Chapter 72 - 072: Beast guidance

The night passed peacefully.

No strange sounds came from the forest, and the system did not alert Anaria to any danger. By the time morning came, she was already awake and getting herself and the baby ready for the journey.

She tied the baby securely against her chest with a loincloth, making sure the child was comfortable before stepping outside.

Kenai and Kai were already awake as well. They had packed their things and were waiting for her.

Once they were ready, the three of them continued their journey.

Anaria walked ahead, following the map the system had given her. The system remained on alert while they moved through the forest, keeping watch for anything that could pose a danger.

For a while, everything went smoothly.

The forest remained quiet, and the baby stayed calm against Anaria’s chest. They were able to travel without needing to stop.

Then, without warning, the ground beneath their feet began to shake.

Anaria stopped immediately.

Small stones trembled around her feet, some of them rolling down the uneven ground. The trees around them rustled as though something heavy was approaching.

Kenai and Kai stopped as well.

"What is that?" Kai asked.

Anaria was about to answer when the system suddenly appeared before her.

[Host.]

Anaria’s expression became serious "What is happening?"

[Several wild beasts have been released from their territory. They are approaching Host and the mates.]

Anaria looked around nervously "How close are they?"

[Very close.]

[They will reach Host’s current location shortly.]

Before Anaria could say anything else, another message appeared.

[New task has been issued.]

[Task: Capture and soothe the corrupted wild beasts with the assistance of your mates.]

Anaria stared at the system "What?"

She looked down at the baby sleeping peacefully against her chest "How exactly am I supposed to soothe wild beasts while carrying a baby?"

[The baby will not come to any harm.]

Anaria frowned "And what if I can’t do it?"

The system’s response made her expression change.

[The three wild beasts have an extremely high corruption level.]

[Failure to capture and soothe them may result in a drastic event.]

Anaria swallowed "What is the reward?"

[The purified wild beasts may assist Host in locating the place where Rylan is being held and may shorten the journey.]

Anaria stared at the message.

So the beasts could help them find Rylan?

Before she could ask anything else, the system gave one final message.

[Good luck, Host.]

Then it disappeared.

Anaria was still trying to understand what she had just been asked to do when Kai suddenly stepped forward.

"Anaria, climb the tree."

She looked at him "What?"

"Whatever is coming might be dangerous. You need to get somewhere safe."

Kenai nodded in agreement "He’s right. We’ll handle whatever comes."

Anaria hesitated. She didn’t like leaving them to face the danger alone, but the baby was with her, and she knew she would only become a distraction if she stayed on the ground.

"Fine." She carefully adjusted the baby against her chest and moved toward the nearest tree.

She had barely climbed high enough to secure herself when a loud growl echoed through the forest.

The three beasts emerged from between the trees.

They were enormous. Their bodies were tense, their eyes wild, and their movements were completely uncontrolled. They did not look like ordinary animals. There was something almost frighteningly intelligent about their appearance, but whatever reason they possessed had been buried beneath the corruption consuming them.

Kai and Kenai immediately took their positions.

The beasts charged.

Kenai met the first one head-on while Kai moved toward the second.

The forest erupted into a fierce struggle.

Anaria held tightly onto the tree as she watched them fight. The beasts were powerful, but Kenai and Kai were not easy opponents either.

The fight lasted only a short while, but it was enough to leave both men breathing heavily.

Eventually, they managed to bring all three beasts down.

One of them collapsed onto the ground with a heavy thud.

Then the others followed.

Anaria waited until she was certain the beasts had stopped moving before carefully climbing down.

The baby cub had begun crying "It’s okay," she whispered, holding the child closer.

When she reached the ground, she immediately looked toward her mates.

Kenai was breathing heavily, but he was still standing.

Kai, however, had a deep scratch across his arm.

Anaria hurried toward him "Sit down."

"Don’t bother, I’m fine," Kai said.

"I said sit, kai"

Kai immediately sat on a nearby tree root.

Anaria opened her bag and brought out some herbs. She crushed them quickly before applying them to the wound.

Kai winced "It hurts."

"Just try and bear it."

He looked at her but said nothing. Anaria finished treating the wound and then turned toward Kenai.

"I’m fine," he assured her before she could ask.

Then he pointed toward the three unconscious beasts "What are we going to do about them?"

Anaria looked at the three beasts lying on the ground. The system had called them wild beasts, but something about them still bothered her.

They were far too large and strangely built to be ordinary animals. She pushed the thought aside for the moment. "I need to soothe them."

Kenai looked at her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am " She carefully removed the baby from her chest and handed the child to Kenai.

"Hold the baby for me." Kenai accepted the child immediately.

Anaria then walked toward the first beast.

She knelt beside it and slowly placed her hand against its head. The beast was unconscious, but its body still twitched occasionally.

Anaria closed her eyes and began soothing it. At first, nothing seemed to happen.

Then she heard the system.

[Ding.]

[Corruption level decreasing.]

Anaria continued.

The process was not easy. She could feel the strange heaviness coming from the beast, almost as though something dark was buried deep inside it. She pushed through the discomfort and continued until the corruption began to weaken.