The beast before them had a lizard-like body, but its size was even larger than Arya, stretching nearly six feet long. From its movements, it was clear that it was also searching for food.

The only good news was that it was an unranked beast, which meant the team had an advantage.

However, seeing the sheer presence and strength of this creature, Arya began to question the true power of a Rank 1 beast.

"If even an unranked beast is this strong," Arya thought, "then how terrifying would a Rank 1 beast be? Would I even be able to complete my mission of hunting a ten-foot-long Rank 1 beast?"

Lucas narrowed his eyes as he identified the beast.

"Everyone, be careful!" he warned. "This isn't a normal unranked beast—it's a mutated beast. It can fight against Rank 1 beasts without any trouble."

Hearing this, the team tensed up.

"Treat it like a Rank 1 beast, not a normal unranked one," Lucas continued. "Its name is the Wild Draco Beast. Its kind is rare, but every one of them is extremely dangerous."

Arya processed this information.

"So, it's an unranked beast with the strength of a Rank 1 beast—just like how some humans can fight above their level," he thought.

That explained why he had sensed such a powerful aura from it.

Henk, the strongest among them, didn't seem fazed. Instead, he grinned.

"Finally! A real opponent," Henk said. "And our dinner, too."

Arya also felt confident that he could defeat this beast alone—but not without injuries. If he used his full strength, he was sure he would win, but he preferred to keep his abilities hidden.

While they were talking, the Wild Draco Beast had been watching them carefully, as if trying to decide whether to attack or retreat.

It was aware that the team had strong cultivators and that its chances of survival were low.

But hunger had overpowered its instincts.

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With a sudden roar, it charged straight at them.

Lucas acted immediately.

"You two, flank it from the sides!" he ordered the brothers. "Arya, watch for unexpected threats while we fight!"

Then, he turned to Henk.

"Henk, are you ready?"

Henk cracked his knuckles.

"Oh, I've been itching to beat this thing up," he grinned. "And have a good meal afterward!"

The beast was now only a few meters away.

Lucas nodded.

Both he and Henk summoned their Seed Rings.

Lucas's rings glowed with half-white, half-pink colors.

Henk's rings were similar in rank but had a yellow stone, marking him as an Earth Element cultivator—a rare path in the Asur Water Continent, especially for a Weapon Master.

As Arya observed, Henk transformed his Seed Rings into a pair of armored gloves.

"I'll hold it down," Henk said. "Finish it when you get the chance."

Lucas nodded.

With that, Henk charged forward, meeting the Wild Draco Beast head-on.

Despite being Level 29, a Weapon Master, and having a Seed Weapon that enhanced his physical abilities, Henk was at a disadvantage in raw power.

However, he made up for it with experience and agility.

Meanwhile, the two brothers activated their Wind Element Seed Rings and launched long-range attacks to assist him.

Arya, as instructed, kept watch for surprises while also analyzing how the team fought together.

"This is good experience for me," Arya thought as he observed their coordination.

Lucas, waiting for the right moment, finally saw an opening.

He activated his Water Suppression Skill—a control-type ability that slowed the beast down.

The Wild Draco Beast stiffened, its movements sluggish.

The brothers took their chance—two air bullets shot toward its eyes.

One hit the target, while the other missed.

The beast let out a roar of pain, but before it could react—

A hand, clad in metal gloves, pierced through its throat.

The struggle ended in an instant.

Even though magical beasts had tougher bodies, making it almost impossible to pierce them so easily—

Henk, in his Weapon Master form, had his gloves equipped.

That made all the difference.

Lucas exhaled and smiled.

"Good teamwork, everyone," he said. "That was our first real hunt as a team."

Everyone nodded, pleased with the result.

"Let's set up camp before nightfall," Lucas added. "Then, we'll have a proper feast."

As the group prepared, Kred—who had been harboring a grudge against Arya since the test—couldn't resist taking a jab at him.

"Not everyone actually participated in the hunt," he muttered, eyeing Arya.

His brother immediately scolded him.

"Don't talk nonsense, Kred."

But Lucas didn't ignore it.

"It was me who assigned Arya to watch for threats," Lucas said firmly. "It's an important role—just as important as fighting."

"And for your information," he continued, "Arya already participated in two hunts today. So think before you speak."

Kred had no response. He just looked away, frustrated.

Henk, who was dragging the beast's corpse, had heard everything—but he didn't bother to say anything.

To him, small quarrels like this weren't worth his time.

Arya, on the other hand, simply rolled his eyes.

He wasn't interested in arguing with someone like Kred.

"Talking back to someone like him is a waste of words," Arya thought.

Instead of giving Kred the satisfaction of a response, he simply ignored him.