At the break of dawn, the soldiers stirred, their bodies weary yet their spirits tinged with a mix of determination and dread.
The woods surrounding the camp were eerily silent, the absence of mana beasts unsettling, but the growing desperation to find a core drove them forward.
They had no choice but to try again, even though the previous days yielded nothing but frustration.
As the morning light stretched its golden fingers across the treetops, a small group ventured deeper into the forest, hoping to find some trace of mana beasts.
Hours passed, and one by one, soldiers returned to camp empty-handed, muttering curses under their breaths.
Just as the rest resigned themselves to yet another fruitless hunt, the tranquility of the camp was shattered by the ragged cries of a man staggering into view.
He was hunched over, his armor mangled and bloodied.