Hours have passed since the appearance of the Rank 5 Aerial Emperor Monster. And as the morning light reaches its dawn, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf is now on the move towards the Soldiers Outpost Town.
Thankfully, the Rank 5 Aerial Emperor Monster only appears to eat the remnants of the Rank 4 Armored Pillbug Monster. It didn't bother to chase the unknown group of three Adventurers or much less, move towards where the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf is hiding. After eating its late-night snack, the Boss monster returns further within the meadow area of the Inner-Layer.
Since the threat of the high-ranking monster is already gone, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf goes back to sleep to recover their strength. After waking up before dawn, they decided to move further away from the border of the meadow area Inner-Layer and forest area Middle-Layer as a precaution against the chance that another Boss monster might appear near the border.
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf is now halfway through the pathway towards the Soldiers Outpost Town.
With 5 more points needed to complete the 10 points goal to pass the Adventurers Academy Admission Exam, Vier, Mifumi, and Felin prepare themselves to hunt the remaining monsters for their Monster Cores as they move towards the pathway headed to the Soldiers Outpost Town.
But as the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf was about to leave the place where they had their lunchbox breakfast, Felin heard something fast approaching their location.
With Felin's warning, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf hide themselves behind the bushes as they prepare to either fight or run away from whatever might be coming their way.
...Screechhh...
...Rustle...Rustle...Rustle...
As Felin focuses her ears toward the direction the sounds are coming, a screeching sound can be heard coming from a monster, along with rustling sounds of hurried footsteps.
After a few minutes of waiting, three familiar Adventurers came out from the bushes 20 meters away from where the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf was hiding.
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf immediately recognizes who the three Adventurers are. They are the Adventurers they saw fighting the Rank 4 Armored Pillbug Monster last night. It's the group that was responsible for attracting the attention of the Rank 5 Aerial Emperor Monster.
Mifumi and Felin look at the group of Adventurers with curiosity as they wonder why they're running in such a hurry. While Vier, on the other hand, has a look of irritation upon seeing the three Adventurers.
Noticing Vier's unusual reaction, Mifumi and Felin want to ask Vier what is wrong. But even before they could speak of their worries...
...BAMMM!!!...
...Something landed near the group of three Adventurers, making a loud sound of impact along with a cloud of dust that covered its appearance.
When the cloud of dust dispersed, the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf could only stand in terror as they saw the monster that appeared in front of the three Adventurers.
...It's a Rank 4 Blade Reaper Monster!...
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf immediately recognized the monster that appeared in front of them. It's a mantis-like monster that focuses on both Magic and Physical attack. It's a highly offensive type of monster in terms of both attack and speed.
"What is that monster doing here at the Middle-Layer?"
"They're goners. They're totally goners."
"Mhm!... Sensei told us to not fight that scary insect."
Mifumi can only ask the question as to why a monster that is supposed to be at the Inner Layer of the Forest Valley Dungeon is now at the Middle Layer while Vier declares in panic the fate of those three Adventurers as Felin remembers the warning of their beloved teacher.
The Dwarf Cat-eared Elf understands the difference between a Rank 4 Armored Pillbug Monster and a Rank 4 Blade Reaper. Both monsters might be the same rank but on a completely different level.
The Armored Pillbug Monster only focuses on defense, which makes it less dangerous compared to the Blade Reaper, which focuses on attack.
In simple terms, the Blade Reaper Monster is the peak of all Rank 4 monsters in terms of danger and should only be challenged by Silver Rank Adventurers.
While the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf remains hidden, the unknown group of three Adventurers understand that they won't be able to escape anymore and decide to make a stand against the Rank 4 Blade Reaper Monster.
"Rock Spear Barrage!..."
With the Monster Core of her Sorceress Staff, the Sorceress cast her Land Magic skill aiming to impale the Blade Reaper Monster with a dozen of rock spear shooting mid-air.
However, the Blade Reaper Monster easily dodges all the rock spears as it moves swiftly with its wings.
"Sword Art Flame Form - Burning Slash!"
"Sword Art - Double Slash!"
The two Swordmasters, waiting in the direction where the Blade Reaper would dodge, dash towards the monster to attack at the same time.
...Clang!!...
Yet, both of their attacks were easily parried by the blade scythes of the Blade Reaper Monster.
Both the Swordmasters were thrown backward at the strength of the Blade Reaper Monster's counterattack. And after both Swordmasters stumble on the ground, the monster cast its Magic skill.
...Screechhh!...
With its Wind Attribute, the Blade Reaper Monster cast the Wind Blade Magic skill creating two wind blades that fly towards the two Swordmasters still lying on the ground.
The two Swordmasters won't be able to dodge in time. And if the wind blades cast by a Rank 4 monster hit them, it is most likely that their Armor won't save their life.
That's the thought of the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf as they panic seeing the wind blades that are about to reach their targets. But those wind blades never did.
"Prism Shield!"
...BAMMM!...
A series of hexagonal prism shields, something that looks like a beehive structure, appear in front of the two Swordmasters and save their lives from the wind blades.
"Stand up and move!"
At the command of the Sorceress, the two Swordmasters immediately stand up to once again launch an attack on the Blade Reaper Monster.
But even before the two of them can reach the monster, the Blade Reaper Monster has already distanced itself with its swift movement.
"Do something to stop or at least slow its movement, Karna!"
"But I won't be able to protect you and Slain if I did that!"
"Don't worry about me and Renxa. Do want you need to do if you see a chance!"
The fight with the Rank 4 Blade Reaper Monster against the three Adventurers continues as the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf secretly watches.
"What are we going to do, Felin-chan, Vier-chan?"
Even if Mifumi is the leader of the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf, she won't be able to make a decision on her own that would put her friends' lives in danger.
"Mhm!... Let's help them, Mifumi-sama. Before they become goners."
With her good-natured personality, Felin won't be able to abandon those in trouble in front of her.
However, Vier has a different say on that matter.
Vier got scared by the appearance of the Rank 4 Blade Reaper Monster. Yet, her fear was immediately replaced by something. Something that she felt yesterday back at the gathering of Adventurers in front of the makeshift stage.
An odd feeling like someone unseen is staring at her.
An odd feeling that something that should not exist in the ReWorld is standing in front of her.
That odd feeling is what Vier is feeling right now as she looks at the three Adventurers.
"What are we going to do, Vier-chan?"
"Huh?..."
Mifumi's voice brought back Vier's thoughts that had wandered off trying to figure out what the odd feeling she was currently feeling was.
Vier look at Mifumi and Felin. Both of them have a worried look on their face, yet there is an eagerness to help those in trouble in front of them.
Understanding Mifumi and Felin's will, Vier won't be able to say no and tell them that their group should just run away and abandon the unknown group of three Adventurers.
It's not like Vier is a coward. She just doesn't want to put her friends in danger fighting a monster that way out of their league.
But if they escape now and find out later that the three Adventurers died fighting the Rank 4 Blade Reaper Monster, Vier knows that she would feel guilty about it.
It would be a different matter if the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf didn't see them fighting. If they only hear news about a group of unfamiliar Adventurers who unfortunately encounter a Rank 4 monster and meet their ends, then they won't feel guilty about it.
But to abandon those in front of them and learn later that they had perished. That would put a curse of guilt on the Dwarf Cat-eared Elf.
...If only we help them back then...
That's a burden Vier wouldn't want Felin and Mifumi to carry for as long as they can remember.
"Fine... Let's help this group of troublemakers."
"Thank you, Vier-chan."
"Mhm!... Let's beat the scary bug together."