A Chance Encounter with Linley

Jonathan carried three bulging packs, clearly laden with a bountiful haul.

It was a sunny midday.

He spotted a wisp of cooking smoke rising from a clearing in the mountains and, curious, went over to take a look.

A brown-haired boy who looked about fifteen or sixteen was sitting there. He wore a blue outfit and held a long branch with Bloodthirsty War Boar meat skewered on it.

A campfire burned in front of him, with several more skewers of pork roasting beside it.

Nearby, a black rat about fifty or sixty centimeters long was happily gnawing on a piece of roasted pork, its little paws glistening with grease as it squeaked from time to time.

"What a coincidence?"

There was no doubt about it: this had to be Linley and the God-Eater Rat Bebe.

Jonathan's Breath Concealment Technique was exceptionally subtle. With Linley's current abilities, he certainly wouldn't notice him, though Jonathan guessed that with Doehring Cowart around, he wouldn't stay hidden for long.

Sure enough, before long, Linley suddenly called out, "You've been hiding nearby for quite a while. Why not come out and join me for a meal?"

Doehring reminded Linley, "He's in the tree to your left and behind you. If he still doesn't come out, be careful—he may be plotting against you."

"I know, Grandpa Doehring."

Suddenly, a black figure flashed past and appeared opposite Linley almost in the blink of an eye.

Doehring said, "What incredible speed! Even with Wind magic to help you, you're nowhere near as fast. He must be at least an Eighth-level Warrior."

"An Eighth-level Warrior? That can't be right. Why would someone that powerful be here? Did he just come out of the depths of the mountain range?"

As he spoke telepathically, Linley's gaze fell on Jonathan's bulging packs.

Bebe stared at Jonathan and spoke to Linley through mental communication. "Boss, look at his packs. He's gotta be loaded. Let's rob him!"

"You've got some skill. Mind if I have some?"

Before Linley could answer, Jonathan helped himself to some roasted Bloodthirsty War Boar meat and began eating.

Linley's mouth twitched slightly.

Bebe continued egging him on. "He's got no manners. He's obviously a bad guy. Let's strike first!"

When Jonathan's face came into view, Linley was slightly taken aback. He couldn't help asking Doehring in his mind, "Grandpa Doehring, you said he had the strength of an Eighth-level Warrior? But he doesn't look much older than me."

Doehring's expression darkened. He studied Jonathan for a while, then replied, "He can't be over twenty. He may even be younger."

"But he probably isn't really an Eighth-level Warrior. He's deliberately concealing his aura, and the technique resembles that of the group you ran into before."

"Did he come for revenge?"

"Probably not. Let me probe him with my spiritual force."

A moment later, Doehring exclaimed in shock, "He's cultivating both magic and battle qi, and he's reached Level Seven in both! How is that possible?"

"A Level Seven Mage and a Level Seven Warrior?!" Linley was astonished. Looking at Jonathan, who was intently eating his roasted meat, he couldn't help asking, "You look young. You must be about my age, right?"

Jonathan didn't even look up. "How old are you?"

"Fifteen. I'm Linley."

"Jonathan. Seventeen."

Linley's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Seventeen!"

Jonathan secretly chuckled, but kept a calm expression. "What's the big deal? You're that surprised because I'm two years older than you? Or is it because I'm too handsome?"

Bebe chimed in, "Boss, what are you freaking out about? Even if we're not robbing him, don't ruin my meal!"

Linley sent back telepathically, "Bebe, what do you know? Seventeen isn't that young, but wouldn't you be surprised by a seventeen-year-old Level Seven Mage and Level Seven Warrior?"

"Boss, how do you know? That can't be right. You're a genius, and even at fifteen you've only reached Level Five as a Mage. It'll take you more than a year to reach Level Six. In terms of cultivation speed, you're the greatest magic prodigy at Ernst Academy."

"How could some random guy who popped up out of nowhere be more impressive than you, Boss? That clumsy trick won't fool me, Bebe!"

Linley gave a bitter smile. "Why would I lie to you? Just how monstrously talented is he?"

"Why do you keep staring at me? Is there something on my face? Oh, I get it. You think I'm too handsome, so you can't help taking a closer look."

Linley's mouth twitched again. His talent really is monstrous, but he's a little too full of himself.

"Give me another couple of years, and I won't be any worse than you!"

Doehring, who was standing nearby, continued studying Jonathan, muttering in disbelief.

Jonathan soon finished the roasted meat and patted his stomach. "I'm full."

Then he bared his teeth for a moment and muttered, "It tastes good, but it gets stuck in your teeth. Your cooking could use some work."

"By the way, where are you from?"

"The Fenlai Kingdom."

Jonathan continued, "You're willing to come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range at such a young age. You're from Ernst Academy, aren't you?"

"How did you know?"

"So you really are. One little trick, and you gave yourself away. You need to be more alert. You must've had a rough time in the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

Instead of answering, Linley asked, "What about you? You're not much older than me, and you seem pretty strong, but I don't remember anyone like you at Ernst Academy."

"Heh heh. Do you really think I'd tell you?"

"Chirp!" Bebe squeaked at Jonathan, sticking up for Linley.

"Boss, he's way out of line. Let me, Bebe, teach him a lesson!"

"Don't start!" Linley held Bebe back, stopping him from acting recklessly.

Bebe quieted down, but his little green eyes stayed fixed on Jonathan.

"A black rat? You don't see those often. He's pretty strong, too. Is he a mutant?"

"Judging by that look in his eyes, he doesn't seem very happy!"

"Let him go. I want to see how strong he is!"

Doehring spoke up as well. "Linley, Bebe is stronger than you, and his defense is exceptionally tough. He'll be fine. This is a good chance to test Jonathan's strength."

Linley looked at Bebe and thought it over, then sent him a telepathic message. "You really want to fight him?"

"Boss, you're letting me? Don't worry. I won't let you down, Bebe will teach him a good lesson!"

Then Linley said, "Please go easy on him."

The two of them and the rat went to a nearby grove, while Linley watched from the side.

"Little rat, you make the first move!"

"Chirp! (Die!)"

Bebe was nearly as fast as a Ninth-level Warrior. A streak of black flashed toward Jonathan like lightning.

"Sure is fast!"

"Divine beasts really are born with incredible gifts!"

He thought to himself, Gravity Spell won't do much against lightweight magical beasts like this, but the Anti-Gravity Spell is their natural enemy.

Once it was floating in the air with nothing to push off against, its strength would be drastically reduced.

With an attack so direct, speed alone wouldn't help. Hitting Jonathan would be a pipe dream.

But if Bebe used that speed to launch a surprise attack, it would be terrifying—an almost certain killing blow.

After dodging Bebe's attack, Jonathan quickly cast the Anti-Gravity Spell, and it was a Level Seven spell.

As Bebe charged in, his body suddenly grew weightless, and his attack veered off course. He flew straight over Jonathan's head.

"Gravity Spell? No, it's the exact opposite of Gravity Spell!"

Doehring cried out in shock.

I've got a recommendation next week, but my stats are still terrible. I have fewer than two hundred regular readers, and I need at least five hundred to be safe for the second round. Please keep reading regularly, and if you've been saving up chapters, don't. Otherwise, when you come back in a few weeks, the story might be gone.

I imagine quite a few people here have encountered something like this.

So whether this lives or dies is entirely up to you all!