In the heart of the Crimson Star Tribe's encampment, Sovita stood before Enzo, taking a small drink from the cup Amy handed him. After a pause, he resumed, "Enzo, the mountain pool behind the camp is almost dry. The tribe's water usage is climbing sharply—people are trekking nearly five kilometers just to fetch spring water."
Even with pottery available, the strain was obvious. Brick-making, daily drinking needs, field irrigation—every demand had swelled dramatically. The small stream tucked behind the hills could no longer support it.
Enzo's brow furrowed. "Are there any water sources closer?"
"There's one," Sovita admitted, "a large lake to the south, near the marshlands. From high ground, you can see it—only about two kilometers off. But the problem is... it's dangerous. Beasts go there. And not just regular ones—there are extraordinary creatures that drink from that lake. No one dares go near."
"Extraordinary beasts," Enzo muttered under his breath.
He remembered the promise he made Clara—that he'd grant her access to the power of a totem. He had the tribal fire, yes. But he was still missing a key ingredient: the essence of such a creature.
With the tribe's growth threatened by dwindling water, Enzo knew he couldn't delay. It was time to investigate the lake. And it would also serve as a real-world test for the newly trained combat squad.
Clara's guidance had transformed the team. Tia, in particular, had grown formidable—her totemic strength resembling that of a great boar, now honed by structured training. She stood as the strongest fighter in the tribe.
So Enzo led a group of twenty from the combat unit, with Clara, Tia, and Amy at his side, toward the southern wetlands.
As they traveled, Tia brought up the swamp-dwelling Venom Tribe. She'd heard their priest had some kind of bond with wild creatures and insects. Supposedly, they even built floating platforms using some kind of fast-growing plant.
Tia tried to describe the plant—slender, jointed stems, shoots that grew quickly and thickened like wood. Enzo realized immediately: bamboo.
"Have you seen these plants anywhere else?" he asked.
Tia shook her head. "Not around our land. Only near their tribe. But... they don't welcome strangers."
Clara added that she'd encountered bamboo on her travels, but the other groves she knew of were far away—too far to be useful now.
That was disappointing. With bamboo, Enzo could've crafted light containers, baskets, and even hollow tubes for transporting water. All of which would've solved their immediate water problem.
As he pondered this, Amy suddenly stopped.
"Something's wrong," she said, eyes scanning the underbrush. "Danger nearby."
Tia instantly called for the group to form up. "Shield formation! Protect Enzo!"
The unit moved swiftly, wooden shields raised as they scanned the forest.
Branches rustled—and then the ground shook.
Out of the foliage stepped a bear—no ordinary beast, but a massive silver-backed creature, easily two meters tall and four long. And seated atop its head… was a young girl with long, silver hair. Her gaze was like frost, and in her hand, she held a slender blowpipe crafted from bamboo.
From her perch, she looked down and called out, "Who are you, and why have you come here?"
Enzo raised his hand. "We've come for water."
The girl frowned, unconvinced. "Lies. Betta, attack them!"
The bear roared, slamming its paws into the soil with force enough to make the ground tremble. Tia paled but kept her composure.
"Spread out and engage!" she ordered.
Arrows were notched. The bear lunged—and headed straight for Tia. Instead of retreating, Tia braced herself. A shimmering light coated her form. The two collided.
A thunderous crack echoed.
Tia was thrown back, crashing to the ground. But the bear also staggered, shaken by the blow.
The girl fell from her mount, stunned. She stared at Tia in disbelief.
Enzo rushed to Tia's side, already calling on the green glow of his divine gift. As he healed her, he scolded her quietly. "What were you thinking? You don't confront a beast like that head-on."
The silver-haired girl, watching them, shouted again: "Betta! Finish them!"
But the bear didn't move.
Instead, it slowly padded over to Enzo. It growled—but not in anger. It seemed... curious. Maybe even hopeful.
Clara stepped forward. "I think it wants your blessing," she said. "It senses your power—the gift to awaken potential."
Enzo cautiously placed a hand on the bear's shoulder and let a small current of totemic energy flow.
The bear tilted its head to the sky and let out a deep roar.
Then, in a strange shift, it flopped to the ground like a docile animal, lolling its tongue, trying to nuzzle Enzo.
Enzo dodged back to avoid the flood of bear slobber.
The silver-haired girl tried again to call it. It ignored her.
In the confusion, Clara slipped behind the girl, struck her lightly on the back of the neck, and caught her as she collapsed.
"Want me to deal with her?" Clara asked.
Enzo didn't answer immediately. He turned to Tia. "Can you tell which tribe she's from?"
Tia nodded. "That blowgun—Venom Tribe craftsmanship. No mistake."
Enzo looked back at the unconscious girl. "How long until she wakes?"
"Half an hour," Clara said.
Enzo gave a few quiet instructions to the group, then led them toward the lake. The bear followed—docile now—with the girl bound and resting on its back.
As predicted, the girl came to moments later. She slipped from her bonds and tried to call her beast.
"Betta, come! Let's go!"
But the bear stayed still, uninterested.
Frustrated, she turned and ran into the nearby brush.
"She's going home," Clara said with a smirk. "That trail she leaves behind will take us right to the Venom Tribe. The powder I left on her boots will guide us."
It was part of Enzo's plan all along. If the tribe held the bamboo he needed, they had to reach it—and the girl was the key.
The swampland was treacherous: venomous insects, toxic fogs, unstable ground. No one could enter safely without guidance.
"Then it's time," Enzo said. "Tia. Clara. Amy—you're with me. The rest of you, hold position. Stay out of sight."