Chapter 10: Apex Predator!
The basin below was a whirlwind of desperate combat. Daniel watched, utterly hidden by the pulsating foliage and the natural contours of the rise, his [Aura Sense] providing a constant, subtle feed of the shifting life forces clashing below, supplementing his visual observation.
Darius Holt's team was pinned down, their backs against a jagged cluster of obsidian rocks that offered some protection but limited their maneuverability.
Darius himself seemed to be the tactical core. His defensive Talent flared intermittently, absorbing glancing blows, but his real contribution was his calm, clear commands cutting through the chaos.
"Eliza, left flank, suppressive burst! Marcus, dodge right, Ravager incoming! Seraphina, next strike projection?" His voice remained steady, a vital anchor in the storm of violence.
Seraphina Bellweather was perhaps the most critical element keeping them alive. Her eyes, usually darting and observant, were now closed tight, her face pale with concentration.
Occasionally, she'd gasp out a prediction, "Three meters, low strike, Marcus!" or "Spine Volley incoming, center mass, now!" Her B-grade [Precognitive Glimpse], though likely draining her Spirit rapidly, provided invaluable milliseconds of warning, allowing her teammates to react, to dodge lethal blows or reposition just in time. Without her foresight, Daniel suspected the team would have already been overrun.
Eliza, the recruit wielding electrical energy, unleashed crackling arcs of lightning from her fingertips , a C-grade [Static Discharge] Talent, Daniel guessed.
The energy bolts struck the Spike-Backed Ravagers, causing them to flinch and briefly interrupting their charges, but doing little lasting damage against their surprisingly high Spirit resistance and tough hides.
Marcus, the speed-enhanced recruit (likely a C-grade [Burst Step] Talent), blurred around the perimeter, trying to draw aggro and create openings, his movements fast but predictable, relying more on raw speed than refined evasion techniques.
The Spike-Backed Ravagers (Level 2) were terrifyingly efficient predators. Their Very High Agility allowed them to weave through Eliza's static bolts and sidestep Marcus's flanking attempts with contemptuous ease.
They coordinated their attacks, two or three focusing on Darius's defense while others harried Marcus or tested Seraphina's predictions.