Chapter Thirty-Three: A Small Trial of Demonic Arts

Suddenly, from all around, five beasts leaped out. They were shaped like cats but each had three heads, tails tipped with barbed spikes, and yellow eyes glimmering with a feral light.

"Don't worry too much. They're only Barbed-Tailed Saber Cats. Everyone, attack! This is the perfect opportunity for me to see how your necromancy is coming along," Vannie called out with a breath of relief when she saw the creatures appear.

At her words, bone arrows began to rapidly take shape in the air, forming as the students recited their incantations. At their command, the bone arrows whistled through the air toward the five cats. Though the beasts were swift, three of them were struck, blood blooming on their brown hides and their speed faltering.

But two of the cats leading the charge managed to avoid the barrage of arrows, dashing straight for the group. The students, flustered, misfired their spells—arrows went wide or shattered mid-flight, mistakes piling up in their panic.

The two cats split left and right. As the one on the left neared the defensive ring, Vannie suddenly acted. The same bone arrow spell in her hands multiplied into three arrows, each one flying unerringly toward the three heads of the beast.

A trio of ghastly cries erupted as all three heads were struck. The cat, terrified, turned and fled.

The other cat charged directly at Hans, fixing its gaze on him. The students near him, desperate, failed repeatedly with their spells, doing nothing to slow the beast.

Gene, too focused on Vannie's side, forgot to watch the right flank. Only after Vannie had repelled her attacker did he realize the threat. But by then, it was almost too late—the cat was upon Hans, its three fanged heads and razor claws striking fiercely.

"Brian, look out!" Vannie and Lisa cried out at once.

Hans remained calm as the cat closed in, not a trace of panic on his face, and even a slight, cold curve at his lips. As the beast's claws and fangs slashed toward him, Hans moved in a flash. With a sweep of his left arm, he blocked the first attack with several sturdy tent-pole rods. At the same instant, his right hand shot forward. To the onlookers, it seemed as if a red line flashed through the air. Hans' hand landed at the cat's lower abdomen, paused, then withdrew sharply.

At that moment, Gene's two belated bone arrows finally struck the cat. Another chorus of dreadful wails burst from its three mouths. With a dull thud, the beast collapsed to the ground, motionless.

As this one fell, the other four wounded saber cats, as if frightened out of their wits, screeched and bolted away, vanishing into the shadows in the blink of an eye.

"Wow, Teacher Gene's bone arrows are so powerful! He killed that saber cat with one shot. When we and Teacher Vannie hit them, it only wounded them—it wasn't nearly as effective," Amy exclaimed, surprised, glancing at Gene.

The others were puzzled as well, even Vannie regarding Gene with curiosity. "Bone arrow is just a basic attack spell. For you to kill a saber cat outright with it is truly astonishing," she remarked.

Gene's expression was odd at first, as if he himself didn't quite understand. But as Vannie spoke, he quickly donned a confident smile and nodded to everyone, as if to acknowledge the strength of his attack magic.

"Brian, when you struck that saber cat with your right hand just now, I thought I saw a red line in the air. What was that? It seemed like the cat only faltered after you hit it, and that's why Gene's attack finished it off. Isn't that right?" Lisa asked, her gaze lingering on Hans.

"Heh, Lisa, don't make things up. Brian did hit the cat, but it had no effect. How could a mere servant possibly hurt a Barbed-Tailed Saber Cat?" Buck sneered.

Hans only grinned sheepishly and said nothing. Some of the other students had noticed the same thing, but quickly dismissed the idea that Hans had played any role. In their minds, he was just a servant—how could he possibly possess such strength or skill?

"All right, let's move on. The saber cats are cowardly unless in a large group, but they're pack animals—if they return with reinforcements, it'll be trouble. These low-grade beasts have no magic cores and their hides are worthless. Leave them be, and let's go," Vannie ordered, not pressing the matter, much to Gene's disappointment—he had hoped for more of her admiration.

The party of twelve gathered their belongings and resumed their journey south.

Hans lagged behind, glancing back at the saber cat Gene had supposedly slain. From the two wounds made by the bone arrows, wisps of scorched flesh smoke curled into the air. The skin and muscle around the wounds were charred black.

The beast's death had nothing to do with Gene's attack—it was caused by the red demonic flame Hans had driven into its body with his right hand, a prowess of the "Mystic Ice Demon Flame Art." Looking at his hand, Hans summoned his magic energy, and a blossom of crimson flame burst from his middle finger. He marveled quietly at the terrifying power of the spell, then hurried to catch up with the others.

That night, the pale moonlight filtered through thick foliage, spilling across the shadowed forest. The quiet was broken only by the soft calls of unseen insects, bringing small notes of cheer to the night.

The campfire cast a warm glow, driving away the chill darkness. Hans tended several sticks strung with fresh meat, turning them over the flames. As spices hissed onto the sizzling, glistening meat, a mouthwatering aroma drifted through the gathered necromancy students.

"Smells wonderful, Brian! I didn't know you could cook like this," Lisa exclaimed, her pretty nose wrinkling as her eyes fixed on the roasted meat.

"Your performance against the saber cats today was very disappointing," Vannie scolded the students around the fire, her lovely brows knit in displeasure. "You panicked and couldn't even cast a basic bone arrow spell properly. That's unacceptable. And you, Gene—you were careless. If Brian hadn't acted, someone would have been hurt."

The students listened meekly, pretending to pay attention, but their eyes kept drifting to the meat in Hans' hands. Some even swallowed audibly.

Hans, once a homebody who cooked all his own meals, was more than adept in the kitchen. The culinary arts of this world lagged far behind those of his own era, and even this simple barbecue had everyone salivating.

As Vannie's lecture droned on, Hans sized her up. Her commanding presence made it clear she was the true leader of this expedition—even Gene seemed to defer to her. It was no wonder Gene was somewhat wary of her; perhaps it wasn't just unrequited affection.

"That's enough for now. There will be more dangers ahead, so don't get careless again. Let's eat," Vannie said at last, unable to resist the aroma herself. After a long day's march, she was ready for something better than dry bread and water.

"Teacher Vannie, this is for you. Lisa, here's yours. Bella, Buck, Gene, these are for you..." Hans handed out the portions with a sly grin.

"Mmm, Brian, you're really something! This roast is delicious!" Vannie praised, licking her lips suggestively, her beauty making Hans' heart flutter.

"Excellent, this is amazing! Brian, you're a real chef," Lisa chimed in, beaming as she demolished her portion.

"What rubbish—it's not even cooked," Buck grumbled.

"Ugh, awful, no flavor at all," Bella complained.

"Damn you, Brian, you're doing this on purpose. The meat's still raw!" Gene joined in.

Hans only grinned innocently. "Ah, maybe some of them weren't quite done. Sorry, looks like you were just unlucky!"