As it turns out, trying to challenge dangerous magical creatures without mastering the corresponding magic spells is a terribly bad idea.
Especially these poppets made by Vid, they are endowed with the strong physique and power of magical creatures but without their weaknesses—
such as the stupidity of the Troll, the loss of control of the Werewolf, and the Vampire's aversion and fear of sunlight.
Michael bravely wanted to challenge the Werewolf, but before he could cast any spell, those sharp claws were already at his throat.
He blinked blankly, not reacting, and only made a sound after a few seconds:
"...So fast?"
The Werewolf retracted its claws and darted into the jungle as if it had just casually stretched its body.
The crisis of feeling life-threatened gradually dissipated, and Michael felt his brain, which had been frozen, start to thaw too.
After another few seconds, he moved his limbs, showing a deliberately relaxed smile.
"Phew... That guy jumping off the tree gave me a scare." He turned to Vid, saying, "I thought you might shout 'begin' or something?"
Vid, leaning against the tree roots beside him, smirked and said, "Sorry, they simulate real combat environments. A real Werewolf wouldn't introduce itself before attacking, right?"
Michael thought about it: "Hmm…makes sense."
He originally wanted to start again, but after touching his throat, he instinctively said, "I've already experienced the Werewolf, I want to challenge a Troll."
His impression of a Troll still lingered on that clumsy fellow they defeated together as first-year young wizards.
Vid had a strange look: "Are you sure?"
"Of course!" Michael said confidently, "Avifors, Glisseo, and Levioso, the spells that worked wonders back then, I have now mastered them all! The monster that required several of us to fight together, now I can defeat on my own!"
Most importantly, a creature like a Troll, with its large and heavy body, would certainly not be as fast as a Werewolf.
"Alright, but you'd better wear this."
Vid raised his hand, and a cloak with interwoven gold and silver shimmered over; it changed into a camouflage color resembling the surrounding forest when it landed on Michael.
"Wow, this kind of looks like an Invisibility Cloak."
Michael joyfully lifted the cloak's edge to have a look, saying, "But I preferred how it looked before."
The cloak lightly fluttered in his hand, and somehow, Michael felt as if it was agreeing with him.
He chuckled, pulled up the hood, and said seriously, "Bring it on, Troll!"
The youth, cloaked and holding a magic wand with sharp eyes, inexplicably exuded a powerful feeling.
The four Troll Poppets opposite him looked at each other, then the tallest and strongest one stood up with a wooden club, crouched down, and let out a menacing roar.
It kicked off the ground powerfully, charging straight with its club!
Michael lifted his wand, shouting, "Avifors!"
A dozen small birds emerged from his wand's tip, attacking the Troll.
Michael fully expected the Troll Poppet to be distracted and was already preparing his next spell.
But things did not go as he expected.
Faced with pecking birds, the Troll Poppet shielded its eyes with its arms, thundering forward like a heavy truck, with no hindrance at all.
The distance between them rapidly shortened.
Michael panicked, and he quickly cast several Glisseos on the ground and waved his wand, shouting loudly, "Impedimenta! Impedimenta!"
But the castle's smooth stone surface is naturally suited for Glisseo, even stairs could turn into smooth stone slides, whereas the forest ground littered with fallen branches and leaves was quite the opposite.
Michael couldn't tell if the Glisseo had any effect, but the Impedimenta Spell slightly slowed the Troll Poppet, letting Michael take a few steps back, turn, and shout: "Stupefy!"
The red spell beam shot out, grazing past the Troll Poppet's ear to hit a tree trunk behind.
That ugly face showed a faintly mocking expression.
Michael looked desperate—how could it still dodge?
The Troll Poppet, having caught up from behind, raised its club high; Michael, however, did not give up and quickly cast a Disarming Spell.
"Expelliarmus!"
The spell hit the Troll Poppet's wrist just right, the club flew away, and before Michael could smile, he saw the Troll Poppet's other palm coming at him!
"This is outrageous! A guy like this can't possibly react so fast!"
Flying through the air, Michael didn't scream but angrily protested aloud.
Just before crashing into a tree, the cloak wrapped around him, bringing him back.
The Troll Poppet had already picked up the club and returned to its fellow poppets.
Michael saw it spread its hands at the other Troll Poppets, shook its head, and made snorting, derisive noises.
Then the other three Troll Poppets joined in the snorting laughter, making Michael blush fiercely.
Unable to communicate due to the language barrier, Michael turned to Vid, complaining: "This isn't a Troll…Trolls aren't like this at all…"
Vid patted his shoulder, saying: "This is a reinforced version of a Troll…any species could have unique individuals, right?"