"Haa… I'm tired." Clovis looked at the tent's ceiling while muttering in a low voice. He didn't sleep that much because of the Tier 3 beasts. He came out of the tent while yawning.
Kanaria couldn't help but notice him while bringing some equipment to Jay. "What's wrong with Clovis? He looks more exhausted than yesterday."
Jay glanced at Clovis and said, "He probably didn't get enough sleep."
"Huh? Wasn't he the first one to sleep?"
"Not really. He was probably training all night."
"What do you mean?" Kanaria tilted her head in confusion.
"Our training methods are the exact opposite. I am training my muscles by swinging my blade. Meanwhile, he practices with his imagination."
"Imagination?" Kanaria raised her eyebrows, thinking that usually people would go with Jay's method.
"Yeah. Clovis once said that his method was simply recreating an enemy in his mind and simulating the battle. That was what probably kept him all night."
"Can you even get stronger like that?"
"He can. It's just that instead of focusing on strength or muscles, he is sharpening his intuition and fighting intent. He is probably swinging his sword thousands of times in his own imagination, getting the perfect feeling. That's why his slashes are always so precise. That's why his training is taking a toll on his mind instead of his body. I can't do something like that." Jay shrugged.
"Is that so?" Kanaria rubbed her cheek, not knowing what to do.
"Just let him be. He should know that he needs to take care of his own health. Besides, he will probably ask you if he needs anything."
"Alright." Kanaria nodded. Since Clovis didn't need any help, she turned around, observing all the people inside the camp.
Most of them had just woken up and started preparing themselves. However, one group was already ahead of the rest.
It was Ivan. He forced his group to get up early so that they could start right after the sun was up.
Vina and Elina looked a bit distressed as if they knew what they would do and had a bad premonition about what would happen. The other girl didn't know anything yet.
"Let's go." Ivan glared at them as he started walking toward the woods.
Kanaria couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows. She didn't care about what was going to happen to Ivan, but it was rather pitiful for the people who followed him. Even if Clovis was challenging something, he would always consider his strength first and plan an escape route in case something went wrong.
She didn't know why, but she thought that Lovelia was rather lucky that she left the group.
When Ivan was about to leave the camp, they suddenly heard birds flying into the sky. Not only the normal birds that originally inhibited the surface, but also flying ancient beasts. They all soared into the sky.
Their chirping and cries were filled with anxiety as if something big was going to happen.
Not long after, the beasts began to let out a series of roars into the sky.
"What is happening?" The people panicked after hearing them. They thought they were under attack, but none of the beasts were actually coming toward them.
"What is going on?" Hana emerged from her tent with a serious expression.
The other explorers from her company immediately gathered around her to protect her.
Clovis looked up. His eyes observed the birds while his ears picked up the roars. He muttered inwardly, "Ah this… Isn't this an…"
Before he finished his words, the ground started to shake.
The people suddenly lost their balance and fell to the ground. Clovis fell on one knee and used his hand to support his body, muttering, "We are in trouble."
"!!!" Kanaria gasped, understanding what had happened. "An earthquake?"
Hana hurriedly turned to her guards. "Spread around the area and check all those beasts. They're more likely to cause a ruckus after this."
"Yes!" They answered, but none of them could move. It took their all to just not fall.
Hana gritted her teeth before her butler appeared on the screen.
"Miss. An earthquake has occurred. According to the news, the scale is lower six and the epicenter is not that far from here. What do you want to do?"
"What do you think we should do in this situation based on your experience?"
"Organizing an immediate retreat. The beasts will definitely get enraged because of this."
"Do you think it's possible?"
"The scale of the expedition is too big. And I believe that the first place they will go is your location. In that case, would you like me to go over there?"
Hana thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Not yet. I think this is also a perfect chance to test these people. I want you to remain there and protect our battleship for now."
"Understood." The butler nodded. Although the beasts would go frenzy, it didn't change the fact that she was a Tier 4 human. Killing several Tier 3 beasts shouldn't be that much of a problem.
When the shaking stopped, Hana hurriedly shouted, "Richard, Reyes. Protect our left and right. I will be the one taking care of this side. Also, inform Libation Fiesta to take care of the opposite side. Prepare for incoming beasts, especially Tier 3 beasts. We, four, will be responsible for killing them."
"Yes, Ma'am!" The people began to position themselves accordingly.
"Saul. Spread your men and scout the area around us. The rest will form a square formation to prepare for all incoming beasts."
When they were about to lead their people, including the participants of the expedition, Ivan suddenly came to them and said, "Wait a minute."
"Huh?" Hana looked annoyed.
"Please leave one of the Tier 3 beasts to us. We promise we'll kill that Tier 3 beast."
Hana didn't understand where his obsession with killing a Tier 3 beast came from. However, it shouldn't affect the result too much even if she gives it a chance.
So, she said, "Richard. Change with them. Get ready to step up if something is about to happen."
"Yes." Richard nodded without hesitation, but he also looked annoyed that his job had been taken away. He was glaring at Ivan's group.