Nightshadow

Andy looked at the two Sabers not far in front of him, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

What made Andy want to cough up blood even more was that the sturdy Saber that had arrived later, after growling and intimidating the other one, actually turned back and bared its teeth at him, looking exactly like it was smiling.

That's right, it was smiling! And it did it twice! What kind of situation was this? This was a wild beast, how the hell could it smile? Was this beast convinced that he was its next meal, or was it mocking him?

I, I, I... Andy almost couldn't catch his breath and nearly collapsed on the spot.

"Spirit, what kind of creature is this one?" Andy asked, his heart trembling.

"Calculating!" the Monster Spirit replied.

"This..." Andy was truly on the verge of a breakdown. You system, usually acting so high and mighty, why do you always drop the ball when it actually matters?

"Damn it, forget it! You two bastard beasts, I'll fight you to the death! Don't think I'm so easy to bully!" Andy rolled up his sleeves and started cursing. "Don't think just because I'm thin and scrawny that I'm weak, don't think that I..."

A single sentence from the Monster Spirit made the incessantly chattering Andy shut his mouth instantly: "Although the target's level has not been calculated yet, your current remarks will be directly interpreted by the target as a taunt!"

Andy really felt like coughing up blood. He couldn't win a fight, he couldn't run away, and now he didn't even dare to curse—what kind of mess was this!

"Roar!" The later Saber let out a howl, a sound that nearly made Andy wet his pants. His already shaking legs gave way, and his entire body slid down against the tree trunk to the ground.

The strong Saber's roar wasn't directed at Andy, but at the previous Saber. The first Saber instinctively buckled at the knees, let out a few whimpering sounds, and after a moment of hesitation, tucked its tail and ran away, having caught the scent of an apex predator from the newcomer.

It's over! That first Saber was too cowardly, scared off by just two roars? A total wimp! This also dashed Andy's hopes of watching the tigers fight from the mountain; he hadn't realized the first Saber was so pathetic.

Now it was truly over! The sturdy leopard was already walking toward him. What to do? Andy's legs trembled, and he suddenly sighed toward the sky, "Heaven is ending me!" Andy thought, closing his eyes as if accepting his fate—let it be whatever it would be! The only thing on his mind was the illness of his father, Dick; he probably wouldn't have the chance to find a cultivator to treat him now.

Andy waited for a long time, but he didn't feel any sharp claws or teeth delivering a fatal blow. What was going on? Andy gathered his courage, opened one eye halfway, and peeked at what was in front of him.

A tall elf was half-squatting in front of him, looking at him with great interest. Andy suddenly shouted, "Hey! Where's the beast? Where's the beast?"

Andy jumped up from the ground, only then seeing clearly that the person in front of him was an elf girl with a long ponytail hanging down her back, her beautiful purple eyes looking at him with a smile.

Andy felt like a clown for a moment, having been scared limp by a beast, especially in front of a girl—that was embarrassing enough. What was even more ridiculous was that he was still shouting about where the beast was after standing up.

"Hmm? Did you drive the beast away and save me? Thank you, thank you! Well, I have things to do, let's meet again sometime, haha." Andy awkwardly rubbed his head, hurriedly looking for an excuse to escape.

"Beast?" the elf girl said. "Are you talking about that Saber from before? Hehe, that was just a level two beast, nothing to worry about."

Andy, who was just about to take a step, suddenly stopped and nearly tripped, shouting, "What did you say? A level two beast? Such a sturdy Saber, only level two? Then it must be all brawn and no brains, because that small one from before was also level two!"

The elf girl stared at Andy blankly for two seconds, then suddenly started laughing, and said in an eerie tone, "Are you talking about that sturdy one?"

Andy nodded frantically.

"Then look, is it like this?" After the elf girl finished speaking, a gray mist surged around her body, but it dissipated in two or three seconds, revealing that it was actually the sturdy Saber.

"Wow!" Andy took a leap backward, his back slamming into the tree. "This... this... you transformed into it?"

Cold sweat broke out on Andy. This was terrible! Didn't she hear everything he said when he was cursing her earlier? It seemed he had just called her "all brawn and no brains"! What was he supposed to do now?

The elf girl returned to her human form, looked at the terrified Andy, and frowned. "Where did you come from, kid? Why are you making such a big fuss!"

Andy wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied, "I came from a small village by the sea in the south, it's called Rut'theran. Do you know it?"

Andy was relieved that she didn't bring up his cursing, so he answered every question quickly.

"Rut'theran?" the elf girl muttered to herself. "I really haven't heard of it! What are you doing here? Don't you know the area around Teldrassil is dangerous? Well, at least for you!"

"Big sister!" Andy said with a forced smile. "May I ask, are you a cultivator?"

"Cultivator? What cultivator?" The elf girl looked confused, but then she understood. "We don't call it that here, but it's about the same. Why do you ask?"

"If you are, that's perfect!" Andy said, dropping to his knees in front of the elf girl. "Please, save my father! The old man in the village said only you cultivators or priests can save him!"

The elf girl was startled by the sudden situation and took a step back. "What are you doing? Get up!"

"If you don't agree, I won't get up!" Andy said, stubbornness in his neck.

"Get up first and we'll talk!" the elf girl said. "You haven't even told me what's going on, how can you expect me to help you?"

Andy stood up slowly, looking embarrassed, and explained the situation with his father, Dick. The elf girl frowned as she listened. If what this little boy named Andy said was true, how did he travel through such a long stretch of wilderness alone without anything happening until now? She knew the situation around Teldrassil better than anyone; it was impossible for someone who hadn't received formal training to travel through the wilderness alone.

"I can't make the decision on this matter myself," the elf girl said. "Normally, I could ask my teacher, but he isn't in the city. I'll have to have my senior brother take me to report this to the priests. We cannot use the restoration or blessing spells we've learned at will; that is the order!"

"Alright then, I'll go back with you, but please be quick. I'm afraid my father can't wait that long," Andy said, his face full of anxiety.

The elf girl thought to herself, regardless of how this kid got here alone, she had to help him for the sake of his filial piety—wasn't that exactly what her teacher always taught her? Whatever happens, let the priests decide.

"Alright, I'll take you there now." As the elf girl spoke, she transformed back into her beast form, but this time it was a yellow leopard with black spots. "Get on, what are you waiting for?" the leopard-transformed elf girl said to Andy, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.

With a nervous heart, Andy climbed onto the leopard's back, wrapping his arms around its neck, afraid he would fall off if he wasn't careful. Honestly, to think she could still make such a pleasant sound while in beast form! Andy's mischievous heart began to show again.

"Big sister, what is your name?" Andy asked. Since she was helping him, he should at least know her name.

"Hilar Nightshadow!" the elf girl said. "You can just call me Hilar."

"Sister Hilar, are you practicing Druid magic?" Andy asked in a low voice. The leopard Hilar was running fast, and every time he opened his mouth, a gust of wind rushed in.

"You know about that?" Hilar was somewhat surprised, especially since he had been scared enough to wet his pants earlier.

Andy chuckled, thinking to himself that if he didn't even know that, he would have wasted his time playing World of Warcraft. He had only been scared earlier because he didn't understand the situation. Anyone would be terrified if someone suddenly turned into a beast in front of them!

"Then who is your teacher?" Andy wanted to find out more details.

When Hilar heard him ask about her teacher, she instinctively raised her head and said proudly, "My teacher is Malfurion!"

"Malfurion Stormrage!" Andy tumbled off the running leopard. He really hadn't known that! This little Druid's teacher was actually Malfurion, a huge celebrity in Azeroth!

"What's wrong? Why did you fall off?" Hilar asked, turning back.

"Nothing, hehe, nothing!" Andy said sheepishly. "I was just blown away by your teacher's reputation!"

Now it was Hilar's turn to be confused. This kid had been scared to death at first, so why did he seem to know everything now? Filled with questions, Hilar let Andy climb back on and raced toward Darnassus.