The jungle was alive with movement, its dense foliage shrouding the figures navigating through its depths. Three warriors pressed forward, their eyes sharp, their senses alert—each carrying their own ambitions and burdens.
Jasmine led the way, her twin daggers strapped securely to her thighs, her fiery auburn hair tied back in a practical braid. She was focused, methodical—a warrior who spoke little, but her presence alone demanded respect. Her emerald eyes scanned the environment, searching for signs of their next hunt.
Beside her walked Bella, a lithe and graceful fighter . She wielded a staff adorned with shimmering beast crystals, her raven-black hair cascading down her shoulders like silk. Unlike Jasmine, Bella was more expressive, her curiosity boundless as she traced the crystals on her arm.
Trailing behind them was Cadel, the most boisterous of the trio. His broad frame and confident grin made him stand out, his heavy sword strapped across his back, gleaming from battle. He was a natural fighter—raw, instinctual—but also a relentless flirt.
At the moment, his attention was locked onto Jasmine.
"You know, Jasmine," Cadel began, stepping up beside her with an easy smirk, "I think we make a great team. You with your deadly speed, me with my unrivaled strength—imagine what we could accomplish… together."
Jasmine didn't so much as glance his way.
"Focus on the mission, Cadel,"she replied coolly, adjusting the grip on her dagger. "We're here to hunt, not waste time."
Bella snickered from beside them. "You really don't give up, do you, Cadel?" she teased, her tone filled with amusement as she twirled her staff.
Cadel placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. "Come on, Bella. You see it, don't you? The chemistry? The fate pulling us together?"
"I see Jasmine resisting with all her might," Bella shot back, laughing as Jasmine sighed heavily.
The group pushed forward through the thick jungle, their banter continuing as they moved, filling the tense air with something almost normal—as normal as life in a place filled with magical beasts could be.
Cadel, never one to let silence linger too long, sidled up beside Jasmine again, arms folded behind his head with a lazy grin. "You know, Jasmine, ignoring me only makes me more persistent. It's a challenge now. A personal quest."
Jasmine sighed, but Bella could see the faintest twitch of amusement at the edge of her lips.
"Cadel", Jasmine deadpanned, eyes fixed forward, "do you think if we run into a beast right now, it'll eat you first just so it doesn't have to hear you talk?"
Bella burst into laughter. "I think that's a real possibility!"
Cadel clutched his chest dramatically. *"You wound me, Jasmine. Deeply. But see, that only proves my point—my presence affects you. That means progress."
"It means you're getting annoying," Jasmine corrected, adjusting the straps on her daggers as she walked. "Some people train in silence, you know."
Bella smirked, nudging Jasmine playfully. "Come on, Jas, admit it—you don't hate his attention."
Jasmine exhaled, shaking her head with a faint smirk. *"I hate distractions. And Cadel is the human embodiment of one."
Cadel grinned, unbothered as always. "I prefer 'charming force of nature,' but I'll take it."
They continued forward, the atmosphere between them light despite the ever-present danger of the jungle. They were warriors, hunters, but more than that—they were a team. And even though Jasmine acted uninterested, Bella could see it—the familiarity, the comfort, the unspoken camaraderie between them all.
"You two are impossible," Bella muttered, shaking her head with a fond smile.
"And you love it," Cadel replied smoothly.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I tolerate it."
Bella laughed again. The hunt was dangerous, the jungle merciless—but at least, for now, they had each other .
The jungle grew unnaturally silent, the air thick with tension as the trio advanced through the dense underbrush. Jasmine's grip tightened on her daggers, Bella's fingers curled around her staff, and Cadel's eyes darted around, scanning for movement.
Then it struck.
A monstrous creature,cloaked in shifting winds, lunged from the depths of the jungle. Its form was sleek and feline, yet its grayish scales,shimmered like liquid night, absorbing the moonlight instead of reflecting it. Razor-sharp claws raked across the ground, splitting the earth, while its glowing violet eyes locked onto the hunters.
*"Air leopard,"* Jasmine hissed, recognition flaring in her emerald gaze.
*"Not just any Air leopard,"* Bella murmured, her voice tense. *"This one is charged with wind magic—look at its aura."*
The beast growled, its entire body shifting like living shadow, twisting, reforming, warping. Then, with blinding speed, it lunged.
Jasmine acted first, her twin daggers igniting in bursts of brilliant flame. She vaulted forward, the jungle's humidity sizzling against her heat, slashing in a flurry of molten strikes. Her blades left behind scorching arcs of fire, illuminating the battlefield in golden-red flashes.
The Air leopard twisted, dodging effortlessly. Too fast. Too unpredictable.
"Bella—block its path!" Jasmine shouted.
Bella planted her staff into the earth, channeling the jungle's raw energy. The ground rippled, vines and jagged stone erupting from beneath, attempting to box the beast in.
But it was smart.
The creature leaped, avoiding the trap with an unnatural grace, then turned—eyes flashing—and struck.
A wave of darkness surged from its claws, slicing through the air straight for Bella.
"h no, you don't!" Cadel stepped in, his palms whipping forward, summoning a tempest of sand, golden grains exploding outward in a defensive vortex. The two opposing forces collided—dark magic against shifting dunes—the impact sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
Jasmine took advantage of the distraction, rushing forward again, her flames roaring to life.
Twin Blazing Fang!
Her daggers burst into searing pillars, and in one motion, she twisted mid-air, striking downward like a meteor.
The Darkfang dodged—but barely. Its shoulder singed, smoke rising from the fresh wound.
Bella slammed her staff into the ground again, and this time, massive roots erupted, entwining around the creature's legs. It snarled, struggling, darkness swirling to break free.
"Cadel!" Bella called. "Finish it!"*
Cadel's grin widened. "Gladly!"
He **raised his hand**, the ground **shifting beneath his command. The jungle floor collapsed—an enormous **sand pit opening beneath the Darkfang.
It fell, trapped just for a second.
And that second was all Jasmine needed.
She descended.
Her daggers pierced straight into the creature's skull, flames engulfing it.
The jungle exploded in a brilliant glow, heat erupting outward, consuming the darkness entirely.
Silence followed.
Then—nothing remained but smoldering embers
Jasmine exhaled, wiping sweat from her forehead, standing over the charred remains of the beast.
"That," Bella breathed, shaking her head, "was insane."
Cadel let out a low whistle. "Now tell me that wasn't the flashiest battle we've had yet!"
Jasmine rolled her eyes, flicking the soot off her dagger. "If you talked less and fought more, maybe we'd win even faster."
"That was painful ." Cadel said, winking at her, "but since it's frome you I will take it anytime."
"Let's go."
And off they went.