The moment enemy movement around the expedition team was confirmed, weapons came out across the formation.

Skills flashed along the front line before anyone had time to breathe, and the clash of weapons spread through the ranks like wildfire.

Because of their low levels, Martin and his party had been placed near the back.

Even there, danger waited behind the trees and inside the shifting shadows. The neutral-zone forest shook with every hidden cast, leaves scattering whenever stray mana brushed the branches.

Martin heard a rustle to the side, followed by the sharp snap of branches, and a heartbeat later, the enemies released a volley of magic and arrows.

Every projectile shot straight toward Night Espresso Guild’s weakest members.

The projectiles never reached the vulnerable classes. Tanks shifted into place before the back line could panic, shields rising in a practiced wall.

Martin planted his lead foot and settled into a guard stance, his shield fortified and ready for impact.

A blue mana projectile streaked toward him.

He adjusted his position and caught the attack on the center of his shield.

DING!

[Perfect Block!]

Behind him, Chaosgraphy glided into the space protected by his shield with a dancer’s ease.

She stood close enough for the black leather of her fitted jacket to nearly graze his back. Lacquered wood plates caught the stray flashes of mana, and the silver fangs on her collar gleamed whenever she tilted her head.

There was no panic in Chaosgraphy’s posture. She stood there like Martin’s guard was a private balcony built only for her, twin swords loose in her hands and amusement curving her lips.

"You’re standing very close," Martin said.

"I am using the safest available terrain," Chaos replied. "Do not blame me for excellent positioning."

More arrows and spells tore past them, missing their marks before either fizzling into nothing or clattering across the ground.

The volley broke apart around them, leaving only fading mana sparks and arrows trembling in the dirt.

A whistle came from somewhere between the trees.

"Still marching? Come on, Night Espresso! First guild into Cascade Valley should give everyone a show!"

Another voice laughed from the opposite side, making it impossible to tell how many players were hiding there.

"Cassandra sends a whole expedition and does not even show up herself? That is cold."

"Maybe she knew her substitute commander would look better failing on camera."

A few recording crystals glimmered between the branches, half-hidden behind leaves and bark. The attack was only part of it. They were waiting for someone to break formation, chase into the forest, and turn one bad step into a public clip.

Then one voice sharpened with recognition.

"Hey, is that Emperoar in the back? The tank with the weird party?"

"Lower-level celebrities are still lower-level players, right?"

The taunts drew a smirk from Chaosgraphy.

"Magic fizzling out, arrows dropping uselessly to the dirt," Chaos said without voice chat, so only Martin could hear her. "Those sounds are second only to the notification of a critical strike."

He added, "And second only to the Perfect Block ding."

Kuro A’s voice cut through their little chitchat.

[Kuro A: Don’t break formation. We continue marching while engaging.]

[Kuro A: Melee classes, hold your positions. Rely on your tanks and healers for survival.]

[Kuro A: Only fight when enemies close the distance. Do not chase.]

[Kuro A: Our front cannot be stopped. We’re moving straight to Cascade Valley.]

The moment Kuro A’s orders landed, the entire formation tightened.

Shields shifted by half-steps. Healers tucked deeper into the lanes. Melee players who had almost lunged forward checked themselves and let the enemy skills come to them instead.

Kuro A’s orders rippled through the guild, making hundreds of players remember where they belonged.

"Your opinion, Martin?" Chaos asked, her teasing voice aimed straight at the tank holding their lane.

"Love the challenge," he replied with a wide sneer.

Chaos saw his face in profile, and her heart squeezed.

Ah... that’s a face worth remembering.

Martin looked over his shoulder. "You must be itching to go."

"I am," Chaos admitted. "But teasing you should keep me entertained for now."

"Oh, come on." Martin rolled his eyes. "Kuro A doesn’t want us falling apart at the first obstacle, right?"

"Yeah." Chaos nodded. "He’s making them play by our rules, not the other way around. Once the guild spreads out and every party starts chasing its own enemies, this will become a real mess. Time is against us, too."

"Players can respawn as well, but that’s the least of our worries," Martin added.

The other academies were far away, so if Night Espresso killed everyone once, the chances of those players returning in time were pretty low.

Killing the ambushers once would not be enough to call this a victory.

If the mission failed on the first attempt, especially this early, it would leave a stain on Cassandra Selfmore.

Kuro A would never be allowed to shot-call again.

[NukEncore: Martin! Do you think we can fight back? Elder Sister and I can shoot down a few noobs!]

Chaosgraphy grinned. "What growth. From a lucky noob to someone calling others noobs."

Martin burst out laughing. "You never miss a chance to tease her. Did you two know each other in real life before playing the game, by any chance?"

Chaos pondered that for a second. "I know her from her industry, but we don’t work in the same field."

"Ohhh, that makes sense." Martin nodded.

Turning on his voice chat, he replied to his mage.

[Emperoar: Yeah, go for it if you can locate the enemies from their attack trajectories. Don’t waste too much mana or stamina, either, but that’s for Kuro A to warn you about. I want to see if he can really keep track of everyone’s cooldowns and stats.]

[NukEncore: I can’t locate enemies based on their attacks, but Elder Sister can!]

[Chaosgraphy: You say that like it’s your achievement.]

[NukEncore: ’Cause I can follow her trajectory!]

[Chaosgraphy: That’s actually a huge feat. Good job.]

[NukEncore: ...]

A rare compliment from Chaosgraphy nearly threw NukEncore off. Then she tossed her hair back and slipped into full diva mage mode.

NukEncore moved with Kill Clause, flames gathering around her gloved fingers as both women answered each incoming shot without slowing their march.

Crimson Halo kept pace beside NukEncore, her Gospel Tome open against one palm. Moonlit script shimmered across the pages, then spilled outward in a soft ring of silver light.

The blessing touched NukEncore first, then Kill Clause, settling over them like a quiet mantle.

Rather than flaring like an attack spell, the blessing settled quietly into their rhythm, sharpening the pressure around them until every drawn arrow and gathered flame felt a little hungrier.

Crimson Halo’s eyes moved differently from Kill Clause’s. Kill Clause searched for enemies. Crimson Halo searched for the exact moment her allies would hit hardest.

Kill Clause’s new set finally let her fight while moving, turning the ambush into a live test of her upgraded style. Somewhere in the back of her mind, though, she liked how Martin was testing Kuro A’s competence as well.

You’re growing into a proper party leader, Martin. It makes me happy that I can relax and focus on archery because of you.

With Prowler’s Step, Kill Clause moved while drawing her bow, each step quiet enough to vanish beneath the clash of the larger battle.

Her hips turned first, then her shoulders followed, lining her body into a clean shooting form while her hair trailed behind her. The motion looked too smooth to be improvised. Even while marching, she found balance, drew the string to her cheek, and let emerald light gather along the curve of her bow.

First Resonance and Second Resonance built into her form.

Then she released the first arrow, tracking the enemy’s skill back toward its source.

NukEncore conjured flames around her fingers and stretched them into bolts with a slow, theatrical turn of her wrist.

She sent them after Kill Clause’s arrow, determined to make even support fire look like a performance.

A moment later, Kill Clause reported the result.

"We missed."

"Mhm..." NukEncore narrowed her eyes.

"They must be stepping into open spaces to cast, then hiding behind the trees again," Kill Clause analyzed aloud.

A soft smirk curved her lips.

She drew her bow again and released another arrow.

NukEncore followed her diligently, like a younger sister trying to match her elder.

She lifted her chin, tossed her hair, and tried to make every step look effortless, even though her eyes kept flicking toward Kill Clause’s bow for timing.

Flames curled around her gloved fingers in elegant ribbons. She shaped them into bolts with another turn of her wrist, refusing to let the battlefield steal her stage presence.

This time, damage landed.

NukEncore’s flames missed, but Kill Clause’s arrow found its mark.

"Was it your new blessing?" NukEncore asked.

Kill Clause nodded. "Yes. The Arrow Bender Blessing. At the last second, I bent the arrow’s trajectory sideways and nailed it. Someone is bleeding as we speak."

[Chaosgraphy: I wish we had a fire bender, too.]

[NukEncore: Just wait, Chaos!]