Chapter 78 – Excellence Camp – Outcast VI

Veiled Forest - Boundary of Inner Section, 26th of Brightforge, year 315 UC

The forest changed as they approached the inner section. The trees grew even larger, their trunks wide enough that five people holding hands could not encircle them.

Farrah walked slightly behind Bryan, watching him with a vigilance that had become second nature since witnessing his hallucination the previous day. So far, he had shown no signs of similar episodes. Yet Farrah couldn't shake the memory of him kneeling in the clearing.

"We're getting close."

Bryan said, pausing to consult his map.

"The boundary should be just ahead."

The group had been walking for nearly two hours since leaving the puzzle site. Alexander had fallen back into his earlier lethargy once they'd left the puzzle behind, requiring Christopher and Sabrina to keep him moving at an acceptable pace.

"It all looks the same to me."

Sabrina commented.

"The vegetation is changing."

Bryan replied, gesturing to the forest floor where new varieties of plants had begun to appear.

Farrah nodded, having noticed the change herself.

"He's right. We're approaching a transition zone."

She confirmed.

They continued forward.

"I don't like this, it's too quiet."

Christopher murmured as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Farrah silently agreed, her long ears twitching as they strained to catch any sound that might warn of danger.

They crested a small rise, and Bryan held up his hand, signaling the group to stop. Before them, the forest floor dropped away into a shallow ravine, perhaps twenty feet deep and twice as wide. A fallen tree created a natural bridge across the gap, its massive trunk easily wide enough to walk across.

"The boundary. The inner section lies on the other side."

Bryan said as he narrowed his eyes.

"That's a pretty convenient bridge if you ask me."

Sabrina remarked as she looked ahead.

"You think it's a trap? Maybe by another team, or something else."

Christopher said as he took a step forward, glancing around.

Farrah didn't hear anyone nearby, but the sounds of birds had faded. They were distant, which wouldn't be the case if they felt safe. So something was around here.

She studied the crossing for a moment before shaking her head.

"I don't think so, the tree's been here a long time—see how it's partially merged with the ground on both sides?"

She said.

Bryan glanced at her and nodded.

"I agree with her, it's unlikely to be a trap. Just to be sure, though, I'll cross first, the rest of you stay back."

Without waiting for acknowledgment, Bryan stepped onto the fallen tree.

"Your turn."

Christopher said, nodding to Farrah.

She stepped onto the tree trunk.

As she neared the midpoint of the crossing, a flicker of movement caught her eye—something pale slithering through the undergrowth on the far side, just beyond where Bryan stood. Farrah hesitated, straining to see what had moved.

"What is it?"

Bryan called, noticing her pause.

"I thought I saw something in the bushes to your right."

She replied, resuming her crossing.

Bryan turned, scanning the area she'd indicated.

"I don't see anything."

He said as she reached his side.

"It could have been nothing. I didn't pick up on any sounds, so there's that."

Bryan nodded once at her explanation but didn't say anything.

They watched as Alexander began his crossing. Christopher and Sabrina remained on the other side, ready to intervene if he faltered.

"He's getting worse."

Farrah murmured.

"A problem for another day."

Bryan said.

Alexander was halfway across when the attack came. A massive white shape dropped from the canopy, landing on the fallen tree with enough force to make it shudder.

Alexander froze, his face draining of color as he found himself face to face with a nightmare—a massive snake with two distinct heads, each the size of a large dog. Its body was pure white, and each head was crowned with a curved horn. One head hissed, revealing fangs that dripped with venom. The other opened its mouth to emit a gout of flame that scorched the tree trunk mere feet from where Alexander stood.

"Don't move!"

Bryan shouted.

"Christopher, Sabrina—get ready!"

The twin-headed snake turned one head toward Bryan. The other head remained trained on Alexander.

Farrah's mind raced, trying to recall anything about this creature from their survival classes. She'd never seen or heard of a snake with two heads, one venomous and one breathing fire. Its white coloration and massive size suggested it was likely a B-rank monster at minimum.

"Alexander, back up slowly."

She called, her hands already beginning to glow.

"Don't make any sudden movements."

Alexander began to inch backward. The creature's body tensed, coiling as if preparing to strike.

"Can you blink to him and blink away?"

Bryan asked her.

Farrah shook her head.

"I got it then, you get ready to move."

Bryan told her as he grabbed the knife at his waist.

Bryan slashed his palm, bringing forth blood that formed into crescent-shaped blades orbiting around his body. He charged toward the fallen tree.

The snake's flame-breathing head turned toward him, unleashing another burst of fire. Bryan raised his arm as the crescent blades vanished, and a barrier appeared blocking the attack. The heat was intense enough that Farrah could feel it from where she stood.

"Christopher, get Alexander!"

Farrah shouted, activating her Light Step to appear on the tree trunk behind the snake. She sent a sphere of light hurtling toward the venomous head, temporarily blinding it.

The snake's body writhed, nearly dislodging her from her position. She disappeared in a flash of light, reappearing on solid ground as Christopher reached the tree and began helping Alexander back to safety.

Bryan engaged the creature, his blood blades slashing at its scaled hide while he ducked and weaved to avoid both flame and venom. The snake's movements were incredibly fast for its size, its two heads working in tandem to drive Bryan back toward the edge of the ravine.

Farrah prepared another light sphere, but hesitated to throw it—Bryan and the snake were too closely engaged.

"Sabrina!"

She called.

"Can you use your new spell?"

Sabrina, who had been helping Christopher get Alexander to safety, looked up with a grimace.

"Not without hitting Bryan."

She replied.

"Get ready to attack as soon as he's clear."

The snake's venomous head struck suddenly, fangs grazing Bryan's arm as he twisted away at the last moment. He countered with a blood blade that sliced across the creature's eye, drawing a shriek of pain from both heads simultaneously.

The injured head retreated, but the flame-breathing head redoubled its attacks, forcing Bryan to give ground. His foot slipped on the edge of the ravine, sending a cascade of small stones tumbling into the darkness below.

Farrah's heart leaped into her throat as she saw Bryan teetering on the brink. Without conscious thought, she activated her Light Step again, appearing beside him just in time to grab his arm and pull him back from the edge.

"Thanks."

He gasped, blood dripping from the shallow wound on his arm where the snake's fang had grazed him.

The snake had withdrawn slightly, its injured head weaving back and forth in pain. A shimmer in the air around it revealed a green barrier.

"I should have known it would have a barrier."

Farrah said as she gripped Bryan's hand still.

"Your blades aren't cutting through."

Bryan nodded, his red eyes never leaving the snake as it began to circle them.

"We don't need to kill it, just get rid of it."

Bryan said.

"What?"

Farrah was confused.

"It's on the bridge, take the bridge out and let it fall."

Bryan told her.

"What about the others?"

"They're on the other side, they'll be fine. You can close that gap with your blink, unless you want to take on this beast in a fight."

Bryan commented.

She couldn't deny his logic. Sending it down into the ravine would be a heck of a lot better than actually fighting it. Even working together, Farrah was not sure they could take it out.

Whoever thought that putting a B-ranked monster inside this forest was insane.

"Got it, but don't lag behind."

She warned him as she used her light step to appear next to Christopher.

Farrah turned just in time to see Bryan summon a large blade of blood that sliced through the fallen log like it was nothing.

Bryan leaped into the air as the log tilted.

The massive snake hissed in confusion as its perch began to give way. Both heads snapped frantically at empty air while its coils tightened around the crumbling bridge. With a final crack, the log plummeted into the ravine, taking the twin-headed serpent with it.

Or it was supposed to, as the creature scorched the plummeting log as it shot forward.

"Fuck, it has a mobility spell?"

Sabrina cursed as Bryan landed hard beside Farrah, wincing as he rolled to his feet.

The tips of her fingers flashed red as two blackened orbs hovered above the ground where the snake appeared.

"Bang!"

Sabrina said as two explosions rang out in quick succession.

"You think it put its barrier up?"

Christopher asked as he appeared next to Sabrina, his sword ready.

"Doubtful, I hit it as soon as it landed. It would have to have some godly reactions to put something up that fast."

"Don't count on it."

Bryan told her as he motioned where the massive snake appeared through the dust. It was bloodied, but still alive.

The twin-headed snake reared back, both heads hissing with fury. Its white scales were now stained with crimson where Sabrina's explosions had torn through its scales. The venomous head fixed its gaze on Sabrina while the flame-breathing one targeted Bryan.

"Spread out!"

Bryan commanded.

Alexander stumbled backward. Christopher positioned himself in front of him.

Farrah calculated the distance between them all, planning her Light Step jumps as the creature coiled, preparing to strike with both heads simultaneously.

"Two ranged attacks, one mobility spell. It might have another one, so stay alert."

Bryan called out.

"I'll engage, Christopher, you back me up. Sabrina, warn us before you launch your attack so we can put a barrier up in time."

Bryan told them.

"What about Alexander?"

Christopher asked in front of Alexander.

"Alexander, attack when you see an opening, but keep your distance. Don't make yourself a target, stick close to Sabrina."

Alexander nodded weakly.

Farrah didn't like that, but she didn't want Alexander to crush his beacon just because. He was a liability in this situation, but he could still contribute with his bubble spell.

"Use your bubble to trap one of its heads. If you time it right, you could stop it from attacking."

She told him.

"Got it. I'll try."

He said.

The snake's body suddenly flushed crimson, its scales shimmering with light. The time creature abandoned its standoff with Bryan and shot toward Alexander instead.

"Alexander!"

Sabrina screamed, too far away to intervene.

Christopher lunged forward but wouldn't reach him in time. Bryan's blood blades sailed through empty air where the snake had been a split-second earlier.

Farrah vanished in a flash of light, reappearing between Alexander and the oncoming monster, her hands already glowing as the twin heads bore down on them with terrifying speed.

She shot out two light spheres rapidly, hoping to blind the creature for a moment.

If it worked, she wasn't aware because she felt the pain pulsing through her right arm. Her eyes focused as best she could, only to find that Alexander was safe on the ground.

He wasn't injured, that was good.

"What are you doing?!"

Bryan shouted as he appeared in front of them and started to attack the creature.

"Did you really injure yourself to protect him?"

Farrah coughed once, then winced.

"Sabrina, hit it!"

Bryan yelled out as he grabbed her by the waist and moved out of the way.

Christopher grabbed Alexander and dashed away as two more explosions rocked the area.

"We won't take out the barrier, it's too strong."

Sabrina shouted.

"It's not invincible, and has to follow the same rules as us. We can't use a barrier and spells at the same time, so neither can it."

Bryan told her.

"Hit it when it's getting ready to attack."

"I only have like one more explosion in me, maybe two magma burst."

Sabrina replied.

"That's enough."

Bryan sat Farrah down and turned before launching a flurry of attacks at the massive snake.

"I'll punch through the barrier, I'm the only one with body augmentation. Christopher focus on attacking it, and if your hits go through, then we'll know it's barrier dropped."

"You think it'll fall for that?"

Christopher asked from the side.

"It went for Alexander, so it's intelligent, but it won't try that again. It believes it's taken two out of the fight, if anything, it'd go for Sabrina next."

Bryan said.

Farrah felt useless sitting here as her right arm throbbed.

She glanced down at her arm and immediately wished she hadn't. A jagged fragment of bone had punched through her skin just below the elbow, gleaming white against the crimson blood that flowed freely down her forearm.

"Farrah's hurt bad."

Alexander called.

Bryan's eyes darted to her arm.

"Sabrina, get ready. I'm going to make this thing regret ever crossing our path."

"I can still fight."

Farrah said as she slowly got up off the ground.

"I'll distract it."

"What, are you crazy?"

Alexander shouted as he grabbed her by the shoulder.

"You're in no predicament to be participating in any fight. You need to get yourself fixed!"

"Later."

Farrah told him.

"They can't do it alone."

Alexander looked down at the ground.

"Sorry."

He said.

"Don't be. You'd have done the same."

She said, but she actually wasn't sure he would.

Maybe this is what Bryan meant when he said that people were liabilities. Still, she'd have done the same thing a hundred times if it meant saving a life.

The creature's shriek echoed through the forest. Its tail whipped around, catching Bryan in the chest and sending him flying backward. He slammed into a tree trunk with bone-jarring force, his breath leaving his body in a painful whoosh.

"Bryan!"

Farrah cried, starting toward him.

"I'm fine."

He gasped, struggling to his feet.

"Watch out!"

The warning came just in time. Farrah turned to see the snake charging toward her. She activated her Light Step. As she reappeared, its tail was already sweeping through the space, catching her mid-materialization.

She saw it coming and twisted slightly. The tail grazed her, but the damage wasn't as bad as her broken arm.

The snake turned back to Bryan, who had regained his feet but was clearly favoring his right side. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead, and his breathing was labored, suggesting the impact with the tree had done more damage than he'd admitted.

"Sabrina, now!"

Christopher shouted from the sidelines.

Sabrina created one of her explosive spheres, placing it directly in the snake's path as it charged toward Bryan. The creature triggered the trap, the resulting explosion powerful enough to momentarily stagger it.

Farrah pushed herself, ignoring the pain as she prepared to rejoin the fight. But as she gathered her magic, something strange happened—her hands began to glow with a light different from her usual spell.

The light bent and wrapped around her body, creating a visual distortion that made her form shimmer and fade, becoming difficult to focus on directly.

Moving with newfound stealth, Farrah circled behind thesnake. It showed no sign of detecting her presence, both heads focused on Bryan and the others who remained clearly visible.

Bryan saw what was happening. He pressed his attack, keeping the snake's attention fixed on him while Farrah maneuvered into position. His blood blades circled faster, slashing at the creature's barrier in a constant barrage that forced it to focus its defensive efforts forward.

Farrah reappeared for a moment next to Sabrina.

"Give me your blade."

She said.

Sabrina furrowed her brow, seemingly about to question her actions but then passed it to Farrah.

"Thanks, I'll only be a moment."

Farrah felt that she could only use her spells three more times before she was running on empty. She had to make this count.

She focused on the snake's blind spot, directly behind its neck where it joined the main body. Using light step she appeared above the creature, then she called upon her new spell Distorion.

Light wrapped itself around her and the blade in her hand as she landed.

It must have felt her land on its body because its tail moved, but it didn't find her.

She plunged the sword into the section between the two necks.

The snake's barrier shimmered and fell as Farrah's blade found its mark. Both heads reared back in agony, releasing simultaneous blasts of venom and flame into the air. Bryan seized the opportunity, launching a barrage of blood blades that tore through the creature's exposed flesh.

The snake thrashed wildly, its tail sweeping across the forest floor in its death throes.

Farrah leapt back, her camouflage spell fading as she concentrated on avoiding the creature's final, desperate attacks. But in her haste, she miscalculated—the tail caught her a glancing blow, sending her stumbling.

Christopher caught her.

"I've got you."

He grunted.

"Are you alright?"

Bryan asked.

Farrah nodded, her eyes fixed on the burn visible through the charred fabric of his uniform.

"You're hurt."

She said, reaching toward the injury.

Bryan shook his head, pulling away from her touch.

"It's nothing."

He insisted, though the tightness around his eyes betrayed the pain he was feeling.

"We need to check the snake for a core."

Sabrina and Alexander approached, eyeing the massive creature's still form.

"That was insane, I've never seen anything like that."

Sabrina said.

"Must be a rare species."

Christopher commented, kneeling to examine the creature more closely.

Alexander remained silent.

"Bryan, you need medical attention."

Farrah insisted, noticing the way he winced when he tried to straighten.

"That burn looks serious, and you might have been poisoned when it grazed you earlier."

"I could say the same about you."

Bryan retorted.

"The core first."

Christopher had already begun the process of extracting the core. After a moment of careful work, he withdrew a crystalline orb the size of a small apple, pulsing with a deep red energy.

"It's beautiful."

He said, holding it up for the others to see.

Bryan nodded, but Farrah could see that his condition was deteriorating. His skin had taken on a grayish pallor, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool air. The combination of the burn and potential poison was clearly affecting him more than he wanted to admit.

"We need to use the beacon."

She said firmly, reaching for her pack where the black crystal was stored.

"You need proper medical attention."

"No."

Bryan said as he shook his head.

"Bryan, be reasonable. You both need medical attention. Yall look like someone ran you over, and came back to finish the job."

Sabrina interjected.

"I said no."

Bryan repeated.

"I have another option."

Before anyone could stop him, Bryan staggered toward the dead snake. Kneeling beside it, he placed his hand on the creature's body, directly over the wound Christopher had made to extract the core. Blood still seeped from the incision.

"What are you doing?"

Farrah asked, moving to stop him.

Bryan didn't answer. The blood beneath his palm began to move in an unnatural way, flowing up his arm. It traveled along his skin, seeking the burn on his back and the wound on his arm where the snake's fang had grazed him.

"Blood Siphon," he murmured, the words barely audible.

As they watched in stunned silence, the snake's blood continued to flow into Bryan's body, the burn visibly healing as the fluid was absorbed. Color returned to his face, the grayish pallor replaced by his normal complexion. The cut on his arm closed.

When he finally pulled his hand away from the snake's body, Bryan looked almost completely recovered.

"What was that?"

Sabrina asked as she took one step back.

"I can heal using blood from another creature."

Bryan replied simply

Farrah studied him. She had seen him use his crescent blades and manipulate his own blood in combat. But this—drawing another creature's blood into himself for healing—was something he had never demonstrated before. Something he had apparently been keeping to himself.

"Why didn't you tell us you could do that?"

She asked, unable to keep the curiosity from her voice.

Bryan met her gaze, his expression unreadable.

"It's not something I use often."

He said, his tone carefully neutral.

"Or something I wanted others to know about."

Blood magic was completely unfamiliar to all of them—none had ever seen or heard of it before meeting Bryan. This new aspect of his abilities only added to the mystery surrounding him.

'How many spells does he have?'

Farrah wondered as she eyed him.

"You too."

Bryan said as he motioned for Farrah to come over.

She hesitated for a second before moving. Once within range of him he activated his spell again, this time the blood crawled along her leg toward her broken arm.

Farrah felt a tingling sensation that sent a shiver up her spine. There was a crack as her bone set itself into place, and the wound closed itself.

It felt odd, seeing that happen. It felt weird, having it done to her. But also kind of cool.

"We should move on."

Bryan continued.

"Find a place to camp for the night."

"What about our celebration?"

Sabrina asked.

"You promised."

Everyone turned to look at her.

Sabrina giggled.

"What, too soon?"