Battle

Within the area between the outer and the inner parts of the forest, a hulking two-horned creature lay on the soft grass, relaxing as it slept in silence. Looking at it from afar, one might assume that the creature was a peaceful and harmless herbivore. However, the truth was different. It was a High Baron-class Green Bull, a creature far cry from the words "peaceful" and "harmless".

Behind the towering trees a few meters away from the bull, a group of adventures could be seen crouching as they scrutinized the green creature from afar.

"It… really looks just like a bull. But the color really looks off. Why does it have to be green anyway?" Akt remarked in a whisper. His question at the end seemed like a joke, but he was genuinely curious about that weird point. However, it made a lot of sense when he thought about it. Since its main habitat was a forest filled with wild vegetation and stronger predators, it was only appropriate to evolve some kind of trait that could help it survive. In this case, its hide evolved and changed into a color that could help it blend in its environment. Adding the factor that the beast preferred sneak attacks and ambushes, he could only say that it was truly fitting despite the mismatch in its looks and build.

"That, I don't have an answer for you." Kark sighed. The kid was just too curious. It was not like he could blame him though. Even he was curious too as to how this specie of a bull managed to evolve in such a way when he recalled the specie's unexpected nimbleness. What an odd creature…

Now that Akt brought it up, he was not the only one eager to know. Even Dalt was. However, Dalt also knew that this was not the time to be talking nonsense about this and said, "Shush. Talk about that later. We'll start soon."

"Dalt, we have to be quick about this. If that bull gets away, it'll be a pain dealing with its sneak attacks." Alia reminded.

That was their biggest worry. The group could handle it properly if they faced it head on, but the Green Bull would, for sure, run away the first opportunity it gets. Dealing with a High Baron-class's continuous ambush attacks would definitely wear them out. Injuries during that time were a possibility they could not afford.

"Don't worry about that. If we caught it unaware, both Kark and I could deal with its hind legs to stop it from getting away." Shadow chimed in confidently.

"Okay, then. Say, when do we start, Dalt?"

Dalt did not reply and only stood up from his spot. He took the huge shield he had been carrying on his back this whole time and walked out from the cover of the tree. Following that, he readied his stance and only then did he speak.

"At the count of three."

The rest of the party members nodded. They, too, prepared themselves.

"One. Two. Three…"

As Dalt counted, Kark and Shadow hurriedly separated from the group and positioned themselves a little further away from them and closer to the Green Bull's flank sides. Alia on the other hand stayed behind the trees together with Akt.

"Stick close to me, alright?" Alia reminded.

Akt nodded at her in acknowledgement as he waited for the battle to start with sparkling eyes. This would be his first-time seeing warriors of this world in combat aside from the first one he had witnessed when he came to this world. Plus, this one would be a group battle instead of a one versus one. He would get to see how teamwork was as cultivators.

He was also interested in the skill-level of these people with their weapons, and how their mastery compared to his and Vera's. Considering that these people were Baron-class and cultivators of that caliber were usually at the Meridian Opening realm, he assumed that they must be fairly young. They were probably around the end of their teenage years at the minimum and the early 20s at the maximum.

On that point, Akt did not really expect much from them since he knew that it took long periods of time to attain high mastery in any weaponry normally. Of course, Akt's case was different. He was capable of comprehending the way of the blade at a frightening speed. After all, he had Vera, a sword monster under the guise of a beautiful woman, as a master. Adding the clever use of his [Analyze] Ability to study her movements and perfect his with that as a reference, it was expected of him to reach a fraction of her level. However, that was under the premise that mana did not exist. He had yet to determine whether the existence of mana and cultivation would have any significant effects in the mastery of weapons.

"Go!" Dalt's shout took him out of his thoughts.

Soon after Dalt bellowed, he put the shield in front of his body and charged at a blitzing speed towards the Green Bull. Surprised, the creature was unable to react in time and staggered when it was hit. It did not expect for there to be someone brave enough in the area to mess with it.

"Kark! Shadow!"

Two lean figures, one dressed in a robe and light armor while the other in black-clothing, dashed out from the sides to the bull's left and right flanks. With a burst of speed, Kark held his sword in a thrust while Shadow slashed his daggers.

Swish!

Both damage dealers succeeded in inflicting damage. However, it was not like the Green Bull remained stationary through all that time. It managed to avoid any fatal injuries in its hind legs as it flailed with surprising agility.

"Oh, no!" Alia was the first to realize. She quickly drew her bow with blinding speed as a considerable amount of energy burst out of her body.

Swoosh!

An arrow managed to hit one of its legs. But it was already too late by then as it managed to escape the encirclement. However, not everything was in vain. Although it managed to get away, its speed would definitely take a hit, and it would be much easier to fend off its attacks while it was injured.

"Chase but stay alert!" Dalt commanded. "Watch out for its counterattack."

Akt followed closely as they chased the Green Bull. They were going at a speed a little faster than he could handle, but he tried his best to keep up. There was not much he could do when his cultivation realm was lower compared to the rest and factoring the fact that he was also carrying their luggage. Him falling behind the group by a few meters was a liability they failed to consider since it was not often that the group did missions with porters.

Unfortunately, as a High Baron-class nearing to the peak of its realm, the Green Bull had minimum intelligence to distinguish that the backline of its opponents was a hole it could exploit.

Akt felt unease within his heart, an instinct that he had developed when he trained under Vera. It was a feeling he always felt when an unknown danger was incoming. Unconsciously, he activated his Ability with his senses and muttered, "[Analyze]."

In his vision, time flew slowly. He could still see the rest of the party members ahead as they ran, searching for the wounded Green Bull. He could even see Alia, who was the closest to him, slowly turning her head his way.

Something unknown flowed out of his body and spread into the surroundings. This time however, the radius of the distance it spread was far greater than when he had used his ability back then to sense Mana.

'Behind!' He exclaimed inwardly.

An image of an injured Green Bull appeared in his mind together with everything within a few meters of a diameter with him as the center. It was as though everything within that circle was scanned and rendered in 3d. In his mind, he could see the projection of the Green Bull positioned right behind him hidden under the cover of the greenery. Its joints were bent in preparation of an attack as it aimed at his back.

Without any further thought, he put all his strength in his legs and leapt sideways with everything he had. Moments later, a gust of wind grazed his face as he saw the Green Bull slam towards his previous position just a few moments ago.

'What a close shave!'

Akt knew that this situation was not favorable. Not only was he almost caught, but the Green Bull also managed to sneak behind the party's formation. He could only shout, "Behind!"

Fortunately, Alia caught on very fast and alerted the others. "It's on the back. Quick, cover for Akt!"

Dalt halted on his tracks and turned around. His heart nearly stopped in its place when he saw Akt on the ground while there was the Green Bull that they had been chasing near him. He sighed in relief seeing that their porter was alright.

'It seemed that he dodged it. What a luck!'

The heavy armored Dalt did not dally any longer. He bent his knees and turned into a dart as he charged towards the Green Bull in a smooth, practiced manner.

"Kark, Shadow! Follow me!"

The Green Bull was stunned once more as Dalt's shield hit it square in the face. Without missing a beat, Kark and Shadow followed through.

"Ah!" Kark shouted as he slashed.

His pupils turned needle-like as he saw that the damage his sword inflicted did not seem sufficient enough to inhibit the Green Bull's movements. His heart stilled for a moment. However, just as it was about to struggle, Shadow appeared with astonishing speed as he crossed his daggers together and slashed at the already damaged area.

"Gragh!"

Finally, the Green Bull buckled under its weight, unable to support its bulky body with its broken hind legs.

"Alia!"

After accumulating enough mana in her arrow, Alia released it from her bow soon after her name sounded.

Swoosh!

The arrow pierced right through the air, creating a high pitch sound. In an instant, it punctured right through the Green Bull's eye ball and went straight in its head. The creature, with its fading vitality, slumped just like how it was when they first found it. This time however, it was set to sleep for an eternity with an arrow in its head.

'Damn. That was intense.' Akt thought.