At ten thirty in the morning, the sunlight had already begun to burn.
Lin Fan and the other three passed through the academy's western exit and officially stepped into the Wilderness.
Before them stretched a wide-open expanse overgrown with weeds and littered with broken stones. Sparse trees and rolling hills could be seen in the distance. The air was thick with the scent of earth and vegetation, and every now and then they caught a faint, barely perceptible whiff of something rank—the traces left behind by Demonic Beasts.
The academy's towering walls gradually receded behind them, replaced by a sense of openness and danger.
"So this is the Wilderness..." Zhao Tie Zhu tightened his grip on his shield, his voice taut.
Zhou Ming pushed up his glasses and took a notebook and pen from his backpack. "According to the map, the Steel Tooth Rats' main territory is two kilometers ahead, at the Scree Slope. The terrain there is complicated, with lots of caves—ideal for rat-type Demonic Beasts."
"The Scree Slope..." Lin Fan recalled the mission details. "Is there a more specific route?"
"There is." Zhou Ming opened his notebook. "From where we are now, we follow this abandoned path for about a kilometer, then turn northwest. After we cross a patch of bushes, we'll see the Scree Slope. The whole trip should take about forty minutes."
"There might be Demonic Beasts along the way." Chen Dahu warily scanned their surroundings. "My dad always said there's no such thing as a completely safe road in the Wilderness."
"Then stay alert," Lin Fan said. "I'll take the lead, Dahu will bring up the rear, and Zhou Ming and Tie Zhu will stay in the middle. Keep an eye on your surroundings and be ready to fight at any moment."
"Understood!" the three replied.
The group set off.
Lin Fan walked at the front, each step steady and light. He pushed his Basic Footwork to its limit, his feet barely making a sound as he swept his sharp gaze over their surroundings.
The Wilderness gradually opened up before them.
To their left stood waist-high weeds, swaying in the breeze with a soft rustle. To their right was a row of dead trees, their trunks covered in claw and bite marks—clear signs of Demonic Beast activity. The path ahead was uneven, and scattered bones occasionally appeared along it. There was no way to tell whether they belonged to Demonic Beasts or humans.
"Brother Fan, something's moving," Chen Dahu suddenly murmured.
Lin Fan immediately raised a hand, signaling the group to stop.
Everyone held their breath.
A faint rustling came from the bushes about fifty meters ahead, as if something were moving around inside.
"Could it be Steel Tooth Rats?" Zhou Ming whispered.
"Doesn't sound like it." Lin Fan shook his head. "Steel Tooth Rats make a denser, more rapid racket. This... sounds more like a large animal."
He signaled for the others to crouch, then carefully moved forward a dozen meters and hid behind a boulder to watch.
The bushes shook more and more violently.
Suddenly, two gray shapes burst out of the undergrowth.
They were wolf-like Demonic Beasts, each about a meter and a half long. Their fur was gray-brown, their eyes glowed green, and saliva dripped from the corners of their mouths. They moved with speed and coordination, splitting apart as soon as they emerged from the bushes and watching Lin Fan from either side, ready to attack from both directions.
"Wind Wolves!" Zhou Ming exclaimed under his breath. "First-tier wind-element Demonic Beasts. They're incredibly fast and excel at coordinated attacks!"
Lin Fan's heart sank.
Though Wind Wolves were also 1st Tier Demonic Beasts, they were much harder to deal with than Steel Tooth Rats. They had a rudimentary intelligence and knew how to work together tactically. On top of that, speed was their advantage.
More importantly, Wind Wolves had appeared here. That meant a stronger Demonic Beast might have occupied or driven out the Steel Tooth Rats in the area. This was bad news.
"Get ready to fight." Lin Fan returned to the group. "Dahu, take the one on the left. I'll handle the one on the right. Zhou Ming, watch for their weaknesses and call them out as soon as you see them. Tie Zhu, use your shield to protect Zhou Ming. If a Wind Wolf breaks through, stop it."
"C-can I do this?" Zhao Tie Zhu's voice trembled.
"Whether you can or not, you have to." Lin Fan looked at him. "If you back down now, we might all die."
It was harsh, but it was the truth.
In the Wilderness, weakness meant death.
Zhao Tie Zhu took a deep breath and nodded firmly. "I understand!"
"Good." Lin Fan drew his training dagger. "Remember, a Wind Wolf's weak points are its waist and eyes. Its fur is reinforced by wind energy, so ordinary attacks will have a hard time getting through. Aim for its weak points."
Before he had finished speaking, both Wind Wolves sprang into action.
They lunged almost simultaneously, moving so fast they left two afterimages in the air. The one on the left pounced on Chen Dahu, while the one on the right went for Lin Fan.
"Here it comes!" Chen Dahu growled. He gripped his long saber in both hands and charged at the Wind Wolf.
He swung with all his strength, the saber cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. It was the opening move of the "Mountain-Splitting Saber Art" Chen Dashan had taught him. He had only learned the basics, but it still packed a punch.
But the Wind Wolf twisted strangely in midair, dodging the blow as its claws raked toward Chen Dahu's chest.
"Careful!" Zhou Ming shouted.
Chen Dahu reacted quickly and immediately retreated, but the claws still left three bloody gashes across his chest. Fortunately, the wounds weren't deep—just flesh wounds.
On the other side, Lin Fan was in an even more perilous fight.
The Wind Wolf's lunges came at tricky angles and incredible speed. Lin Fan didn't meet it head-on. Instead, he used Basic Footwork to slide sideways, narrowly avoiding its claws as he thrust his dagger backward toward its waist.
The Wind Wolf seemed to sense the danger and twisted violently in midair. The blade only grazed its fur.
"So fast!" Lin Fan's heart tightened.
The Wind Wolf was even faster than he'd expected, and its reactions were incredibly sharp. Without his Mastery Level Basic Footwork, that last swipe might have seriously wounded him.
Neither side had gained the advantage in their first exchange.
As soon as the Wind Wolves landed, they shifted positions, one on each side, and let out low growls. Their luminous green eyes stayed fixed on the four of them, as if sizing up their prey.
"Brother Fan, they're working together really well." Chen Dahu clutched his chest, his expression grim. "When I attacked the one on the left, the one on the right tried to sneak up on my flank. If you hadn't drawn its attention, I'd have been in trouble."
Lin Fan nodded. "Then we can't fight them separately. We'll stand back-to-back and cover each other."
The four immediately adjusted their formation: Lin Fan and Chen Dahu stood back-to-back, facing the two Wind Wolves; Zhou Ming and Zhao Tie Zhu stayed between them, one observing while the other defended with his shield.
The Wind Wolves seemed to notice the change in formation. They began circling the group, looking for an opening.
"What are they thinking?" Zhao Tie Zhu asked nervously.
"They're figuring out how to tear through our defenses." Zhou Ming analyzed quickly. "Wind Wolves have simple tactical thinking. They'll target whichever part of our formation looks weakest. Tie Zhu, your shield stance is too stiff. Relax a little, and adjust its angle as they move."
"Oh... all right!" Zhao Tie Zhu hurriedly shifted his stance.
Sure enough, the Wind Wolf on the right suddenly sped up and lunged straight at Zhao Tie Zhu!
Its target was obvious—the human with the shield was clumsy, an easy point of entry.
"Tie Zhu, raise your shield!" Lin Fan shouted.
Zhao Tie Zhu raised his shield almost instinctively.
The Wind Wolf's claws slammed hard into it with a dull thud. The force sent Zhao Tie Zhu stumbling back three steps. His arm went numb, and he nearly lost his grip on the shield.
But the instant the Wind Wolf attacked, Lin Fan moved.
He didn't go to Zhao Tie Zhu's aid. Instead, he lunged straight at the Wind Wolf on the left!
He knew the two Wind Wolves worked together seamlessly. When one attacked, the other would seize the chance to move—or cover its partner.
Sure enough, the Wind Wolf on the left saw its companion land an attack and started to pounce at Chen Dahu's flank. It hadn't expected Lin Fan to suddenly turn and attack it instead.
Basic Footwork at full power!
Lin Fan's speed surged to its limit in an instant. His figure closed in on the Wind Wolf like a ghost. His dagger whistled through the air as he thrust it straight toward the beast's right eye.
The Wind Wolf was startled and tried to retreat, but Lin Fan was too fast.
The blade plunged in!
"Awooo—!"
A piercing howl rang out.
The Wind Wolf's right eye burst in a spray of blood. The pain sent it thrashing wildly. Lin Fan seized the chance to kick it in the waist—the weakest part of a wolf-type Demonic Beast.
Crack!
The bone snapped clearly.
The Wind Wolf let out a pained cry and collapsed, though it was still struggling.
"Dahu, finish it!" Lin Fan shouted.
Chen Dahu had already been poised to move. At the call, he charged forward and brought his long saber down with all his strength!
The blade cleaved into the Wind Wolf's neck, spraying blood.
[1st Tier Demonic Beast Wind Wolf killed, Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +12, Combat Experience +2]
A status notification flashed.
At the same time, the Wind Wolf that had attacked Zhao Tie Zhu saw its companion killed and let out an enraged howl. It abandoned its original target and turned to pounce on Lin Fan!
It moved even faster than before, its eyes filled with madness and hatred.
"Brother Fan, watch out!" Chen Dahu tried to rush to his aid, but he was too far away.
Zhou Ming also cried out, "Its weak point is its belly!"
Lin Fan remained exceptionally calm.
As the Wind Wolf pounced, he made an unexpected move—not dodging or blocking, but stepping forward!
One step forward, his body turned slightly.
The Wind Wolf's claws grazed his shoulder, leaving three bloody scratches. At the same time, Lin Fan's dagger plunged precisely into the exposed belly of the beast.
The blade sank into flesh until the hilt disappeared.
"Whimper..."
The Wind Wolf froze in midair. The madness in its eyes quickly faded, replaced by confusion and pain.
Lin Fan twisted his dagger hard, then pulled it free.
Blood gushed out like a spring.
The Wind Wolf crashed to the ground, twitched a few times, and lay still.
[1st Tier Demonic Beast Wind Wolf killed, Basic Footwork Proficiency +15, Combat Experience +2]
[Side Quest "Teamwork and Coordination" progress updated: Lin Fan (57), Chen Dahu (10), Zhou Ming (2), Zhao Tie Zhu (1), average Combat Experience: 17.5]
The battle was over.
Only the four of them, breathing heavily, and the rustling of wind through the grass remained in the Wilderness.
"I-it's... over?" Zhao Tie Zhu's voice was still trembling. He lowered his gaze to the claw marks on his shield, then looked at the bodies of the two Wind Wolves. He seemed unable to believe he'd survived.
"It's over." Lin Fan wiped the blood from his dagger and checked his shoulder.
Fortunately, it was only a shallow flesh wound.
"Brother Fan, are you all right?" Chen Dahu walked over. The wound on his chest had stopped bleeding, but his clothes were stained red.
"I'm fine." Lin Fan looked at Zhou Ming and Zhao Tie Zhu. "What about you?"
"I-I'm fine." Zhao Tie Zhu lowered his shield. His hands still trembled slightly, but there was a trace of determination in his eyes. "I blocked it... I really blocked it!"
Zhou Ming was pale but doing his best to stay calm. "I'm fine too. But Lin Fan, that was too risky. If those claws had gone a little deeper, or if you'd missed..."
"Fighting is always risky," Lin Fan said calmly. "Besides, I trusted my judgment."
He walked over to the Wind Wolf carcasses and began salvaging the spoils.
Wind Wolf fur, teeth, and claws were all valuable materials, and their Demonic Cores were worth even more. But they had no proper skinning tools, so they could only take the cores and the most valuable wolf fangs.
"Two Wind Wolves, two First-order Demonic Cores, worth at least sixty Academic Credits," Zhou Ming calculated. "And eight fangs, probably worth about five Academic Credits apiece—that's forty in total. Add the fur... We earned at least a hundred and twenty Academic Credits from this fight."
"But we also used up energy and got hurt," Chen Dahu said. "And this is only the beginning. We haven't even reached the Steel Tooth Rats' territory."
"That's the Wilderness." Lin Fan put away the cores and fangs. "Risk and reward go hand in hand. Your father must have taught you that."
Chen Dahu nodded. "My dad says every fight in the Wilderness is a gamble with your life. Win, and you gain resources. Lose, and your bones are left to rot in the wilds."
The mood grew a little heavy.
"But we won." Lin Fan stood up. "And from this fight, we learned how to work together, where we fall short, and what the Wind Wolves' weaknesses are. That experience is worth more than Academic Credits."
He looked at the three of them. "Now, who can tell me what went wrong in the fight?"
Zhou Ming spoke first. "I didn't warn everyone quickly enough. When the Wind Wolves came out of the bushes, I should have noticed what they were doing sooner."
"I was too nervous." Zhao Tie Zhu lowered his head. "I held my shield too stiffly and almost failed to block the attack. And... when I saw the Wind Wolf pounce, my mind went blank."
"I was too reckless." Chen Dahu scratched his head. "I put too much force into my first swing and left no room to change it. If I'd held back a little, I might've wounded the Wind Wolf instead of letting it dodge so easily."
Lin Fan nodded. "My problem was taking a gamble. That stab at its belly had only a seventy percent chance of success. In a team fight, I shouldn't take such a big risk."
He paused, then continued, "But all of these things can be improved. Zhou Ming, you need to sharpen your observation and ability to predict what's coming. Tie Zhu, you need more real combat to overcome your fear. Dahu, you need to practice varying your saber techniques. And I need to be more cautious."
"So what do we do now?" Chen Dahu asked.
"We keep going." Lin Fan looked toward the Scree Slope. "But we need to be more careful. Wind Wolves showing up here means there might be more Demonic Beasts nearby. And something may have changed in the Steel Tooth Rats' territory."
The four regrouped and set off again.
But this time, the atmosphere in the group had clearly changed.
After surviving a life-or-death fight, working together to kill their enemies, and reflecting on what had happened, this hastily assembled team was growing quickly.
Lin Fan could tell that Chen Dahu was more alert, Zhou Ming was observing more carefully, and even Zhao Tie Zhu's grip on his shield had steadied.
He had also gained valuable Proficiency from the battle.
[Basic Fist Technique: Mastery Level (2024/5000)] [Basic Footwork: Mastery Level (1576/5000)] [Combat Experience: 57]
He was one step closer to the Minor Accomplishment Level.
More importantly, he had gained a deeper understanding of combat.
In his Previous Life on Earth, he had only been a programmer. The greatest danger he faced was dying from overwork. But in this world, danger lurked everywhere, and life and death were decided in an instant.
If he wanted to survive, grow stronger, and protect his younger sister, he had to adapt to this world's rules.
And combat was the heart of those rules.
"Brother Fan, the bushes are just ahead." Zhou Ming's voice interrupted Lin Fan's thoughts.
A dense thicket appeared before them, over two meters high, its branches and leaves tangled together and blocking their view.
"Move through carefully," Lin Fan said. "It's easy to get ambushed in terrain like this."
He entered the thicket first, holding his dagger out to clear the way.
The light inside the thicket was dim, and the air was thick with the smell of rotting plants. Soft soil and fallen leaves covered the ground, muffling their footsteps.
The four advanced in single file, each one warily watching their surroundings.
After about ten minutes, a strange sound suddenly came from ahead.
"Squeak... squeak..."
It sounded like a rat, but sharper and more rapid.
"Steel Tooth Rats!" Zhou Ming lowered his voice. "And there are quite a few!"
Lin Fan signaled for the others to stop, then quietly parted the branches ahead and peered through.
The sight made his pupils contract.
At the end of the thicket lay an open scree slope, riddled with caves of all sizes. At least twenty Steel Tooth Rats were scurrying across it. They were about half a meter long, with earth-yellow fur and teeth that gleamed like metal in the sunlight.
Some of the Steel Tooth Rats were gnawing on plant roots and stems, others were chasing one another, and still others were digging new burrows. It looked like an ordinary Demonic Beast habitat.
But Lin Fan noticed a detail: the Steel Tooth Rats were staying within a very limited area, almost all of them clustered in the center of the slope. At the slope's edge, several burrows had been sealed off with rubble, and white bones were scattered nearby—bones that didn't look like the remains of Steel Tooth Rat prey.
"Something's wrong," Lin Fan said quietly.
"What is it?" Chen Dahu came over.
"Look at those sealed burrows." Lin Fan pointed toward the slope's edge. "Steel Tooth Rats are social Demonic Beasts, but their burrows should be more evenly distributed. The center is so crowded, yet the edges are sealed off. That means..."
"That means they've been forced to cluster together," Zhou Ming cut in. "Maybe a more powerful Demonic Beast has claimed the edges, or... something is keeping them from spreading out."
"What could it be?" Zhao Tie Zhu asked nervously.
Lin Fan didn't answer. He kept watching.
Suddenly, he noticed a burrow at the highest point of the slope.
It was far larger than the others, its entrance more than a meter across. Not a single Steel Tooth Rat dared to approach it. Deep inside, two red lights flickered faintly.
Like... a pair of eyes.
"There's something in there," Lin Fan said.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the red lights inside the burrow suddenly flared.
Then, a huge shadow slowly emerged from the burrow.
When they saw the creature in full, even Lin Fan drew in a sharp breath.
It was a giant Steel Tooth Rat, more than two meters long! Its fur was dark gold, its teeth as sharp as daggers, and its eyes glimmered with a savage red light. More frightening still, the aura radiating from it far surpassed that of an ordinary Steel Tooth Rat—it was even stronger than the Wind Wolf they'd just faced!
"Is that... the Steel Fang Rat King?" Zhou Ming's voice trembled. "A peak first-tier Demonic Beast, maybe even close to second-tier!"
The Steel Fang Rat King walked to the center of the slope and threw back its head, letting out a piercing shriek.
"Eeeee!"
Every Steel Tooth Rat stopped moving at once and turned to face the Rat King, as if awaiting its command.
The Rat King's red eyes swept over the area, then... fixed on the bushes where Lin Fan and the others were hiding.
It had found them.
"Get ready to fight." Lin Fan gripped his short knife, his voice calm but resolute. "This time... we might really die."
On the rubble-strewn slope, more than twenty Steel Tooth Rats began moving toward the bushes.
Behind them, the Steel Fang Rat King paced slowly, its red eyes glinting with a predator's hunger.
The four boys were about to face their first life-or-death trial since enrolling.
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