Chapter 1591: Charging At Them

Cody immediately assumed a defensive stance as the team leader. His eyes swept the tall grass while he kept his attention on the rustling sounds around them.

Whatever was hiding out there had a Magic signature, and he had no idea what it could do or how dangerous it might be.

If something attacked, he would do everything in his power to protect his teammates. Captain Adrien entrusted him with this mission because he believed Cody could handle the responsibility, and Cody had no intention of letting him down.

More importantly, he refused to let any of his men get hurt because he failed to make the right decision.

The other three soldiers remained alert, but their tense expressions revealed the worry they struggled to conceal.

This was different from the combat exercises they regularly conducted at the base. They had trained against armed opponents and practiced using their Magic under controlled conditions, but those exercises could not fully prepare them for an encounter with an unknown creature that had a presence that made the air feel heavy.

For the first time they faced the possibility of a genuine Magic threat.

Cody noticed their uneasiness and understood it well because he felt the same apprehension himself. However, he knew that showing his own fear would only make matters worse.

As their leader, he needed to remain calm for the others to follow his example.

"Close ranks. Back to back," he ordered.

The three soldiers immediately followed his instructions, moving closer until they stood with their backs toward one another.

They raised a pistol and aimed toward a different section of the surrounding grass.

"Stay together," Cody added as he positioned himself among them and scanned the area.

"Yes, sir!" they answered almost simultaneously.

Cody watched the grass for several more seconds, searching for any sign of an approaching threat.

Nothing emerged, and the rustling was still difficult to locate. Once he was reasonably certain that nothing was about to attack them, he reached for his communicator.

"I’ll report this first. Keep your eyes open and don’t lower your guard."

The others acknowledged his order while Cody established a connection with the military base.

He reported their current situation, explaining that they had detected movement in the grass and that the presence appeared to carry an unusual Magic signature. The team remained on alert and prepared to engage if the unidentified creature proved hostile, although Cody made it clear that they still lacked enough information to determine what they were dealing with.

Captain Adrien answered a moment later. "Understood. Keep observing the situation and do what you need to do, but don’t take unnecessary risks. If you think you can’t handle it, pull back immediately. Your lives come first."

"Roger that."

The communication ended.

He had no intention of fighting an unknown creature simply to prove his courage. His responsibility was to complete the investigation and bring his team home safely with the intel, not to throw their lives away.

If the situation became too dangerous, he would order a withdrawal without hesitation.

The rustling continued around them, but its movement gradually became more peculiar. Rather than approaching directly, whatever hid in the grass seemed to circle the team while maintaining a certain distance.

The sound shifted from one direction to another, as though the creature deliberately avoided coming too close.

Cody narrowed his eyes and turned his head to follow the movement, trying to determine whether the creature was hunting them or just observing them.

Then the rustling began to move away.

The three soldiers exchanged uneasy glances before looking toward Cody, waiting for him to decide what they should do next.

He remained silent for a moment while considering their options. They could return to the vehicle and report what they had discovered, but leaving without investigating further would mean abandoning the mission before they obtained even a glimpse of the creature.

On the other hand, blindly chasing it into the grass would be foolish.

After weighing the risks and his own capability, Cody finally made his decision.

"Let’s follow the sound," he said. "Slowly. Keep your formation and watch our surroundings. If anything looks dangerous, we run. Don’t wait for me to repeat the order."

The others nodded. They understood Cody’s leadership style well enough by now. He always prioritized their safety over pride or the desire to complete a mission at any cost.

He would rather retreat and admit that they lacked sufficient information than force his team into a battle they could not win.

Because they trusted his judgment, they had learned to follow his orders without unnecessary arguments, especially when the situation demanded immediate action.

Cody took the lead and began moving toward the direction of the retreating sound.

He kept his pistol ready while gathering Magic around his body, preparing to create a shield if the creature suddenly attacked.

The other soldiers followed close behind, maintaining their formation as they pushed through the tall green grass.

The rustling continued ahead of them, always moving just far enough away to remain out of sight.

Whenever Cody thought he had narrowed down its location, the sound moved again, leaving him with the uncomfortable impression that the creature knew exactly where they were and was deliberately keeping its distance.

Cody frowned as he studied the grass. "Base, are you seeing this?"

"We can see your position and the movement around you," Captain Adrien replied through the communicator. "Keep following it until you get a visual on the creature, but don’t pursue it if the situation changes. Report anything unusual immediately."

"Roger that."

Cody secured the communicator and continued forward. With every step, the tension seemed to grow heavier. His teammates kept their weapons raised, and their breathing became more noticeable in the otherwise quiet plain.

Their heartbeats quickened as they moved deeper into the grass, each of them wondering what kind of creature could produce such a powerful Magic signature.

Cody could hardly blame them. He kept his attention on the rustling.

The rustling suddenly grew louder and approached at an alarming speed. The grass ahead shook violently as something rushed toward them, closing the distance in the space of a few heartbeats.

The three soldiers widened their eyes and instinctively tightened their grips on their pistols, their bodies tensing as they prepared for the worst.

Cody felt the danger approaching, but he forced himself to remain composed. "Stay calm!"

He thrust his free hand forward and released his Magic. A translucent shield formed around the group just as the grass burst apart, revealing a creature with black skin, long limbs, and a long neck.

Its narrow head thrust forward as it leaped toward them. The creature moved with startling speed, straight at Cody and the others.

A loud crack rang across the plain when it struck the shield.

The impact sent a violent tremor through the barrier. Bright ripples spread across its surface as the creature’s momentum crashed against Cody’s Magic, and the force pushed him several steps backward.

He gritted his teeth and struggled to maintain the shield, feeling the impact travel through his arm and shoulder.

The soldier behind him immediately braced his back against Cody’s to keep him from losing his balance, while the other two maintained their positions and kept their weapons trained on the creature. Their quick response prevented the formation from breaking apart.

"Are you all right, sir?" one of the female soldiers asked, her voice tense as she watched the creature recoil from the shield.

"Yeah. I’m fine," Cody answered, straightening himself as he steadied the barrier. He kept his gaze fixed on the creature, which had landed several meters away and now faced them through the tall grass. "Let’s take a good look at what we’re dealing with."

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