It was quite irresponsible of Cassian, as the team leader, to spend the last night indulging in pleasure instead of resting—especially when the battles ahead could stretch on for days.
But the thought never crossed his mind, nor did it occur to the mature and more experienced warrior he was with.
Returning in the early morning, he barely managed two hours of sleep. While Circle Warriors could go without rest for a couple of days, sleep was still necessary to keep them sane—especially since they were often hard-minded individuals.
That aside, luck was on Cassian's side—no one seemed to notice his absence last night, except for the small feline perched on his shoulder. Meanwhile, his team had already gone ahead to gather information about the new area they were assigned to guard today.
"Any idea where we'll be posted today?" Robert asked as they stood outside Cassandra's tent, waiting to be called in.
"We'll know in a minute," Wanni replied, her voice light as she made a playful, hopeful expression toward Hope, the kitten. Holding out her hands, she coaxed the little feline, who let out a soft meow before jumping into her arms. Wanni's smile brightened instantly, mirroring the kitten's delight.
Just as Wanni had said, a few seconds later, the group exiting the tent informed them that they could go in. As they stepped inside, they saluted.
"At ease," Cassandra responded without lifting her head, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance as she remained buried in paperwork.
Despite her apparent irritation, last night's session seemed to have paid off—she looked far more energetic than the last time the group had gathered here.
"Team 22, your request to be assigned to a hotter zone between the third and second defensive lines has been approved," Cassandra said, reading from a paper. She furrowed her brow as she continued, "You'll be stationed near the third defensive line, at Defense Camp at village Anyoa."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she scanned the details. "It's a large area with a significant number of monsters. You'll be working alongside three other teams, but they will remain in their designated zones unless absolutely necessary. The same goes for you—do not leave your assigned area."
When she finally looked up, she saw the eager expressions on their faces. They all looked excited, which only deepened her concern. Her gaze lingered on the girl who shared her silver hair, worry flashing in her eyes before she turned to Cassian, who was also grinning with excitement.
"Make sure you keep them alive," she said, her tone firmer. "Now, off you go."
With another salute, they left the tent, their excitement evident.
"Hope the other teams aren't like those assholes from last night," Theron muttered.
"Let's hope not," Cassian replied, his tone dry. He still remembered that foul remark from the previous night. "But if they turn out to be a bunch of noble dipshits, we just keep to ourselves."
Lumine, however, looked far too eager. "And what if they don't keep to themselves?" she asked, almost as if she was hoping for trouble.
Cassian sighed. "Then we do what's necessary—but that's a lot of 'ifs.' First, let's get there. The last team is supposed to head out in an hour, and it's a couple of miles from here. So, get your hopes up and your asses on those horses."
With that, they mounted up, riding swiftly toward Anyoa Village. It didn't take long before they arrived.
Upon arrival, they first reported to the main camp situated within the village. This was one of the many defensive posts spread across the lines, serving as a station for reserve troops and supplies. The soldiers stationed here were tasked with holding the line and fending off any enemies that approached, while teams like Cassian's were responsible for eliminating any monsters that slipped past the defensive perimeter.
Though they hadn't encountered any threats on their way in or near the village, Team 22 remained hopeful for more action than they had seen in their previous assigned area.
Cassian retrieved a map marking their designated hunting grounds. To their luck, it was positioned just behind the third defensive line—meaning they were bound to see plenty of action.
As they reviewed the map, they also learned which teams were stationed near them.
"It's Team 34 and Team 61. Anyone know anyone from those teams?" Wanni asked, scanning the map where the teams were highlighted in different colors—Cassian's team was marked in red, while the area below was blue, and the one to the left was green.
Everyone shook their heads, unfamiliar with the names. Mounting their horses once again, Cassian added, "Let's greet them if we run into them on the way."
Just as he finished speaking, a grin spread across his face as he noticed the rustling of trees ahead and the sound of multiple footsteps. From the speed and intensity of the noise, it was clear these weren't human.
Turning to his team with a smirk, he said, "But before that, let's get a warm-up in."
Everyone's excitement surged as they brandished their weapons and dismounted from their horses.
Soon, they got a clear view of their opponents—a large pack of Wild Rats. These one-star monsters were the size of regular dogs but far more nimble and powerful.
About sixty of them charged forward, their pounding feet shaking the ground and kicking up clouds of dust. But the overwhelming numbers did nothing to dampen Team 22's enthusiasm.
Cassian was already ahead of the group, moving like a swift gale. He stopped just before the charging horde, sending out a shockwave. Then, with slow, smooth, yet razor-sharp movements—like a gentle breeze slicing through the air—he weaved through them.
A second later, a straight line of Wild Rats collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
His teammates watched him with envy from behind.
"Fuck! I either die as a mortal or go back, a damn Circle Warrior... AHHH!" Robert roared, swinging his greatsword down with full force, cleaving through a gray-furred rat.
Behind him, Lumine moved with nimble precision, unleashing a flurry of rapid slashes.
The siblings, standing side by side, each impaled a monster with their long spears. Without missing a beat, they used the spears as poles to propel themselves into the air, yanking their weapons free in a circular motion. The synchronized slashes came down almost simultaneously, cutting through two more rats in perfect harmony—a testament to the countless hours they had trained together.