As Ravihiro followed the faint cries through the dense jungle, his senses sharpened, and his Ryugan activated, scanning the shadows for any signs of danger. The sound grew louder, more desperate. His heart raced—not out of fear, but because something sinister was at play.
Finally, he stumbled upon a clearing where four teenagers lay sprawled on the ground. Two boys and two girls, their robes torn and stained with blood. Each bore the insignia of different sects—Blazing Phoenix Sect, Verdant Serpent Clan, Frost Valley Temple, and Sky Crane Guild.
Three of them were unconscious, their bodies bruised and scraped as if they had been fleeing for their lives. The fourth, a boy with short, messy black hair and trembling hands, was barely conscious, struggling to stay awake.
Ravihiro crouched beside the conscious boy, his voice calm but commanding. "What happened here?"
The boy's lips quivered as he tried to speak, his words faint and broken. "B-Beasts… they're… coming... A trap…"
Before Ravihiro could ask more, his Ryugan picked up movement in the shadows—dozens of eyes gleaming in the darkness. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the jungle, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Stay here," Ravihiro said, rising to his feet. He activated Kageha, his sword martial soul materializing in his hand with a dark, ominous glow. His aura exploded outward, a mix of darkness and faint light, as if warning the forest itself to back down.
The first wave of beasts emerged—a pack of Crimson Fang Wolves, their eyes glowing red with bloodlust. They circled Ravihiro, their snarls echoing like a sinister melody. Behind them, a massive Shadow Panther prowled forward, its fur blending into the darkness as if it were part of the jungle itself.
"Looks like someone's been playing dirty," Ravihiro muttered, his eyes narrowing. The faint, acrid smell on the children's bodies hit his nose—beast attractant, a potent alchemical substance designed to lure predators.
With a flick of his wrist, Ravihiro set up a Barrier Formation around the children. The glowing runes formed a protective dome, shimmering faintly in the dark.
The beasts lunged.
Ravihiro moved like a shadow, his Kageha cutting through the air with deadly precision. The first wolf barely touched the ground before its head rolled to the side. The Shadow Panther pounced, its claws aiming for his throat, but Ravihiro countered with a energy blast, sending the beast crashing into a tree.
As more beasts poured in, Ravihiro's strikes became even more savage, his movements fueled by precision and fury. The forest echoed with the sounds of growls, clashes, and dying wails.
Despite his strength, the beasts didn't relent. "Whoever set this up wanted these kids dead at any cost," Ravihiro thought, his mind racing.
Finally, with a thunderous roar, the last wave of beasts fell. Ravihiro stood amidst the carnage, blood dripping from his blade and a wild gleam in his eyes. His aura still pulsed, like a predator who had just conquered its prey.
He sheathed his sword and turned to the children. The barrier faded, and he knelt beside them. The boy was still barely conscious, while the others remained limp and pale. The strange smell lingered, making Ravihiro's stomach churn with suspicion.
"These aren't just sect children caught in a bad situation," he muttered. "Someone wants them dead—and made sure the beasts would do it."
Ravihiro lifted the unconscious children onto his shoulders, his strength making it look effortless. He carried them to a nearby cave he had scouted earlier and laid them on the smoothest surface he could find.
The conscious boy stirred slightly, whispering, "Why… did you help us?"
Ravihiro smirked, brushing off the question. "You're still breathing, aren't you?"
He examined their wounds. While bruises and scratches covered their bodies, a faint black mark on their arms caught his attention—a curse seal designed to weaken their spiritual energy and leave them defenseless.
"Clever," Ravihiro muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Not just beasts, but a curse too. Someone went all out to make sure these kids didn't survive."
As he worked to heal their wounds, he couldn't shake the growing unease. The jungle was dangerous enough without traps like this. Whoever was responsible for targeting these children was playing a game far more twisted than he'd imagined.