“Urgh?!”

‘What’s up with these beasts?!’ Florence couldn't help but curse. After killing the enhanced wolf, they ventured deeper into the forest. However, they couldn't make it far before a pack of eight wolves encircled them.

‘It’s bad enough that there's many of them, but how can they regenerate so quickly?!’

In fact, they weren't hopeless at first. He managed to blind and incapacitate two wolves using the combination of [Heat Wave], [Flame Burst], and [Engulf]. But before they could finish off the wolves, the other six distracted them.

That was ten minutes ago, and now, both severely injured wolves had not only regained their eyes, but were also as energetic as a spark of lightning!

“Tch, keep retreating!” The spearman yelled, brandishing his spear with one hand. His left and dominant arm was dangling by his side, and his left hand was nowhere to be found.

‘He’s attribute-less,’ Florence couldn't help but curse at the fact. Not all humans can wield mana like him and become a mage, or like his master who uses mana to enhance his swordsmanship. Most were lime the spearman, relying on the innate mana in their body to boost their raw strength.

‘Most people can reach high-bronze, but those who reach silver are talents… He can't die here,’ Florence thought, but he was running out of options as well. He was dry of mana, and he wasn't as strong as the warriors or the archers, making his contribution minimal.

As he observed, the wolves harassed them again, this time, managing to bit the swordsman's sword and throwing it away.

“Shit, what are you lot doing?!” The swordsman screamed, accusing the archers and the mage. Florence frowned, but the archers bit back.

“Calm down!” Florence yelled, his stomach dropping as the wolves prepared to strike again. “Instead of yelling at each other, focus on the battle!”

As he said that, Florence felt a shiver run down his spine. Looking around, he saw that his teammates were looking at him from the corner of their eyes.

“What…”

He frowned, suddenly having an ominous feeling. ‘No way, they wouldn't, right?’ He hoped, but then the four silver ranks exchanged glances.

“TRAITORS!” Florence yelled, abandoning all reason and bolting away. The four silver ranks reacted quickly, reaching out to grab him when small fire balls scattered around the area like a shotgun shot.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The silver ranks backed away, but the wolves pounced at Florence. With the distraction being served, the four silver ranks didn't bother with their leader and ran toward the forest's outskirts.

Unbeknownst to them, four dagger swam in the air, silently following them. Meanwhile, Florence thanked his inner monkey.

+

Breathing heavily as he hugged the tree canopy, Florence watched as the wolves followed his “scent.” He was shirtless, and his palm was bleeding, though he wrapped it with bandages.

Knowing he wouldn't escape from the wolves by running, he used his magic to climb the tallest tree, before creating a small gust of wind to make it seem like he had jumped to another tree. After throwing his shirt that was drenched in his blood in the distance, he held his breath and prayed that the wolves would leave him be.

‘Thankfully, it worked,’ he sighed in relief. Although mana exhaustion would lead to detrimental effects like a weaker sensitivity to mana and/or regressing in ranks, being alive was preferable.

‘I hope those four die a painful death. God, if you're listening, this is the only wish I have in life.’

After praying piously, he looked down, seeing the fresh trail that the pack of wolves left. He didn't leave in a hurry, fully aware that danger was still lingering in the air.

“Are they gone?”

Florence frowned. “Shh, what if they hear you?” He said, though giggling softly at his own words.

“Let's wait for an hour or two, just to be safe. Those wolves…”

“Yes, those children are very special.”

Florence nodded. “Wait, children?” He turned his head, a puzzled look on his face only to gaze directly into a face made of clay.

He froze.

Eve sneered. “You were really distracted. You didn't even feel me poking you in the neck with my sword,” he sighed, shaking his head.

Florence let out a shaky breath. It wasn't his first time seeing a clay man, and he wished he wouldn't have a second time, but…

“What—what are you?” Florence trembled out, debating whether or not to keep using his already empty mana reserves. He still has life force, after all.

“You should know very well what I am, though I'm hurt,” Eve lowered his head. “The correct phrase is, ‘who are you?’”

Raising his head back up, Eve showed a wide grin to Florence, before the latter was grabbed by the collar. Eve lifted the frail mage with one hand, making him dangle in the air without the tree canopy beneath his feet.

“Would you like to free dive?” Eve asked, a twisted smirk on his face.

“Let go,” Florence said, looking at the amused clay man. If he was offered death, who was he to refuse?

‘I’m a coward,’ Florence snickered at the remark. Yes, he was, and between death and torture, he's always pick the former.

“No way,” Eve shook his head. “Let's go down first.”

To Florence's disappointment, however, Eve had other plans for him.

“Tell me, what's the situation in Devlin?” Eve asked while dragging Florence by the neck. He was going straight to the center of the forest, where his kingdom stood

“You better be loose lipped, otherwise, I don't mind opening up another human,” Eve said without sprinkling sugar at the youth.

Florence gritted his teeth in pain, having no choice but to lay limp. On the way down, Eve broke all his limbs.

“I'll never tell you, you monster,” Florence hissed.

Eve chuckled coldly. “Then I'll show you a monster,” he said, not bothering to talk anymore. Florence wasn't one to wail either, simply trying to bash his head as much as possible and hope for death's kiss.

Unfortunately, Eve was secretly healing him with primal energy.

‘I’ll let Kurgos deal with interrogation, I'm not good at this,’ Eve lamented inside. Unfortunately, the man he was waiting for wouldn't arrive for another dozens of minutes.

When they finally reached the clay man base, Eve dropped Florence at the outskirts of his kingdom before rummaging through the man's pockets. He found a few coins, but it seemed like the youth's pockets were full of dead spiders and cobwebs.

‘A map?’ Eve thought when he finally fished out four folded pieces of paper out of Florence’s shirt pocket. Unfolding the papers, Eve shook his head.

‘A letter… no, an invitation?’

[Congratulations on helping my disciple…

…as compensation, you will be invited to partake in the upcoming Heavenly Tribulations. Please head to the Sapphire Tower for more information…

sincerely, Miguel Eugene.]

Reading the content, Eve first frowned, before smiling.

“So… that means, there won't be as many humans protecting the cities?” Eve chuckled, plotting his next move.

+

Meanwhile, Kurgos was sweating bullets, his nerves stretched taut. Behind him were four corpses that he freshly killed, but in front of him was a cloaked man with a golden badge on the left side of his chest.

‘Damn it,’ Kurgos, though unable to see the badge, was able to sense the cloaked man's energy.

‘Of all people, why's there a gold rank?!’