A Well-Matched Opponent (Part 1)

"Damn it, damn it! When did he get under the tree?!"

In the shadows, one of the Behind-the-Scenes Masterminds punched the ground in frustration.

The black cat, the second Behind-the-Scenes Mastermind, let out a sinister snicker. "Don't worry, David. These little trees can't stop a Werewolf's claw."

"Gemma, didn't I tell you? I drugged that wolf cub. My original plan was to lure him closer and let the wolf cub maul him properly, so naturally I wouldn't leave the cub with too much strength."

The black cat hurriedly asked, "How much strength does the wolf cub still have?"

"At most, no more than an Apprentice Knight. Just a little stronger than an ordinary strong man."

The black cat was horrified. "Then what do we do?! That little strength can't handle Arro, who knows Tree Climbing!"

David's eyes began to flicker as he looked ahead uncertainly. "Let's wait and see."

The Werewolf Youth looked at the tree trunk not far away, as thick as an embrace. His fangs gleamed, saliva dripped from his mouth, and he revealed a cruel grin.

"How ridiculous. Do you think such a thin little trunk can stop a powerful Werewolf?"

"I'll drag you down from that tree, tear you into sweet meat paste, and cleanse my body with your fresh blood!"

Hearing the Werewolf's confident and arrogant words, Little Arro's face turned deathly pale, and his heart grew even more uneasy.

What should he do?!

"Teacher Gemma, save me!"

Hearing Little Arro's loud cry, the Werewolf's expression changed slightly. Not daring to delay, he charged forward, his forelimbs transformed into beast claws as they swiftly slashed at the trunk.

Bang!

The tree swayed slightly. Little Arro hurriedly lowered his head, only to find that the trunk was completely undamaged.

"Where's my strength?" The Werewolf Youth raised his beast claws, his face full of disbelief. "That's impossible!"

"Strength! My strength!"

"Ah!"

The Werewolf Youth frantically clawed at the trunk, as though trying to confirm something, or perhaps using his rage to conceal the panic in his heart.

Little Arro also noticed that something was wrong with this Werewolf. Though he did not know why, he kept his mouth shut to avoid provoking this crazed Werewolf.

They were not far from the Castle to begin with. As long as he could stall for time, he would surely be saved.

"Stupid dog!"

The Sinful Duo shut their eyes, unable to bear the sight.

A moment later, seeing the Werewolf Youth sitting blankly on the ground, the black cat could no longer endure it. Turning around, she demanded, "David, did you give him some kind of intelligence-reducing drug?"

David denied it. "No! I only knocked him out earlier."

"Besides," David said thoughtfully as he watched the vacant Werewolf Youth, "I think he's just Thinking Too Much, which is why he looks so stupid. We need to give him a little more Werewolf Flower."

With that, David took out a small bottle and flicked out three more fingers.

Sniff, sniff sniff!

Huff, huff, huff!

The Werewolf Youth's breathing became rapid again. Blood vessels gradually filled his pupils, veins bulged, and the muscles across his body continuously swelled and shifted, like little mice scurrying beneath his skin. His body grew another size larger, but his consciousness gradually sank into chaos.

"Awooo!"

The Werewolf Youth's fighting spirit surged as he threw back his head and roared, charging at the trunk once more.

Bang!

The tree shook violently. Thin branches fell, and withered yellow leaves scattered through the sky.

Bang!

The Werewolf Youth relentlessly charged and rammed into it. The tree continuously creaked, while Little Arro clung tightly to the trunk, his body flung wildly along with it until he felt like vomiting.

What was going on? How had that Werewolf become stronger again?!

"Using Werewolf Flower three times in a row has made the suppressive medicine in the wolf cub's body a little unable to restrain his strength. But it doesn't matter. Little Arro has the Sebastiao Repulsion Shield on him. The wolf cub getting a little stronger will only make it easier to suppress Little Arro."

David explained this to the black cat beside him, preventing her from doing anything "stupid."

"Why do I feel like the wolf cub has gotten even dumber?" The black cat warily scanned their surroundings as she asked, "David, did you cast the silencing Trick?"

David smiled faintly, saying confidently, "Don't worry. I've always been meticulous in my work. I cast it long ago. No matter how much noise they make, no one else will hear it."

Although most of the people in the Castle had been sent away, it was not completely empty. At the very least, the Maids were still there, along with several Guards on watch.

But Little Arro did not know why. He had been shouting for so long, yet there had not been the slightest response from the Castle.

Hearing the tree trunk's continual "wails," and relying on the sensitivity toward trees he had developed from years of Tree Climbing, he knew that this tree would not hold out much longer.

No one from the Castle was coming. He could no longer indulge in wishful thinking. He had to save himself!

Looking around, the nearest tree was seven meters away.

Could the Werewolf catch him across that distance?

But he had to take the risk!

Little Arro took a deep breath. He did not know whether this was the best choice, but his heart was pounding wildly, his adrenal gland pumping furiously, and he could no longer think calmly!

Crack!

The tree slowly tilted. Little Arro's mind was taut as he stared fixedly at the ground.

He could not jump straight down. He was not a cat and could not withstand a fall from such a height. At the same time, he needed to keep watching the Werewolf from the corner of his eye, paying attention to its movements.

"Roar!"

The tree tilted again. The trunk had basically snapped, and only several thick branches braced against the ground kept it from falling completely.

"Oh~ that posture of yours is truly beautiful. It reminds me of that stupid little bird. Do you know what happened to it?"

Teacher Gemma's teasing voice echoed inexplicably through his mind.

"One of its feet got stuck, caught in the tree trunk! Oh ho ho ho~"

Little Arro did not dare wait any longer. He kicked off with both feet like a hunting wildcat.

The moment he landed, his hands swiftly pressed against the ground, and his body immediately sprang back up.

Without time to Think Too Much, he controlled his center of gravity with all his strength and ran desperately toward the tree not far away.

The black cat cried anxiously, "David, don't let him get away!"

"Don't worry, I was prepared!" David picked up a gemstone and quickly chanted, "Cat's Agility!"

An invisible force spread toward the Werewolf.

Whoosh!

Listening to that string of dense Footsteps, Little Arro did not look back, but from the intense wind pressure alone, he knew that his decision had been terribly wrong. He could not outrun that Werewolf. At this moment, the Werewolf was rapidly ambushing him from behind!

How similar was this to the "special training" Teacher Gemma had given him yesterday?

Only, it seemed he had nowhere to run today.

Dodge!

Bang!

A sound like a muffled drum rang out as powerful Impact Force struck his back.

Pain!

Little Arro clenched his teeth as his body was sent flying like a ball.

But... he could still endure it!

"Jump, jump! Yes! Just like that, like a stupid hamster, jumping Mid-air. I only need to run over quickly and open my mouth, then I can wait for that sweet hamster meat to fall into it."

The words flashing through his mind seemed like the best description of the current situation. Little Arro understood that his airborne self was in danger.

Arching his back and curling his body, Little Arro tucked himself into a ball, both to resist the coming attack and to reduce the secondary damage from hitting the ground.

"The wolf cub's strength is a little excessive!"

The black cat immediately leaped up. Gray-black mist emanated from her body and condensed into the shape of a skull as she swung her claws at the Werewolf. "Weakness Spell!"

"His increased speed boosted his strength, but don't worry. He can't break through the Sebastiao Repulsion Shield. Little Arro will suffer no more than a small bruise."

Though David said that, he quietly dispelled Cat's Agility.

Following the black cat's spell, a strand of Gray Mist swiftly coiled around the Werewolf.

The Werewolf's dark fur seemed to have touched flames and immediately turned gray-white. His Mental State rapidly withered, his back bent and hunched as though carrying a heavy weight, making him appear aged.

Yet relying on the momentum from his previous run, he still swiftly pounced toward Little Arro, who was falling toward the ground.