Two hours had passed since their previous defeat. Shame, acceptance, and resolution; everyone had experienced these emotions, and were now ready to fix their mistakes.


    The four members of the team walked forwards, led by Pireni’s Skill, towards the site where they first encountered the Bog Walker. Artyom spent the last hour coaching the team on battle strategy and how to make the most of their abilities.


    Now would be the time to see if they had what it took to make it as adventurers.


    The group gathered behind a bush before the beast, and this time, Sae attempted to sneak towards it. The clinking of his chainmail made the attempt unsuccessful however, and only after he was spotted did he scream his battlecry and charge. But through some miracle the Bog Walker was startled a second time. Sae was once again able to close the distance and deliver a powerful slash.


    “[Sharpened Edge]!” he shouted before his sword made contact with the monster’s matted fur, remembering to actually use his Skill this time. The blade struck a previously untouched spot so it didn’t pierce skin or flesh, but the blow exposed much more of it for a future attack.


    The Bog Walker reeled back in surprise at the sudden haircut, before being hit with an arrow on its flank.


    “[Piercing Shot]! I hope you didn’t forget about me!” shouted Pireni, as she let her arrow loose before nocking another and taking aim.


    Pireni and Skeya had followed Sae out while he was sneaking towards the Bog Walker, but from a different angle. This way, the ranger wouldn’t have to worry as much about hitting Sae when aiming.


    Skeya stood behind her, keeping a keen eye on Sae in case he got hit, while both of the ladies kept keenly aware of their surroundings.


    “That’s what I’m talking about!” shouted Artyom from his position just behind the ranger and cleric. “Hit hard and fast, use your Skills when you have the energy and opportunity to make the most of them!”


    The battle reminded him of field training missions he would accompany TOAL’s new recruits on. Once they got an ego check from the mission’s high difficulty, they drank up any help Artyom would supply. He felt this was almost the same thing.


    The Bog Walker snarled in anger at the team’s sudden competence and tried to counter it with a show of force. It lunged at Sae, trying to knock him down, but he dodged out of the way and countered with a two-handed slash akin to a lumberjack trying to chop a log in two. For the first time, the sword cleaved right through the fur and drew bright red blood.


    Caught in a moment of panic, the Bog Walker jumped back and got ready to flee, knowing that it was in trouble.


    “I don’t feel like going on a wild goose chase today,” said Artyom, combining magic with emotion and pointing towards the monster. “Aura of Aggression.”


    Natural, instinctual fear was suddenly overridden by an artificial sensation. The magic dug deep down into its mind bringing up something else: anger. The kind that told it to kill anything that dared threaten it.


    The monster’s previously skittish stance swiftly disappeared, replaced with a showcase of confidence; bristled fur, gnashing teeth, and a bloodthirsty gaze. This was the true threat it was.


    The Bog Walker jumped at Sae, aiming for his neck in an all-or-nothing attack against its perceived greatest threat.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Sae’s eyes widened and he quickly stepped to the side. He avoided the leap and riposted by holding his sword in the monster’s path.


    Unable to control its velocity mid-air, the Bog Walker collided with the sharpened steel, and its fur and flesh were driven through the blade. It screamed as the wicked edge passed through it, blood gushing out of the massive wound and being absorbed by its thick, matted fur.


    Judging by how red the fur was turning, and how much blood still fell to the ground, the beast wasn’t long for this world. It staggered, trying to keep on its feet through its artificial rage alone. It only delayed the inevitable. As it opened its mouth for one last roar and attack, Pireni countered with one final arrow that pierced its forehead.


    Having no more blood or brain, the monster collapsed to the ground. Dead.


    The party stood still in shock for several seconds, scared that they were only dreaming or that the Bog Walker would suddenly wake up and attack again. Slowly, their apprehension faded and everyone lowered their weapons.


    “You stole my kill!” shouted Sae indignantly. “After I hit it so hard, how come you’re the one who gets to finish it off?”


    “Calm down, Sae,” replied Pireni. “I was only able to land that shot because you hit it so much. It was barely moving by the time I had a chance to line that shot up!”


    “Guys, we did it!” said Skeya, moving the conversation to what was important. “We defeated the Bog Walker!”


    “Yeah, I guess we did,” said Sae, coming to the same realization. “We did it! We finished the mission!”


    “Heck yeah, we did!” shouted Pireni in reply. “We finished our first big mission!”


    The other three cheered at their accomplishment before falling to the ground out of exhaustion. Sae may have been the only one to physically exert himself, but the tension and adrenaline that flowed through everyone’s veins during the fight took its toll.


    “If that’s everything, let’s get Sae washed up and head back to town,” said Artyom. “We still need to collect the reward.”


    <hr>


    The team did just that, having Sae wash his chainmail and clothes in one of the nearby rivers, before everyone began walking back to the village of Freeacres.


    Because of the delay from needing a second attempt to kill the Bog Walker, the team was still a few hours out by the time the sun was starting to set, so they made camp for the night.


    Surprisingly, the team had brought along four camping tents rather than just three, each large enough to fit several people inside. Artyom thought it was strange they had a spare tent for him, but not rations. Maybe they just happened to get a really good deal on tents that they didn’t want to pass up on?


    The tents were set up in a circle around a campfire where everyone sat to warm themselves, chat, and eat dinner before going to bed. Everyone shared their food with each other. Artyom’s pemmican went really well with the Sae’s dry bread and Skeya’s trail mix, consisting of various nuts and dried cherries. Pireni, instead of rations, brought along a small bottle of sparkle.


    “What? I didn’t think we’d take that long to kill it,” whined Pireni in response to everyone’s glares. “Besides, I knew we were going to celebrate, that’s why I brought this along!”


    “You know what?” began Sae. “I’m not even mad. This is the perfect time for that bottle, we deserve it after everything today! Pour us all a cup and let’s make a toast to the team.”


    “Oh, sorry…” began Pireni. “I forgot to bring those. We can still waterfall it, though.”


    “I think we should toast Artyom. He saved the day today,” said Skeya. “He saved me, too.”


    “It was nothing, anyone would’ve done that,” replied Artyom, content with how everything had turned out in the end.


    “Nonsense, you’re the reason why we were able to win today!” exclaimed Sae. “Three cheers for Artyom!”


    The others all cheered for him as he awkwardly sat there with a big, goofy grin on his face. Appreciation was always nice, and Artyom felt like he deserved it with what he was able to do for his team.


    As the fire died down and the bottle began to empty, everyone put away their rations and went to their tents, ready to wrap up for the night. There would be a few more hours of walking left before they arrived back at Freeacres, and everyone wanted to look like the triumphant heroes they were when they would walk into town.


    As Artyom was about to drift off to sleep, his phone rang.