The lively streets of the city suddenly erupted into chaos. People abandoned their market stalls, shopkeepers peered outside anxiously, and the distant sound of something massive thrashing against stone filled the air.
Werf's head snapped toward the noise. "What's going on?"
Jil's eyes darted around as more and more people hurried toward the city's front gate. "I don't know, but let's check it out!"
Before Werf could protest, Jil had already started weaving through the crowd. With a sigh, he followed, Fenr comfortably perched atop his head, his ears flicking as he sniffed the air.
The closer they got, the more intense the commotion became. The voices of the citizens carried an unmistakable mix of fear and excitement.
The crowd bottlenecked at the entrance to the main street leading to the front gate. Werf grabbed Jil's wrist and pulled her through, squeezing past bystanders until they finally got a clear view.
And then they saw it.
A colossal lizard-like beast thrashed wildly against the ground, its tail slamming into a nearby stone wall and shattering part of it like brittle wood. The creature was as large as five adult men stacked atop one another and many times longer.
Its thick, overlapping black scales shimmered under the sun, looking nearly impenetrable. Its powerful limbs dug into the earth, claws raking the stone streets as it let out a guttural, terrifying roar.
The beast's face was monstrous, a blend of a snake and a crocodile, with piercing yellow eyes full of rage.
Its massive maw opened, revealing jagged teeth as long as a grown man's arm.
Just the sheer presence of the beast sent a wave of unease through the air.
"Holy crap," Jil whispered, awestruck.
Werf swallowed hard. He had seen Hild hunt beasts before, but this was something else entirely.
The murmurs of the crowd hushed as five warriors stepped forward, forming a battle line against the beast. Three men and two women stood against the monstrous creature, each wielding unique weapons.
The first man, tall and broad, wielded a massive battle axe, his muscles bulging as he hoisted the weapon over his shoulder.
The second, lean and fast, wielded a long chain, swinging it expertly as if it were an extension of his own body.
The third man was clad in heavy armor, a towering shield strapped to his arm, standing resolute in the face of danger.
One of the women perched atop a wooden stall, her longbow drawn, sharp eyes tracking every movement of the beast.
The last, a rogue-like figure, moved with a cat's grace, twin daggers glinting in her hands as she circled the creature.
The fight began in an instant.
"Move in!" shouted the axe-wielder, charging forward. The chain-wielder reacted immediately, his steel links flying through the air and wrapping around the lizard's front legs.
With a sharp yank, he pulled, forcing the beast's weight forward. The ground shook as the creature's head slammed into the stone, exposing its vulnerable neck.
"NOW!" the axe-wielder roared, swinging his weapon in a devastating downward arc.
The axe crashed into the lizard's exposed neck scales, sending cracks through its natural armor. The creature shrieked in pain, its body convulsing as it tried to shake free.
The shield-bearer saw an opening and rushed forward, slamming his towering shield into the beast's flank. The impact boomed through the streets, causing the monster to falter momentarily.
The archer didn't hesitate. She exhaled slowly, her fingers steady as she loosed an arrow. The projectile whistled through the air before piercing directly into the beast's left eye.
The lizard let out a deafening screech, its massive body thrashing in pain. Blood gushed from its ruined eye, blinding it on one side.
"Perfect shot!" the dagger-wielder called out before she darted forward.
Like a shadow, she moved beneath the creature's wounded side, her form a blur of motion. The lizard's blinded state made it sluggish, and she took full advantage of the moment.
Ducking under its remaining good eye, she rolled beneath its belly before driving both daggers deep into its exposed torso.
A spray of dark blood followed as she ripped the blades across its flesh, carving a devastating wound.
"Get back!" shouted the shield-bearer as the beast, in one final desperate attempt, lashed out with its tail.
The shield-bearer braced himself, planting his feet as the thick tail slammed against his shield with tremendous force.
The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the warrior held firm, absorbing the full brunt of the attack.
The chain-wielder reacted fast, sending his steel links whipping toward the beast's hind legs, wrapping tightly around them. With another powerful yank, he pulled, tripping the wounded monster onto its side.
The axe-wielder saw his moment.
Lifting his weapon high, he roared as he brought it down onto the creature's skull, the thick steel cleaving straight through bone with a sickening crack.
Silence.
The beast gave a final shudder before collapsing into the pool of its own blood.
For a moment, no one moved. The only sound was the warriors' heavy breathing as they stood victorious over the slain monster. Then, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, their fear turning into admiration and awe.
Werf and Jil were frozen in place, their eyes wide with astonishment.
"That was… incredible," Jil whispered.
Werf could only nod, unable to take his eyes off the warriors. They had fought with such coordination, such flawless teamwork.
Each person knew their role, every action flowed into the next. It was like watching a perfectly orchestrated battle.
As the dust settled, the warriors turned toward the crowd, their expressions unreadable.
"Who are they?" Werf finally asked.
Neither of them had the answer, but they both knew one thing:
They wanted to become just as strong.