Chapter 5 The Mission Part 3

Early the next morning standing in front of the 17 students in front of him Jasper went over the plan with everyone.

"First James's four man team will attract the tigers attention and bait it into the trap set up before. John's team of five will trigger the trap. Based on how well the trap works, we will charge out in gorilla tactics to tire the monster out. Once it's tired and on its last leg… that's when we strike!"

Filled with enthusiasm the camp was filled with cries of excitement.

With that the camp set off to the traps location. James was already informed before hand. In order to make sure that the tiger wouldn't notice the smell of Jasper and the rest, they cloaked their scent and wouldn't meet with James directly. They would communicate using stealth messages such as engraving messages in the bark of a specific tree.

James, John, and Jasper all got into position. In such a situation it would be impossible for Jasper to send an effective message to James and John, so they were responsible for starting as they saw fit.

After a few minutes of intense concentration, James signaled for one of the hunters to light an arrow on fire. The hunter than got into position pointing the arrow toward the tiger monster, then looking to James to give the order. Nodding toward the hunter the arrow was knocked loose flying toward the Tiger in the cave.

With a swoosh the arrow missed the tiger, but the target was never the tiger itself. Going past the tiger the fire arrow hit the straw bed in which the tiger lay on.

It didn't take long till the whole straw bed was ablaze, and with a roar the monster awakened.

"Seems like it woke up." Said the hunter who shot the arrow.

With a smile James agreed "Alright let's back up to a safe distance and wait for the monster to come out. Then we run."

With about a five meter distance between them and the cave the team waited patiently for the tiger. It took longer than they were expecting but sure enough the enraged tiger burst out of the cave, looking for the bastard that ruined its home.

Seeing the Tiger outside the cave the hearts of the four man team clenched. The monsters visuals were already enough to make their knees bend and pants wet, but right now they were on a mission. With out any other option they stood on their feet holding their ground, waiting for their team leaders orders.

With a shout James ordered the hunters to launch their arrows. With a swooshing noise a barrage of arrows hit the tigers thick fur. The fur was incredibly tough and even the arrows barely pierced its skin.

"Alright we have its attention, now run!" Not even in a seconds delay James turned around and ran. Understanding what was going on the others also joined in and ran. As they were running the team heaved a sigh of relief. While the tiger was indeed faster than them, the arrows seemed to distract the tiger enough so that they could build a gap between it. Even though the gap might not be large, it was enough to be able to lure the tiger into the trap.

Skillfully running through the forest, bouncing between the trees, the team soon noticed the trap area. With excitement that their segment of the mission will be over they ran at top speed to the safe spot in the trap, waiting for the tiger to charge at them.

Seeing James's team getting into position inside the trap, Jasper signaled to his own team to get ready behind him. It didn't take long for the tiger to enter the perimeter of the trap.

"So, this is the 6th stage monster, huh?" Jasper whispered under his breath, his voice barely audible. The tiger was massive, measuring about 1300 cm (42 feet) in length and 500 cm (16 feet) in height.

Jasper's surprise was evident as he remarked, "While I haven't seen many tigers, this one seems unusually large. But since this mission was assigned by the Martial Hall, it should be legitimate. Besides, the village sent a few guards to accompany me and Jillian, ensuring nothing goes wrong."

As soon as the tiger entered the trap zone, a wall of wooden spikes suddenly rose from the side. From above, large wooden spears swung down from the trees. The spikes, attached to ropes, swung around, tearing apart anything in their path.

The trap worked precisely as designed, effectively restricting the tiger's movements with the walls and inflicting damage with the swinging spears. As the commotion settled, the field of spears revealed a solitary tiger. Silent and devoid of cries of pain, the tiger stood there, blood trickling from its thick fur.

The first to react to the situation were members of Jillian's team. They swiftly leaped out, encircling the wounded tiger. Taking advantage of the tiger's surprise and focusing on its injuries, they unleashed a flurry of attacks, attempting to further aggravate its wounds.

As the members of Jillian's team continued their unyielding assault on the tiger, their faces twisted with determination and confidence, Jasper's sharp eyes meticulously observed the unfolding battle. He could sense the mounting anticipation and excitement in the air, their belief that victory was within their grasp. Unbeknownst to them, a dangerous aura lingered around the tiger, an ominous presence that hinted at its hidden power. The tiger, with its cunning and patience, had played the role of a wounded prey, luring them into a false sense of security. Muscles coiled with restrained strength, the tiger's eyes gleamed with a wicked intelligence, its gaze focused and calculating. It had been waiting for this precise moment, gathering its energy, honing its instincts, and preparing to unleash its true might upon its unsuspecting adversaries.

As Jillian's team launched their relentless assault on the tiger, their confidence radiated from every fiber of their being. Jillian herself, driven by her competitive spirit and fueled by the belief in her own abilities, charged forward with unwavering determination. She struck with lightning speed, her sword slicing through the air with precision. However, the tiger, with its deceptive strength and unparalleled agility, deftly evaded her attacks, effortlessly sidestepping her strikes and countering with a series of lightning-fast claws. With each swipe, the tiger inflicted deep gashes upon Jillian's flesh, drawing rivulets of crimson that marred her once immaculate uniform.

In the midst of this fierce exchange, James, witnessing his comrade's struggle, rushed to Jillian's aid. With his brawny physique and fierce resolve, he sought to divert the tiger's attention away from her. But as he leaped forward, his movements exuding a mix of bravery and desperation, the tiger swiftly turned its attention to him. In a split second, its razor-sharp claws sliced through the air, cutting through James' defenses and leaving deep, agonizing wounds across his body. A look of shock and pain etched on his face, James collapsed to the ground before Jillian's disbelieving eyes.

The sight of her friend's lifeless form sprawled before her shattered Jillian's spirit. She had always been sheltered, shielded from the harsh realities of the world, and this was the first time she had witnessed the death of a comrade. Overwhelmed by grief and terror, she let out a heart-wrenching scream, her voice echoing through the battlefield as tears streamed down her face. Her confident facade shattered, leaving behind a vulnerable and frightened young woman in its wake.

As the chaos unfolded, the tiger, its bloodlust heightened by the scent of fresh carnage, turned its attention to John. The once composed and level-headed member of their team now found himself cornered, the tiger's deadly claws closing in on him. With terrifying speed and precision, the tiger lunged forward, slashing wicked wounds across John's chest. The ferocity of the attack was such that the jagged wounds exposed his bare bones, causing unimaginable pain and leaving him on the brink of death.

One by one, the members of Jillian's team fell beneath the relentless onslaught of the tiger, their life forces extinguished in a flurry of claws and fangs. Their bodies lay motionless, their expressions frozen in eternal anguish and despair. Only Jillian and Jasper, who was still in hiding, were left alive from that battlefield.

Horror and disbelief filled the air as the realization set in. The tiger was not a mere stage 6 pre practitioner as they had believed. It was far more formidable, a mid-stage practitioner, a force to be reckoned with. Fear gripped Jasper's hearts, as they faced an enemy whose power surpassed their wildest imaginations.

Jasper and Jillian's guards, who had accompanied them on the mission, stepped forward, their faces etched with determination. They were skilled fighters in their own right, however, the guards' valiant efforts proved futile against the overwhelming might of the mid-stage practitioner tiger. The battle was fierce, but one by one, they too fell victim to the relentless onslaught, leaving Jasper standing alone against an enemy he now knew to be his superior.

Fear coursed through his veins as he found himself backed against a wall, his heart pounding with a mixture of terror and determination. He had witnessed the destruction wrought by the tiger, and the weight of his responsibility as a captain and the strongest pressed heavily upon him.