognized Zaell, a warm smile broke across his face. "Oh, young Zaell! What brings you here? Please, sit." He motioned for the others to lower their weapons and relax.

As Paul and Zaell entered the camp, they noticed ten hunters, including Chris, who was among those gathered around the crackling fire. Their figures danced in the warm light, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed as they settled in.

"Zaell, I’m surprised to see an F-rank hunter like you here. This quest is meant for D to C-rank hunters," Chris said, his suspicion clear.

In response, Zaell smirked and shot back, "I could ask you the same thing—what’s an A-rank hunter like you doing on a D to C-rank mission?" His remark was met with hearty laughter from the group.

Zaell then said, "Let’s not waste time—my brother and I are on a different mission. We’re heading to the bandits’ and slavers’ hideout near here. We are here to wipe them out and reclaim what they stole from us.’’

The camp fell into a sudden silence, everyone’s eyes locked on the two of them. Zaell then added, ‘‘Paul’s parents and some villagers were taken, so there’s no time to lose. I wanted to inform you, hoping you could recommend this mission to the guild master to stress its urgency. That’s all. Thanks for your time. We should be going."

As the duo strolled out, Chris let out a lighthearted chuckle, a smile playing on his lips. He placed a reassuring hand on Zaell’s shoulder, his brow furrowing in confusion. "But you just said Paul was your brother?" he asked, searching Zaell's eyes for clarity.

Zaell turned slightly, his expression softening as he replied, "What I meant was that Paul was more than just a friend to me—he was someone I held dear, like a brother from another mother."

"Hmm… Anyway, what a coincidence! We're on the same mission—rescuing those civilians. Some of the hunters here are dealing with the same problem. We’re planning to move out tomorrow morning.”

Then Chris' face became serious as he added, ‘‘But you Zaell, just got your license a few days ago. I can’t let you take on something this dangerous. It’s too risky. Even as second-in-command at the guild, I don’t have the authority to let a newcomer like you engage in something this reckless,"

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"Who do you think you are, telling us what to do?" Paul snapped, shoving Chris’s hand away from Zaell. His face twisted in anger as he turned to his brother. "Let’s get out of here, bro. We’re wasting time."

Chris stepped forward, his voice firm. "And who do you think you are, refusing a guild command? No hunter disobeys the guild leader’s orders."

"I’m not a hunter! Get in our way again, and I’ll consider you as my enemy!" Paul’s response was ice-cold, his grip tightening on his bow as he glared at Chris.

Chris could sense a deep, unsettling fear reflected in Paul’s eyes. Despite being a respected A-rank hunter and a knight, he stood frozen in place, his lips parted in shock.

“Apologies for that,” Zaell said, bowing his head in an earnest gesture of remorse. “He was a bit angry and overwhelmed.”

“It’s alright, Zaell," Chris replied, his voice steady and understanding. "I empathize with what he’s going through. Just be careful, and remember, we’re not far behind.” Zaell nodded.

Paul and Zaell walked out of the camp, two young hunters trailing behind them, ignoring the strict rules that governed their profession.

Chris could only rub his forehead upon seeing the two hunters following Paul and Zaell, then muttered, "Eijay and Rhyz..."

Eijay Piritus was a half-giant, towering at an imposing seven feet tall. Despite being only 14, he exuded strength and confidence. His short brown hair framed a face with determined features, while a floating grimoire—a manifestation of his ability—hovered beside him. Eijay typically wore a sleeveless brown robe, a distinctive choice that set him apart.

Rhyz Dehes, also 14, was a normal-sized teenager with striking long black hair. He wielded two self-designed guns with a dagger on the tip and had the remarkable ability to teleport, a gift from the Gods. He usually wore a long black cloak, mirroring his mysterious nature. Both Eijay and Rhyz were recognized as C-rank hunters.

"Wait up, you two!" Eijay called out urgently.

"We want to join you. Our friend was taken by those bandits a few days ago. Our group’s moving too slowly because they’re overly cautious. We don’t care if we lose our license—we just want to save our friend as quickly as possible. You guys seem to be in a rush, so let’s join forces."

Paul looked up at the towering figure as Eijay extended his hand. In response, Paul accepted the hand, sealing the forming of an unlikely party.

As the hours passed, Zaell continued to lead the group toward their destination. Their journey brought them to the enemy’s stronghold, perched atop a mountain. The hideout had a small cave entrance, reinforced with wooden walls and watchtowers manned by archers.

Paul flew up a tall tree and positioned Black at the top, placing the bag on a nearby branch. Black slept peacefully inside the bag, as serene as a baby. Paul glided down from the tree and silently signaled the rest of the group to commence the attack. They spread out in different directions, moving with practiced stealth. Together, they launched a coordinated ambush, taking out the enemy one by one.

Paul and Rhyz led the charge, each showcasing their extraordinary skills. Paul soared high into the sky, positioning himself near two towering structures. With precision, he drew his bow and expertly struck his targets. Meanwhile, Rhyz used his teleportation ability to instantly appear behind one of the guards stationed in a tower. In one swift motion, he dispatched the guard with a well-placed gun dagger, swiftly neutralizing the threat.

Meanwhile, Zaell and Eijay approached the gate. With a powerful heave, Eijay lifted Zaell and launched him across the gate. He then scaled the wall with ease. Once on the other side, he quickly used his spell book to cast a thick fog, enveloping the entire base in mist to conceal their movements.

Upon landing, the first thing Zaell did was move stealthily into a tent where the guards were resting. As he entered, Zaell enlarged his normally shrunken shields and, without hesitation, delivered swift blows to the bandits' heads, knocking them all unconscious.

In one fluid motion, Zaell then bound their arms and legs and gagged them to silence any unwanted cries for help. With the guards neutralized, Zaell met with the others, and they continued their methodical sweep. Working with precision, the team managed to eliminate all the remaining guards without raising any alarms.

Eijay and Rhyz stood in awe, captivated by the extraordinary skills displayed by Paul and Zaell. Despite Zaell being an F-rank hunter and Paul lacking any hunter classification, both Eijay and Rhyz were impressed.

"Stay hidden and keep an eye on that cave entrance," Paul instructed his comrades in a low whisper. Determined to rescue the captives, he entered the tent and approached an unconscious bandit. Paul then tapped the bandit’s face with the back of his hand to rouse him from unconsciousness.

As the bandit stirred groggily, Paul drew an arrow and pressed it against the bandit's throat. "Where are the captives?" he demanded, his eyes locked on the bandit, ready to act if the bandit didn’t cooperate.

In the dim light of the tent, the bandit's desperate pleas continued. Paul, intent on extracting crucial information, pressed further. "How many guards are there?" he asked.

The bandit’s voice quivered as he responded, “There are about 70 bandits, including our leader.”

Paul then pressed the arrow slightly deeper, drawing a small drop of blood. He then said, "Tell me more."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the bandit quickly added, “The cave has 11th floors. The prisoners are on floors 9th and 10th. The other floors serve as sleeping quarters for the bandits. The 11th floor houses the vault, the slavers, and my master's room. That’s all I know—please, spare my life,” he begged.

Paul’s eyes narrowed as he warned, "If you’re lying, you know what will happen." He re-applied the gag and knocked the bandit unconscious.

Paul’s mind raced with worry for his parents and community, his anxiety palpable. His heart pounded as he struggled to maintain his composure. Yet, as he glanced at his steadfast team, a surge of courage helped him focus on the task. He shared the crucial information with his comrades, prompting a strategy session.

"We're outnumbered and can't confront them head-on," Eijay said. "We should move quietly to floors 9 and 10 to rescue the hostages, then make a quick retreat."

Rhyz voiced his concern, "What if someone spots us and wakes up everyone at once? We could end up as prisoners or worse."

"Can you teleport them out with you?" Zaell asked, hopeful.

"Unfortunately, I can only teleport myself within a 50-foot radius," Rhyz replied.

Turning to Eijay urgently, Paul asked, "Do you have any magic that can help us rescue the hostages without being seen?"

Paul had seen Eijay use magic before, and from that, he assumed Eijay was a mage.

Yet the half-giant only smiled and said, "I’m not actually a mage. What I’m using is called a spell."

Eijay then flipped through his grimoire, unfazed by the confused expressions of Paul and Zaell, the scent of old parchment filling the air. After a moment, he found what he was looking for. "How about a sleeping spell?" he suggested. "I can put everyone to sleep, and if they wake up, I can put them back to sleep again."

The team, though nervous, agreed to the plan. As they approached the dark and foreboding cave, Zaell led the way with his shields raised. Paul, bow at the ready, followed closely behind. Rhyz held his guns, and Eijay cast a small light spell above Zaell to illuminate their path. They cautiously advanced deeper into the cave, passing closed doors and the distant sounds of snoring.