The orc didn't wait any longer. With a savage roar, it charged at them, raising its massive club in a wide arc, ready to crush them in a single blow. Luther, relying on his speed, dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as the club slammed into the ground, creating a crater and sending dirt and debris flying into the air.
"Now this is what I call fun!" Luther shouted with a wild laugh, attempting to draw the creature's attention. His words seemed to work, as the orc turned toward him, completely ignoring the woman.
As the orc lifted its club again, Luther took the opportunity to hurl one of his daggers at its left eye. The dagger flew straight, but the orc, moving with surprising speed for its size, deflected the blade with its arm and let out an even louder roar.
"Well, that didn't go as planned," Luther muttered, stepping back to reassess his options.
The woman, seeing her chance, began channeling mana into her hands, forming a small magical attack. "Keep it distracted a bit longer!" she yelled, and Luther nodded.
The orc charged again, its club raised high. Luther darted to the side, evading the swings with agile movements as each impact shook the ground beneath him. His sharp eyes scanned the creature, searching for any weaknesses.
"Now!" the woman shouted, releasing a burst of energy that struck the orc's side. The attack landed with force, eliciting a pained growl as the giant beast turned toward her.
"Not so fast, big guy!" Luther thought, rushing toward the orc as it focused on the woman. With both daggers in hand, he lunged at one of its legs, slashing deep into the tendon of its ankle.
The orc roared in agony, wobbling from the combined blows. Its club fell to the ground as it struggled to maintain its balance. "Keep hitting it!" Luther called out, stepping back to prepare for another strike.
The orc, staggering from the pain, unleashed an enraged bellow that shook the nearby trees. Despite its injuries, it refused to fall. Gritting its teeth, it hefted its club again, though its movements were noticeably slower, and swung it in a wide arc toward Luther.
Luther dropped to the ground, rolling just in time to avoid the deadly strike. The club collided with a nearby tree, splitting it in half with a deafening crack. Seeing an opening, Luther dashed toward the orc's other leg, aiming for its remaining support.
"Go for its head if you can!" Luther yelled to the woman, who was already preparing another spell. She nodded, mana gathering in her hands as a glowing orb began to form.
While she prepared, Luther slid toward the orc's uninjured leg. With precision and force, he plunged one of his daggers deep into its tendon, twisting the blade to inflict maximum damage. The orc howled in agony, dropping to its knees as its club slipped from its grasp and crashed to the ground.
"Now!" Luther shouted, recognizing the perfect opportunity for the final blow.
The woman unleashed her spell, the mana orb shining brightly as it shot toward the orc's head. The attack struck directly, detonating with a burst of energy that echoed through the forest. The orc teetered for a moment, letting out a weak groan before collapsing backward with a thunderous crash, its massive body lying motionless.
Panting heavily, Luther cautiously approached the fallen beast, daggers still in hand. He observed the orc for a few moments to ensure it was truly dead before relaxing slightly. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he glanced at the woman.
"Nice work," he said with a hint of admiration. "You're pretty strong."
Still catching her breath, the woman managed a small smile. "Thanks… but I wouldn't have made it without you."
Luther knelt beside the orc's chest, rummaging briefly before pulling out a large, glowing mana stone. The gem was significantly bigger and brighter than the ones he had collected from the goblins. He held it up to the light, marveling at its size.
"This'll fetch some serious points," he remarked, slipping the stone into his pouch. Then he turned to the woman. "Want to take some of the goblins' stones?" he offered, gesturing toward the smaller creatures' remains.
She shook her head quickly. "No. You did most of the work. They're yours."
"Suit yourself," Luther said with a shrug, collecting the stones and adding them to his growing stash. "We should move. All that noise probably attracted something."
The woman nodded, her expression tinged with lingering gratitude. "You're right. This place won't stay safe for long after that racket."
They began walking together, keeping a brisk pace and staying alert. Over the next hour, they encountered more monsters: small goblin groups and a few larger beasts. Though they successfully hunted and gathered more stones, Luther couldn't help but notice that the woman was slowing down. While she was capable in battle, her pace wasn't matching his own, and he felt her presence was holding him back.
After defeating a trio of magical wolves, Luther made a decision. Securing the stones they had just collected, he turned to her.
"Look, you've been a big help, but I need to be honest," he said, trying to soften his tone. "I'm aiming to be one of the top scorers in this trial, and your pace is slower than mine. I think it's best if we split up here."
Her face fell slightly, but she nodded after a moment of hesitation. "I understand. You're right. Don't worry about me—I've learned a lot from you already."
"Sorry if I came off too harsh," Luther added, his voice gentler. "But I think you'll do fine. You've got the skills."
The woman smiled faintly, looking up at him. "Thanks, and good luck, Luther. My name's Mia, by the way. I hope we meet again at the end of this."
"Luther," he replied with a nod. "Good luck, Mia."
With a final exchange of looks, they parted ways. Mia headed in one direction, and Luther, now fully focused on his goal, delved deeper into the forest.
For hours, Luther hunted relentlessly, facing increasingly stronger monsters. His pouch filled rapidly with mana stones, and by the time he stopped to count, he had 486.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, satisfied. However, fatigue was catching up to him. His muscles ached, and his movements were no longer as sharp as before. Deciding it was time to rest, he searched for a safe spot.
He found a tall, sturdy tree and climbed it with ease, choosing a thick branch high above the forest floor. Using his cloak as an improvised pillow, he leaned against the trunk, his daggers within arm's reach.
As he stared at the stars through the canopy, his thoughts drifted to Elise. "I hope she's okay," he thought, a flicker of worry crossing his mind. Despite his confidence in her abilities, he couldn't shake the concern.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell into a light sleep, his grip on his daggers firm, ready for anything lurking in the darkness.