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Their hands, raised ominously, glowed with the dangerous, pulsating light of the explosive seeds they could conjure—a terrifying manifestation of their volatile mana.

Victor's eyes narrowed, his breath catching in his throat. He muttered under his breath, "Is this it? Is he finally going to die this time?"

The apes, with their keen senses, had clearly picked up something in the water, something faint but enough to draw their attention.

Lord Victor had seen this countless times before.

The apes were not known for mercy. Once they sensed prey, they destroyed it in the most devastating manner possible. He had seen far more capable warriors than Lyerin torn to shreds by these explosive creatures.

But just as Victor steeled himself for the inevitable, something caught his eye—a flicker of movement behind one of the Blast Apes. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but enough to jolt him upright in his seat. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What… was that?" he whispered, staring at the screen with a mixture of shock and fascination.

The movement beneath the water was calculated, precise, and Lyerin had somehow managed to use it to his advantage.

The Blast Apes, sensing something behind them, turned their attention away from the rock where Lyerin was hiding.

They growled and snarled, distracted by what they thought was an easy meal.

Then, in a surprising turn of events, the apes seemed to calm down, as if their hunger had suddenly been sated.

They devoured the remnants of the Cragar'Throm Clan mana beasts with savage efficiency, their massive jaws tearing through flesh and bone with ease. In mere moments, they were finished, and the once menacing creatures lumbered away into the dense foliage, satisfied with their meal.

Lord Victor sat back in his chair, his mouth slightly agape. His mind began to articulate and try to understand everything as he tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Not long, he found it.

The vines.

It was the vines that Lyerin had tied to the limbs of the mana beasts before everything began.

Victor had dismissed them as a mere tool for dragging the beasts into the water. But now, it all made sense.

"He… he used their limbs when they exploded, pulled it to hide it, and then in a nicknod danger, he used them as bait to distract the Apes," Victor mumbled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I never would've thought of that. Tying the limbs and positioning them so that when the Blast Apes arrived, they would sense the flesh and blood, focusing their attention on the mana beasts instead of him."

Victor's eyes gleamed with admiration, but also with a trace of something more—unease.

He leaned closer to the hologram again, watching as Lyerin began to emerge from behind the rock. "Most people," Victor continued to mutter, "most even in my position, wouldn't think of that. They'd be too panicked, too focused on survival to even consider using their fallen allies as a distraction." He paused, thinking deeply. "It's not just clever—it's ruthless."

Lord Victor's mind wandered to a hypothetical scenario. If it had been him in Lyerin's position, would he have come up with such a solution? Perhaps, given time. But the pressure, the chaos of battle, the looming presence of death—it was enough to cloud anyone's judgment.

Even an experienced fighter might not have seen such an opportunity amidst the carnage.

And then Victor's thoughts turned to others—warriors, leaders, assassins—who had faced similar dangers in their lifetimes. Few would have had the clarity of mind to make such a move.

Lyerin's approach had been impressive, even by Victor's high standards. But more than that, it had been unpredictable. Victor found himself asking the same question over and over again: How had the little mutt known it would work?

"Did he plan for this all along?" Victor mused, his voice barely audible. "Or was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? Either way, it was brilliant." He shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It seems like this little rogue might just survive after all."

As he watched the screen, Victor could feel a wave of curiosity wash over him.

How much did Lyerin know? What other secrets was he hiding?

The boy's knowledge of the Blast Apes, he swore to only met them once, and his ability to predict their behavior—it all hinted at something far more complex than Victor had anticipated. He had originally planned to toss Lyerin into this situation for entertainment, maybe even a chance to test his mettle. But now, he was beginning to think there was much more to Lyerin than he had first assumed.

Victor tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair. "I threw those mana beasts beside him for a reason," he muttered to himself, piecing together his original plan. "The Blast Apes were supposed to be attracted to them, after all they are so big and easy to notice even in the night, and with no escape, that little mutt, Lyerin should've been caught in the crossfire.

No matter how skilled he was, the chances of survival should have been slim." He paused, his eyes glinting with intrigue. "But instead of being caught, he used the chaos to his advantage. Impressive. Very impressive."

He leaned back in his seat, still processing everything. "Now I have questions," he murmured. "How much does he really know? How far can he go?"

But then, just as Victor was lost in thought, something on the screen caught his attention again.

Lyerin had stood up from the water, brushing himself off.

His expression was calm, almost serene, but there was something in his eyes—a glint of determination that made Victor sit up straighter.

"Huh?" Victor mumbled, raising an eyebrow. "What is he planning to do this time?"

…

Lyerin stood on the edge of the river, his gaze lingering on the remains of the Cragar'Throm Clan mana beasts.

Their bones, stripped clean by the Blast Apes, were all that remained of the creatures who had once fought by his side. He knelt down by their remains, his hands brushing against the cool bones, and closed his eyes in reverence.

Whispering softly, he began to chant an ancient tribal prayer, a ritual that had been passed down through generations. His voice was low and melodic, filled with an otherworldly cadence that echoed through the forest.

Spirits of the earth, spirits of the sky,

Hear my call and grant me strength.

These souls, once fierce and brave,

Now rest within your embrace.

Guide them to peace, guide them to rest,

For their journey in this world is done.

His words drifted into the air, carried away by the soft breeze.

For a moment, the forest seemed to grow still, as if the very spirits he called upon were listening to his prayer. Lyerin finished the chant, bowing his head in respect, and then slowly rose to his feet.

He glanced around the jungle, his eyes scanning the area. He knew that Victor was watching him, probably scrutinizing his every move.

So, with a casual air, Lyerin began picking berries from the nearby bushes. He sampled each one, making a show of it as though he were merely foraging for food.

But in truth, Lyerin's mind was elsewhere. His real goal was something far more dangerous.

He had been studying the forest for some time now, following the tracks of the Blast Apes as they moved through the jungle. He had traced their movements back to what he suspected was their hideout. And now, it was time to investigate.

As he moved through the forest, Lyerin carefully analyzed the layout of the terrain.

The jungle was dense with trees, the underbrush thick with foliage. But Lyerin's sharp eyes caught subtle signs—broken branches, disturbed leaves, the faint scent of the apes lingering in the air. He followed these clues with precision, his mind working through the possibilities.

After some time, Lyerin arrived at a clearing.

It was here that he stopped, studying the area carefully.

The hideout was hidden deep within the forest, but there were two potential locations where the Blast Ape children could be kept. Both were surrounded by heavy foliage and guarded by adult apes, but something about the way the jungle was arranged caught Lyerin's attention.

He studied the first location for a moment, noting the thick growth of vines and trees around it.

The guards here were positioned carefully, their movements alert and coordinated. But something about the setup didn't sit right with Lyerin.

He turned his attention to the second location.

This one was more subtle, less guarded but still protected.

The trees here were arranged in a way that provided natural cover, and the ground was softer, indicating that the area had been disturbed recently.

Lyerin furrowed his brow, weighing his options. "The first location is too obvious," he murmured to himself. "The guards are too focused, too prepared. It's a decoy—meant to lure intruders into a false sense of security."

His gaze shifted back to the second location. "But this one… it's hidden. Less guarded, but more secure. They've likely placed the children here because it's less likely to be discovered."

After careful consideration, Lyerin made his decision. He would target the second location. It was the safer bet, and his instincts told him that it was the best option.

He stood up, with a sly smile spreading across his face. "Time for me to make a move."