The wolves lunged simultaneously, one aiming for my left side and the other for my right.
With swift reflexes honed through countless battles with the dummies, I evaded their attacks.
Ducking under the first wolf's snapping jaws, I twisted my body and sidestepped the second wolf's charge.
In a fluid motion, I struck back.
My daggers gleamed in the sunlight filtering through the trees, cutting through the air with accuracy...
Now that I think about it, I could have just used my hands to punch them. But...
Anyway, a little practice with my daggers wouldn't really hurt.
I aimed for vulnerable spots—throat, eyes, and joints—as I danced around the wolves, keeping them at bay with calculated strikes.
The wolves growled in frustration as they struggled to land a solid hit on me.
Their claws scraped against the ground, and their fur bristled with aggression.
They circled me, attempting to corner and overwhelm me with sheer force and numbers.
But I was not about to succumb to their onslaught.
With every move, I calculated their patterns.
Honestly, their fighting style was like they were fighting for the first time.
They were just too inexperienced.
But what could I have expected from two Bronze-rank monsters?
Maybe my decision to fight these noobs with daggers was wrong.
'Damn, I should have just smash their heads.'
I feinted left and struck right, driving my daggers deep into the flank of one wolf.
It howled in pain and stumbled back, blood spurting from the wound.
The second wolf seized the opportunity to attack from the side, aiming to catch me off guard.
'Caught you.'
However, I anticipated its move. I spun on my heel, meeting its charge head-on with a swift counterstrike.
My dagger found its mark, sinking into the wolf's shoulder with a satisfying crunch of bone.
Both wolves recoiled, wounded and disoriented.
They exchanged wary glances, their predatory instincts conflicted between the urge to flee and the desire to finish their prey.
But I pressed on, relentless in my pursuit.
'Let's finish this; I'm getting a little tired now.'
With a final burst of energy, I launched myself at the injured wolf.
I delivered a series of rapid slashes, each strike with as much force I can generate.
The wolf thrashed and struggled, but its strength waned with each passing moment.
Finally, with a decisive blow, I delivered the fatal strike.
My dagger plunged deep into the wolf's heart, ending its life swiftly and mercifully.
The forest fell silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the breeze and the fading echo of the wolves' dying cries.
Breathing heavily, I turned to the remaining wolf.
It eyed me warily, bloodied and weary from the battle.
I advanced slowly, my gaze locked with its amber eyes.
The wolf hesitated, sensing its impending defeat.
"No time wasting, pal."
With a calculated thrust, I delivered the final blow, ending its life with a swift and decisive strike.
As silence descended upon the clearing once more, I knelt beside Ethan's unconscious form.
He was alive, though barely.
I checked his pulse and wounds, noting the severity of his injuries.
Without hesitation, I retrieved a Gold-Rank healing potion from my pack and administered it to him, watching anxiously as the magical elixir began its work.
With each passing moment, color returned to Ethan's face, and his breathing steadied.
The healing potion closed his wounds and restored his strength, bringing him back from the brink of death.
Slowly, he stirred, blinking groggily as awareness returned to his eyes.
"Boy, You're safe now," I assured him, helping him sit up against the tree trunk.
Ethan looked at me with a mix of gratitude and disbelief.
"Your combat abilities are rubbish. I know that might sound harsh, but it's the truth."
Although I'm also not that great at combat, at least I can fight Iron-Rank monsters toe-to-toe, unlike him.
But still, I don't think it's his fault... At this young age, who could have?
Forgot it.
'What a pitiful boy...'
"Thank you for saving me, m-mister, but... who... who are you?" he asked, his voice strained from the ordeal.
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Michael Frostburne," I said calmly, keeping an eye on Ethan's reaction.
As soon as the words left my lips, Ethan visibly flinched, his eyes widening in recognition or perhaps surprise. He instinctively shuffled back a few inches, putting a bit of distance between us.
"Thanks for saving my life, sir. I'm Ethan Brooks, but you can call me Ethan,"Ethan said quickly, his voice polite and his tone calm. "Can you please tell me how I can repay you?"
I studied Ethan carefully. Despite his ragged appearance, there was something about him that seemed out of place for a slum boy.
His manner of speaking was too refined, his posture too straight.
But what caught my attention most was his calm demeanor, even in the face of such a traumatic experience and mostly infront of me.
In the human domain, most people recognized my name even though they had never seen my face, only heard it.
The original Michael didn't used to give interviews to reporters like other wealthy kids.
That's why I believe most people only recognize my name because of my father.
I figured this boy might also mistake me for one of those imposters who use the name Michael Frostburne.
I can't blame him though; when you're famous, many people try to copy your name, identity, and sometimes even your appearance to get attention.
I don't know how many people there are with the same name as Michael Frostburne...
I remembered one time when the original Michael actually met someone who looked exactly like him and shared his name.
His reaction was quite surprising.
He probably expected all those imposters to just be rumors...
Anyway, I shifted my attention back to him.
"You don't need to repay me," I replied finally, choosing my words carefully. "Helping those in need is what I do."
Ethan blinked, processing my words. "But... Can you please tell me, why did you save me then?"
I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Because no one deserves to die alone in the jungle, especially not someone as young as you."
That's nonsense.
I only saved him because of my quest, nothing more, but I can't just say that to him.
He nodded slowly, seeming to accept my explanation. "Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome," I said with a nod. "Are you able to stand?"
"Can you go back to the Ambrosia by your own? Do you need any help?"
Ethan nodded again, gingerly testing his strength as he pushed himself upright.
I offered him a hand, and he accepted it gratefully.
As Ethan steadied himself with my help, my attention was abruptly drawn to the shimmering appearance of my system window in front of me with numerous messages.
(Ding, congratulations host, 2 Monster Essences of Wolf has been added to your Character Profile!)
...
(Ding, Congratulations, host! Quest: [Change the Destiny!] has been completed!)
(Objective complete: Save 1/1.)
(The upgrading process of the Appraisal skill has begun!)
(Progress: 10%, 16%, 30%, 45%, 78%, 89%, 94%, 98%, 100%)
(Congratulations, host! Your Appraisal skill has successfully leveled up to level 2!)
'Oh, perfect timing! I was just about to check my rewards.'
A few seconds later, I decided to use my recently upgraded skill on the young boy to see how it had changed after the upgrade.
'Appraise.'
**Name:** Ethan Brooks
...
**Evaluation:** Normal-Rank Hunter
**Probability:** There's an 90% chance of reaching Master-Rank by the age of 25.
"This is ridiculous, I can't believe it..."
I mean, seriously...
He's like the ultimate hero of this story...
I was so stunned, I couldn't even speak...
Becoming a master is itself is a huge accomplishment, but achieving it by 25 is just insane...
Yeah, it's nearly impossible for many people because the life expectancy in this world is similar to my previous world for regular folks.
For higher-level individuals like Ace to Conqueror, they can live up to over 100 years.
Now, some might wonder: if this world is only 100 years old, how can you prove higher-level individuals live longer?
Well, there are hunters in both associations who appear to be 75 years old but are actually over 100.
That's why most hunters strive to achieve the highest rank possible, because in this world, once you reach the age of 50, your ranking stops, and you can't level up even if you meet all the conditions to ascend.
And another thing, your aging process stops immediately when you ascend to Ace-Rank.
What kind of future does this guy have in store?
Lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear Ethan calling out to me repeatedly.
"Sir?" Ethan's voice finally broke through my focus, his hand gently touching my arm to draw my gaze.
Startled, I turned to him, realizing he had been speaking. His words, now registering clearly, conveyed gratitude and a desire to part ways.
"Sir, I think I can walk back to the domain on my own now. Thank you for the potion and your kind words," Ethan said politely, beginning to turn away.
"Wait! You can't just leave like that." I called out instinctively, my mind racing to process the situation.
I couldn't just allow him to leave. A young man like Ethan is so rare, it's like finding a one-in-a-million talent. Having someone like him as a subordinate would greatly benefit me in the future.
Ethan paused, turning back to look at me with a mix of surprise, curiosity and his tone a little cautious. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I mean, Ethan," I began, trying to convey my thoughts clearly, "I believe you have a bright future ahead of you. If you're willing, I'd like to offer you the opportunity to be my subordinate, to learn and grow as a hunter. Together, we could achieve great things."
Ethan's eyes widened slightly, processing my proposal. "You want me to be your subordinate?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "I see potential in you, Ethan. With proper guidance, you could reach heights you never imagined."
"But why choose me? I understand you think I might have potential, but sir, let me be clear: I was born in a slum, so I don't believe I have any promising future ahead," Ethan asked.
That was an unexpected question coming from him.