"Bip-bip~"
Surrounded by towering ancient trees, Linley sat in front of a campfire, roasting two Gale Rabbits, both first-level Magical Beasts.
Bebe stood upright in front of the fire, drool almost spilling from his mouth.
"Linley." Doehring floated beside him. "I still don't understand. Why insist on entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range now? You already have the strength of a seventh-rank warrior, but you're still so young."
"Grandpa Doehring." Linley turned the two rabbits over and smiled. "It's a road I have to take, isn't it? The sooner I go in, the sooner I can get used to it!"
Doehring didn't believe Linley's explanation.
After all, even if he wanted to get used to fighting early, he shouldn't enter the Magical Beast Mountain Range at eight years old.
Even if Linley already had the strength of a seventh-rank warrior after his Dragon Transformation.
However, Doehring knew Linley had secrets. Seeing that Linley didn't want to explain, he didn't press him.
At that moment, Linley opened his Attribute Panel.
Name: Linley Baruch
Age: 8
Energy Points: 10 green, 17 white
Constitution: 4750 (5,000,000)
Mental Strength: 54.7
Battle Qi: 0
Magic Power: 300
Elemental Affinity: Earth Element (Super), Wind Element (Super), Destruction (High), Fire Element (Medium), Water Element (Super, Hidden)
Law Comprehension: None
Battle Qi Manual: None
Earlier, Linley had killed a Bloodthirsty Wild Boar and obtained 100 Green Energy Points, which he exchanged for 50 portions of Purple Light Dew and 50 portions of the T-Virus.
As for his warrior abilities, Linley hadn't made a breakthrough yet.
But his mental strength had already broken through, and he had successfully become a second-level mage.
However, since he had only entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range today and hadn't spent much time meditating, he hadn't yet stored his full allotment of magic power.
And because he had broken through so recently, Linley still only knew first-level Earth Element magic.
"Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley looked at his attributes, smiling. "With how quickly I'm growing, do I really still need to go to the Institute?"
"Of course." Lin Ke lay on the sofa, speaking languidly. "You're not going to school to learn things. You're going to make friends."
As he spoke, Lin Ke rose from the sofa, his tone turning serious. "Linley, improving your strength is important, but don't forget you're just a kid. You should act like one. Don't be so tense, and don't forget what your father said."
Linley was taken aback by Lin Ke's words.
Before leaving today, Hogg's words had indeed made Linley feel a little wronged.
But Hogg was his father, after all. Linley couldn't defy him.
Hearing Lin Ke say this now made Linley feel a little more at ease.
"Thanks, Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley smiled. "I'll go to Ernst Institute when the time comes."
Hearing Linley's answer, Lin Ke breathed a sigh of relief.
Because of him, Hogg had become even stricter with Linley.
At the same time, it had made Hogg seem like an even worse father.
Lin Ke didn't want the Linley he had raised to become someone with a wounded heart.
After all, if a child's experiences weren't healed, they might have a major effect on his personality in the future.
Lin Ke needed a partner—and one he could trust.
Otherwise, if Linley changed his surname to Tang or Fang one day, all Lin Ke's efforts would have been for nothing.
"Chirp-chirp~"
Bebe leaped onto Linley's shoulder.
"Boss, hungry. Eat!"
"All right, don't rush."
Linley came back to himself and picked up a roasted rabbit, giving it a look.
"It's cooked. You can eat now."
As he spoke, Linley handed the roasted rabbit to Bebe, who sat on his shoulder.
Bebe chirped, jumped down from Linley's shoulder, and began devouring it.
A Gale Rabbit was a first-level Magical Beast, about the size of a half-grown puppy—almost three or four times Bebe's size.
Yet in just a few minutes, Bebe had eaten it all, bones and all, and his belly hadn't changed in the slightest.
"Sometimes I wonder how much you can eat." Linley looked at Bebe in amazement and tore off half of his own rabbit. "Here, eat. If it's not enough, go catch another one yourself."
"Chirp-chirp~"
Bebe beamed and began eating again.
After dinner, Linley looked around at the quiet surroundings, feeling curious.
"Linley." Doehring flew out of the Coiling Dragon Ring. "You should leave this place now. The smell of blood here will attract Magical Beasts."
Doehring's words made Linley tense.
After all, he was only eight, and entering the Magical Beast Mountain Range was a first for him.
Although Linley wasn't weak and could at least keep himself safe in the outer region, he still followed Doehring's advice and left with his belongings and Bebe.
"Awoooo~~~"
But he hadn't gone far when a wolf howl came from nearby.
Linley's expression changed. His clothes ripped as he instantly underwent Dragon Transformation.
"Chirp-chirp~"
Bebe stood on Linley's shoulder too, watching their surroundings warily.
"Crack~"
A dry branch snapped off to one side. Linley turned to look.
A pair of gleaming green eyes emerged from the side.
It stood twenty or thirty centimeters taller than an ordinary wild wolf, and its two canine teeth were more than ten centimeters long.
"That's a Tooth Wolf." Doehring's voice sounded in Linley's mind. "Tooth Wolves are the weakest of the wolf-type Magical Beasts. Adult Tooth Wolves are usually third-level Magical Beasts. A few can reach the fourth or fifth level, but the sixth level is rarely seen."
Doehring's words made Linley eager to try his hand.
But then Doehring poured cold water on him.
"Remember, Linley: whenever you encounter wolf-type Magical Beasts, run immediately." Doehring's tone was serious. "A lone wolf-type Magical Beast isn't very strong, but they live in packs. When they come out, there are at least thirty or forty together."
Doehring's words left Linley momentarily stunned.
"Grandpa Doehring." Linley had no intention of running away. "Did you forget? I can fly."
As he spoke, the wings behind Linley fluttered.
Inside the Coiling Dragon Ring, Doehring fell silent.
He had indeed overlooked that Linley's Dragon Transformation form had wings.
And with the strength of a seventh-rank warrior after his Dragon Transformation, Linley could fly all day without getting tired.
"Be careful." With that in mind, Doehring stopped trying to dissuade Linley. "In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the most terrifying thing isn't Magical Beasts—it's people."
Doehring's words puzzled Linley.
But now wasn't the time to think about that.
More and more Tooth Wolves were gathering around them.
Just by Linley's estimate, there were already thirty or forty, and the number was still growing.
"Bebe." Linley's voice was low as he crouched slightly. "Unless I'm pushed to my limit, don't come to my rescue."
"Whoosh~"
Before Linley had even finished speaking, he was already a blur, charging toward a Tooth Wolf.
His fingers were like sharp daggers as both hands plunged into the Tooth Wolf's head.
[Congratulations on killing a third-level Magical Beast. Green Energy Points +40]
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