"How is your brother?" Pricillia asked as she inched closer towards Russell.
"He's good… I have managed to stabilize his condition. Luckily, Alyssia gave us a restorative pill, which greatly helped him… he should be waking up anytime soon," Russell said.
The morning sun was already high up in the sky, brightly illuminating the environment.
The three teams each sat in separate corners, lost in their own thoughts.
"Brother!" Davi said.
"Davi, you're finally awake? That's good, haha," Russell said, obviously happy.
"What happened?"
Alyssia stepped forward and quickly recounted all the events that had played out.
"I see how it is… Are Loken and Toffle still nearby? I would want to thank them for their help," Davi said.
Davi lived by the principle that good must be repaid with good, and likewise, evil with evil.
Moreover, he didn't like to owe favors.
He knew that the world was a terrible place, and there is nothing like a free meal.
Obviously, Toffle had heard all he said.
"Don't think I did that to save you… the alpha just happened to run in my direction," Toffle said.
At this moment, he didn't look like someone who was laughing and jubilant when he crossed the illusion maze.
Rather, he sounded very cold and distant.
"Hmm… nonetheless, thank you," Davi said, not caring in the least about Toffle's arrogance.
Based on what Alyssia described, he was evenly matched with the alpha grey wolf, which was a class 2 level 2 beast… that's equivalent to saying he was a magic acolyte.
He knew that deep down, Toffle had the strength to back up his arrogance.
According to Davi's understanding:
Once one awakened their magic and developed their elemental affinity, they would fall under the class of magic apprentice.
Beyond that is the magic acolyte, then magic master, then magic grandmaster, before stepping into magic archon.
Each stage is divided into nine sub-classes. Levels 1–3 are called the initial classes; 4–6 are the middle classes; and 7–9 are classified as the upper stages.
By all standards, the majority of them were magic apprentices with varying levels:
Daniel — class 1 level 4 magic apprentice
Alyssia — class 1 level 7 magic apprentice
Gerald — class 2 level 1 magic acolyte
Russell — class 1 level 5 magic apprentice
Loken — class 1 level 6 magic apprentice
Toffle — class 2 level 2 magic acolyte
Pricillia and Nimue had yet to act, so it was hard to rate their strength.
As for Davi, he wasn't even a mage to begin with… making it difficult to classify him.
But based on his actions, Alyssia actually thought he had already reached the peak of the magic apprentice class… at least class 1 level 9.
"By the way, why did you run off so suddenly?" Pricillia asked, voicing what was on Russell's mind.
"Well… I can't disclose that," Davi said plainly.
A sigh escaped his lips.
He had thought about what to say… and knew that the best way to escape this scenario was obviously to come clean.
A glint flashed past Pricillia's eyes, but she knew better than to press further.
What could he be hiding? Well, whatever… we all have secrets, Russell thought inwardly.
"At least now we are together. Besides, this is the second day, and tonight the Lunar Purity will bloom. How do we proceed?" Russell asked.
"We might encounter even higher magic beasts than the ones we just faced. It's best if we form a temporary alliance for tonight," Alyssia said.
"I did propose an alliance, but you both rejected that idea…" Nimue suddenly spoke as she stared at Russell and Davi.
"Haha… well, perspectives change," Russell said thoughtfully.
"Does that mean your perspective has changed?" Nimue asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Precisely!" Russell replied.
"What say you, brother?" Russell asked Davi.
Davi pondered for a moment.
Completing this mission will be more difficult than I thought… well, I can't push them off a second time, he thought.
"Fine, I agree!" Davi responded.
Nimue cast a side glance at Pricillia, Gerald, and Toffle and, receiving a nod, said:
"Then it's settled. We will form a temporary alliance to obtain the Lunar Purity Bloom tonight. Thereafter, each team will be left to defend theirs till the end of the exam."
"That's exactly my thought," Gerald said as a smile crept across his face.
"I might as well consolidate my strength… perhaps I can refine my nen control to the next minor level," he continued.
"That said, it's best we put some distance between us and this place. Any monster could be attracted to the scent of blood here. Let's find a clearing and wait till nightfall," Loken suggested.
"Sure!"
They all agreed.
Davi hopped onto Gravilis, and they dashed deeper into the Ashwood Forest, inching closer towards the Bonecradle Range.
***
Meanwhile, in another part of the Ashwood Forest…
A team was engaged in a fierce battle against three class 2 level 1 beasts.
"Try blocking its spikes for a minute so I can charge my attack!" a party member called out as he frantically retreated backwards.
"Curse you!" another shouted.
Obviously, they had seen through his deception… he wanted to abandon the team to save his own skin.
However, the green spiked monkey wasn't just agile, but also very deceptive.
Noticing the shift in the air, it immediately sent a barrage of punches toward the nearest party member.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Ahhh—!" she screamed as she frantically retreated, running toward where the other party member had escaped.
"Since you want to escape, we might as well go down together," a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
She ran madly towards Neri.
He had almost escaped, but when he saw this, he cursed.
"You bitch!"
Running with even more explosive power, he tried to escape.
Their last party member was already dead.
"Haha… die, you bastard!" she laughed menacingly as she launched several fire spells at Neri.
Just then, two more green spiked monkeys suddenly lunged at them from the front.
Boom!
In haste, Neri raised a boulder from the ground to defend.
Bang!
It shattered, and his body was thrown back toward the girl.
Boom!
They both rolled violently across the ground.
Their heads dizzy… yet the menacing laughter of the monkeys gradually approached them.
Is this how I die? the girl thought, extremely unwilling.
A sudden realization struck her… fire wasn't just destructive, it was chaotic, ever-expanding.
Her control shifted. The mana in her core responded, flowing differently than before.
"So that's how it is…"
She raised her hand.
"Blazing Inferno!"
The spell erupted far more violently than before.
In that moment, her control stabilized at a higher level
she had advanced into class 2.
She condensed her nen energy rapidly and unleashed a wild attack.
Screech!
The monkeys let out indignant screams and retaliated with spikes, managing to severely injure her arm before being burned to a crisp.
Seeing one of their members die, the remaining monkeys became extremely ferocious.
Launching another barrage of attacks…
"Damn it… it's all this bitch's fault," Neri cursed.
"Earth Spike: Petrify!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The spikes shot out, coated with petrifying nen essence.
As soon as they struck the monkeys, the creatures began to slowly freeze.
The girl stared in shock.
So he even hid his strength…
"What are you waiting for? It won't hold them off for long… let's get out of here quickly!" Neri shouted.
He hated to admit it, but she had saved his life.
Although unwilling, he had to return the favor.
"Hmph," she snorted…but smiled faintly. Her impression of Neri had risen significantly.
Slowly, the duo made their way deeper into the Ashwood Forest, also approaching the Bonecradle Range.
"Wait… there are people up ahead. Let's be cautious," she called out.
Neri nodded as they advanced.
***
At this moment, the alliance had already found a large clearing and set up a temporary base while they recovered.
"Why don't you spar with me?" Gerald said as he walked toward Toffle.
"Hmph! You want to use me as a whetstone?" Toffle snorted coldly.
"Hehe… well, since you already know, what say you?" Gerald asked.
"Alright then… I was hoping to stretch my arms," Toffle grinned as battle intent rose.
While this was happening, Alyssia's Eclipse Howler, Bluely, as well as Loken's Scorpion Bob, exchanged several blows.
Both parties were using the moment to train.
As for Davi, he sat in a corner, furiously absorbing nen energy… slowly condensing it into Asura Qi and infusing it into his bones as he cultivated.
He was already at the third stage of body refinement.
The previous battle had given him critical insight, helping him break through at the last moment.
Just then…
Swoosh!
Two figures emerged from the woods.