As the dust settled, Cassian finally got a clear look at his attacker. The man stood over the corpse of the warrior Cassian had just killed - and the family resemblance was obvious. Both shared the same massive, towering build, though this one wore no cloak or mask.
Not that Cassian cared about his face. What caught his attention was the man's unnaturally shiny black skin - metallic, almost reflective in the dim light. Before Cassian could process this, those burning eyes locked onto him.
"How?" the man demanded, voice trembling with rage. "How did a first-circle runt like you pierce his stone skin?"
Cassian grimaced as he worked a large wooden splinter out of his back. "Simple," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll show you... just let me resurrect him first."
The metallic-skinned warrior's face twisted in fury. Cassian's casual disrespect only stoked his anger further - this brat wasn't taking the threat seriously at all.
Not that Cassian cared much about facing the metallic-skinned warrior alone. He was confident backup would arrive - their side had to have at least one third-circle warrior who could assist.
Right on cue, two figures flashed into position in front of him. Cassian blinked in surprise—he hadn't expected help this fast. He'd already braced himself to lose an arm trading blows with the hulking enemy, but luck was on his side today.
Even better—both newcomers were third-circle warriors. A man and a woman.
And to Cassian's shock, he recognized them.
Just weeks ago, they'd been second-circle warriors like him. He'd fought alongside them on his first deployment, taking down a fog-spewing monstrosity. Now, their auras pulsed with noticeably greater power.
"Well, this is a surprise," Cassian said, his tone relaxed despite the battle. "Didn't expect you two here."
They glanced back at him, first startled by his casual demeanor, then surprised to see him—battered but standing.
"Congrats on forming third warrior circles," Cassian added with a grin.
Altev and Shera, however, remained tense, battle-ready. Shera frowned. "Thanks… but let's catch up after we deal with that cultist."
"Oh, so they are cultists," Cassian muttered, more to himself than anyone else. He gave a short nod. "That one's got a defensive ability like his brother - weapons can't cut through easily. Try damaging him internally if you can."
Altev and Shera exchanged glances, preparing to strike - but the metallic-skinned warrior had other plans. Hoisting his brother's corpse onto his back with unsettling ease, he spat on the ground, his voice thick with venom. "Next time... I'll peel the flesh from your bones myself."
In a single powerful leap, the metallic warrior launched himself onto a mountain ledge at least fifty feet above them, disappearing into the night shadows before anyone could react.
The two third-circle warriors relaxed visibly. Shera let out a long sigh as she lowered her weapon. "What a hassle," she grumbled. "And here I thought this all would be a relaxing trip till we reach the earldom." Around them, the battlefield had fallen silent - even the distant booms from the sky had ceased. Cassian glanced upward, finding only the moon's pale glow where spells had once flashed.
"You can relax now, Doesn't look like we'll get more action rest of the night," Cassian observed as his team came rushing toward him. "Everyone okay?"
Robert arrived first, grinning widely. "Better than okay! Took down a dozen of those bastards myself!" He puffed out his chest proudly.
Lumine ignored Robert's boasting, her eyes locking onto Cassian's injuries. "You don't look okay," she murmured, already reaching to carefully remove the wooden shards embedded in his back. Though she knew his healing would seal the wounds instantly and that he felt no pain, her fingers still trembled slightly with concern as she worked.
"I'll be fine in a minute," Cassian reassured them, then gestured toward the two third-circle warriors. "Look who's here."
Altev gave a short nod as he sheathed his unusually broad greatsword across his back. "We fought together during that village rescue mission when the monsters attacked."
The team exchanged brief greetings before Wanni cut straight to the point: "So were these really cultists? Didn't feel like it when we were fighting them..."
Shera moved wordlessly to a nearby corpse and yanked back the cloak, revealing what lay beneath. The team recoiled slightly - instead of a normal human face, they saw dry, ashen skin stretched tight over demonic features, with pitch-black eyes that still seemed to stare despite death.
"They're cultists alright," Shera confirmed, letting the cloak fall back. "Just skilled at hiding their corruption. These belong to the cult's spy and assassination division. My guess? They'd been hiding among our forces and only recently gathered to launch this ambush."
"That means they really wanted to stop us," Wanni observed, scanning the battlefield. "Think about it - pulling out deep-cover operatives who might have been embedded for years just for this attack?" She gestured toward the mostly intact supply carriages still loaded with magical weapons, then to the corpse-strewn field where cultist bodies far outnumbered their own losses. "Whatever they were trying to accomplish, it doesn't look like they succeeded."
Altev gave the cloaked corpse a dismissive kick as he explained, "Seems our commander anticipated this. He kept the stronger forces - fifth-circle warriors and advanced mages - positioned to block the mountain passes. Only a few mid-tier fighters made it through, and most of them are dead now." He nodded toward the scattered mutant grunts. "As for these? The mana guns made quick work of them."
Shera was already moving toward the bodies. "Don't just stand there - claim your battle spoils. Every one of these carries a spatial ring." She bent to retrieve one from a corpse she'd slain. "Take the ones you killed before someone else does. And check their weapons too - some might be worth keeping."
Theorn blinked in surprise. "We're allowed to do that?"
Robert's face split into a grin as he hurried toward his kills. "We weren't before, but we are now! I'm about to get very rich."
Cassian watched with mixed feelings. He'd thought spatial rings were rare, yet even these low-level grunts carried them. His gaze drifted to where the circle warrior's body had been taken - that one likely had far better loot. All that remained now were these inhuman corpses with their hollow, ashen faces.