"Oh My Gosh! What the F…?"
"Leonard ?"
"Is that really Leonard?"
As all of them were really shocked to see that their arrogant teammate who left them was lying on the ground, most probably dead!
Yes you heard it right!
Leonard was actually dead with his body turned and it wasn't moving at all!
========================
"This guys are so irritating and I don't want to stay with them for any longer"
Having said that, Leonard left his team and after walking for some time, he saw a big man with 190 cm of height and a thick beard.
Huh!
"Who are you? And what do you want"
Leonard asked as he was feeling a little scared.
"Haha! I am one of the Poachers and Your best enemy"
Immediately, Leonard checked whether there were any other friends who were accompanying this poacher.
Fortunately , he couldn't see any other poachers along with him.
Such a relief for him!
Whoosh!
"Hey you F**king Poacher, can you get away from me?"
Huh!
Such an arrogant kid!
The poacher was already angry as Xerox and his teammates escaped having killed all the poachers who were sent to kill them.
"Don't you think that I am here to kill you little kido!"
"Don't interfere in my way, or else you may regret it later"
Leonard actually took this poacher so easy as he thought that just like any other poachers he could easily kill him and moreover he was just by himself.
Just as our life is full of unexpected events, this poacher was not like other poachers.
(A mouse might be scared of a cat because it knows the cat can catch it. But it wouldn't feel the same fear of an elephant, even though the elephant is much stronger, because the mouse can't imagine the elephant as a threat.)
The same theory goes here:
Those students who were just Rank 1+ can't really discover the power of poachers who were Rank 4.
Instead they might just fall into trap and consider those Rank 4 as Rank 3.
Here in this situation, Leonard was like a mouse who took his opponent so easy but indeed it was not!
"Hehe! You little kid, do you think I am as weak as others? No you are wrong if you think in this way"
"You talk so much of nonsense and I am going to shut your F**king mouth today"
As Leonard activated his Skill…..
"Thunder Saber: Power Strike"
The poacher didn't give any damn on his attack as he barely moved and was confident that he could easily dodge it.
-BOOM!
The attack was hit on the poacher…..
However, just as expected the poacher felt nothing at all as he was standing so strong and rigid.
"No Way!"
"Okay Boy! That was a nice move. I will give you second more chance"
"Thunder Saber: Power Strike Triplex"
-BAM!
Even after a second try, the poacher was still standing so strong at the same position.
But this time he didn't speak anything but directly gave a powerful punch over his abdominal part and within a second, Leonard fell on the ground.
-AHHHHHHHHHHH!
"You are such a weakling A**"
As the attack was so hard and finally Leonard was killed.
================================
"It's impossible! Is it really Leonard?" Roger asked upon seeing his body lying on the ground.
"Haha …Haha!"
A big laughter came out of nowhere and this really shocked all of them.
"Are you his friends? I have recently Killed this weakling A**"
Indeed, it was the poacher who had killed Leonard a moment ago.
"We need to take him down and let the professor know what's going on."
Even though Elis felt nervous, she noticed something strange.
The man in front of them didn't seem as strong as the last enemies they had faced.
"Wait! Be cautious. I can't fully sense his power, but he's at least Rank 4. He's much stronger than the others we've fought so far,"
Aerox Sun warned, his voice tense.
Unlike his teammates, Aerox could sense the man's true strength, though it was hidden.
Hearing his warning, Elis and the others felt their hearts tighten.
Aerox wasn't the kind to lie about something like this.
As the strongest among them, a whole Rank higher at Rank 2, they trusted his judgment.
Both of them were just 1 Rank, and they knew they couldn't take chances.
"Ah Aerox, I've heard of you. The top 2 Rank student, right?"
The man smirked, his voice smooth and mocking.
"You're the only one here sharp enough to notice my power. But knowing doesn't change anything. You can't stop me. Why not join us instead? We could make you stronger, far beyond what these little tests can offer."
The man's real mission wasn't just to fight.
He was sent to recruit Aerox Sun or eliminate him if he refused.
"Serve demons? I'd rather die than join your kind! I'll wipe out every last one of you!"
Aerox's voice was sharp with fury.
The poacher represented everything he hated:
the ones who ruined his family's life.
To even think of joining them was an insult to everything he stood for.
"You'll regret those words. I'll make you beg for mercy like the others I've crushed,"
the man sneered, his confidence unwavering.
"Elis, cover us! Roger, stick with me,we'll take him down together!"
Aerox commanded, his eyes locked on their enemy.
Elis nodded firmly,
"Wind Arrow: Gust Strike!"
Her arrow streaked through the air, glowing faintly with wind energy.
It flew at incredible speed, but the poacher batted it away effortlessly with his axe.
"Sword of Falling Stars: Fractured Sky!"
"Piercing Blade Skill: Full Power Thrust!"
Aerox and Roger attacked together.
Their strikes came in fast, but the man blocked both with one swing of his axe.
The force knocked them back slightly, but Aerox pushed forward, clashing swords with the man.
-CLANG!
The metallic echo rang out as their weapons locked.
The man grinned, slowly increasing the pressure.
Aerox's grip trembled under the force, his knees bending slightly.
Seeing an opening, Roger darted in, aiming for the man's side.
But the man reacted instantly, grabbing Roger's spear with his bare hand.
-BAM!
With a powerful kick, he sent Roger flying.
-Ayaaaaaaahhh!
Roger hit the ground hard, coughing up blood as he landed.
"Roger! Are you okay? You'll pay for this!"
Aerox growled, his anger flaring.
"You can't win,"
the man said coldly.
"Give up now and join us. This is your last chance."
"Not a chance!"
"Then go to Hell!"
The man swung his axe with brutal force, aiming for Aerox.
But Aerox rolled out of the way just in time, the ground cracking where the axe struck.
"Shooting Wind: Penetrating Arrow!"
Elis released another arrow aimed at creating some space between Aerox and the enemy, but the man deflected it with ease, his axe moving like a shield.
"Axe Style: Crushing Blow!"
"Falling Star Sword Art: Shatter Strike!"
The clash of their skills sent a shockwave through the area, shaking the ground beneath them.
Aerox was forced back several steps, while the poacher barely moved, sliding only a meter.
The man didn't waste a second, charging at Aerox with relentless speed.
Aerox raised his sword, ready to defend, but as the man swung his axe, the strength behind it surged suddenly.
Aerox gritted his teeth, managing to block the attack but barely holding his ground.
The attacks kept coming, one after another, giving Aerox no room to counter.
"Axe Style: Death Strike!"
Aerox raised his sword just in time to stop the blade, but the force tore through his defenses, leaving a deep gash across his side.
Staggering back, Aerox created some distance, his hand pressing against his wound as blood trickled down.
"Aerox ! We need to fall back! He's too strong!"
Elis called out, her voice trembling.
She had been tending to Roger but could only watch helplessly.
Her arrows couldn't keep up with the man's speed, and missing could put Aerox in even more danger.
"We can't retreat. He's blocking the path,"
Aerox replied firmly.
"Take Lesley and go find help. We need stronger reinforcements if we're going to survive this."
"But...…."
"No arguments!"
Roger interrupted, pushing himself up despite his injuries.
"We can't win like this. If you bring Trival Maxpad or Lily, we might have a chance. Go now!"
Elis hesitated but finally nodded.
She picked up Lesley and disappeared into the forest, her heart heavy with worry.
.
"Aerox , we just have to hold him off until help arrives. That's our only option."
Aerox gave a sharp nod.
His opponent was leagues above them, a Rank 4 fighter teetering on the edge of a breakthrough.
Aerox , a mere Rank 2+, had been holding on by sheer willpower.
"Hahaha… You think you can survive long enough for help to come?"
The man's voice was mocking as he began to unleash his true power.
A dark, oppressive aura surrounded him, thick like a storm cloud.
Aerox and Roger felt the pressure immediately, as if gravity itself had doubled.
Roger stumbled, dropping to one knee under the weight of the aura.
"Now, let me show you what real strength looks like!"
"Axe Style: Berserker Surge!"
The poacher's body swelled, muscles bulging as his aura grew darker.
He looked like a giant, his axe glowing with sinister energy.
With a roar, he swung his weapon at full force.
Aerox barely had time to react, raising his sword in defense.
The sheer impact of the strike sent both him and Rorger flying.
WHAM!
SPURT!
Both of them hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.
Aerox could barely stand, his vision blurring from the pain.
Yet he pushed himself to his feet, determined not to give in.
I have no choice… I'll have to use the system.
"System, how long will it last?"
"Five minutes with your current energy levels."
"That's all I need."
As the man approached slowly, his axe resting on his shoulder, Aerox used the moment to pull out two potions from his system inventory.
Quickly drinking them, he felt a surge of energy as his wounds began to heal.
"System: Activate!"