Chapter 757: The First Batch Returns Back
Chapter 756: The First Batch Returns Back
13 Days To Go
The gates of the Nightshade Pack groaned open, and the warriors trudged through in a ragged line.
They looked battered and tired. Blood clung to their clothes, some of it their own, most of it belonging to the beasts they had faced. Snow dusted their shoulders, melting against the warmth of their bodies and mixing with the grime of battle.
Dren leaned heavily on Nia, his arm draped across her shoulders, his steps uneven. His face was pale beneath the dirt and blood, and his breathing was shallow. Nia held him up without complaint, her own body bearing the weight of exhaustion.
Behind them, others dragged the remains of the beasts they had killed. Tidebreakers, vireloops, mirelurkers, and even skylurs on various carts.
The sight was grim. But it was also proof of what they had accomplished.
Ethan walked at the front of the group, his own body streaked with blood and grime.
He turned to address the group.
"Go straight to the medical facility and get your injuries treated," he ordered.
A few of the warriors nodded, too tired to speak.
Ethan turned to a smaller group of warriors who looked less battered than the others. "You. Get the beast remains to the appropriate place. Make sure they’re catalogued properly too."
They nodded and began the laborious task of dragging the carcasses toward the warehouse.
Ethan watched them go, then turned and began making his way toward the office. He needed to report to Brynhild and Orion. They needed to know what they had found.
But as he walked, something caught his attention.
The sound of fighting. Not distant beasts or the clash of steel, but something closer. More intense.
He paused, his head turning toward the source of the noise. It was coming from the training grounds.
Curiosity pulled him forward, and he changed direction, his footsteps carrying him toward the source of the commotion. He wasn’t the only one who had noticed. The warriors who had returned with him were also drifting toward the training grounds, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
When Ethan reached the edge of the grounds, his eyes widened.
"Holy motherfucking shit!" he said.
It looked like a battlefield.
Wolves clashed in the center of the grounds, their forms blurring together in a storm of fur and fangs. Snow exploded around them, kicked up by their powerful movements. The scent of blood hung thick in the air, sharp and metallic, mixing with the sweat of exertion.
Dren, still leaning on Nia, stared at the scene with wide eyes. "I don’t know which is worse," he muttered, his voice hoarse. "This battle or the one we experienced in Nirvana."
Nia shook her head slowly, her gaze fixed on the fighting. "I have no idea."
They weren’t the only ones watching. The other warriors who had returned from Nirvana had gathered at the edge of the grounds, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. They had just survived a brutal fight in Nirvana, and now they were watching something that looked just as intense.
Ethan’s senses picked up another presence then.
He turned just as Brynhild approached, Sophia walking beside her.
Brynhild’s expression was calm.
"You’re back," she said to Ethan.
Ethan nodded, still watching the fighting. "I am. But what the fuck is going on?"
Sophia smiled faintly. "Training. Brutal training."
Brynhild tilted her head slightly, her lips curving. "This is even more intense than the one I did yesterday."
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Sophia turned to Dren and Nia. Her eyes swept over them, taking in their battered appearance.
"You look miserable," she said, but there was warmth in her voice.
Nia huffed a laugh, the sound tired but genuine. "I feel miserable."
Sophia nodded as if that was exactly what she expected. "Get to the medical facility and get treated. I’m sorry, but just because you’re back doesn’t mean you can relax. Things are even more intense now."
Ethan straightened, turning his attention back to Brynhild and Sophia. "I have things to report."
Sophia’s expression shifted, becoming more serious. "What’s wrong?"
Ethan hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "The beasts in Nirvana... they’re becoming even more numerous than before. It’s like they’re birthing more than they should. The packs we encountered were larger than any we’ve seen before."
Brynhild nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "That’s not really surprising though."
Sophia sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. "I suspect it has something to do with the war coming up. And my mother." She paused, then added, "Whatever it is, we’ll get over it."
Ethan nodded, relieved by her confidence. "I’m going to get some rest now."
Brynhild inclined her head. "Rest while you still have the opportunity."
Ethan bowed slightly, then turned and walked away, his steps heavy with exhaustion.
The other warriors had already dispersed, heading toward the medical facility or their homes. The training grounds were still alive with the sounds of fighting, but it was beginning to fade as the session wound down.
Sophia watched them go, her mind already turning to other matters.
"Lysander will be excited that we have more patients for the test," Brynhild said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Sophia chuckled softly. "I’m sure he will."
She turned to Brynhild. "I’m going back to the library. But I have some ideas I want to run by you later. Hopefully Orion will be awake by then."
"Regarding the war?" Brynhild asked her.
"Yes. Some strategy. I don’t know if it’ll work, but..."
"Don’t underestimate yourself, Sophia. Anything you think will work is worth trying," Brynhild told her.
Sophia swallowed and then she nodded. "Alright... I’ll see you later."
"Yeah... I’ll observe this for a while and then put an end to it in case it gets worse than this. We need to get stronger, but we need to be in the best condition too," Brynhild told her.
Sophia chuckled at that and then began walking toward the library, her steps quick and purposeful. But she had only gone a short distance when a familiar voice called out to her.
"Sophia!"
Sophia turned to find Mary approaching, her expression a mix of urgency and excitement. "What’s wrong?" Sophia asked.
Mary shook her head, her eyes bright. "Can we take the remains of the beasts that were brought in? We’ll use them to create more weapons, especially the Skylur fangs. This is exactly what we need."
Sophia considered this for a moment, then nodded. "As long as it will help us, then yes. But make sure you catalogue everything down."
Mary nodded eagerly. "I’ll do that. Thank you."
She turned and began jogging toward the warehouse where the remains were being stored, her steps quick and determined.
Sophia watched her go, then turned and continued her walk toward the library.
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