In the arcane realm of Tehra, power was not merely the yield of grueling hours spent honing muscle or sharpening wit; it was the unveiling of a latent potential within, an awakening that heralded one into the ranks of the Ranked.
Yet, the ascent to the lofty peaks of power, the attainment of a high Rank, hinged not solely on personal endeavor. From birth, each soul bore a destiny-forged potential. This inherent power, an unseen mold, would ultimately define the boundaries one could reach upon the path of might.
Across Tehra, nations had painstakingly crafted intricate systems to gauge the potential residing within each individual. Those blessed with exceptional power were afforded absolute precedence: from pivotal missions and elite training units to masterful mentors and a bounty of resources. Individuals with vast developmental prospects held the privilege of choosing the finest offerings the world could bestow.
However, within Tehra's tapestry, the rate of power awakening was infinitesimally small. On average, for every hundred ordinary souls, a solitary one would undergo the transformative awakening. And among a million who had stirred their inner power, only a singular prodigy might ascend to Rank 7 - a demigodlike tier, the zenith of mortal strength in this age.
Within the present configuration of Reconnaissance Squad Eighteen, Jacobs and Henry stood out as the two individuals possessing the latent capacity to brush against Rank 5, a level of power worthy of considerable awe.
As for the others in the squad - Daniel, Lumos, Torsan, and Melly - Henry held no insight into the true extent of their potential. Such depths remained closely guarded secrets, inviolable domains.
And the most singular among them was Sophia - a maiden graced with a potential nearing Rank 7, a veritable gem for Zephyros's future. Among a million awakened Rankers, fewer than thirty possessed a potential to rival hers. With such a gift, Sophia could effortlessly claim higher echelons, basking in abundant resources and opportunities for exponential growth far surpassing their current circumstances. Yet, she chose to remain within their small reconnaissance unit, driven by a reason personal to her.
These meandering thoughts drifted through Henry's mind as their group approached their designated mission area. Two hours of riding had swiftly passed.
Lykuzt, a small township nestled beyond the clamor and vibrancy of Aerion City, was shrouded in an enigmatic threat. In the span of three days, two innocent villagers had vanished without a trace. Over the past week, the count of the missing had swelled to seven, predominantly individuals who eked out a living by venturing into the woods to hunt game and gather herbs.
Upon the initial disappearances, Lykuzt's town elder had immediately rallied the populace to form search parties, concurrently issuing stern advisories urging all not to risk the forest's depths without the safety of larger groups, and to strictly avoid the woods after the sun dipped below the horizon.
Having grasped the basic information, Jacobs swiftly assigned their team members to fan out, each tasked with investigating the situation within the town and gathering detailed accounts from the bereaved families. Moments later, the group reconvened at the town's quaint, ancient chapel, where flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows upon anxious faces.
According to the fragmented pieces of information they had gleaned, no unusual signs had been noted in the victims prior to their vanishing. Nor had any eerie phenomena or ill omens manifested within the town's boundaries.
The prevailing belief was that these terrifying events had transpired beyond the town's secure perimeter, with most of the missing succumbing to the forest's enigmatic embrace when they dared to tread into its dense and untamed heart.
The town elder had dispatched the bravest of the villagers to organize searches, but their efforts were confined to the forest's fringes, the investigation lacking the depth and meticulousness required. Perhaps vital clues, crucial leads, had been overlooked in the haste and ensuing panic.
Following a brief yet informative exchange with the town elder, Jacobs's team delineated the area previously searched by the villagers and resolved to venture deeper into the mysterious woods.
Midday had arrived, yet the sun's rays struggled to pierce the dense canopy overhead, leaving the forest air perpetually cool and damp, as if an ethereal mist eternally clung to the land. Gnarled, ancient trees grew in thick profusion, their towering forms reaching like colossal, sinewy fingers towards the heavens, while a thick carpet of moss clung to their bases, forming a treacherous, slick underfoot. The group decided to leave their steeds at the forest's edge, entrusting their care to three villagers, before continuing their trek into the shadowy depths.
As they ventured into the unsearched territory, the light waned, yielding to encroaching shadows and pervasive dampness. The atmosphere grew peculiar and heavy, an unshakeable sense of unease settling in each of their hearts. It felt as though something unseen was observing them, silently lurking within the deep recesses of shadow, even though the midday hour had passed.
Along the desolate trail, the group discovered numerous small, untriggered hunting traps, mostly snares for rabbits and foxes artfully concealed amidst the thick undergrowth, and a few larger contraptions designed to ensnare solitary gray wolves, all meticulously camouflaged.
Finally, they reached a makeshift camp, hastily erected by the ill-fated hunters before their disappearance. Sacks of dried rations lay untouched, showing no signs of ransacking. Their cherished personal belongings remained undisturbed, as if their owners had merely stepped away moments before. But a chilling premonition, a sense of impending doom, suddenly gripped Jacobs's gut.
"This situation is peculiar," Jacobs stated, breaking the silence, his voice low. "If the victims were robbed, surely their valuables would be gone, yet they remain. There are no signs of a struggle or a ransacked campsite. This likely wasn't a simple robbery."
"We'll split into pairs, searching in different directions around this area," Jacobs continued, his gaze sweeping over each member of the team. "Everyone, remain vigilant. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, stay calm and ensure your own safety above all else."
Melly looked up, her wide eyes reflecting concern, and asked softly, "Is something wrong, Captain? I feel a little uneasy."
"Hmm, we haven't found any clear leads yet, but I have a bad feeling about this. Everything here… it's too quiet, eerily silent." Jacobs replied, his voice more serious than usual, as if confronting an invisible threat.
"Shouldn't we form larger groups, or perhaps not split up at all for better safety, Captain?" Torsan inquired, his voice betraying his anxiety. "Your gut feelings are usually spot-on."
"Unnecessary," Jacobs replied firmly, shaking his head. "Now is not the time for us to be slow and timid. By splitting into smaller teams, we'll quickly cover a wider area and increase our chances of finding clues. Moving as one large group will waste precious time, and our quarry, if there is one, might detect our presence and have time to prepare."
"But isn't splitting up more dangerous, Captain?" Torsan remained unconvinced.
"We need speed, Torsan," Henry interjected, his voice calm yet resolute. "If we don't act swiftly, whoever is behind these disappearances will have more time to conceal their tracks and prepare for their next move. Trust the Captain's instincts; splitting up is the right call in this situation."
Jacobs clapped Henry lightly on the shoulder, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Good analysis. Alright, we'll proceed with the plan. Everyone, be extra careful and keep in contact if you find anything."
Three small teams swiftly dispersed, each pair vanishing in different directions into the shadowy and enigmatic woods. After about half an hour of tense searching, one team discovered strange markings, clues that might unravel the mystery behind the disappearances. The entire squad quickly converged back at that location.
"Something's not right here," Daniel said, his voice low, his eyes scrutinizing the markings on the ground. "The victims seem to have been ambushed here, but… it's really odd."
Lumos nodded, his keen eyes sweeping the surrounding area. "Broken branches flattened from the bushes, spaced-out depressions as if the attacker lunged straight from there into the victims. No signs of a struggle. The moss and undergrowth aren't too disturbed."
Henry crouched down, examining the ground closely. "There are strange indentations in the soil, not drag marks like someone being pulled, but even, deep depressions concentrated in a small area. Looks like the attacker moved very fast. If this was indeed an ambush, this attacker possesses extraordinary strength, enough to carry the victims without needing to drag them."
"Not carry them?" Melly asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
"No," Henry replied with certainty, shaking his head. "Two people went missing at the same time this time. Based on the tracks, it was likely a single attacker. They couldn't have carried two grown adults at once; they definitely had to be hauling them."
"That's right," Jacobs said, his voice growing more serious, "and based on what we see here, I think the attacker is a Ranker. Everything at the scene doesn't resemble a drawn-out fight. It looks like a swift and precise strike, leaving the victims no time to react."
Daniel nodded in agreement, his eyes cold and wary. "Lumos and I thoroughly checked the surrounding area; there's no blood anywhere. It seems they simply knocked the victims unconscious and took them away cleanly."
Jacobs took a deep breath, a determined glint in his eyes. "With these fragmented clues, I believe a single attacker is behind these disappearances. If this individual can incapacitate seasoned hunters in an instant, their combat prowess is undoubtedly significant. I reckon they're at least Rank 2, possibly even Rank 3."
A tense silence fell over the team, the atmosphere growing heavy. With the information they had just gathered, everyone understood they were facing a highly dangerous adversary. If Jacobs's assessment was correct, and the one behind the disappearances was a Rank 3, their group, mostly comprised of Rank 1s and 2s - excluding Jacobs - would face a formidable challenge.
Sophia, who had been silently listening until now, spoke softly, her voice calm but with an underlying sharpness. "They might be a Rank 3, but they're clearly acting cautiously and methodically. They didn't attack within the village, where there might be resistance, but waited for lone hunters to venture deep into the forest before striking. They're only taking one or two people at a time, and all of them ordinary individuals with no means to fight back. A group of seven Rankers like us is definitely not someone they'd want to confront directly."
Jacobs spoke, both reassuring his comrades and laying down his decision.
"It's true that continuing the investigation might bring unnecessary dangers to our squad. However, we've come this far; turning back now would leave us open to criticism for a shoddy job. If we run tail between our legs every time we sniff out a bit of danger, our squad might very well be disbanded in six months."
Jacobs's voice grew stern, both an encouragement and an undeniable order.
"Today, no matter the outcome, we will return to Aerion and report fully to our superiors, completing this mission. After all, we're just a reconnaissance team; our primary task is to gather information, not necessarily to resolve threats beyond our capabilities. But we must still strive to complete our mission to the best of our ability, find clues, and bring information back to the Bureau."
Everyone exchanged glances, nodding in agreement. A shared resolve settled upon them as they continued deeper into the enigmatic woods.
After more than half an hour of careful searching, the team had ventured deep into the forest's embrace, the towering canopy almost completely blocked the sunlight. Before them loomed a pitch-black cave, concealed behind thick undergrowth. Jacobs suddenly frowned, a vague unease, a sense of foreboding, rising within him.
"Perhaps we're nearing their lair." he said, his voice low, his eyes fixed tensely on the dark maw of the cave.
The air around the group grew still, everyone focusing intently, awaiting Jacobs's next command. Their adversary was a Rank 3, an opponent not to be underestimated. To delve deeper into that cave now held the potential for a perilous confrontation, a scenario they all hoped to avoid.
But to retreat from here, to return to Aerion without any concrete results, would surely brand them as derelict in their duty. The entire team would likely face severe reprimands, significantly hindering each member's future prospects.
Each member of the squad harbored their own thoughts, their own anxieties and expectations. All now awaited the final decision of Jacobs, the seasoned leader who would guide them through this trial.