Spirit Taming

Once the group had gained enough rest, they noticed that things seemed oddly quiet around the lava plains. The sounds of erupting magma here and there still flowed, but the sound of the beasts nesting near the dungeon had faded.

"I guess since there is not a dungeon here, the beasts could care less about this area anymore." Ella made a note that most beasts were only focused on the environment. It was a good note to take when they might be attracting smaller beasts or a certain species of beast. Especially when it came to food for another beast.

"Clark, you already finished your nap, right? Think it’s weird that this whole place is basically abandoned now?" Isa saw Clark finish cleaning up his small tent. Naturally, she brought him in to the conversation with everyone else.

"I guess I slept a little too long." Clark’s positive demeanor didn’t show any downsides from the cultures of the previous day. But he did look around with a slight confusion. "I would say it’s going to what it would be if there was just a rainstorm through the area. Like, the only reason those beasts came here was the dungeon. I am just glad we didn’t deal with any trouble."

"I know, right? I thought that we would have to use many more techniques to combat the guards when they came back. I didn’t even get to test my swordsmanship on the Solar academy guards." Reese had seen many swords in the broken armor. This left him with the desire to test his sword skills against other forms of swordsmanship learned in other cities. That would be the best way to grow even more.

"That doesn’t sound right." Brad had already donned some estre weights from his spatial ring and was using them to be part of a small morning work out. It was a normal sight at this point since everyone accepted that Brad would be the literal heavy guardian of their group.

"Actually, it sounds very bad. Why would Solar academy City ignore this dungeon after some people returned. Especially since the people that returned had been injured by beasts and rescued by students from another academy. Something like that would surely be a very dramatic event.

"Good, you all appear to have caught up. We are going to move with haste this morning. I already have a safe route mapped out. And remember, going down is faster than going up. Before we go though." Professor Wright gave a hard look to Isa and Ralph.

"The two of you have a beast that finally grew out of its shell. Your blaze elemental will be stronger here but it is over excited. Keep it close to you. Ralph, you have a very unique beast that has dragon blood. Make sure you do not let that smaller amount of dragon energy let your mind go with it. You will need to curb your annoyance and battle frenzy habits." Both of them understood why this was important.

With the blaze elemental by Isa’s side, she would have a much more powerful fire type beast with her. The flame sprite had been on the verge of following a growth plan but tossed that aside to do its own thing. It ended up great, but that left it with the desire to stand alone and test its strength. To show off that it was more powerful than before.

When it came to the dragon welp, the typing might be earth and fire. That didn’t mean that the dragon typing wasn’t there. It was just not the dominant typing due to the fact that the beast was only half a dragon. The natural fire affinity from the fire dragon side and the earth affinity from the lizard side had taken control overall. That was just the life of a half breed beast at times.

"Now let’s run." Professor Wright took the main lead as the group pushed ahead. However, it was less than an hour before everyone noticed that the mists within the fields around Lunar academy city territory had shifted. The air also carried the sounds of battle. More specifically, the sounds of beasts screaming out as they were killed.

"That’s not mist." Clark used the system analysis right away when he saw so much mist stretching all around.

’Hallucinogenic smoke- rare

This is a smoke created by burning certain herbs. The potions needed to create this are rare along with the materials. When burned together, the result is a smoke that causes hallucinations. Some beasts thrive in this environment while others will suffer. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

This is often used by nefarious groups to force beasts in to a rampaging state. All it takes is a damp environment to hold the smoke closer to the ground. Once that happens, there will be a natural reaction. Anger, brutality, and beasts that can not discern their natural instincts from their hallucinations.’

"You have that right. I have seen this before. This is used by multiple mercenary groups. But it was created by the blood moon cult during its larger battles as a scare tactic. They once used it to completely isolate an island while they searched for a beast they could use materials from. Apparently the strongest tamers handled that shoot off of the cult before they found what they wanted." Professor Wright called out her centipede and sent it in to the smoke.

"We already know what caused this then. So why did they not come to the dungeon?" Maria was sure that someone had answers.

"Because they didn’t want it. They want the cities." Clark pointed in to the distance above the smoke. Everyone could see the brighter flames that were all around the distant Lunar city. "They isolated Lunar city while they sent spies to cause chaos in Solar city. Now they are taking both." Clark understood that this was a brutal move that would weaken every city nearby.

"They caused beasts to fight and change the weather. Then they made this smoke. From there, they take over two cities and gain many things to cause trouble. To make more monsters." Clark’s blood boiled as he saw the bright fires in the distance growing. But he also knew that every sound of battle was someone dying or being pushed in to a corner.

"I will be remaining here to help where I can. You will all be leaving. Retreat back to Nova academy and warn them." Professor Wright wanted to help but could not be limited here. It was only natural that she would send away the students who might ot be able to face the beasts or the cultists here.

"We already knew that the blood moon cult was around. We just failed to guess their plans. I believe that we can do what is necessary." Ellas’ words were enough to make everyone nod with her. Clark would have said the very same time and gave an approving smile.

The group watched as Clark called Crim out who had managed to rest up a bit. "I say that we leave our powerful professor to carve a way to Solar city and tell them some details. I will create a bit of trouble here to send away that smoke. We should all be able to resist it some way or another. But Grace and Isa should be able to help my attacks carry away more smoke. We are headed to Lunar academy city ahead of schedule.

"Like I said, I made myself a new meditation technique called the flowing storms meditation technique. Add your wind toward whatever I am using. Just do the best that you can. Between Crim and I, we should be able to make this smoke leave the area before we make it to Lunar city and deal some hard hits."

Professor Wright looked at Clark but understood that this was a hard line for him and the entire group. That they did not start this journey to get stronger just to walk away from trouble. They had their own goals to root out corruption within Nova city. To be able to truly stomp down all the pain and suffering that they and others had been through. While it meant that they needed to still get stronger to handle the strongest of that corruption, they were plenty strong to make a difference now.

"Then follow the rules. Flee from a powerful opponent. Do not leave anything held back. And do not let your emotions dictate your battles. Is that understood?" Professor Wright’s face had shifted in to a cold and calculative battle aura. The feelings that everyone had being near her were of slight fear and also awe. This was the professor Wright that had traveled in her younger years and made waves enough to be remembered years later.

"Oh, and do not worry about Solar city. I will have it freed in just a short while. I can already see the guards gathering at the gates. They have shooed enough smoke away." Professor Wright was gone after those words. She was definitely looking through the eyes of one of her beasts, but that was just part of it. An aura escaped around her proving that they truly did not understand the real power that their professor held back for the entire time that they knew her.