---
The beast didn't wait for Arthur to catch his breath.
It lunged at him like a massive ball of flesh and bone, its claws carving lines into the ground as it charged toward him with a speed that didn't match its gigantic size.
Eliara shouted:
"Arthur! Watch out!"
Arthur raised his arm on instinct to block the strike—
but the beast's power was far beyond what a weak human body could endure.
The claws slammed into his forearm, a sharp wave of pain shooting straight into his bones.
He was thrown across the dirt, rolling over the damp ground until he crashed beside the trunk of a massive tree.
"Damn…"
He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stand even as his legs trembled violently.
The beast didn't give him the chance.
It leapt at him again, and Eliara rushed forward, thrusting out her hand:
"Wind Shield!"
A swirling barrier of air exploded into existence right in front of Arthur, just a heartbeat before the claws reached him.
The beast's force smashed into it, scattering dust and leaves everywhere.
But the shield didn't last even a second…
It cracked—then shattered like fragile glass.
Eliara screamed:
"Arthur, move!!"
He stood up, gasping for breath, and ran sideways just as the beast's claws stabbed into the ground where he had been standing.
Arthur felt a tightness in his chest… not from exhaustion, but from the brutal truth hitting him over and over:
He… was far too weak.
No sword, no mana, no real strength.
All he could do was run… just run.
As he weaved between the trees, he saw the black lion leap from above, aiming to land directly on top of him.
"No—!!"
He threw himself down to dodge the attack.
The lion growled at him, its voice filled with anger and genuine curiosity:
"How did you manage to wound me?"
But Arthur remained silent, staring at the beast with a cold scowl.
---
Meanwhile:
Eliara was engaged in battle with three beasts of the Dark-White class.
Her eyes glowed sharply as her hands carved overlapping green magic circles in the air.
«Storm of Wind Blades!»
Dozens of perfectly shaped blades exploded around her and shot toward the first beast like a deadly whirlwind.
Its fur was sliced open, and thick black tar-like fluid splattered across the ground.
But two more beasts were still circling her.
Then she unleashed her other attack.
She raised her sword as it lit up with scorching fire, then used her Wind Blade skill to empower the flames.
Wind wrapped around her legs, enhancing her speed.
She dashed toward the two beasts faster than either could react.
She severely wounded the first, but the second leapt back and raised its tail—ending in a scorpion-like stinger—attempting to strike her.
She was faster.
She dodged, grabbed the tail, and drove the stinger into its eye.
It shrieked in agony, stumbling back, but she didn't give it the chance to recover.
She raised her sword and stabbed its other eye, the blade piercing through until half of it emerged from the back of its skull.
Then she turned her gaze toward the direction Arthur and the lion had disappeared into.
Her heart clenched with pain and fear for him.
She ran.
---
Author (perhaps now you understand why the unknown entity went into the cave seeking Eliara—her power is terrifying even though she's only 13 and not awakened yet. You can imagine how strong she'll become after awakening).
---
Arthur, on the other side, had entered a series of exchanges with the lion.
Although the lion wanted to tear him apart, its curiosity about how Arthur managed to injure it overwhelmed even its brutality.
The system spoke to Arthur in a calm voice:
[Hold on for just three minutes.]
Arthur didn't respond—
He was focused, analyzing the lion's attack patterns.
Once he adjusted to its movements and rhythm, he lunged forward after spotting a red point in its right eye.
He hurled a dagger toward the beast's striking side, but the lion dodged easily and lifted its head, ready to laugh at him.
Instead, it was met with a painful stab directly to its eye.
The lion roared in pain.
Not because it was weak—
but because it wasn't used to being harmed in such a direct, precise way.
Even in that moment of agony, the beast was stunned that this human could land another strike on it.
---