Chapter 5 First Quest

Throughout the journey, a sense of restraint prevailed. The once lively bus was now engulfed in an eerie silence. The students, sitting in their seats, refrained from uttering a single word. The fear of the sergeants penetrating glare prevented anyone from even attempting to break the silence.

Few hours into their journey, The air inside the bus grew heavy with drowsiness, causing some of them to succumb to sleep's tempting embrace, while others sought solace in the pages of their cherished books or engaged in various activities to ward off monotony.

As the bus rumbled along the winding road, it ventured deeper into the heart of an ancient and enigmatic jungle. Dense foliage intertwined above, creating an ethereal canopy that shrouded the path in shadows.

Among them, Jacob remained vigilant, his keen eyes scanning the ever-shifting landscape outside the window. Suddenly, a flicker of movement within the thick underbrush caught his attention, jolting him from his reverie.

He leaned closer to the glass, determined to find out what might be in the bushes

With bated breath, he watched intently as the vibrant tapestry of greens and browns concealed.

Then, just as the bus veered around a bend, Jacob's unwavering gaze locked onto a pair of luminous eyes gleaming from the depths of the thicket. He squinted, trying to make sense of the mystical sight before him.

"What the" Before Jacob could say anything, he was interrupted by one of the sergeants on the bus.

"What is the problem, young man?" the sergeant asked, his voice laced with authority.

"Sorry, sir, but I think something or someone is following us," Jacob replied urgently, his eyes scanning the surrounding bushes. "I've been noticing some movement."

"It's not..." the sergeant began to say, but his words were cut off as the bus driver suddenly slammed on the brakes, causing all the students to jolt up from their seats.

"What happened?" several students exclaimed simultaneously, their voices filled with concern. As their gazes focused on the front of the bus, their eyes widened in fear. There, standing before them, was a creature.

"The Triad Felinex," a student whispered, his voice filled with both fascination and trepidation.

It was one of the creatures that dwell deep in the forest of the north, one of the reasons why no human no matter your level of ability is allowed to go there without military escort.

The "Triad Felinex", a creature resembling a cheetah in its sleek and agile form, possessing a mesmerizing blend of elegance and ferocity. Towering tall on its hind legs, the Triad Felinex stands at an imposing height, reminiscent of a human. Its body is sculpted with lean muscles.

From its broad shoulders sprout three heads, each endowed with its own distinct personality and purpose.

The central head, adorned with piercing amber eyes, exudes an air of regal authority. This head bears a prominent, fiery golden mane, flowing with an ethereal luminescence. The head on the left side is more observant and cunning, marked by sapphire-blue eyes that sparkle with intelligence. On the right side, the third head possesses a playful and mischievous demeanor, distinguished by emerald-green eyes that flicker with curiosity.

As the students gazed upon the awe-inspiring creature, a hush fell over the bus. The Triad Felinex stood tall and proud, its eyes locking onto the startled onlookers. Its fangs, sharp as daggers, were bared in a silent warning, a testament to its deadly capabilities

The two sergeants in the bus, regaining their composure, one took a step forward, his hand instinctively reaching for a bag on the floor. "Stay calm, everyone," one of the Sergeants commanded, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "We must not provoke it. The Triad Felinex is known to be both fierce and territorial."

The students, though filled with trepidation, followed the sergeant's lead, trying their best to remain composed. Whispers of uncertainty rippled through the bus, but they knew that the sergeant's experience and guidance would be crucial in this unexpected encounter.

With practiced ease, they reached for the bag concealed from prying eyes. The weight of anticipation hung in the air as they unzipped it, revealing a treasure trove of weaponry, unlike anything the students had ever laid eyes upon.

The contents of the bag gleamed under the dim light filtering through the bus windows. Weapons of intricate design and advanced craftsmanship greeted their astonished gazes.

Blades forged from enchanted metals, their edges shimmering with an otherworldly glint, lay nestled alongside bows with taut, ethereal strings. Arrows with razor-sharp tips, imbued with arcane enchantments, stood at the ready. And devices emitting faint magical auras, pulsating with untapped power.

The students, wide-eyed and filled with a mix of awe and trepidation, exchanged astonished whispers. They had grown up hearing tales of legendary weapons, but to see them materialize before their very eyes was an experience that transcended their wildest dreams.

Both of the Sergeants took out different weapons, one left the bus telling the other to stay guard in the bus as he goes to take care of the creature.

His weapons crackled with energy, ready to unleash their devastating power.

The creature ran toward the sergeant, the ground trembled as the monstrous beast bounded toward the Sergeant with incredible speed.

Each of its three heads bared razor-sharp fangs, dripping with saliva. The Sergeant's heart raced, but he didn't falter. He had faced daunting adversaries before, and he was prepared to stand against this one too.

As the creature closed in, Sergeant Lucas activated his land manipulation abilities. The earth beneath his feet responded, forming rugged spikes that jutted upward to impede the beast's relentless charge. But the creature, agile and cunning, swiftly leaped over the obstacles, closing the distance between them.

With lightning reflexes, the Sergeant unleashed a barrage of energy projectiles from his advanced rifle. The shots streaked through the air, aiming to find their mark on the creature's vulnerable spots. However, the creature proved elusive, evading the onslaught with incredible agility.

One of the creature's heads lunged forward, jaws wide open, attempting to sink its teeth into the Sergeant's armor-clad form. With a swift movement, the Sergeant rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the savage bite. He retaliated by manipulating the land beneath the creature, causing the ground to quake and buckle beneath its paws.

Seizing the moment, he aimed with his rifle once more, unleashing a concentrated blast of energy at the creature's flank. The searing beam struck true, eliciting a howl of pain from the creature. But the beast was far from defeated.

With a feral determination, the creature sprang forward, its two remaining heads lunging toward the sergeant from different angles. The Sergeant activated his land control abilities once again, this time creating a defensive barrier of solid rock. The Triad Felinex heads collided with the unyielding barrier, its teeth gnashing against the impenetrable surface.

Meanwhile, Jacob and other of the students were all afraid, and their hearts beating extremely fast.

They began to hear sounds like something was moving on top of their bus just then, a system notification appeared in front of his eye.

[Daily quest: kill one Triad Felinexs]

[Reward: 100 exp].

[+5 attribute points].