Hunter Of The Six Realms

Chapter 21

It's been sixteen hours since the C rank portal appeared. Most hunters had already left for raids, the appearance of portals these past few days had become excessive for a reason no one knew why.

Hunters were a lot busier now, but no one complained since the pay was always worth the stress.

Silver fang was another guild, one rank below Crimson dusk.

A level five team from Silver fang was dispatched to handle the C-rank portal.

One A-rank captain, two B-rank hunters, Three C-rank, and one extra B-rank healer from earth realm.

The A-rank captain was from the fire realm, code name was Crystal, tall slender woman with a stone cold expression. Two B-rank hunters, one from the fire realm and the other from the Earth realm, Three C-rank hunters, two of which were from the water realm and one of them from the ice realm. And finally the healer from the earth realm.

The team stood before the swirling orange portal. Everyone remained quiet but the tension was thick in the air. Everyone was afraid of Crystal, no one liked to be assigned under her during a raid, but they were all unlucky this time. Crystal was well known for being cold hearted and wicked, wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone who messed with her or disobeyed her orders.

They all exchanged quiet glances, wishing each other to stay safe. Crystal gave a subtle nod and stepped into the portal first, disappearing into the light. The rest followed in order, all on high alert for the battle that was to come.

As soon as they crossed over, the landscape shifted into view, a massive, dry canyon split by jagged stone cliffs and towering walls. The air was thick with heat and dust, the sky overhead tinted with a faint red hue.

"Everyone spread out. Watch the left ridge and check for beast movement," Crystal ordered, her voice stern and sharp . She scanned the horizon. "Keep your guards up. We're not here for fun."

No one said a word, they just obeyed. The group began to move.

The healer stayed closer to the backline, eyes sharp despite his support role. The two water users moved along the ridges, providing ranged coverage, while the earth and fire realm B-rankers stuck to the front lines, shields and swords drawn.

It didn't take long for the first beast to appear. A low snarl echoed from the northern passage, drawing everyone's attention.

C-rank and D-rank beasts began to emerge, bipedal creatures with fur-textured skin, glowing red eyes, and jagged bone-like spikes protruding from their arms and back. They were large, at least seven feet tall, with muscular builds and speed that didn't match their size.

"Incoming!" one of the C-rank water users shouted.

The first beast lunged, fast and aggressive, claws aimed at the fire realm B-rank. He parried quickly with his sword, a trail of flames dancing with each movement. The clash was heavy. Even with his strength, the beast pushed him back several feet.

Another beast dashed in, this time from the side.

The ice realm hunter snapped his fingers, freezing the ground beneath the beast. It slipped briefly, giving him just enough time to spin his dual daggers and slash through its midsection. It screeched, staggered, then charged again. Not dead.

"They're tough." the healer muttered.

Crystal stepped forward.

"Tear them apart. We don't waste time."

She leapt.

A pillar of flame erupted beneath her, launching her forward like a comet. Her sword, wreathed in fire, slammed down into the skull of one beast, splitting it in two. She didn't stop, spinning midair and igniting a fire ring around her before sending it outward, scorching a group of three beasts approaching from the right.

The ground trembled beneath their feet. Dust and ash blew with every movement. They kept pushing forward, working together in perfect rhythm. The water and ice realm hunters focused on slowing the enemies with sharp ice projectiles and jets of high-pressure water to push the beasts off balance. The earth realm B-rank fought more defensively, stomping the ground to raise protective barriers, buying time for the others to reposition.

Even with their coordination, the beast realm wasn't giving them a break.

More beasts appeared, clawing through the canyon rocks. The team had downed nearly a dozen but their stamina was thinning. The healer moved between teammates, channeling earth mana into their wounds and whispering spells to close cuts and mend injuries.

"We're not here to clear the entire realm," the second B-rank reminded. "We just need to find the hound stone. We should start searching, if we remain here longer, we'd exhaust all our mana since these damned beasts won't stop."

"He is right. We should start searching."

They moved deeper, and the beasts kept coming.

Every few steps, one would leap from above or charge from underground, bursting from loose gravel with sharp claws ready. The team fought like they had trained for years together, even if they had only just been dispatched as a temporary group.

One hour passed, two...three.

They finally made it into the heart of the domain. Large stone structures stood like ruins, the walls carved with runes that glowed faintly under the orange light. It felt ancient. And worse, too quiet.

"I don't like this," the healer said under his breath.

One earth realm hunter raised a hand, signaling for silence. Then he leaned down to the earth, placing his ears on the floor and listening.

"Everyone! brace yourselves. Something is coming, and it's not good." The guy barked, standing back up in a hurry.

Everyone froze, surprised at his sudden outburst and the urgency in his tone.

But right then, the ground beneath them shook. A low rumble, steady and deep.

Then again, and again.

Thump.

Thump.

The tremor was stronger this time, enough to make pebbles skip across the ground. They all turned to the same direction. From the far end of the canyon, behind a ruined arch, a shadow began to form. Large, and coming closer.

"What in the world is that?"

One step.

Two.

Then it emerged.

A giant.

It wasn't just big, it's was insanely massive. A towering stone beast at least fifty feet tall, made entirely of dark gray rock. Its face was half-smashed, but glowing red eyes peered from within like lava trapped in stone. Each of its arms looked like entire boulders fused together, and it dragged a giant stone mace across the ground, leaving a deep trail.

No one moved, no one dared to.

The beast roared. Loud and guttural.

The kind of sound that makes your instincts scream at you to run.

Crystal smirked, looking up at the beast..."Took you long enough, I've been waiting."