The scream echoed across the forest. The voice was sharp, desperate, and wrong.

Yudo and Ryukai ran side by side, weaving between trees and leaping over fallen branches. Leaves snapped beneath their feet as they pushed forward. Low hanging branches whipped past them while loose dirt kicked up behind every step.

“Someone must be in a lot of danger,” Ryukai muttered.

Yudo didn’t respond. His senses were already spreading outward. Dead Man’s Intuition was still active. The world around him sharpened. He focused on the energy and its movements. 

I need to pinpoint the exact location. He concentrated on filtering out the noise and blocking everything unnecessary.

He ignored the rustling leaves, distant sounds of other applicants, and cries of Corrupted Beasts farther away.

There!

“Ryukai, follow me!”

“Right behind ya.”

The two moved faster.

“How can you tell where it is?” Ryukai asked between breaths.

“I can feel it.”

They burst through the trees and into a clearing. Yudo stopped, which made Ryukai freeze beside him.

The scene was worse than they expected. A girl lay collapsed near a shattered tree with splinters of wood surrounding her.

One of her arms was gone. Blood soaked the ground beneath her, staining the roots around her. Her breathing was shallow. Every breath sounded like it could be her last.

Are we too late? Yudo’s eyes sharpened. No. We can still save her.

Two Corrupted Beasts stood nearby. Watching and waiting. They weren’t the size of the wolf Yudo fought. They were much larger. Their bodies were thick with muscle, warped by Corruption. Black veins covered their skin, spreading like disease through their flesh.

Boars. Each one had a glowing jewel embedded in its neck.

“Corrupted boars,” Ryukai muttered.

The Beasts turned toward them. They had already been noticed. Their crimson eyes locked onto Yudo and Ryukai.

Yudo leaned toward Ryukai’s ear. “Ryukai.”

“What’s up?”

“…Can you buy me time?”

“Maybe, why?”

Yudo didn’t hesitate. “I can’t let her die.”

Ryukai exhaled slowly. “You’re asking for a lot, you know.”

His eyes flicked toward the girl. Then back to the Beasts. “…But I feel the same way.”

He stepped forward. “I’ll hold them off until you’re done.”

Yudo nodded. “Thanks Ryukai. I’ll try and make it quick.”

Yudo moved first. He dropped beside her and pressed his hand firmly against the wound. “Hold still.”

The girl flinched weakly, her breathing was uneven. Blood seeped between his fingers.

She’s losing so much blood…

Yudo focused his energy on the wound, desperately trying to stop the bleeding.

The ground trembled beneath their weight as the boars charged.

“Water Convergence: Flowing Tide.”

A wave surged forward slamming into both beasts. Water crashed against them with force. For a moment it was working, but then they pushed through it. Water exploded around their bodies as they forced their way forward.

Ryukai’s expression tightened. “Tch— they are stronger than I thought.”

He leapt upward. “Water Convergence: Geyser.”

The water beneath them surged upward exploding into a vertical blast that launched both beasts into the air. They crashed back down and the impact shook the clearing. Dust rose around them, but they stood again. Their wounds began to close.

“Hey Yudo,” Ryukai called out, forcing a grin, “I could really use some backup here.”

Yudo was still concentrating on sealing the wound in the girl's arm. “I’m almost done.”

Water gathered in Ryukai’s hand, but this time, it wasn’t violent. It flowed with more control.

“Water Convergence: Water Prison.”

The water flowed over Ryukai’s hand and wrapped around the Corrupted Beasts, forming a tight, shifting sphere.

“C’monnnnn…”

The pressure increased in the water.

Ryukai clenched his teeth. If that girl wasn’t there… I could go all out, but I can’t risk it. One mistake and I might hit Yudo or the girl. Ryukai exhaled. “This is the best I can do while holding back.”

Yudo finished covering the exposed stump with a layer of bones, stopping the bleeding. He quickly stood up, running over to Ryukai.

“Will she be able to survive?” Ryukai asked.

Yudo nodded. “I think so.”

“For now,” Ryukai said. “We need to deal with those two things.”

The boars charged more aggressively than before.

“These guys are all brawn and no brains,” Ryukai muttered.

He planted his feet. “Water Convergence: Coral Reef.”

Water surged upward hardening instantly into jagged coral formations. 

The boars slammed into it.

CRACK!

The structure split on impact. Fragments scattered across the clearing.

Ryukai’s breath hitched. “Yudo—!”

Yudo moved. He focused on the boars, looking for the right moment. The boars didn’t focus on Yudo, which allowed him to find an opening. 

“Dead Man’s Intuition: Coffin Crusher.”

He appeared beside the first boar, driving his fist forward.

CRACK!

The boar’s ribs shattered instantly causing it to drop immediately. Yudo followed by crushing its head, leaving it lifeless. 

The second boar roared and charged him. Ryukai reacted immediately.

“Water Convergence: Water Prison.”

Spinning water wrapped around the beast’s body, locking it in place.

Ryukai grinned. With only one in here it’s a lot easier to hold.

The water rotated violently around it. The boar struggled, but couldn’t move. He opened the bubble to where its head was exposed.

“Now!”

Yudo jumped. His leg rose, then dropped with devastating force.

“Dead Man’s Intuition: Skull Breaker.”

BOOM.

The skull shattered. Ryukai released his Water Prison. The Beast fell onto the ground.

Ryukai exhaled slowly. “…Okay. I’m definitely glad that’s over.”

Yudo rolled his shoulder slightly. “Yeah and we saved someone.”

“Heck yeah we did!” Ryukai replied.

They high fived each other and walked over to the girl.

Ryukai looked down at her. “…She’ll make it.”

Yudo gave a small nod.

The girl’s eyes flickered open for a brief moment.

“…th-thank…”

Yudo squatted down. “Save your strength. Someone will save you.”

The girl smiled faintly, then her eyes closed.

“Let’s move,” Yudo said.

Ryukai nodded. “Yeah.”

They turned and began walking. Suddenly, a roar echoed through the forest. It didn’t sound like an animal but something wrong. The sound moved through the forest like thunder making the ground tremble beneath their feet.

Yudo stopped. His instincts flared immediately. That’s not normal.

Ryukai glanced toward the deeper forest. “…You heard that too, right?”

Yudo nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

Neither of them spoke again but something had changed.

Their pace slowed, their awareness sharpened, and their instincts went on high alert.

Whatever made that sound…

Was something far worse than the Beasts they had just fought.