A Rousing Battle

Little Arro ran excitedly toward his mother, pointing at the chaotic surroundings as he bragged proudly, "Mother, you didn't see it just now—this monster was incredible. He could knock down a huge tree in just a few blows. But even so, he was no match for me. I pinned him to the ground and gave him a vicious beating!"

"My Little Arro is so amazing."

His mother lovingly pulled him into her arms and gently patted his back. "Little Arro has suffered so much, encountering such a dangerous enemy at such a young age."

Held in that warm embrace, the formerly steadfast Little Arro suddenly felt the lingering fear.

"Mother, you have no idea. He appeared out of nowhere. No matter how I ran, I couldn't outrun him. Then he turned into a monster and wanted to eat me. I climbed a tree, but he knocked it down. I was about to run to another tree when he caught me and started smashing me around..."

Vulnerability only emerged when one encountered acceptance.

"I know, I know... Little Arro is the most remarkable... I'm sorry, Little Arro. We came too late."

His back was being gently stroked. Listening to those tender words and feeling that "familiar" warmth, the overwhelming sense of security captivated him.

"Mm... mm!"

The tickling sensation that suddenly slid from the corner of his eye jolted him awake.

What... am I doing?

What was a grown man like me doing?

Right, I was just tattling. I wasn't whining!

I wasn't scared. My body was shaking only because my muscles were tired.

I wasn't crying. I was just...

Fine, this was just the self-protection mechanism of a childish body!

That's right, that was it!

Little Arro swayed about in his mother's arms, pretending to struggle, but he was actually wiping away all his tears and snot. Then he pushed free of his mother's embrace, held his head high and chest out, and looked spiritedly toward the Werewolf Youth.

Wolf Cub, didn't expect this, did you? Heh heh heh!

Shut the door, unleash the dog!

"Father, kill him!"

David frowned at Little Arro. "Wipe your snot clean. How weak—look at how hard you've been crying!"

"I wasn't crying!"

Like a cat with its fur standing on end, Little Arro hurriedly wiped his face with the hem of his clothes and pointed frantically at the Werewolf Youth nearby.

"It was him! He hit my face and punched my nose just now, so that's why my nose was running!"

The Werewolf Youth...

It seemed... I had no choice but to take the blame for this?

But... I still wanted to live!

"Cough, cough!" The Werewolf Youth struggled to climb to his feet. Gasping for breath, he said, "You truly are a formidable opponent. I don't think any human your age could possess strength like yours."

"Of course!"

With his parents beside him and his sense of security overflowing, Little Arro even smugly turned back and shot his father a glance after hearing the Werewolf Youth's flattery.

See that?

What, then?

Looking at you, you don't seem convinced?

Could you beat a Werewolf this big into submission when you were barely three?

"Since that's the case... could we continue our unfinished battle?"

The Werewolf Youth spoke hopefully, wishing that the child before him was an utter fool.

"Mother, I'm so tired. I really want to sleep."

Thinking of something, Little Arro turned to David again. "Father, hurry up. I haven't even eaten lunch yet."

But David remained standing where he was, unmoved.

"Arro, you must see things through from beginning to end. Go finish him yourself."

"What?"

Little Arro looked surprised. After noticing his father's stern, serious expression, he glanced back at the Werewolf Youth, pondered it earnestly for a moment, then shook his head. "I can't do it."

Little Arro was not timid. With his parents right beside him, he was not worried about his own safety. He truly lacked the strength to do such a thing.

It was not as though he had not tried. The Werewolf Youth had fallen several times earlier, and Little Arro had already used every lethal method he could think of.

Besides, the first burst of effort was fierce, the second weaker, and by the third it was spent!

After relaxing just now, Little Arro felt weak all over. Even standing still made him feel exhausted.

"Don't worry."

David smiled faintly. His short golden hair seemed to glow beneath the noon sun. He took several gemstones from his wrist and began to chant silently. The gems flashed one after another, and lights of various colors gathered around Little Arro.

Cat's Agility!

Bear's Strength!

Quendra Stamina Recovery Technique!

Bark Skin Technique!

Dynamic Vision!

Little Giant Technique!

Thorns Technique!

The numbers on the system Attribute Panel were rapidly changing. A moment later, the attributes finally stabilized.

Personal Attributes:

Strength: 0.5+4

Agility: 0.4+3

Nerve Reflex: 1.1+3

Endurance: 0.7+3+1 (Knight's Breathing Technique activated)

Constitution: 0.9+4

For an unknown reason, Personal Attributes have greatly increased. Duration unknown.

...

Th-this was... what?

Already the size of a half-grown child, Little Arro stared blankly at the multicolored radiance flickering over his body.

Could this be some kind of inner force entering the body, an inner-force boost?

Little Arro forcibly gave it an explanation, but no matter how he looked at it... it did not seem very martial-arts-like.

Only now did Little Arro finally notice something strange, yet the system flashing in his mind made him doubt that guess again.

In a High Martial World, doing something like this should not be difficult, right?

"Go on, Little Arro. Father and Mother will watch over you. You can do it!"

His mother's gentle voice awakened Little Arro.

Whatever it was, he would have plenty of time to understand it later. What mattered now was starting the second round of battle!

The mental suppression vanished, and the Werewolf immediately leaped up, protesting indignantly:

"You want to kill me, so why don't you just do it? Why humiliate me like this!"

Judging by the intensity of the energy in these spells, the Magic Power used by any one of them was enough to kill the Werewolf Youth.

"Humiliate you? No, this is your unfinished battle! Little Arro, go!"

Shut the door, unleash Arro!

Little Arro rolled his neck. His heart pounded vigorously, battle intent surged through him, and his eyes gleamed as he shouted, "What a blood-boiling battle! Are you ready? Here I come!"

The Werewolf Youth: "..."

A blood-boiling battle?

Bullshit!

The Werewolf Youth ignored him completely, turned around, and ran.

I still have a chance. That wizard has already used so many spells—he definitely won't have the strength to keep me here. As long as I outrun that child's pursuit, I can survive!

In terms of running speed alone, an antelope was not as fast as a cheetah. So why did cheetahs often fail to catch antelopes?

Because one was running for its life—if it could not outrun its pursuer, it died—while the other was merely hunting. If it failed this time, there would always be another.

At this moment, the Werewolf Youth squeezed every last bit of potential from his body for the sake of a sliver of survival.

"How could I let you run?" Nicole laughed softly, then waved her hand. "Confusion!"

The Werewolf Youth, who had been fleeing desperately outward, suddenly circled around and charged straight toward Little Arro. At the same time, he kept looking back, his face wearing an expression of wild ecstasy.

"Good, you came to me!"

"Cough, cough!"

The Werewolf Youth lay helplessly on the ground, continuously coughing blood. His eyes had rolled white, and there was a soft indentation in his chest—his heart had been shattered.

Little Arro slowly rose to his feet, gazed into the distance, and sighed with feeling.

"What a grueling battle. You really were good. Sadly, you encountered... a stronger me!"

Ding! Defeated an enemy. Cat Form Fist - Tree Climbing gained 36 Experience Points.

Your Cat Form Fist - Tree Climbing has reached the body's limit. Skill Experience has been converted into Personal Experience.

Ding! Personal Experience is full. Personal Level has increased to Level 1. Obtained 1 Skill Point.

Ding! Defeated an enemy. Cat Form Fist - Dash gained 45 Experience Points.

Ding! Cat Form Fist - Dash (Beginner) Skill Experience is full. Upgraded to Cat Form Fist - Dash (Intermediate).

Ding! Defeated an enemy. Knight's Breathing Technique gained 23 Experience Points.

Remaining Skill Points: 1

Current Personal Level: LV1 (26/30)

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