The six of them settled in a small clearing, wary but aware that understanding each other’s abilities was the key to taking down a stronger Essence Beast. Mei and Jin were still somewhat cautious, but Ren had already come to the conclusion that Riku’s group wasn’t hostile—at least, not yet.

  Riku leaned against a tree, arms crossed as he studied them. “Since we’re working together, we should know what we’re working with. Let’s exchange abilities. No point going into a fight blind.”

  Ren nodded, though he was careful not to reveal too much. “Fine. But you first.”

  Riku smirked. “Alright. My Mandate Aspect is Phantom Stride. It lets me move without making a sound, and if I build up enough momentum, I can phase through non-living objects for a few seconds.”

  Mei raised an eyebrow. “That’s...useful.”

  Riku’s smirk widened. “Oh, it is. But it’s not good for direct combat. That’s where Daichi comes in.”

  The massive man cracked his knuckles. “Mandate Aspect: Titan’s Endurance. The more I get hit, the stronger my body gets. I can ignore pain and keep fighting as long as I don’t go down in one blow.”

  Ren filed that information away. A damage sponge—useful in prolonged fights.

  Sora was the last of their trio to speak. Her voice was soft but firm. “Silent Veil—I can erase my presence, including scent and energy signature, for short periods. Even Essence Beasts have trouble tracking me.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  That explained why they moved so silently. A stealth-focused trio. No wonder they wanted extra firepower.

  Jin exhaled before speaking. “My Aspect is Piercing Gaze. I can see weak points in living things. If I focus on something long enough, I can predict its movements.”

  Mei followed. “Mine is Windcaller. It lets me slightly manipulate air resistance around my arrows, increasing accuracy and speed.”

  Everyone turned to Ren. He rolled his shoulders, debating how much to say. “Shadow Binding—I can make shadows tangible, restrain things, or shape them into basic structures. They break if someone’s strong enough, but the more shadows around, the harder they are to escape.”

  Riku’s eyes glinted with interest. “That’s a rare one.”

  Ren ignored him and pulled up his Mandate system, just to check if anything had changed.

  [ Kami Mandate Established ]

  [ Name: Kurozawa Ren ]

  [ Designation: Bound ]

  [ Primary Directive: Find Sustenance ] (Changing…)

  [ Mandate Rank: ??? ]

  [ Flaw: Hunger Unending — You must consume to sustain your existence. The more you use the Mandate, the more the void within you gnaws at your soul. ]

  [ Essence Accumulation: 48% ] (Requirement for Inner Hunt: 100%)

  His accumulation had risen. He was almost halfway there.

  Riku raised an eyebrow. “Something wrong?”

  Ren dismissed the screen. “Nothing.”

  But something nagged at him. Everyone else had a visible Mandate Rank. His was still ???. That wasn’t normal.

  Sora broke the silence. “Our abilities complement each other.”

  Daichi grinned. “Yeah. Mei and Jin are our range support. I’m the frontline. Riku and Sora are the assassins. And Ren’s got control.”

  Mei frowned. “Ren’s ability is especially valuable against Essence Beasts. If they can’t move, we can strike their weak points.”

  Jin nodded. “And my Piercing Gaze lets me see exactly where we need to hit.”

  Riku grinned. “Well, well. Looks like we make a solid team.”

  Ren smirked. “Let’s see if we live through this hunt first.”

  With their strategy forming, they prepared to move out. The Essence Beast awaited, and now, they were ready.