- It's been two weeks since that incident, and now their training is no longer confined to the academy grounds.
- To hone their combat skills in a more realistic environment, Leon often led his friends into the sprawling, forest near the city.
- The air here was thick with the scent of wet earth and the calls of unfamiliar birds.
- One sweltering afternoon, as they ventured deeper than usual, they were ambushed by a pack of red-blood wolf beasts with razor claws and glowing red eyes.
- These creatures, far more vicious than the practice dummies at the academy, snapped and snarled, their guttural growls echoing through the sparse trees.
- "Alright," Leon said calmly, drawing his sword. " EveryoneRemember our formations. Anna, Noah, front line with me. William, provide support and defense. Olivia, stay back and provide ranged attacks, Rose heal everyone and give them buffs."
- The fight was a flurry of motion. Anna and Noah moved with surprising coordination.
- Their swords a whirlwind of steel, parrying the beasts' attacks and finding openings for swift strikes.
- William positioned himself strategically, his shield deflecting incoming claws while he used his sword to cut the monsters.
- Olivia, from a safe distance, unleashed powerful crackling thunderbolts, each strike taking down a beast.
- Leon moved amongst them, his movements fluid and deadly, guiding their flow and ensuring no one was overwhelmed.
- He watched them intently, observing their teamwork, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
- After a challenging but ultimately successful fight, the last of the wolf beasts dissolved into puffs of dark smoke.
- They were panting, but a sense of accomplishment filled the air.
- "Good," Leon said, sheathing his sword. "Your coordination is improving. William, your defensive positioning was excellent. Olivia, your aim is becoming sharper."
- As they ventured further into the forest's shadowed depths, the familiar sounds of the forest faded, replaced by an unsettling silence.
- The air grew heavy, and a sense of foreboding settled over them.
- Suddenly, the ground trembled, and a monstrous roar ripped through the quiet.
- A creature of nightmare emerged from the dense undergrowth.
- It was an S-rank monster, a colossal scorpion with a chitinous exoskeleton the color of obsidian, its massive claws dripping with a viscous, green liquid.
- Its multiple eyes glowed, and its segmented tail ended in a wickedly stinger that pulsed with dark energy.
- Fear flashed across Anna and Noah's faces, while even William's usual stoicism wavered. Olivia gasped, taking a step back.
- Leon, however, remained outwardly calm, his eyes narrowed as he assessed the creature.
- 'This is it,' he thought to himself. 'A real test for them. I need to see what they can do, how far they've come.'
- Turning to his friends, his voice firm, he said, "Hold your ground everyone. This is an S-rank. It's powerful, but we've trained for this. Remember everything we've practiced. William, establish a defensive line. Olivia, target its weak points from a distance. Rose continue your healing and buffs. Anna, Noah, look for openings. I want to see how you work together against a truly formidable opponent."
- He held back, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his gaze unwavering as he watched his friends steel themselves.
- 'They need to face this,' he thought. 'They need to learn to rely on each other, to find their own strength in the face of overwhelming power. I can't always be there to protect them. This is their trial.'
- "Fight!" Leon commanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "Show me what you can do!"
- William was the first to act, his paladin training taking over.
- He planted his feet, his shield raised, a glowing barrier of divine energy forming around him.
- The colossal scorpion's stinger struck the barrier with the force of a battering ram, but the shield held, a testament to William's unwavering faith.
- "Now, Olivia!" William roared, straining against the immense force.
- Olivia, her hands still trembling, unleashed a barrage of fire magic projectiles.
- They weren't powerful enough to penetrate the scorpion's armor, but they were a precise distraction, striking its compound eyes and making the creature flinch.
- "My turn!" Anna shouted. She and Noah sprinted forward, their swords a blur of motion.
- They didn't aim for the armor, but for the joints in the scorpion's legs and its exposed underbelly.
- They were a dance of death, weaving between the scorpion's massive claws, their blades chipping away at its defenses.
- The battle raged on. William held the line, his shield cracking but not breaking.
- Olivia's magical attacks grew in intensity, her mana control becoming more fluid as she found her rhythm.
- Anna and Noah, fighting as a single unit, managed to sever one of the scorpion's legs, sending it crashing to the ground.
- The creature shrieked, a sound of pure agony, and thrashed wildly, its tail flailing.
- Rose, with her saintess ability healed everyone's injuries and gave Anna and Noah some buffs to make it easier for them.
- "This is it!" Leon shouted, his voice ringing with authority. "Finish it!"
- Working together, the group delivered a final, coordinated assault.
- William lunged, his shield now a holy weapon, and struck the scorpion's head, stunning it.
- Olivia summoned a massive ball of fire and hurled it at the exposed underbelly.
- Anna and Noah, with a combined, furious lunge, drove their swords deep into the creature's core.
- The S-rank monster let out a final, ear-splitting shriek before its body dissolved into a cloud of dark smoke, its existence erased from the world.
- The silence that followed was broken only by their heavy breathing.
- They were bruised and exhausted, but a sense of euphoric victory washed over them. They had done it. They had defeated an S-rank monster.
- Leon watched them, a proud smile on his face. Their teamwork, their courage, their skill—it was far beyond what he had expected.
- He knew then that they were ready for what was to come. The hero might have the fame, but Leon had a team, a true team forged in the fires of battle.