I’m a villain within the hero’s party

Pant…Pant…Pant…

The Thrixell was right behind them. Von, Amber, Robin, Maya, and the Priest ran as fast as they could.

Von shouted, "Everyone, hurry up! According to the map, we're only half a league away from the teleportation portal!"

Amber thought to herself, "The Thrixell were supposed to stop chasing us after Gabby died. That means Robin's theory was wrong."

The group ran across the rolling hills, their boots thudding against the uneven ground. Behind them, the Thrixell horde charged forward.

Von slowed down, his eyes locked on the towering figure rising over the hill. The King of Thrixell.

He turned to the others, his voice calm despite the chaos. "I'll face the King. You handle its underlings."

Maya's eyes widened with fear. "Von, no! That's suicide!"

He gave her a soft smile, unable to hide the weight in his heart. "I'm a hero. I swore to the Gods I'd protect others. And right now, that means taking down the King of Thrixell."

He looked up at the beast, then back at his friends. "Besides, I think I can beat it."

But they all knew the truth. The King of Thrixell was a force of destruction. Von's odds were a slim.

Amber remarked, her voice cracking. "Then I'll go with you."

Von shook his head, gently but firmly. "No. I'll take that beast myself."

Von knew that even with Amber's help she'd only be caught in the crossfire.

He placed a hand on her shoulder, letting it linger. "You need to survive, Amber. Pass the exam for me."

Then he turned to Robin, his oldest friend. "Robin… please watch over the squad."

Robin said nothing. He only nodded, jaw clenched, eyes shadowed with silent grief.

Von took a deep breath, then sprinted up the hill, as he locked his eyes with the King of Thrixell and screamed, "Come on, you monster! Face me!"

The King of Thrixell roared and charged; its elongated limbs stretched around ten meters.

Robin turned to the others. "Run faster! We've got Thrixells incoming!"

The King of Thrixell roared in response, its eyes locking onto Von as it charged.

Below, the group split off. The Priest stayed close to Robin. Amber and Maya moved together.

Amber faced off against a lone Thrixell—its elongated frame darting with unnatural speed, eyes glowing with primal hunger.

Maya stood nearby, trembling. She had no magic, no weapon, only fear. She had never awakened.

Amber narrowed her eyes, raising her staff. "Stay back, Maya. I'll handle this."

The Thrixell lunged.

Amber raised her staff high, her eyes burning with focus as the storm raged around her. The Thrixell snarled, circling her like a predator sensing weakness.

She took a deep breath and declared, "Fourth Class Spell: Flame Bolts!"

With a sharp wave of her staff, thirty small flames burst into existence, hovering in the air like fiery wisps. Then, with a surge of power, they shot forward. Each bolt racing toward the Thrixell at incredible speed.

The beast reacted instantly, twisting and leaping with unnatural agility. It dodged the first wave, then the second, moving like a shadow across the hills.

But the flames didn't stop.

Amber's eyes narrowed and thought to herself, "Flame Bolts are rapid flames that seek their target once locked," she thought. "You can run, but you can't hide."

The bolts curved mid-air, homing in on the Thrixell from every angle. The creature hissed in frustration, its movements growing more frantic as the flames closed in.

Amber's flame bolts streaked through the air, chasing the Thrixell with relentless precision. The creature twisted and turned, its movements impossibly fast, dodging each bolt with ease. Amber narrowed her eyes, releasing the last of the spell's energy but none of the flames found their mark.

Before she could react, the Thrixell closed the distance.

Amber raised her staff, trying to summon a defensive barrier—but she was too late.

With a sickening crack, the beast's claws snapped through her left arm, tearing it apart. A scream ripped from her throat as she collapsed to the ground, her staff clattering beside her, blood soaked.

The flame bolts, no longer guided by her will, scattered in all directions. A few fizzled out in the rain. Others streaked wildly across the battlefield. And the worst of them—three—turned back toward her.

One bolt struck her side, another grazed her leg, and the third slammed into her shoulder. She screamed once again.

Maya had kept her eyes closed the entire time, kneeling quietly on the grassy slope. The wind brushed gently through the hills, carrying the distant sounds of battle. Her hands were clasped tightly, her voice a whisper lost to the world.

"Please God if you hear me, show us mercy. Give us strength. Give us love."

Then, Amber's screamed in pain.

Maya's eyes snapped open.

She saw her friend lying on the ground, her robes scorched, her staff discarded. Blood stained the grass beneath her. Her left arm gone. Torn away by the Thrixell's brutal strike.

Maya's breath caught. Her heart shattered.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she whispered, "God please help us survive. I'm begging you."

And then something stirred.

Warmth bloomed in her chest, spreading through her limbs like sunlight breaking through clouds. She felt a presence behind her, not physical, but powerful. Gentle. Divine.

Time slowed.

The battlefield faded away, and she found herself standing above the clouds, surrounded by golden light. The wind was still. The world was silent.

Before her stood a silhouette of a tall figure cloaked in leaves and light, his presence calm and commanding.

There was no mistaking it.

She had met a god.

A deep, echoing whisper filled her soul, "I am Jaren."

Her eyes widened. "The God of Nature…" she thought, awe and reverence flooding her heart.

The god raised a hand, and vines of light wrapped around her, filling her with strength, clarity, and purpose. She felt the wildness of the earth, the heartbeat of every living creature, and the sacred bond between life and nature.

Then, the god waved his hand, and a glowing card appeared in front of her. He handed it to her and said, "Use this fragment of my power to fight against evil."

She accepted the card. It read:

Title: Hero

Class: Support

Subclass: Beast Tamer

The card shine bright.

Then she returned.

The hills, the Thrixell, the blood, all came rushing back. But Maya was no longer the same.

She stood up, her eyes glowing with a divine green light. The wind around her shifted, responding to her presence. The Thrixell, sensing something had changed, turned toward her, but it hesitated.