Author: Krizzeir
In this age without much better technical and communication development, most of the continent was covered in forests. This forest, although a small one, still covered a rather wide area.
There was a small opening inside the forest area. Most of the trees around the region were burnt and mowed apart, evidence of a recent or maybe an ongoing battle. The clearing was like a flat grassland with many stones and big rocks lying everywhere, providing a good cover.
A little distance away there was a figure of a dried lake. Maybe it was very busy during its heyday always surrounded by animals. But now that it was finished, everyone abandoned it, waiting for it to fill up again to show it's usefulness again.
A few philosophers could even portray a few poems after witnessing the rugged earth around.
The dim moonlight illuminated the surroundings, but it was still quite a hassle to look too far ahead. But in the middle of this forest, fierce cries and roars sounded from time to time which would frighten any normal person. If one got too close, they would even feel slight tremors and shockwaves echoing out.
And if one came face to face where the real battle was occurring one could see a group of four young ladies and a few guards dressed in heavy armours were battling against a strange beast. It was a black coloured beast with four postular limbs. It had a bulging muscular body and looked like a black leopard at first glance.
But if one looked closely enough, he would notice the size of the leopard was way too big. It was at least twice as big as a normal leopard. But surprisingly, in spite of its huge body, it was very swift. Whether controlling its momentum at the right moment or attacking at the perfect timing, everything was beautifully performed. Guess one could call it the instinct of a predator.
Its eyes glowing in the dimly lit environment, providing it with enough visual prowess, it's thick and sharp claws, and it's awareness to the surrounding was definitely evidence of its intellect. It was clearly not a dumb animal. But even as a beast, its ferocity was showing that it was definitely above a level 1 beast.
Like had already battled level 0 beasts, and seen some level 1 beasts fighting in the Virakali Maintains. But this beast was definitely above them, whether in strength or intellect.
Currently, Kiel could see the beast circling around the human mages and the vigilant appearances mages.
And what was surprising even more, or maybe it was to be expected, it was the team made of the girl with the princess attitude, her three beautiful maids. Why princess you ask? Kiel had seen many girls in his previous life with the same arrogance as her. So it was easy to equate her to it.
Although Kiel could only see their backs at the moment, he was sure it was the same group of people who had travelled with them. Why simple first, the number was the same as them. And more importantly, was the cat on the young girl's shoulders. How could Kiel forget about it? After all, it's curious eyes we're proof enough of its intelligence.
The princess was standing in the middle surrounded by the maids in a triangle formation. Everyone as vigilant with their nerves as straight as possible. Kiel wondered if they had spotted him because of his breathing? But from her looks, they had not really spotted him till now. So he speculated everyone with his curious eyes.
The group of girls were here but there were no guards. Maybe the guards level were not high and hence they would instead act as a liability in this fight. Or maybe the girls didn't trust them enough to entrust their backs to them.
But whatever the reason, it gave him a good vibe of being a fisherman for once. Maybe if both sides were hurt, he could take advantage of them. Or maybe he could help the girls kill the beast and earn something from it.
But whatever he chose, he had to first gauze the strength of his opponent and then take necessary precautions. And regarding help towards the fairer sex, Kiel never considered himself a hero. Maybe he will be a hero when he has enough power, but it was not that time now. 🔋
Kiel had heard in front of a high-level beast, numbers didn't mean much. If you couldn't break its hide with quality, quantity doesn't matter. Maybe it was true. And looking at the various injuries and blood on the beast, Kiel was surer of this probability. If only the three of them could cause such injuries to such a ferocious looking beast, they were definitely not low level.
Kiel had even heard that only an advanced mage can easily defeat a level 2 beast. And even if they were not at the advanced rank, the girls should not be far from it.
Kiel had a solemn gaze on his face, as he looked around. Kiel was very interested in high-level magic battles, as he had only read about them in novels. But what was more interesting to him than this battle was actually the cause of this battle.
He was rather doubtful of their battle. Why were they fighting? Kiel couldn't find anything worth their notice anywhere near the spot. And considering the group of iron maidens left their caravan group and subtracting the time to become here, it had been more than half an hour. And the battle was still ongoing. Also, it seemed the battle was far from over.
The beast was also circling around them to fight, not to run away. What was forcing them to go to this extent? Was the beast very territorial? Or maybe there were some other reasons?
After all, you don't fight for obviously no reason.
It's not like you see a mana beast in the forest, and say "Hey beast wanna fight?" And the beast would reply "Sure! Fighting makes us man! Maybe the best man win!" Hehe!
And looking at the beast, it was obviously doesn't appear to be dumb. So even if had sustained such injuries, it would know that the group of girls was definitely not easy to deal with.
And judging from the instinct of animals, it would have definitely run away. And more importantly, why would these group of people for no reason at all come to this apparently nowhere only to pick a fight with a beast. They obviously don't look bored enough. So something was definitely fishy and the cause for this fight.
Kiel had read about numerous cause of 'mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'. So maybe he could try it. But for that, he should at least be an oriole, not some butterfly.
After all, it was better to be safe than being sorry. So keeping a distance at this kind of work was the utmost necessity.
You ask why does Kiel know so much? Well, he has many a time witnessed such things in his previous life. It was no big deal if you are very well known in your work.
Kiel looked around for quite a bit but still didn't notice anything worthwhile. Maybe if he did have enough mental energy, he could figure out something. But whatever now, looking back would be of no value now.
Although he could peek at them, he was too far from them to understand what they were actually saying.
However, Kiel did overhear very faint voices conversing, but they were a little too far away. And there was the ferocious growling of the beast too. He still couldn't hear what they were talking about.
They were most likely discussing how to shoot that kill the wounded beast, right?
Kiel was thinking about various things while observing everything. He was also searching for a closer place to hide and observe. There were too many bushes and undergrowths around. Hence he was not worried about them finding him. But he still had to be as silent and swift as possible.
He was currently inching as close to the opening as possible and as much in stealth as possible. He was very observant may be due to his work, so the sudden change in the fight didn't miss his eyes.
That leopard-like beast couldn't hold it in any longer after circling for a few more rounds. It pushed the ground with all its body weight and using his limbs as springs dove towards the iron maiden group at a frightening speed.
In the next moment, imperceptible flaming arrows suddenly shot forward from one of the maids like figure, aiming at the plunging beast with a sharp whistling sound.
It was like she was waiting for the opportunity to attack. Her reaction speed was also amazingly fast. Even when compared to the S rank special soldiers of his past life, her reaction didn't fall behind at all.
'Looks like they are no amateurs. Hehe! This is going to be an interesting fight!' Although he amused himself while talking, he didn't forget his objective. He was slowly inching forward little by little.
The leopard-like beast let out a low growl. Although it was in mid-air, it swiped its left front limb, generating a chaotic wind that neutralized most of the arrows.
The remaining handful of arrows hit its body but were deterred by its shockingly tough hide. But a small few still wounded the beast a little due to flaming nature of the arrows. But they were in the minority and quickly put out by the winds generated from the beast.
However, the attack deterred the beast to continue attacking further. It changed its direction by generating another gust of wind and landed a little far away. Then it growled again as the girls.
"Damn, how ferocious! It can use elemental attacks. So it is definitely above a level 1 beast. Although I don't know how spells are cast, this elemental attack is enough to confirm my suspicion."
Kiel gasped with his eyes wide. He didn't dare to imagine how strong this leopard-like beast was. It was a level 2 beast at its lowest. Kiel didn't want to think it was a level 3 beast. If it was so, he wouldn't even get a chance to leave today. But a level 3 beast was said to her very sharp senses. As it had still not sensed him, maybe it was not a level 3 beast.
And they were too far apart and also in the dim light, Kiel was unable to confirm the leopard-like beast's strength more properly. Curious about it, he couldn't help but hasten his steps. But still remaining as quiet as possible.
However, Kiel was feeling even more doubtful now.
The group couldn't retreat may be due to the ferociousness of the beast. However, what was stopping the beast to continue. Although a level 2 beast is stronger than the humans at their levels, still it was quite helpless against the four mages. Why was it still tingling itself with them?
Similarly, the four iron maidens we're unable to do much to the beast except some blood injuries too. Why were they not retreating? If it was just protecting its territory, it would surely not chase after them, right?
Why keep acting stubbornly? It was not like it would lay eggs and they are after its eggs.
"Pfft… " Kiel almost couldn't stop his laughter as he nearly fell down while imagining a leopard laying eggs. Anyway, the change in his centre of gravity balanced out his disorientation. So he still proceeded his stealth crawling. He could feel himself nearing his one-metre benchmark to fish… ahem, I meant to observe the battle closely.
And if it's not eggs, pfft… then offspring? But there were clearly no offspring or a mate of the leopard-like beast around.
Kiel just couldn't wrap his mind around this matter, and so he could only continue traversing further towards his benchmark carefully.