Chapter 25: Creature

The journey from Radegart to the northern border spanned over five hundred miles. With fast horses, they could cover that distance in just over two weeks. However, winter was still in full swing, and the cold would stick around for a while. The Radegart Riders had plenty of time before the army moved out, so they could take their time raiding the countryside of Hilzland.

In Hochland and across the Desolate West, raiding was pretty much a way of life. Bandits, sects, merchants, and even the kingdom itself did it. It made sense for towns to form their own raiding groups. With the kingdom on the brink of war, raiding the enemy was almost expected. Even bandits came out of hiding to join in. In this climate, sanctioned banditry was a dream come true.

Andric wasn’t a fan of stealing from the weak, but he wasn’t about to impose his views on everyone else. Whether he was there or not, the Radegart Riders were going to raid Hilzland. He planned to do his best to avoid unnecessary harm. He’d made a good haul from the Erfdag bandits and didn’t need more cash right now.

The folks in Radegart saw raiding foreign lands as honorable and a way to bring glory to Hochland. Only a few thought otherwise, but they were outnumbered. To most, the Radegart Riders were heroes.

The group of eight rode north, covering a few miles an hour. While their horses could sprint at up to thirty miles per hour, they couldn’t keep that up for long. So they moved at a steady pace, faster than the merchant caravan Andric had traveled with in the summer. By day’s end, they had covered about thirty miles from Radegart.

At night, they set up camp. The horses were tied to trees, and a fire crackled in the center of their camp. The Human realm martialists—Farvald, Isbrand, Carlman, and Hagano—needed their sleep, so they huddled close to the warmth of the fire. Meanwhile, Andric, Theudobald, and the two brothers, all Novice realm martialists, only needed a light jacket to stay warm. Andric lay on the ground, munching on preserved meat, his armor beside him. He was taking a break from his usual magic for nutrients and decided to save his wine for later.

Traveling on horseback was rough. Andric’s backside wasn’t used to long hours in the saddle, but he managed with his spirit energy. The real issue was the boredom. While he could relax with a merchant caravan, driving his own horse required constant focus. His frustration came from knowing that with magic, he could have flown to Hilzland in a day. Only Adept realm martialists could match that speed.

In the dead of night, the horses began to neigh wildly, waking everyone up. Theudobald was the first to grab his weapon and scan the surroundings, but saw nothing. Andric also took a quick look. They were camped in a sparse forest, with no place for a hidden enemy to hide.

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“It’s over there,” Theudobald said, pointing into the darkness. Andric squinted but couldn’t spot anything.

Farvald and Isbrand, now awake, joined Theudobald and the two brothers, who had their swords ready. Carlman couldn’t see anything, and Hagano stayed in his tent.

Farvald was unnerved. This was his first time away from the familiar protection of his family. The presence of strangers around him did little to ease his anxiety.

Isbrand circulated his spirit energy and readied himself. He’d been itching for a chance to prove himself, and now he was on edge, waiting for whatever was lurking in the darkness. Carlman, also tense, had his sword halfway drawn.

Andric stood up, donned his armor, and began circulating his spirit energy. He prepared to use the Heaven Charging Spring to dodge any threat. The wilderness of Hochland was filled with wild animals, but most hibernated in winter. The real worry was spirit beasts—creatures that hunted year-round and weren’t afraid to attack humans. Towns like Einburg and Radegart had guards specifically to deal with these beasts.

A strange, eerie sound echoed from the darkness beyond the camp. It was like a large creature was being slaughtered alive. The sound sent shivers down everyone’s spine. Isbrand and Carlman, familiar with livestock, could almost feel the flesh being torn apart.

A sickly, bloody smell filled the air. The horses panicked more, and the fire dimmed slightly. Isbrand moved to add twigs to the fire, but Theudobald stopped him. “Don’t!” he shouted. Dimming the fire would make them more vulnerable.

Andric stepped forward, saying, “I’ve got a fire element technique.” He moved toward where the creature was supposed to be.

“Use it,” Theudobald ordered. Without delay, Andric activated the Flaming Fist Technique, creating a ball of flames that lit up the dark forest.

For a brief moment, the creature was visible—a hulking figure over eight feet tall with a hunched back. Its enormous eyes glowed in the firelight. The creature quickly retreated, never turning its back on them.

The sight shocked everyone, including Theudobald. “So big,” he muttered, watching the creature as it disappeared into the trees.

“What was that?” Carlman asked, his calm exterior hiding his fear. It was his first encounter with something so terrifying.

Another chilling, flesh-tearing sound pierced the night. Andric threw another Flaming Fist into the darkness and quickly prepared another.

“Watch the horses!” Theudobald ordered, his eyes locked on the area where the creature had been. A fresh wave of bloody air came from that direction.

Andric activated Silent Gallop, running towards the horses. He used Heaven Charging Spring to launch himself into the air and sent several Flaming Fists into the darkness.

The creature, now illuminated by the flames, turned and fled. From above, Andric saw what looked like greasy, matted hair covering its body, and guessed it was covered in blood, which gave it a slimy appearance.

Theudobald, Filibert, and Gerbold gave chase. Carlman, unable to keep up with the Novice realm martialists, stayed behind.

Gerbold reached the creature first and punched it, followed by Filibert’s sword slash. The blade cut through the creature’s blood-soaked fur, revealing patches of skin beneath. The creature had what looked like armor made from other animals’ hides.

The creature continued to flee, and Andric pursued it, using the Silent Gallop Technique to close the gap. The trees were too small and too far apart to stay hidden, so he dropped to the ground and kept chasing.

Andric’s thoughts raced. “If I could use my magic, I could end this quickly,” he thought, juggling his Silent Gallop and Flaming Fist techniques.

The creature stopped abruptly, turning to face Andric. He threw a Flaming Fist at it, but the creature charged with its head. Andric dodged the headbutt, but his attack missed. The creature darted away again.