Chapter 31 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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The Sacred Beast's Menace

 

 

It seemed Alice's forces had come well-prepared. Black Wolf's side, weakened by recent setbacks, was already struggling, especially with Marvin sent away by Captain Locke to purchase supplies. Lacking Alice's ferocity, Black Wolf's mercenaries quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.

 

Not wanting to get involved, Ge Yan quickly retreated with Rex, steering clear of the fight. But two Black Wolf mercenaries, finding the main field too cramped, withdrew alongside them while fending off attacks from Alice. Before they knew it, the two mercenaries had unintentionally positioned themselves as if they were protecting Ge Yan and Rex—a beautiful misunderstanding rindeed.

 

Before long, the Black Wolf Mercenaries started to suffer casualties. The brutal tactics and undeniable intent to kill finally triggered Captain Locke's fury. He hadn't expected the Alice Mercenary Group would truly dare to spill his men's blood. After exchanging a powerful blow with Daniel, both men took several steps back.

 

"Daniel! You dare to kill my men? None of you will leave here alive!" Captain Locke roared, his swordmaster's aura surging with intensity.

 

As the leader of an A-rank mercenary group, Captain Locke's level was no ordinary sight on the Azelra continent. He had been stagnant at this rank for years, and his skills had likely only refined with time.

 

Daniel, unfazed, raised an elegant brow and smiled. "So, Captain Locke, it seems you're a ninth-rank Swordmaster. No wonder you're so confident."

 

Each level comprised nine ranks, and a ninth-rank Swordmaster was on the cusp of advancing to the Grand Swordmaster status.

 

"And so what if I am? I admire your courage, but I've seen plenty of young fools like you who don't know their limits. You dared to attack the Black Wolf Mercenary Group—I'll teach you a lesson your father should have taught you," Captain Locke sneered, looking down at him with disdain. A fourth-rank swordmaster, even if he advanced on the spot, couldn't defeat him. Where did he find the audacity to challenge a high-rank swordmaster face-to-face?

 

Daniel laughed heartily, his head thrown back. "Captain Locke, I'd advise you not to mention my father. If he were here, you'd be fleeing with your tail between your legs."

 

"Pity your father isn't here, so the one fleeing will be you," Captain Locke retorted with a cold smirk and launched his attack.

 

His sword was massive, one and a half meters long and several times the weight of an ordinary blade. As it sliced through the air, it generated a fierce wind. He swung it down, shattering the floor where Daniel had stood, sending shards of stone flying outward with the force of a hurricane. The crowd nearby quickly stepped back, afraid to get caught in the blast.

 

Daniel stepped back, his face showing not a hint of fear. Instead, his gentle smile twisted with a touch of wickedness, and his ice-green eyes flashed with a chilling gleam.

 

"Come forth, my friend."

 

A dark shadow sprang from Daniel's arms, morphing into a beam of black light before him. Landing before him, it transformed into a towering, fierce Green-Eyed Lion, its size dwarfing the surrounding buildings—a beast as great as a moving mountain.

 

Captain Locke's face turned ashen at the sight of the beast, his eyes wide with shock. "You have… a contracted beast?" he gasped.

 

No wonder Daniel, a mere fourth-tier swordmaster, dared to stand against him. It turned out he had a fully grown magical beast. But what truly stunned Captain Locke was not just the beast itself—it was the aura it exuded. This was a sacred beast in its prime. Even he, a ninth-rank swordmaster, would hesitate to face a young sacred beast, let alone a fully matured one.

 

Daniel stroked the lion's fur, his smile filled with malice. "Captain Locke, you're welcome to try contracting a sacred beast yourself."

 

Captain Locke nearly choked at the suggestion. Contracting a magical beast was no easy feat, let alone a sacred beast. High-level magical beasts rarely submitted to humans; attempting a forced contract often backfired disastrously. Only newborns or unhatched young ones were vulnerable enough to bond, their spirit weak and pliable. However, the more powerful the beast, the more fiercely they guarded their young, making it nearly impossible for humans to capture them.

 

This was why so many had rushed to Tasha Forest upon hearing of a sacred beast cub. Having one would not only allow a bond to grow from a young age but also provide a powerful ally later on, as in this very situation.

 

Daniel's rank was indeed lower than Captain Locke's, making him ordinarily no match. However, he now held the advantage with his sacred beast, a strength even Locke couldn't directly confront.

 

"What do you want?" Captain Locke's face grew grim. The appearance of a sacred beast left him certain he couldn't win.

 

"I've already made it clear," Daniel said with a cheery tone. "For Alvar's death, the Black Wolf Mercenary Group must shoulder half the blame."

 

The remaining half, of course, was on the Raven Mercenary Group. Captain Locke took no comfort in this knowledge; even a tenth of the blame was far from trivial.

 

"Captain!" Marvin finally returned with several men.

 

Seeing him, Captain Locke felt a surge of renewed confidence. He might not be able to defeat a full-grown sacred beast, but he could hold it off. That would give Marvin the chance to take on Daniel.

 

Marvin was, without a doubt, an invaluable right-hand man. Most of the time, a mere glance from Locke was enough for Marvin to understand exactly what he wanted. Though he hadn't been present earlier, he easily guessed Locke's intentions.

 

Daniel seemed to see through them, and his smile only grew more amused.

 

"Who is this Daniel guy? He seems really cocky," Ge Yan whispered to Rex from their hiding spot.

 

"He's probably Alvar's father," Rex replied.

 

"That can't be true! He looks way too young. Alvar would have to be just a kid for that to be possible," Ge Yan muttered in disbelief. He had always imagined that unfortunate Alvar to be at least in his teens; otherwise, how could his family have allowed him into the dangerous demon-infested forest?

 

"You're overthinking it."

 

"Alright, but… are fully grown sacred beasts really that powerful? Is my contracted Shadow-Winged Tiger anywhere near as strong?" Ge Yan asked eagerly.

 

"You're overthinking it," Rex said again.

 

"…What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying it's weak? Just because it's smaller doesn't mean it's any less powerful, right?" Ge Yan protested, unwilling to let go of the pride he had in his sacred beast. He ignored the memory of his precious companion fleeing for its life back in Tasha Forest. The beast of the Protagonist, after all, was destined to be formidable.

 

Rex cast him a sidelong glance. "Your contracted beast is still just a cub."

 

Ge Yan: "…"

 

At that moment, he regretted ever learning to read Reks' expressions—"Too dumb to even watch"—the unspoken sentiment cut like a knife.

 

A sudden explosion snapped him back to attention.

 

Daniel and Captain Locke were at it again, both clearly no longer holding back. The wide street bore the brunt of their battle, leaving little ground unscathed.

 

Hearing the commotion, guards from Manan's city watch had gathered. But upon recognizing the combatants as the Black Wolf and Alice Mercenary Groups, both of A-rank status, they hesitated. Lacking the strength to intervene, rushing in would only get them caught in the crossfire. Yet standing by and doing nothing wasn't an option either. As the streets suffered relentless destruction, and shops and homes on either side began to collapse, the guards grew visibly anxious.

 

"Alert the lord of the city," the guard captain ordered one of his men, who immediately set off at a run.

 

Just then, a sharp cry rang out. Turning their heads, they saw a young man from Black Wolf being hoisted into the air by a beast gripping his shoulders.

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