The forest path stretched endlessly ahead as Connor's group continued their march. For thirty long minutes, they followed Lug, who sniffed the air like a hound tracking prey. The surroundings barely changed—dense trees, thick vines, and no trace of human passage.
Connor glanced behind him to check on his teammates. Everyone seemed to be keeping pace except for Anastasia, who trailed far behind. Her pale face and trembling steps showed that she was near her limit.
"My legs hurt… I can't feel my feet anymore…" she mumbled weakly, swaying with every step.
Connor sighed. He had expected her to be frail, but not this fragile after only half an hour.
When she finally pleaded to be carried, she did so hesitantly, too afraid to even ask the professor beside her. Connor could only shake his head before kneeling down. After asking the professor to hold his heavy backpack—who casually lifted it with one hand—he allowed Anastasia to climb onto his back.
She clutched her parasol tightly, shading them both from the sunlight. Her body was so light that Connor almost forgot she was there. But as they resumed walking, he realized something absurd. The coffin that floated obediently behind her since the start was still following them.
Couldn't she have just sat on that?
He didn't bother asking. He simply adjusted his pace and moved forward.
Hours passed, and the forest finally began to thin. The ground brightened, and faint warmth brushed against Connor's forehead—a sign of danger.
"Something's coming!" he warned.
Lug froze instantly, drawing his dagger. The air tensed. A long, sharp object shot through the trees, but before it could strike, a blue barrier unfolded around them with a crystalline clang.
The barrier shimmered protectively, surrounding all seven of them. Whipney stood at its center, smiling sleepily.
"Good timing," Connor said as he set Anastasia down. The forest fell silent except for the faint rustling of leaves. Then, from between the trees, a group of scaled figures emerged—tall, reptilian creatures walking upright, clutching spears.
Lizardmen.
Connor frowned. "Annoying creatures."
They weren't just beasts; they were intelligent hunters that fought in organized packs.
That was when Professor Master Muscle spoke for the first time since the battle began. "This is your second task. Show your leadership. Understand your team's strengths and weaknesses."
So, no help from him. Connor had to command.
He quickly assessed the situation—ten lizardmen, each armed with spears. The main weakness of lizardmen was temperature—they hated extreme heat or cold. That meant Anastasia's blood magic might be key.
But before he could act, Myael stepped forward confidently. "Let me handle it. I can take them all."
Connor stopped her. "You're strong, but this is a team study. Learning to coordinate is part of the mission."
Understanding flashed in her eyes. She stepped back and nodded.
Connor then gathered everyone and laid out a plan. "Six of us, ten enemies. Four of you will take two each. I'll cover the rest with Whipney."
He pointed to each one in turn.
"Lanius—take the two at twelve o'clock."
"Myael—handle six o'clock."
"Lug—two o'clock."
"Anastasia—eight o'clock."
"Whipney—wait for my signal and drop the barrier."
When everyone nodded, Connor drew his sword. "Now—go!"
The barrier dissolved, and the lizardmen roared as they charged.
Lanius shot into the sky, firing bolts from his wrist-mounted crossbow. One lizardman fell instantly. But before he could aim again, Lug charged at the same target, striking the creature down with his dagger.
Their attacks collided—Lanius's bolt whizzed past Lug's ear.
"Watch where you're shooting, you birdbrain!" Lug shouted.
"Your positioning is the problem," Lanius replied flatly.
The two nearly turned on each other, but another lizardman lunged from behind. Lug spun, slit its throat, and growled, "We'll talk after this."
Myael, meanwhile, moved like a storm. Her blade shimmered with wind energy, slicing through the air. The lizardmen who tried to block her were torn apart in a flash of light.
"Two down," she said calmly.
Anastasia followed with her own magic. Raising her parasol, she murmured a spell, and droplets of blood floated before bursting into flames. The lizardmen who rushed at her screamed, rolling on the ground as fire consumed them.
But her excitement caused blood to splash near Myael, setting her sleeve ablaze.
"Ah! Sorry!" Anastasia panicked, waving her hand until the flames disappeared.
Connor could only sigh at the chaos unfolding. "It's a miracle we're still winning."
Two lizardmen then charged at him. Their attacks were predictable—nothing compared to real combat. He parried both spears and countered swiftly, cutting them down in two clean strokes.
The forest fell silent once more, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and faint hissing from dying monsters.
"Is it over?" Whipney asked, rubbing her eyes.
Connor turned to the professor. "What do you think?"
The massive man crossed his arms, scanning the team—Lug and Lanius still bickering, Myael's sleeve burnt, Anastasia teary-eyed, and Whipney half-asleep.
Finally, he nodded. "Fifty points."
Connor groaned. "At least it's a passing score."
As he struggled to lift his heavy backpack again, he couldn't help but think—this was only the second day of their study dispatch, and it already felt like a war.