“Retreat while we haven't been spotted yet,” Leon whispered.
“We've already been spotted,” Antinoia said, pushing up her glasses.
Her voice was calm.
“They are very territorial.”
“I'm afraid we were discovered the moment we stepped in.”
Kyle's face instantly turned pale. “Then what are those two wolves doing?”
He pointed at two drowsy shadow wolves in front of the cave entrance.
The two magic beasts were lying on the ground with their eyes half-closed, looking completely non-threatening.
“The wolf in front feigns sleep, the better to lure the enemy.”
Bell said the words unconsciously.
Memories from his past life surfaced—a sentence from an ancient book.
“What is Bell saying?” Tia asked, blinking as she held the “hamster.” “Is it some kind of spell?”
“Oh no.” Bell's voice suddenly rose. “We're about to be surrounded!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, a rustling sound came from the surrounding bushes.
Dozens of shadow wolves emerged, closing in from all directions.
They were a size larger than ordinary wolves, with fur as black as ink. Their green eyes emitted a terrifying glow in the twilight.
Kyle's legs began to shake. “Th—th—th—this...” He couldn't even finish a sentence.
Tia's face was deathly pale. The “hamster” in her arms squeaked and struggled desperately.
Leon's hand rested on his sword hilt, his gaze cold. “How many?”
“Thirty-seven,” Antinoia replied, still calm as she pushed up her glasses. “The mission requirement was three. We've encountered twelve times that amount.”
Kyle's voice went up an octave. “Twelve times?! Then aren't we dead for sure?!”
Bell's mind raced. Thirty-seven shadow wolves. Every single one was a D rank magic beast. There were five of them. The strongest was Leon, but Leon was only an eleven-year-old boy. Kyle's fire element control was unstable. Tia's healing magic had no offensive power. Antinoia's water element magic was more for support. And his own earth element magic...
Bell's fingers twitched slightly.
“We can't run,” Leon said coldly. “A shadow wolf's speed is three times that of a human. The moment we turn around, we'll be pounced upon.”
Kyle's face grew even whiter. “Then what do we do?” he cried out, his voice bordering on a sob. “I haven't even been in love yet! I haven't eaten enough barbecue! I haven't—”
“Shut up.”
Before Leon could finish his sentence, Bell had already moved.
With a push of his toes, he shot forward like an arrow from a bow.
“So fast!” Leon's pupils suddenly constricted. His eyes could barely catch Bell's afterimage. That speed far exceeded his peers—it was even faster than some adult adventurers.
Kyle's mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg. “Th—th—this...”
Tia hugged the “hamster” tight, her eyes rounding into circles. Antinoia pushed up her glasses, a flash of surprise crossing the eyes behind the lenses.
Three shadow wolves were the first to pounce, their claws flashing in the air.
Bell stepped to the side and swung his stone sword. The blade sliced through the first shadow wolf's throat. Blood sprayed. The wolf didn't even have time to howl before it slammed heavily onto the ground.
A second shadow wolf attacked from the side. Bell didn't look back; he slammed his left hand into the ground. Earth-colored mana surged from his palm.
The ground exploded as a sharp Earth Spike erupted from the soil, striking the shadow wolf squarely in the belly.
“Awooo!” The shadow wolf let out a piercing scream, its body pinned in mid-air by the Earth Spike, its limbs twitching feebly.
A third shadow wolf leaped at Bell's back. Bell paused his steps and ducked low. The shadow wolf flew over his head. Bell thrust his sword upward, the tip piercing the wolf's abdomen. Blood dripped down the length of the blade.
Bell flicked the sword, sending the shadow wolf's corpse flying to the ground.
Three shadow wolves. In less than ten seconds, they were all down.
Kyle's legs went weak. “Is... is he even human?”
Tia's face turned bright red. “Junior Bell is so amazing!”
A flash of complex emotion crossed Antinoia's eyes.
Leon's fist clenched as he stared at Bell's back. That slender frame, that boy who looked completely harmless, was now radiating a heart-palpitating pressure.
“He...” Leon's voice was a bit dry. “He's become stronger.”
Not just by a little. It was a fundamental transformation.
During their last practice match, although Bell had suppressed him, it had been within an understandable range. But now, looking at Bell's fluid movements, his precise mana control, and his perfect grasp of the combat rhythm—this was no longer the level of a student. This was the combat prowess only an experienced adventurer could possess.
“How on earth did he...”
Before Leon could finish, the surrounding shadow wolves moved. They no longer hesitated. Over a dozen shadow wolves pounced on Bell simultaneously from all directions, leaving no blind spots.
Kyle's face turned pale instantly. “Bell!”
Bell didn't look back. He took a deep breath. Earth-colored mana poured from his body, spreading across the ground like a tide.
The next second, the ground erupted. Countless Earth Spikes burst from the soil, dense and jagged, like a forest of thorns. The pouncing shadow wolves had no time to dodge.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
One after another, the shadow wolves were impaled by the Earth Spikes. Blood splattered everywhere as agonizing howls rose from all sides.
In less than five seconds, over a dozen shadow wolves were down. Some had their hearts pierced and died on the spot; others had their limbs impaled and lay on the ground wailing.
Bell stood in the center of the Earth Spikes, his stone sword hanging at his side. He was covered in blood, but his expression remained calm.
Kyle's mouth was wide open, unable to speak for a long time. Tia's eyes shimmered with admiration. “So... so amazing...”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses, her fingers trembling slightly. “That mana control...” she murmured to herself. “How did he do it?”
Leon stared at Bell's back, a swirl of emotions rising in his heart. Shock, frustration, or perhaps... envy?
The remaining shadow wolves stopped in their tracks. They formed a circle, their green eyes fixed on Bell, but not a single one dared to pounce again.
Bell turned around, his gaze sweeping over the wolves. “Do you want to continue?”
That sense of pressure forced all the shadow wolves to take half a step back.
A low roar echoed from the cave. Every shadow wolf's body trembled. Then, they slowly cleared a path.
A massive shadow wolf stepped out from the cave. It was twice the size of a normal shadow wolf, its fur as black as ink, and its green eyes shimmered with a spark of intelligence.
Kyle's legs went weak again. “Wh—what is that?”
Antinoia's expression changed. “The Wolf King,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “A C rank magic beast.”
Tia hugged the “hamster” tight. “C rank?!”
Leon's hand gripped his sword hilt. “Bell,” he said coldly, “do you need help?”
Bell didn't answer. He just stared at the Wolf King. The Wolf King stared back. The two locked eyes for several seconds. Then, the Wolf King moved. It didn't pounce. Instead, it turned and walked back into the cave.
The other shadow wolves followed it, retreating into the cave one by one. In less than a minute, only the corpses remained in the clearing.
Kyle was stunned. “They... they're gone?”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses. “The Wolf King is smart,” she said, her voice returning to its usual calm. “It knew it couldn't win.”
Tia let out a sigh of relief. “That's good...”
Leon looked at Bell's back and remained silent for a few seconds. “You...” He paused. “How did you do it?”
Bell turned around and looked at Leon. “Training,” he said calmly. “I train every day.”
Leon's gaze was complicated. “Just training?”
Bell nodded. “Just training.”
He wasn't lying. Leovet's training had indeed made him stronger. The high-intensity physical training every day, the precise mana control drills, and the combat simulations—everything had come to fruition at this moment.
Kyle walked over and patted Bell on the shoulder. “Bell, you're too amazing!” His eyes shone with admiration. “You're practically my idol!”
Tia ran over as well. “Junior Bell, you're really so strong!” Her cheeks were flushed. “I... I must learn from you in the future!”
Antinoia approached and pushed up her glasses. “Bell,” she said seriously, “your mana control has reached an advanced level.” She paused. “It's even stronger than some seniors in the graduating class.”
Bell shook his head. “It's not enough,” he said softly. “It's far from enough.” He needed to be stronger.
The five of them headed back. By the time they left the area, it was completely dark. A cold moon hung in the night sky.
Kyle let out a breath of relief and slumped onto the ground. “We're finally out... I thought I was going to die in there.”
Tia sat down as well, gently stroking the head of the “hamster” in her arms. “Good furball, don't be afraid anymore.”
Antinoia looked at the sky. “Let's set up camp here for the night.” She turned to Bell. “It'll take at least two hours to get back to the Royal Capital.”
Bell nodded. “Alright.”
The five of them lit a campfire in the clearing. The firelight illuminated their surroundings and drove away the night chill.
Kyle took out some dry rations from his bag. “Here, everyone, have something to eat.” He distributed the food to the others.
Bell took his portion and took a bite.
“Bell,” Tia's voice interrupted his thoughts. Bell looked up. “Hmm?”
Tia's cheeks were red. “You... you're really so amazing,” she said softly. “I... I definitely want to learn from you.”
Bell smiled. “You're already very amazing,” he said gently. “Healing magic isn't something just anyone can learn.”
Tia's face turned even redder. “I—it's not...”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses. “Bell is right,” she said seriously. “The talent for light element magic is rare.” She paused. “Your healing magic has already reached an intermediate level.”
Tia lowered her head. “Th—thank you... I just... want to heal my mother...” Her voice trailed off until it was almost inaudible.
Kyle laughed heartily. “What about me? What about me?” He looked at Antinoia. “How's my fire element magic?”
Antinoia gave him a look. “You still need to work hard.”
Kyle's smile froze. “Huh?”
Antinoia pushed up her glasses. “Your mana control is too poor.”
Leon sat to the side, silent, just watching the campfire. Bell glanced at him. “Leon.”
Leon looked up. “Yeah?”
Bell hesitated for a few seconds. “Today... thank you.”
Leon blinked. “For what?”
“For protecting them,” Bell said softly.
Leon was silent for a few seconds, then he turned away. “No need to thank me,” he said coldly. “It was what I should have done.”
The campfire flickered in the night wind, casting light on the faces of the five. Each had a different expression, but the same light shimmered in their eyes.
It was the light of hope.
The night grew deep, and the five took turns keeping watch. Bell sat by the campfire, looking at the stars in the night sky as the fire made soft crackling sounds in the breeze.
Rate on N.U.
