I pulled out my staff, letting the smooth material slide into my grip, and channeled Essence into it.
The weapon responded instantly, extending to its full seven-foot length with a low hum as it stabilized.
Twenty feet ahead stood the man—the hidden Master-ranked individual.
I took a breath and weighed my options. I could try to engage him head-on, or I could bypass him and get to Steve. But fighting him carried a serious risk.
Master rank meant anywhere from level 101 to 200. That range was massive. If he was just over the threshold, I might have a chance. But if he was anywhere near the high end... I'd be walking into a fight I couldn't win.
The odds of that were low, sure. But not zero.
That was enough to push me toward the second option—avoid him, regroup with Steve. Of course, just because I didn't want a fight didn't mean he'd let me go without one.
I braced myself, ready for either outcome. If he moved, I'd react. If not, I'd keep moving.
I picked up my pace and changed direction slightly, angling away to avoid crossing his path.
The rest of the unit moved with me, adjusting their formation to match. I kept my perception locked on all four of the hidden figures, ready to respond at a moment's notice.
The man heading toward North was getting closer. She was still standing there, casually talking, unaware of the danger behind her.
The man nearest my group didn't move. He remained completely still, watching us shift direction without reacting. Still enemies were sometimes the most dangerous ones.
[Psynapse Boost] and [Essence Engine] remained active, humming steadily under my skin. My body was primed, alert—every sense sharpened for battle.
Then the man near Steve started moving toward him.
And that was it for me.
I wasn't close enough to intervene directly, but I could pull him out into the open.
I channeled 50 units of Essence into Strength, locking in a permanent boost of 25 units to Strength. My muscles swelled, coiling tight with power, especially in my right arm as I gripped the staff.
Then I skidded to a stop, twisted my body, and hurled the staff with all the strength I could muster. No abilities. No finesse. Just pure force.
The staff flew from my hand with a loud whoosh, slicing through the cold air like a spear aimed straight at the man heading for Steve.
Steve turned just in time. His hand went to his sword as his squad tensed up. But the staff wasn't meant for them.
It shot over their heads, whistling through the night air, aimed directly at the hidden figure behind them.
And finally, the man moved.
I couldn't see him, but I felt the sudden flare of energy in that space. He activated something, a barrier or technique, that stopped the staff mid-flight. A heartbeat later, the cloaking around him shattered, and he became fully visible.
Steve and his squad immediately drew their weapons, shifting into combat stance as realization dawned on their faces.
I exhaled and broke into a sprint, this time faster and more focused. I still didn't look toward the other hidden man near my group, pretending I hadn't sensed him.
My legs pounded against the snow, pushing me farther and farther from the rest.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Steve and his squad surrounding the newly revealed man. They were speaking to him now, probably asking who he was and what he wanted.
The man near North had stopped as well. He stood still, silent.
So did the one close to my unit.
This was my opening.
I bent my knees low and let Essence surge into my legs. Then I activated [Seismic Burst].
Boom.
The snow exploded under my boots, a deep rumble shaking the frozen ground as my body rocketed forward like a cannonball.
The sound echoed sharply across the snowy field. Heads turned. Eyes widened.
I landed hard, boots slamming into the snow. Ice sprayed outward, but I didn't stop.
I pivoted sharply, twisting toward the faint ripple of presence I'd sensed behind North.
Still there. Still too confident to move.
I bent low again, Essence fueling my legs. My breath fogged in the freezing air as I focused on the subtle distortion just a few steps beyond North.
Then I launched.
Snow blasted behind me as I tore across the field, a blur of motion cutting through the cold.
I threw my weight into the strike, fist aimed straight at the shimmer in the air where I felt the man hiding.
The impact cracked like lightning. A sharp flash of force resisted me, some sort of defensive field but my punch pushed through the veil.
Snow froze in midair for a moment as energy exploded outward.
And then he appeared.
The man flickered into view, his cloak snapping in the wind, pale eyes narrowing as he stumbled backward.
He was tall. Calm. Dangerous.
I pressed the attack. My left hand swept low for a shot at his ribs, but he was fast—faster than I expected. He caught my wrist mid-swing and twisted, his grip ironclad.
Before I could counter, he pivoted and threw me.
I flew back as my body slammed into the snow and skidded across the ice-crusted ground.
I gritted my teeth, groaned, and rolled back to my feet.
My eyes darted between both men. They wore black cloaks, just like the one fighting Arkas. No weapons in sight. I scanned them quickly using my Psynapse, hoping to get some idea of what we were dealing with.
Nothing.
Just question marks hovering over their heads.
I looked around, searching for Steve. Our eyes locked. I didn't need to speak. I let my expression do the talking. North was in danger.
Steve blinked once in understanding.
In the next second, blue lightning burst across his body and he vanished from his spot, darting straight toward the cloaked man near him.
I inhaled sharply, steadying my breath.
Essence surged through my body like wildfire, pushing away the cold. My feet moved on instinct as I broke into a sprint toward the man again.
As I ran, I yelled out, loud and clear.
"Everyone, follow Steve!"
I needed them to pile on, to keep that guy engaged. I'd take this one myself.
From behind me, I heard North's voice.
"Billion!"
I didn't look back. I just answered.
"Help Steve!"
My thoughts raced as I closed the gap. How could I deal with this man without revealing everything?
Essence was off-limits.
I decided to lean into fire. Everyone already believed that was my main affinity anyway. It would sell the illusion.
I poured Essence into my legs and exploded forward.
The snow behind me shattered as I appeared right in front of the man.
My heart pounded in rhythm, automatically gathering energy and producing Essence for me to work with.
I pulled my right arm back, muscles tightening with Essence. Then I drove my fist straight at his head.
He didn't flinch.
His hand came up fast, catching my punch in his palm like it was nothing.
A shockwave burst out from the impact. Snow exploded around us, lifted and tossed by the force.
I didn't let up.
My left hand shot forward, aiming for his ribs.
This time, I utilised my passive ability. The muscles in my arm compressed and twisted, condensing power before releasing it in a coiled strike with even greater force.
I tracked every tiny motion he made and I saw him tilt his torso just slightly to avoid it. I clenched my jaw, activated [Seismic Burst] from my elbow, and redirected the angle mid-swing. The punch curved like a whip then slammed into his ribs.
Boom.
A loud crack followed. The man's body skidded backward through the snow.
I didn't wait.
My knees bent. I lunged forward again, this time spinning my body. My legs came around like a hammer, targeting his chest.
Just as my kick connected, I shifted my internal Essence and ignited flame through my feet.
Fire roared from my soles, right as my foot smashed into his chest. I allowed the fire to compress and explode.
Boom.
The impact sent him flying. His body slammed into the frozen ground, sliding across the snow before coming to a stop.
I exhaled slowly and straightened up, steam rising from my skin. My heart was still racing, my hands tingling with leftover Essence.