The deeper the group moved into Tempest Hollow, the more confident the newly awakened became.
Their movements were no longer as stiff as before.
The fear that had gripped them during their first encounter with the Zephyr Imps had slowly faded away.
Now they could recognize danger.
They could react.
They could fight.
Under the watchful eyes of the experienced Elemental Users, they pushed deeper into the distorted zone.
Still, the guides continued reminding them.
"Don’t get careless."
"Confidence is good. Overconfidence gets people killed."
Most nodded respectfully.
Whether they truly listened was another matter.
After all, they had already defeated several groups of Aether Beasts.
Many were beginning to think the mission wasn’t as dangerous as the elders had made it sound.
Damon could already see that mindset spreading.
Some walked with their chests puffed out.
Others talked loudly about their kills.
A few even began comparing achievements.
Meanwhile, the difference between Damon and the elemental users around him became more obvious.
Against Zephyr Imps, his method had worked.
Aether reinforced stones were enough.
But stronger beasts were a different story.
Elements mattered.
There was simply no way around that fact.
The gap became even clearer when compared to the true talents.
Especially Kane.
Wherever Kane walked, attention followed.
His violet lightning crackled around him naturally.
His Lightningstorm Serpent drifted beside him like a royal guardian.
The spirit’s long body floated through the air without touching the ground, purple lightning flowing across its scales.
People couldn’t help staring.
Even the guides occasionally glanced his way.
"That kid is going places."
"A Violet Core and a spirit like that?"
"He’ll probably leave Haven’s Edge one day."
"Without question."
The praise never seemed to end.
Kane enjoyed every second of it.
His smile widened whenever he overheard their conversations.
Damon simply shook his head.
"Must be exhausting carrying around that much ego."
The boy beside him almost choked trying not to laugh.
Unfortunately, Kane heard it.
His smile twitched.
Damon looked away innocently.
"What?"
The nearby awakened quickly lowered their heads.
Somebody was definitely getting revenge for that later.
Thankfully, another disturbance appeared before Kane could respond.
One of the guides suddenly raised his hand.
The entire formation halted.
Everybody immediately became alert.
The guide’s expression was serious.
Much more serious than before.
"Incoming."
The atmosphere changed.
Several moments later, large shapes emerged from the tall grass.
The newcomers were completely different from the Zephyr Imps.
Massive.
Broad.
Heavy.
They looked like boars, each standing almost waist high.
Their grey-green hides blended perfectly into the environment.
Most unsettling were the hollow horns above their snouts.
Even standing still, a faint whistling sound escaped from them.
A guide cursed quietly.
"Galehorn Boars."
Several awakened swallowed nervously.
Unlike Zephyr Imps, everyone knew these beasts.
The academy instructors often called them beginner killers.
Not because they were powerful.
Because they punished mistakes.
One mistake was enough.
The boars slowly circled.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
They weren’t charging.
Not yet.
Damon narrowed his eyes.
"They’re thinking."
One of the guides nodded.
"Good observation."
"Never rush these ones."
"They’re waiting for you to panic."
That only made several awakened more nervous.
Then one of the boars suddenly moved.
The horn released a horrifying scream.
WEEEEEEEEE...
The sound pierced everyone’s ears.
Several awakened immediately covered their heads.
Others stumbled.
Damon felt his balance shift.
The world spun briefly.
His ears rang.
"Horn Shriek!" a guide shouted.
"Dodge!"
Too late.
The boar was already charging.
The wind around its body exploded outward.
A young Vanguard lost his footing.
The boar slammed into him.
Boom!
The boy flew several meters before crashing into the dirt.
His scream echoed through the battlefield.
A healer immediately rushed over.
Everyone froze.
That single hit had shattered the illusion that this mission was safe.
Blood.
Pain.
Broken bones.
This was real.
"Fight back!" a guide roared.
The awakened finally reacted.
Fire Arts erupted first.
Several flames crashed into the charging beasts.
The effect was immediate.
The Galehorn Boars became visibly agitated.
Their airflow disrupted.
Their movements grew less stable.
"Fire works!" someone shouted.
The discovery boosted morale instantly.
Wind Arcanists followed.
Lightning users attacked from the flanks.
Vanguards intercepted charging beasts.
The battlefield descended into chaos.
Yet it was controlled chaos this time.
People were adapting.
Learning.
Growing.
Kane naturally stood at the center of attention.
Purple lightning exploded from his hands.
"Storm Bolt."
Crack!
A streak of violet lightning slammed directly into a boar’s horn.
The horn shattered.
The beast immediately staggered.
Its terrifying shriek vanished.
Its defensive wind layer weakened.
The Lightningstorm Serpent followed up.
Its body shot forward like a living spear.
The boar collapsed moments later.
Cheers erupted nearby.
Even the guides nodded approvingly.
Not far away, the girl with the Lightning Rabbit worked together with her spirit.
The rabbit released bursts of electricity that disrupted the beasts’ movements.
She then targeted weakened horns with precise attacks.
The boy with the Lightning Goat fought differently.
His spirit charged head-on, forcing the boars to focus on it while he attacked from the side.
Several other talents began standing out.
A fire Arcanist melted through defensive airflow.
A spear user exploited openings with frightening precision.
A Vanguard wrapped in earth reinforcement stood his ground against a direct charge.
The awakened were finally beginning to understand their paths.
Arcanists controlled the battlefield.
Vanguards dominated close combat.
Weapon Users focused on precision.
Supports kept everyone standing.
And then there was Damon.
Still throwing rocks.
At least that was what everyone thought.
The first stone bounced harmlessly off a Galehorn Boar.
Laughter followed immediately.
"Look at him."
"Still using rocks."
"Does he think that’s a Zephyr Imp?"
Damon ignored them as he crouched low, studying the beast and watching its movement.
Its turns were slow.
Its rear was exposed.
Its horns were important.
The weakness was obvious.
The next time a wounded boar charged past him, Damon moved.
Aether surged through his legs. He accelerated.
The boar overshot him completely.
Before it could turn...
BANG!
His Aether reinforced stone smashed directly into a damaged horn.
A crack spread through it.
The beast screamed.
Its wind layer flickered.
Immediately three awakened nearby jumped on the opportunity and finished it.