Chapter 252 Planning a attack
As the fifth day dawned, a familiar silence draped over Keith once more. Her spirits had lifted during the previous days filled with conversations and battles, a fleeting respite from her usual melancholy. But now, the quiet had settled back in, casting a shadow on her mood once again.
Kevin's concern for Keith grew more palpable. As her boyfriend, he felt an urge to uplift her spirits. It wasn't just about consoling her; he wanted to empower her, to give her something that would spark joy and determination. Strengthening her seemed like the best path forward, a way for her to demonstrate that leaving the Demitia family wasn't a finale, but a new beginning.
He contemplated Keith's cultivation progress compared to his own. 'If I recall correctly, Keith has opened and linked about 260 meridians, while I'm at 215,' Kevin mused, scanning the surroundings in search of any herb, like usual.
While scouring the terrain for herbs, Kevin mulled over how to elevate Keith's strength. Cultivating more might not necessarily equate to enhanced power; he pondered his own situation as an example. He possessed higher cultivation levels than Benny, yet during the skirmish with the monster, their strengths seemed evenly matched. The difference lay in experience and training.
Benny had accumulated more experience and devoted extensive hours to training, honing his skills. He only mastered one move of the soldier blade technique, whereas Benny had grasped five variations, and Stuart had delved into the axe version up to its third move. It wasn't just about the level of cultivation; practical skill and combat expertise made a substantial difference in battles.
Kevin learned from Stuart that the Soldier Blade technique came in various forms, tailored for different types of weapons like long blades such as Kevin's purple knives, swords, sabers, and more.
However, he couldn't shake off a sense of conspiracy surrounding these techniques. Associations for cultivators wouldn't just distribute these techniques easily. Creating new fighting techniques required extensive experience in the weapons they were designed for, and each technique likely entailed significant contributions from weapon masters. This intricate development process hinted at a deeper plot or agenda behind the dissemination of these techniques.
He found himself lost in a labyrinth of thoughts, pondering the perplexing motivations behind the dissemination of these techniques. The surface motives seemed elusive—did profit play a role, or was it a ploy to strengthen cultivators? The notion of empowering cultivators held some merit, but it only begged more questions. Why the emphasis on strength? And why solely through this technique? A notion stirred in his mind, a realization nudging at a darker possibility—almost as if someone was orchestrating the training of an army. Kevin's mind wandered deeper into this labyrinth of contemplation, probing the intricacies of potential conspiracies.
However, before he could further dissect this mental puzzle, Viana's voice snapped him back to reality. "Let's go, Ken seems to have found the den of the monsters that attacked us last night."
Kevin blinked, startled by the abrupt transition from thoughts of making Keith happy to the urgent discovery of the monster den. His mind, still grappling with the complexities of hidden motives, reluctantly put the unraveling conspiracy theories on hold as he refocused on the immediate task at hand.
At Viana's call, Kevin turned his attention to Ken, who had been meticulously tracing the movements of the pack that had launched the attack the previous night. Engrossed in conversation with Keyara, Ken appeared to have made a significant discovery. Together, they had ventured deeper into the heart of the den, where the monsters roamed in vast numbers. In the mere four hours since their arrival, they'd encountered scores of these creatures. They navigated the space cautiously, conserving their energy and deliberately sidestepping confrontations where possible, mindful of the need to preserve stamina for any unexpected onslaught, akin to the previous night's surprise attack.
"Find anything?" Keyara inquired, her tone a mix of anticipation and readiness.
Ken nodded, his expression serious yet determined. "Yeah, we've located their den. It's a bit deeper in, but it looks like the lupin's have established a sort of lair there."
Keyara furrowed her brow, processing the information. "What did you notice?"
"They've set up a rather secure perimeter," Ken explained, gesturing to certain markers along the way. "It seems like they're guarding something important."
Everyone was keenly aware of what the shadowcrest lupins guarded, and their curiosity pushed them to uncover the true significance of the creatures. Robert, with a focused gaze, queried, "How many are we talking about?"
Zaria, having surveyed the area, responded, "We've counted around 20, including three larger ones like the ones Keyara and Robert faced. There might be more lurking, but no more than 30, and we didn't catch sight of their alpha."
Keyara contemplated the number Zaria mentioned. 30, but there could be additional unseen threats. As the leader, she had to weigh the risks against the potential gains, prioritizing the safety of her team above all else.
"Let's gather everyone," she decided after a brief moment of contemplation.
The entire squad gathered around Keyara, taking advantage of the moonlit safety to grab a quick lunch. "Ken and Zaria located the lair of those monsters that attacked us last night. There are around 20 to 30 of them, some even mightier than the ones Robert and I faced," Keyara explained between bites of her chicken sandwich, generously provided by Stuart.
As the group convened, Keyara outlined her strategy. "It seems they were on a hunt for food and stumbled upon us. We've disrupted their food source by thwarting the last hunting party. Now, tonight, another group of these creatures will head out to hunt. That's our opportunity."
Her voice carried across the gathered adventurers, filled with resolve. "We'll lie in wait near their layer, hidden. When this new group goes out, we strike. They'll be vulnerable, focused on the hunt, and that's when we make our move."
She emphasized caution. "Stay vigilant. We'll strike hard, fast, and with precision. It's crucial we minimize casualties and take out as many as we can. Then we retreat before the rest return."
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