Native

"So that means these natives are the true enemies of this trial."

With that thought, Benjamin became more vigilant.

Rather than relying on the Rune Artifact to fly at high speed, he focused more on concealment and traveled entirely on foot.

Finally, during one trip deep into the valley, Benjamin spotted them from afar.

It was a group of around twenty people, dressed in crude animal hides and bark.

Each of them moved swiftly as they hunted a boar-like Magic Beast the size of a van.

Benjamin silently drifted into the canopy, hiding himself among the branches as he observed them from afar.

"Interesting... Aren't they savages?"

Benjamin quickly noticed something amiss. Though their appearance resembled that of a primitive society, the weapons in these natives' hands were genuine metal products.

Judging by their exchanges, they possessed a highly developed and complete language, and could cast some techniques that seemed rather crude to him.

For example, brief speed amplification, simple earthen wall defenses, or poison arrows with a paralyzing effect.

However, what these people used most often was a special kind of power that seemed capable of strengthening the body.

Bolstered by this special power, they could unleash strength and speed several times greater than their physical capabilities in an instant.

"What is this? Knights?"

Besides that, Benjamin also found some exquisitely crafted little ornaments on them—primitive civilizations would not possess such things.

He watched as they skillfully forced the tusked boar into a corner, wore it down with thrown spears, and finally joined forces to kill it.

After the hunt was complete, they even knew how to divide the work. Some stood guard, some cleaned up the scene, and some were responsible for carrying the prey.

The eyes of these natives held vigilance and hostility toward the outside world.

As they carried the prey, several natives would occasionally scan their surroundings, their gazes alert and wary, as though guarding against something.

Following them in secret, Benjamin soon arrived at the place where they lived.

It was a rather large cave, very well concealed.

Surprisingly, there were not many people. Including the hunters, there were fewer than a hundred people in the entire cave.

With such numbers... this place could only barely be considered a small settlement.

However, Benjamin gained quite a bit, because he discovered two natives in heavy armor within the cave. Even their weapons gave off faint energy fluctuations.

The other, relatively frail residents were also wrapped in animal hides and leaves, yet they used metal tools to work or gather food.

Outside the cave, there were even some freshly fired clay jars.

"Was this... a civilization that had been crushed, leaving only survivors forced to live in the wilderness?"

Benjamin understood.

However, these people held no value to him for the time being. Their methods of using energy were far too rudimentary; after sweeping them from afar with Analysis Art, he had already understood most of their energy circulation paths.

"But if there are stronger natives, perhaps their cultivation methods will be of greater value to me."

After observing from afar for a while and ensuring he had not been discovered, Benjamin silently left the valley.

Deep within the Gray Rock Plane, in a hidden valley concealed beneath layers of twisted trees and massive stone pillars.

The campfire crackled, its flames illuminating weathered faces.

Compared to the crude settlement Benjamin had stumbled upon earlier, this place was much larger. It was a temporary camp secretly built together by survivors from several different "kingdoms."

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was solemn and oppressive.

Calling it a council hall was generous; it was really just an enormous tent.

Several resolute warriors clad in crude half-armor sat together, their powerful bodies radiating violent strength.

On the other side were Shamans and priests with restrained auras, holding bone staffs or scepters.

They sat around the fire, their expressions all rather grim.

They represented survivors from different kingdoms destroyed in the Gray Rock Plane, now united by their shared hatred and desire for revenge.

They had once been the true masters of this land, with ancient kingdoms, glorious civilizations, and faiths guarded for generations... until those outsiders calling themselves "wizards" arrived.

It had been a nightmarish catastrophe.

The wizards possessed unimaginable power. They controlled the elements and twisted space.

Their kingdoms had been destroyed, their homes burned, and countless compatriots reduced to dust beneath those cold, powerful spells.

The survivors had been forced to hide in the most secret corners of the Gray Rock Plane, living like savage beasts and barely clinging to life, all to preserve the bloodlines of their kingdoms and await a chance for revenge.

And this time, the large-scale entry of Noren Academy's apprentices into the Gray Rock Plane had undoubtedly reignited the hatred and vigilance in their hearts.

"They've come again!"

"Just like last time, crawling in like insects!"

"Those bastards are getting closer and closer. Sooner or later, they'll discover our existence!"

"Everyone, our scouts have confirmed that the outsiders entering the Gray Rock Plane this time are all immature 'cubs,'" said a knight commander with a savage scar across his face.

His voice was hoarse like scraping metal, a trace left by years of hiding and fighting. "Their strength is not weak, but they are far inferior to the wizards who slaughtered our kingdoms!"

"This is our chance!" Another Shaman leader gripped his bone staff tightly, his voice burning with hatred. "Our ancestors told us that when foreign enemies foolishly set foot on our land once more, it will be the time for us to wash away our humiliation!"

"But these wizards have strange methods. We cannot underestimate them," a female knight warned with a frown. "According to intelligence brought back by others, these people possess a special ability to move. Once they encounter danger, they vanish... It will be difficult for us to wipe them out completely."

"They use spatial abilities..."

A voice drew everyone's attention. Turning toward it, they saw a somewhat bedraggled priest take an intricately constructed ring from his robes.

"Those people call themselves Wizard Apprentices. I obtained this from an arrogant Wizard Apprentice. They rely on this to leave our world at will whenever they encounter danger."

"Spatial abilities..."

Hearing the priest's explanation, the others exchanged looks. Several of them could not help showing dejected expressions.

In their world, spatial abilities belonged exclusively to the gods.

Yet the gods who had once held their divine kingdoms aloft and sat among the stars had long vanished in the first wave of purges by those monsters called wizards.