Lyerin stepped forward, standing at the base of the glowing Minotaur statue, his expression unreadable in the golden light emanating from it. The soldiers surrounded him in silence, their awe of the monument slowly giving way to curiosity about what he might ask next.


    "Thank you," Lyerin said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, yet still carrying a weight that demanded their attention. "But I have one more request before our paths diverge."


    The soldiers exchanged nces, wary yet willing toply. After all they had been through, they felt a sense of obligation—perhaps even loyalty—to this enigmatic leader who had guided them through trials they could scarcely have imagined.


    "What do you need from us, Lyerin?" Lucas asked cautiously.


    Lyerin raised a hand, silencing any further questions. "Blood," he said simply, his tone firm.


    "Blood?" one soldier repeated, eyes wide.


    "Not your blood," Lyerin rified, smirking slightly at their rm. "The blood of the small and weak animals that inhabit the area. They are what I need toplete this ritual."


    The soldiers exhaled in relief, but confusion quickly reced their unease. "Small and weak animals?" another asked. "What kind of animals are we even talking about? We''ve barely seen anything out here that fits that description."


    Lyerin gestured toward the forest surrounding them. "They''re here. They''ve been watching us this entire time. These creatures hide well, but they are vital to solidifying the power of this ce. Without their essence, the protection the statue offers will remain iplete."


    The group hesitated, their expressions uncertain. "But how do we find them?" one soldier asked.


    "You''ll figure it out," Lyerin said curtly, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Search the surrounding area. They''re small, swift, and cunning. And remember—they''re not ordinary animals. The beings of this world are not as simple as what you knew on Earth. Be careful, and be quick."


    With that, the soldiers scattered into the forest, muttering among themselves. Lucas stayed behind for a moment, giving Lyerin a questioning look. "Are you sure this is necessary?"


    Lyerin''s eyes locked onto his, piercing and unyielding. "Do you trust me, Lucas?"


    Lucas hesitated, then nodded. "I do."


    "Then go," Lyerin said, his tone leaving no room for argument.


    ---


    The forest, bathed in the faint golden glow of the statue, seemed almost alive. The soldiers moved cautiously, their eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Strange sounds echoed around them—soft rustlings, faint chirps, and the asional distant growl.


    One soldier paused by a cluster of glowing ferns, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon. "I think I saw something move," he whispered.


    "What did it look like?" another asked, crouching beside him.


    "Small. Fast. Like… a glowing rabbit? But it vanished before I could get a good look."


    "A glowing rabbit?" the second soldier repeated incredulously. "That doesn''t sound real."


    "It''s this world," Lucas said as he approached, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Nothing here makes sense by our standards. Just keep looking."


    The group pressed on, encountering more glimpses of the elusive creatures Lyerin had described. One soldier spotted something resembling a tiny, luminescent fox darting between the trees. Another swore he saw a bird with feathers made of shimmering ss.


    "Every time I get close, they vanish!" one soldier eximed in frustration.


    "They''re testing us," Lucas suggested, crouching near a faint trail of glowing footprints in the moss. "They''re smart. We''ll have to outthink them."


    "But how?" another asked, exasperated.


    Lucas thought for a moment, then stood. "Let''s split into pairs. Cover more ground and try to corner them. Lyerin said they''re swift and cunning, so we need to be more strategic. Look for patterns in their movements."


    The soldiers nodded, regrouping into pairs and fanning out across the forest. Hours seemed to pass as they tracked the elusive creatures, their patience tested at every turn. One pair managed to corner a small, glowing rodent-like creature, only for it to dart between their legs and vanish into the underbrush.


    Another soldier tripped over a root while chasing a fox-like creature,nding face-first in a patch of glowing moss. "This is impossible!" he groaned, brushing himself off.


    "Nothing is impossible," Lucas said, helping him to his feet. "We''ve survived worse. Just keep trying."


    Back at the statue, Lyerin waited in silence, his sharp eyes scanning the treetops. asionally, he muttered something under his breath, words too low for anyone to hear. The statue pulsed faintly, as if responding to his quiet incantations. Ok


    When the first group returned, they carried a small, glowing creature that resembled a cross between a rabbit and a lizard. It squirmed in their grasp, its soft glow dimming slightly as if sensing its fate.


    "Is this what you needed?" Lucas asked, presenting the creature to Lyerin.


    Lyerin examined it closely, then nodded. "Yes. This will do."


    As more pairs returned with their catches, the area around the statue began to fill with the soft, otherworldly glow of the captured creatures. Despite their small size, they radiated an energy that seemed to resonate with the Minotaur statue.


    "Good," Lyerin said, his voice filled with approval. "This is the first step. But, it might not be enough."


    The forest seemed endless, stretching into abyrinth of glowing vegetation and twisting roots that glimmered faintly under the pulsing light of the Minotaur statue. Lyerin stood near its base, a shadow of authority amidst the flickering hues of the captured creatures. Hismand rang in the ears of the soldiers: "We need more blood."


    The soldiers, weary but determined, spread out once again, venturing deeper into the unknown wilderness. Each step seemed heavier than thest as the weight of Lyerin''s demand pressed upon them. Yet, none dared to voice theirints; his unyielding gaze was enough to silence even the most rebellious among them.


    Pairs of soldiers ventured into uncharted sections of the forest, now familiar with the elusive nature of the animals they sought. Every rustle of leaves or distant chirp sent them into high alert. The tension was palpable.


    One group found themselves in a clearing dotted with peculiar nts that shimmered like liquid silver. As they crouched low, scanning for movement, a tiny figure darted between the undergrowth. It was norger than a squirrel, its translucent skin revealing a glowingwork of veins that pulsed like a heartbeat.


    "There!" one soldier hissed, pointing at the creature.


    His partner moved swiftly, attempting to corner it, but the animal twisted through the air in a gravity-defying leap. Itnded on a branch and stared at them with luminescent eyes that seemed almost intelligent.


    "These things are too smart," the soldier muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.


    "Then we have to be smarter," his partner replied, pulling out a crafted hastily from vines. "We can''t keep chasing them blindly."


    Theyid the across the ground, baiting it with one of the glowing fruits they had picked earlier. Minutes passed, and just as their patience began to waver, the creature cautiously approached, its curiosity outweighing its caution. A swift tug on the ensnared it.


    Another pair stumbled into a grove where the trees seemed to hum faintly. Their leaves shimmered like stained ss, and the ground beneath them was soft, almost sponge-like. As they advanced, they noticed small, bat-like creatures hanging from the branches. These animals emitted a faint glow, their wings translucent and patterned like delicatece.


    "Do we go for those?" one soldier asked, pointing upward.


    "Do we have a choice?" his partner replied grimly.


    Climbing the tree proved difficult as the bark was slippery, covered in a resin that clung to their hands and clothes. When one soldier finally reached a branch, the creatures stirred, their glowing wings unfurling likenterns. The soldier froze, realizing they were watching him.


    "Careful," his partner called out from below.


    With painstaking slowness, the soldier reached out, managing to grab one of the creatures. It let out a high-pitched squeal that caused the others to scatter, their luminous forms flitting away into the night.


    The deeper they went, the more strange and challenging the creatures became. Some were so small they were nearly invisible, requiring the soldiers to work together to track their faint glowing trails. Others wererger and more aggressive, forcing the teams to engage in brief but intense struggles to subdue them.


    One group encountered a pack of quadrupedal animals with scales that shimmered like oil on water. These creatures moved silently, their sleek bodies blending seamlessly with the shadows. When the soldiers attempted to capture one, it retaliated with surprising ferocity, its ws leaving deep gashes in the surrounding trees.


    "These aren''t weak animals!" one soldier shouted as he narrowly avoided a swipe.


    "They''re weakpared to what''s out there," his partner retorted, throwing a makeshiftsso over the creature''s head.


    After a tense struggle, they managed to bring the beast down, its glowing scales dimming as its strength waned.


    Back at the statue, Lyerin waited with an air of impatience. He paced around the growing pile of captured creatures, his sharp eyes flicking toward the forest every few moments.


    When the first group returned with their haul, he barely acknowledged them before inspecting the animals. "Not enough," he said curtly, his voice cold.


    The soldiers exchanged uneasy nces. "We''re doing our best, Lyerin," one of them said hesitantly.


    "Your best isn''t enough," Lyerin snapped. "Do you think survival is easy? Do you think poweres without sacrifice? Go back out there and bring me what I need."


    Hours turned into what felt like days as the soldiers pushed themselves beyond their limits. The forest seemed to mock them with its endless supply of elusive creatures. Some animals vanished the moment they were spotted, leaving behind only faint glimmers in the air. Others appeared in groups, working together to evade capture.


    One soldier copsed to his knees after a failed chase, his breathing in ragged gasps. "How many more do we need?" he asked aloud, his voice filled with despair.


    "As many as it takes," Lucas replied, his tone resolute. He helped the soldier to his feet. "We''re not done yet."


    By the time they returned to the statue, their arms wereden with glowing, squirming creatures. The area around the monument was bathed in a surreal light, the captured animals forming a living, pulsating circle.


    Lyerin finally seemed satisfied. He stepped forward, his hands glowing faintly as he began to chant, his voice resonating with an ancient power. The soldiers watched in silence, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as they felt the energy in the air shift.


    "This is what we''ve worked for," Lyerin said, his voice carrying over the hum of the statue. "You''ve done well. Now, watch as this ce bes truly ours."


    The ritual was far from over, but the soldiers allowed themselves a moment of relief. Their grueling task wasplete—for now.