CHAPTER 183: 183. RIN’S HUNTING

Leo stood in a sunlit clearing deep in the Forest, his chest rising and falling steadily, his katana gripped tight in both hands, its blade wrapped in controlled, crackling flames.

A Dreadmaw Wyrm, a massive underground creature, stood in front of him. Its brown armored scales blended nearly perfectly with the forest floor, and its jagged teeth shone in its wide-open mouth.

The creature, which was almost ten feet long and had a formidable combination of strength and cunning, stared at Leo with ferocious intentness through its slitted yellow eyes.

Leo already had 70 points from the Razorclaw Bear earlier, and it was almost noon, but if he could defeat this fucking monster, it would be worth almost 300 points. His crimson eyes were focused and he raised his katana at the beast.

"Can we end this quickly," he said.

The wyrm let out a deep hiss, its whip-like tail lashing, sending a faint shake through the ground.

[Warning: Dreadmaw Wyrm can burrow and strike from below!] Elynn’s voice rang in his mind.

As the beast charged forward, its enormous jaws snapping just short of his side, Leo’s lips quirked into a faint smirk. He swung his katana in a clear, flaming arc and spun fluidly, his boots clinging to the mossy ground.

A shallow, smoking gash was left on the wyrm’s side as the blazing blade sliced through it, sending sparks flying as the flames bit into its scales.

Since the wyrm’s hide was more resilient than steel, it was able to block the majority of the blow, but the heat was obviously painful, as shown by its sharpening hiss.

The ground shook beneath him, and Leo braced himself, sensing its next move. Like a drill, the wyrm plunged into the ground, leaving a large hole behind as its tail vanished in a spray of dirt and roots.

Leo closed his eyes for a split second, tuning his senses to the forest floor, feeling the faint shakes moving left, then right. His crimson eyes snapped open as the ground burst open to his right.

He rolled forward, barely dodging the wyrm’s snapping jaws as it shot upward, the beast’s thrashing tail slammed into the ground, forcing Leo to jump back to avoid being crushed.

The wyrm burrowed again, its movements faster now. Leo’s jaw clenched, frustration flickering as the beast played its tricky game.

Leo muttered, "It’s getting on my nerves more," as he looked around the clearing for the wyrm’s next move. The tremors intensified and merged directly beneath him. Leo chose to stand his ground rather than run, his katana held high as he poured mana into the blade, the flames growing brighter.

Leo dodged at the last second, using the beast’s speed against the wyrm as it exploded from the ground, jaws wide. His katana slashed downward, leaving a deep, sizzling wound as the blazing edge caught the wyrm’s bare throat.

With its tail whipping wildly, the creature roared and hit the ground, steaming blood.

Leo took advantage of the situation and ran forward, jumping onto the wyrm’s flailing back. His boots found a grip on its writhing form, and he drove his katana into the gap between its armored plates, just behind its skull, where the scales were thinnest.

As the blade sank deeply, the flames surged, burning the wound. With a grunt of effort, Leo was able to twist the katana while the wyrm bucked wildly, splintering the trunk of a nearby tree with its tail.

Before the flames erupted in a last, fiery flash, the wyrm’s movements slowed and its roars diminished to a feeble gurgle as Leo poured more mana into the blade.

The Dreadmaw Wyrm collapsed heavily, its massive body sprawled across the clearing, smoke rising from its charred scales, and it fell silent. Sheathing his katana, Leo leaped off as the flames died down and landed lightly on the ground.

Despite his chest heaved and sweat trickled from his brow, his smirk prevailed.

"Not bad," he whispered.

******************

"This is bad," Rin whispered, crouching in the dense bushes and breathing steadily.

With one pink eye squinted and the other focused on an Ironhide Boar grazing in a small clearing, its massive body crammed with muscle, she notched an arrow.

With his hand reaching to correct her posture, Gregor knelt next to her. "You’re holding up it a little—"

Rin tensed, firmly but gently pushing his hand away in a courteous yet firm tone. "Thank you, I have the form." She was here for the kills Gregor had promised to help her get, not for his lessons or his smooth talks.

She thought about her first encounter with Leonhardt, the archery tip at the Academy, his soothing voice guiding her. The recollection helped her concentrate. Her violet hair swayed in the light breeze, her posture solid as she exhaled and let the arrow fly.

The arrow sliced through the air and hit the boar’s side with a solid thunk. Rin’s face lit up with anticipation—until the arrow bounced off the tough hide of the boar and clattered to the ground. The beast snorted in surprise and dashed off, slamming through the bushes.

Gregor let out a loud laugh in a lighthearted yet amiable tone. "They call it an Ironhide Boar because its skin is more resilient than iron!"

As Rin lowered her bow, a tiny pout formed on her lips and her pink eyes flashed in frustration. Nimbus was lounging on her horse’s saddle behind them, his purple eyes half-closed but silently observing something in the forest.

Gregor took a step forward, his voice soothing and smooth. "Let’s give it another go. I can give you a better angle."

Rin’s jaw tightened as her patience waned. With a soft thud, she put down her bow and called forth her staff, her hand glowing dimly with mana.

With a look of surprise on his attractive face, Gregor blinked.

Rin’s tone was resolute and firm. "I’ll hunt my way—with mana—if arrows don’t work."

Minutes later, another Ironhide Boar grazed in a nearby clearing. Sensing something, its head jerked up, but before it could flee, a massive ice shard that sparkled like crystal struck the boar’s side with a sharp crunch, instantly killing it.

Rin stood far away, her pink eyes gleaming with victory, her staff still glowing. "That’s the fifth one," she said, her voice bright with confidence.

"Let’s keep going."

Her exact, almost vicious blow and the audacious gleam in her smile caused Gregor’s face to go a shade paler, and his eyes widened with a mixture of wonder and unease.

Rin looked down at Nimbus, who was now standing at her feet, his tail fluttering idly. "Nimbus, where’s the next one?"

Rin’s voice was lively as she followed the meowing cat as it padded into the depths of the forest. "We’re not done yet, Gregor, so hurry up!"

Rin’s face was beaming with excitement as she rode back to the camps in the evening, her horse’s hooves kicking up dust. Gregor followed, his emerald-green hair disheveled, his face astonished and nervous.

With her quick and lethal mana-powered attacks, Rin had been unstoppable, hunting not only boars but also a Black Fox and a Spike Serpent, earning her an amazing 210 points.

Her fierceness—and the icy efficiency that caused him to reconsider his strategy of courting her for House Fritzl’s benefit—were unexpected by Gregor, who had anticipated an easy partnership.

Under a flickering mana-lamp at the camp, Royal Army evaluators wearing armor emblazoned with dragons stood carefully recording her kills.

One raised his head, his tone formal but respectful. "Your first day’s hunt has earned you 210 points, Lady Valarune. Congratulations! You came in second."

Rin’s pink eyes narrowed in surprise as her brow furrowed. "Second? Who enters first?

With a level tone, the evaluator looked at his ledger. "With 370 points, Leonhardt Caulem."

Rin’s lips formed a tight line, her excitement waning as her heart skipped a beat. Leonhardt. Her grip on her staff became more firm as she thought about the pebble he had caught earlier, when he had been aloof and had not even looked in her direction.

She felt a surge of both frustration and resolve.