Chapter 55 - He Walks Into Fire
Day ten!
Seriously, they'd made it to day ten since this whole Rift Expedition began! Who would've thought that the first day. Yes, that literal near-death nightmare, would be the worst of it? Somehow, against all odds, things had gone surprisingly smoothly ever since.
Fang had truly stepped up his game. He'd become far better at scouting, always moving well ahead of the group. He led them only into monster territories where they actually stood a chance of surviving.
Tave, too, had grown. His ability to share vision was now becoming a major asset. It was like they suddenly had eyes beyond their limits, and it changed everything.
They faced monsters with ruthless efficiency. With every encounter, Tave would pass along just enough info. Nothing more than needed, but always spot-on to Oriana, guiding her on how to take each beast down quickly and cleanly.
Oriana had also recovered. She was back on her feet and fighting strong again. Her return marked the revival of the team's full strength. And not just hers. Orion, too...
Yes, Orion was back. He had healed, and finally. Finally, he was no longer under that prisoner status.
The team was unified again. Well, sort of. There were no more fights, no open conflict. But Orion kept his distance. He rarely spoke, never lingered. The only time he seemed truly engaged was during a hunt. And even then, he'd leap ahead, striking first, moving outside the team formation.
Then again, Orion had always been different. With his self-reliance, his devastating damage output, and his ability to heal himself, he didn't need much support from anyone. He was a lone force, carving his own way through.