WHERE TO NEXT

The fissure throbbed like a heartbeat, molten veins snaking through the stone as the pack’s barks echoed, warped by the canyon walls. From the shadows, a colossal silhouette emerged, its scales shimmering with fiery cracks, eyes blazing like twin suns. The leader.

Every wolf stood still, instinctively aware of its presence. Even the ground seemed to flinch.

B’shara’s grin sharpened. “Finally… a worthy opponent.” Her blades sang as she twirled them in anticipation.

Jett squinted, stepping back to assess the leader’s movements. “Looks like the mountain’s decided to play dirty.”

The beast unleashed a roar that reverberated through the cliffs, sending loose stones cascading into the abyss. Its claws gouged deep into the rock as it lunged forward, moving with a speed that defied nature.

Shimei’s hand tightened around Yoshiinune. The blade’s core pulsed with a faint warmth, almost as if it had a life of its own. He moved forward with deliberate steps, each one perfectly in sync with the creature’s movements.

The leader struck first. Its claws met Shimei’s sword with a deafening crash, sending sparks flying into the air. Shimei spun around, using the force to throw the beast off balance.

It staggered, but its molten body quickly began to mend itself.

“Right on target,” Shimei whispered. With a graceful twist, he slashed at its side. The blade sliced through the obsidian scales, leaving behind glowing cracks.

B’shara soared into the air, twisting gracefully.

Her blades traced arcs of red and silver, catching two smaller wolves mid-leap and sending them tumbling into the fissure below. The wind roared around her, a fierce storm.

Jett didn’t wait. He leaped onto a jagged ledge and blurred into motion, diving onto the leader’s back.

He plunged his curved blade down, aiming for the molten spine, but the scales flared up, searing his gloves. He twisted in midair, landing on a safer ledge with a grin. “Alright… it’s tough. This is exciting.”

The leader let out another roar, a wave of heat and shock radiating outward. Rocks shattered, and the mountain itself seemed to cry out. Yet Shimei stayed composed, his gaze darting to the glowing cracks in the fissure.

A pulse shot from the sword, cutting through the air like a thunderclap. The ground shook beneath them. The wolves instinctively recoiled, sensing the powerful surge.

The leader reared back, molten rage swirling around it like a tempest.

B’shara’s eyes lit up with thrill. “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” She twirled, unleashing a flurry of blades at the leader’s vulnerable side.

Sparks erupted as her precise strikes cracked the molten scales.

Jett sprang into action again, twisting gracefully in midair. “I’ll create an opening for you!”

He slashed through the leader’s flank, unleashing a geyser of molten liquid that spilled across the rocks.

The leader attempted to fight back, claws raised and molten body bracing for impact—but Shimei’s strike roared through the air like a flame, carving a fiery path from head to tail. The creature staggered, cracks of molten rock spreading across its body like lightning.

B’shara’s blades struck true once again, while Jett’s wind strikes tore through the last remnants of the protective obsidian.

The mountain shook as the leader unleashed a final, thunderous roar before collapsing into the fissure, its molten blood hissing against the stone.

Once more, the highlands fell silent. The air shimmered with heat and mana, the wind carrying the scent of scorched earth.

B’shara landed, panting, her blades dripping but her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Now that… that was exhilarating.”

Jett wiped his blade on his sleeve, a grin spreading across his face. “Finally! Real combat. Not that I mind picking up the leftovers.”

Shimei sheathed Yoshiinune, his expression calm. His gaze lingered on the fissure, still faintly glowing. “This was a thrill. The heart lies deeper.”

Ilan’s blind eyes sparkled, threads of mana swirling around him. “And deeper it will show its true challenges. You’ve made it through the first trial… but the mountain is not one to forgive easily.”

As the three started taking deep breaths from the battle that just took place Ilan looked around the Highlands. Something about this felt uneasy to him.

B'shara saw this and asked," Hey Ilan what's wrong you sense something?"

"I wouldn't say sense just an something does not feel right to me but its fine."

"Anyway where is our next stop?"

B'shara looked around searching for a place next to explore.

"How about we go were the wind flows." Jett said.

Ilan, Shimei and B'shara just looked at him with confused eyes, then looked at each other.

"Yea let's do that." All three said together.

With the decision made they all followed the winds as it guided them. They faced countless packs of wolves on the way but they easily dealt with them. The sun was beginning to go down showing that it was time to find a place to rest.

"We should look for a cave its beginning to become night time." B'shara said.

"What happens at night B'shara?" Shimei asked

"I'm not sure myself but what I heard the monsters here become even stronger the crimson moon rises." B'shara explained.

"Crimson moon?" Shimei asked with a one eye brow raised.

"I don't know all the details sorry Shimei but maybe the others know something."

B'shara looked at Jett and Ilan, both were whistling acting like they did not know anything about the crimson moon and the monsters that become strong because of it.

As they walked Shimei spotted a cave fit enough for them to spend the night there.

"Nice Shimei that's good." B'shara said as she rubbed Shimei's head with a head pat.

"Okay as your leader I say we all go to the cave that Shimei spotted for us." B'shara said with some level of confidence in her voice.

"WAIT WHO CALLED YOU THE LEADER THERE WAS NEVER DISCUSSION OVER THIS.!!" Jett shouted in frustration.

"Oh come on let's be honest I have leader potential here and I'm the strongest in the group"

"IS THAT SO THEN HOW ABOUT WE PROVE IT RIGHT HERE."

"NAH NOT IN THE MOOD RIGHT NOW."

"HUUUUUH"

Their constant shouting was loud it might attract more monsters.

" Can you both pls stop talking this loud your making a ruckus." Ilan said calmly.

" Oh yeah right sorry but you B'shara we are not done."

B'shara just shrugged him off and this made Jett really angry. Then the group went to the cave they all settled in nicely the only problem was how there was going to be light and the person who would do the look out.

Shimei saw this and already had a plan. It was time to see if his Kakurei that he had been perfecting is now ready to deploy.

With that he created three different hand signs and called out flame then a small fire appeared on his finger and he directed it to the place where the wood was placed and the fire burst, shocking B'shara and Jett but Ilan remained calm.

"Woah nice trick Shimei so you know fire magic that's nice."

"Um yea I know its my only thing I have." Shimei said with a nervous smile on his face.

Shimei knew that he could not say that he can not use magic only having his Kakurei which only has flame but with the books from the Kureha household he read other elements can be achieved but it is of great work and struggle to get them.

They all settle on the fire cooking the food as the night passed by.

What dangers does the next day bring for them..