The basin below was a whirlwind of desperate combat. Daniel watched, utterly hidden by the pulsating foliage and the natural contours of the rise, his [Aura Sense] providing a constant, subtle feed of the shifting life forces clashing below, supplementing his visual observation.
Darius Holt's team was pinned down, their backs against a jagged cluster of obsidian rocks that offered some protection but limited their maneuverability.
Darius himself seemed to be the tactical core. His defensive Talent flared intermittently, absorbing glancing blows, but his real contribution was his calm, clear commands cutting through the chaos.
"Eliza, left flank, suppressive burst! Marcus, dodge right, Ravager incoming! Seraphina, next strike projection?" His voice remained steady, a vital anchor in the storm of violence.
Seraphina Bellweather was perhaps the most critical element keeping them alive. Her eyes, usually darting and observant, were now closed tight, her face pale with concentration.
Occasionally, she'd gasp out a prediction, "Three meters, low strike, Marcus!" or "Spine Volley incoming, center mass, now!" Her B-grade [Precognitive Glimpse], though likely draining her Spirit rapidly, provided invaluable milliseconds of warning, allowing her teammates to react, to dodge lethal blows or reposition just in time. Without her foresight, Daniel suspected the team would have already been overrun.
Eliza, the recruit wielding electrical energy, unleashed crackling arcs of lightning from her fingertips , a C-grade [Static Discharge] Talent, Daniel guessed.
The energy bolts struck the Spike-Backed Ravagers, causing them to flinch and briefly interrupting their charges, but doing little lasting damage against their surprisingly high Spirit resistance and tough hides.
Marcus, the speed-enhanced recruit (likely a C-grade [Burst Step] Talent), blurred around the perimeter, trying to draw aggro and create openings, his movements fast but predictable, relying more on raw speed than refined evasion techniques.
The Spike-Backed Ravagers (Level 2) were terrifyingly efficient predators. Their Very High Agility allowed them to weave through Eliza's static bolts and sidestep Marcus's flanking attempts with contemptuous ease.
They coordinated their attacks, two or three focusing on Darius's defense while others harried Marcus or tested Seraphina's predictions.
Their primary attacks were savage lunges with claws and teeth, but their unique threat came from the [Spine Volley] ability. Occasionally, one would tense, its back arching, and launch a spray of razor-sharp bone spikes from its shoulders. "Boom!"
The volley wasn't explosive, but the sound of the spikes tearing through the air was sharp, followed by the sickening thud and clang as they impacted rock or, horrifyingly, flesh. The downed recruit likely fell victim to such a volley, his defensive gear insufficient against the piercing force.
Daniel observed the flow, analyzing strengths and weaknesses. Darius's team had power (C-grades) and a game-changing support Talent (Seraphina's B-grade).
Their teamwork, guided by Darius and Seraphina, was functional, preventing immediate collapse. However, their damage output seemed insufficient to quickly dispatch the Level 2 Ravagers.
Eliza's lightning harassed but didn't kill effectively. Marcus's speed lacked killing power. Darius focused on defense and command. Seraphina was purely predictive support.
They were caught in a battle of attrition they seemed destined to lose as their mana reserves dwindled and fatigue set in.
He contrasted their struggle with his own recent encounters. His fight against the five Veridian Constrictors had been brutal, yes, but decisive.
He had leveraged his enhanced gear, skills, and rapidly growing attributes to overwhelm them relatively quickly. His solo approach, fueled by the exponential growth of [Soul Assimilation], felt vastly more efficient.
While Darius's team fought desperately for survival, sharing meager EXP from eventual kills (if they survived) and likely squabbling over any potential loot, Daniel had already leveled up, gained numerous skills, massively boosted his attributes, and secured valuable resources like the Detoxifying Herb , all with minimal risk compared to this sustained, high-stakes engagement.
The 'scavenger' path, supplemented by decisive solo kills when advantageous, was undeniably superior for someone with his unique Talent.
The battle below reached a critical point. Marcus, attempting a daring feint, mistimed his [Burst Step]. A Ravager, anticipating his trajectory despite Seraphina's frantic warning, slammed into him with a [Frenzied Charge].
"Boom!"
The impact resounded through the basin, the ground trembling slightly. Marcus hit the obsidian rock wall with a sickening crunch, collapsing in a heap, his limbs bent at unnatural angles. Another one down.
"Marcus!" Eliza screamed, momentarily losing focus. Two Ravagers instantly capitalized, lunging at her. Darius roared, projecting his defensive barrier to intercept one, but the second slashed through, tearing deep gashes across Eliza's arm and side. She stumbled back, clutching her wounds, her lightning sputtering weakly.
Now it was three Ravagers against Darius and the injured Eliza, with Seraphina providing desperate warnings.
The situation looked grim. Daniel remained hidden, his pulse steady. Intervening now would be foolishly heroic, drawing the aggro of multiple enraged Level 2 beasts. His best course was to wait, observe, and capitalize on the aftermath.
Suddenly, Seraphina's eyes snapped open, wide with alarm. "Darius! Incoming! Powerful signature, different type!"
Before Darius could react, a surge of movement descended from the rocks above the basin opposite Daniel's position.
It moved with blinding speed, far faster than the Ravagers or even Daniel using [Ghoststeps]. It landed amidst the Ravagers with an earth-shattering impact.
"BOOM!"
The ground didn't just tremble; it heaved. A visible shockwave exploded outwards, kicking up dust and azure grass.
The Ravagers closest to the impact were sent tumbling like broken dolls, letting out canine yelps of pain and surprise.
The figure straightened , a young woman Daniel hadn't seen before, clad in sleek, form-fitting dark leather armor, wielding twin daggers that pulsed with faint crimson light. Her movements were fluid, predatory, radiating an aura of lethal confidence.
She didn't pause. She flowed into the disorganized Ravagers like death itself. Her daggers became streaks of red light, each strike precise, targeting eyes, throats, joints.
The wind shrieked around her as she moved, generating miniature sonic booms with her explosive changes in direction.
A Ravager attempted a [Spine Volley] , she scornfully slapped the spikes out of the air with the flat of her dagger, the impact ringing like struck steel, before severing its spine with the other blade. Another tried a [Frenzied Charge] , she met it head-on, her fist clenched.
"Boom!"
Her fist collided with the Ravager's skull. Another shockwave pulsed outwards, less intense than her landing but still powerful.
Daniel felt the force ripple through the ground even from his hiding spot. The Ravager's head practically disintegrated, its body slumping lifelessly. She wasn't just fast; she possessed monstrous Strength!
In less than thirty seconds, the remaining four Spike-Backed Ravagers lay dead or dying, dispatched with brutal efficiency by the newcomer.
Silence descended once more, broken only by the ragged breathing of Darius, Eliza, and Seraphina, who stared in stunned disbelief at their savior.
The newcomer flicked blood from her daggers, her expression impassive, almost bored. She glanced condescendingly at the surviving Vanguard recruits.
Daniel, focusing his intent, tried to scan her with his Nexus Interface.
[Scanning Target...]
[...]
[Scan Failed. Target possesses high-level interference or cloaking capabilities.]
Scan failed? That was unexpected. It suggested advanced gear or a powerful, possibly high-grade, Talent focused on stealth or information denial.
This woman was clearly leagues above the average recruit, possibly even surpassing Seraphina's B-grade potential.
Darius, recovering his composure first, stepped forward cautiously. "Thank you," he said, his voice hoarse. "We owe you our lives. I'm Darius Holt. This is Eliza Martin and Seraphina Bellweather. We lost two others..."
The woman cut him off with a flick of her wrist. "Irrelevant. Leave the corpses. I claim salvage rights." Her voice was cold, clipped, devoid of warmth.
She didn't even look at them directly, already kneeling beside the nearest Ravager corpse, seemingly preparing to harvest materials.
Eliza bristled. "Hey! We fought them too! We lost people!"
The woman paused, turning her head slightly, her gaze chillingly sharp. "You were losing. I finished the fight. Therefore, the spoils are mine.
Standard Verge protocol for intervention kills. Argue further, and you can join them." The threat hung heavy in the air, underscored by the casual lethality she had just displayed.
Darius wisely put a restraining hand on Eliza's arm. He nodded stiffly to the newcomer. "Understood. We'll retrieve our fallen and withdraw.
Thank you again for the assistance." He helped the injured Eliza up, while Seraphina checked on the two dead recruits, confirming their status before retrieving their Nexus Interfaces, a grim necessity.
As Darius's depleted team limped away, carrying their dead, Daniel watched the newcomer.
She produced specialized tools from pouches on her belt and began expertly dissecting the Ravager corpses, harvesting specific organs, claws, and bone spikes with practiced efficiency.
She worked quickly, methodically, ignoring the lingering presence Daniel knew she must have detected with her own senses.
He considered his options. Confronting her directly seemed suicidal given her demonstrated power and ruthlessness.
Waiting for her to leave and then assimilating the leftover carcasses might yield some minor attribute gains, but likely nothing substantial compared to assimilating the whole creature.
The real prize here, however, wasn't the Ravagers. It was the fallen recruits. Two C/D-grade Awakened, potentially offering valuable skills.
The newcomer seemed solely focused on harvesting monster parts, ignoring the human corpses. This was his window.
While her attention was diverted, he could slip down, assimilate the two fallen recruits, and vanish before she finished her work. It was risky. If she noticed, conflict was inevitable. But the potential skill gain was too tempting to ignore.
Steeling himself, ensuring his own [Aura Sense] was active and his [Ghoststeps] skill was ready for an instant escape, Daniel began to silently descend the rise, melting into the shadows cast by the obsidian rocks, a predator moving towards a different kind of prey.