The group rested for a long while on the riverbank, battered and breathing hard.

  Gray sat with his back against a boulder, arms wrapped loosely around his ribs. Every inhale pulled sharp pain through his side — the kick from the guard had cracked something, and the fight had made it worse.

  He didn’t complain.

  He just breathed slow and shallow, teeth clenched.

  Tamemoto leaned beside him, small chest rising and falling unevenly.

  The bandage on his chest was soaked red again, the slash reopened from the strain.

  He pressed a hand to it, wincing — “Nngh…!” — a low groan slipping out before he could stop it.

  His fingers shook as he tried to stem the bleeding.

  Lian Wei and Rin knelt nearby, assessing their teams.

  Lian Wei’s thigh gash was deep — blood still seeping through the torn robe. He hissed through gritted teeth — “Hssst… damn thing bit deeper than I thought.”

  Rin’s dislocated arm hung limp; she bit back a groan every time she moved it — “Agh…” — sweat beading on her forehead.

  Shen Huo clutched his side — “Ugh… ribs are cracked…”

  Lin Mei limped heavily, leg torn open — “Hurts like fire…”

  Zhao Feng and Yue Lian sat against a rock,

  Zhao holding his bleeding arm — “Argh—still bleeding…” —

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Yue Lian’s face pale from blood loss.

  Aiko was slumped, mana exhaustion leaving her shaking — “I… can’t focus… head’s spinning…”

  Bao Jin groaned as he cradled bruised ribs — “Feels like I got hit by a boulder…”

  The Kagehana juniors were no better —

  Hanae clutching a bleeding gash on her arm — “Aaaah… it burns!” —

  Kaito limping, leg slashed.

  Sora’s chains were tangled with troll gore.

  Ren leaned heavily on his bo staff, ribs bruised.

  Yumi’s spear arm hung limp, dislocated.

  Aiko was pale, breathing ragged.

  They rested in silence for a long time — just breathing, bleeding, surviving.

  Then Rin spoke, voice steady despite the pain.

  “We need to move. The horde is still out there. We’ll take the warg and troll ears — proof for our quests. The rest is yours.”

  Lian Wei nodded. “Agreed. Warg ears are rare. Better than soldier troll ears.”

  They worked slowly — cutting ears, stripping hide, collecting claws and fangs. Gray and Tamemoto helped where they could — Gray gritting his teeth through the pain in his arms, Tamemoto moving gingerly, wincing with every bend.

  When it was done, they started walking back together.

  Gray and Tamemoto walked beside Rin and Lian Wei.

  Rin spoke first. “You two… you’re young, but strong. If you ever come to Orihara, find the Kagehana Dojo. We’re in the northern mountains, near the Frostfang Range. We’d welcome you.”

  Gray nodded once. “We’ll remember.”

  Lian Wei added, “We’re heading to Rift Spire. Retire from this fight. More powerful people will join soon. The ones in Ashfall… they’re scary. Our sects warn us — stay away from the crater. Even the outskirts are dangerous.”

  Gray and Tamemoto listened in silence.

  The path forked ahead — the safest route to Rift Spire, the one Gray had pointed out.

  They stopped.

  Gray spoke. “We’ll go back to Camp Tile. Warn everyone.”

  Tamemoto nodded. “We have to.”

  Rin and Lian Wei gave small nods of respect.

  “Take care,” Rin said. “The world is bigger than this river. But you two… you’ll survive it.”

  The groups separated.

  Gray and Tamemoto walked back toward Camp Tile, bags heavy with monster parts.

  The path was quiet now. The sun was low, casting long shadows.

  Gray glanced at his brother. “We did good today.”

  Tamemoto looked up. “Yeah. We did.”

  They kept walking.