The Blackpine Knights move out

Fabien led his unit onward along the southern tributary.

The river ahead gradually narrowed, reeds stretching along the shallows on both banks.

At regular intervals, the scout knights drove Holy Silver Resonance Spikes into the water again to detect the vibrations they were looking for.

When the unit reached a confluence, the knight keeping the records suddenly raised a hand. "Sir, the vibration patterns are overlapping!"

Fabien stepped closer and saw that two patterns appeared several seconds apart, with differing directions. One came from due south, the other from the southeast.

Dozens of Gillsplitter Beasts had just entered from upstream and lingered in the water. Some turned toward the deep water to the south, while the others swam down the southeastern tributary.

Fabien glanced at the waterway ahead. "Stop here for a moment. Record both sets of vibration patterns in full."

The Blackpine Mobile Unit halted on high ground outside the confluence. The scouts spread out along the banks to take measurements, driving several Holy Silver Resonance Spikes into the two waterways.

Standing between the two tributaries, Fabien reviewed the records. "Add this to the report for command: there may be more than two Command Beasts ahead."

He also ordered the assault team to maintain battle formation. The main unit stayed where it could quickly withdraw to the patrol road, while the scouts continued along both banks to verify the signals.

The Central Command Tent soon received the new report.

After reading the short code, Shien immediately had Maren draw the third vibration pattern onto the River Network Map.

The two directions extended toward the southern deep-water area and the southeastern tributary. "Send orders to the other tributaries. Have them check for underwater vibrations."

Shien then retrieved the River Network Map of the Water Spirit Defense Zone, circled every tributary