Slaughter in the Beast Pen (Please Follow, Favorite, and Recommend!)

Chapter Five

Lynn tightened the robe around himself, cradled his Earth Rhino Beast in his arms, and carefully made his way through the forest.

As he pressed onward, his expression grew increasingly grim.

Every so often, he came across severed corpses and tattered robes—remains that clearly belonged to examinees who had still been alive ten days ago.

"Were they attacked by magical beasts in the Beast Pen?"

Lynn secretly speculated as he heightened his vigilance.

He knew full well that this Beast Pen was vast, and that many powerful magical beasts dwelled within it.

Perhaps a high-ranking magical beast had entered this area, leading several unlucky youths to meet such a gruesome end.

However, as Lynn continued deeper inside, he gradually realized that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

The number of corpses along the way had already exceeded his expectations.

He clearly remembered that only several dozen youths had participated in this trial, yet he had already seen no fewer than twenty corpses on his way here!

Even more unsettling was that some of the corpses were completely intact.

If magical beasts had done this, why had they not devoured the bodies clean?

"What exactly happened?"

The unease in Lynn's heart grew heavier.

Just then, his ears suddenly caught an extremely faint sound.

It was the sound of sharp teeth chewing bones, soft yet unnervingly clear.

Lynn stopped, held his breath, and instantly focused his mental power.

The powerful mental power of a first-level Wizard Apprentice allowed him to be certain that this was no illusion.

That faint chewing sound truly existed!

At the same time, his nose twitched, and his brows immediately furrowed.

He sensed a faint, nauseating stench of blood spreading through the fresh morning air, drifting in his direction.

"Damn it!"

The hairs on Lynn's body stood on end, and every nerve tensed.

He understood that he had already drawn close to the culprit behind these corpses.

Whether it was some powerful magical beast or another unknown threat, this was absolutely not a place to linger.

That faint chewing, that thick scent of blood—every sign pointed to danger closing in.

Lynn even knew that if he shouted right now, he would definitely draw that hidden culprit straight to him!

"Breath Concealment!"

At that critical moment, the spell he had just learned flashed through Lynn's mind, and he immediately began casting it without hesitation.

Lynn promptly concealed his own presence, doing everything he could to hide within this dangerous forest.

Although Breath Concealment was only a zero-ring spell and was neither difficult to learn nor cast, it generally required the aid of material components to achieve its full effect.

He looked around, his gaze lingering briefly on the broken corpses and shredded robes.

Lynn swiftly made his decision—in the current situation, the most suitable "materials" for masking his scent were these blood-soaked remnants reeking of gore.

Suppressing the churning in his stomach and the cold revulsion crawling over his body, he lowered his head and gathered the torn clothes and bloodstained scraps.

Then, using Breath Concealment, he dispersed those scents and covered himself with mental power, thoroughly concealing his existence.

After finishing all this, Lynn clutched the Earth Rhino Beast tightly in his arms, crouched low, and silently hid behind a thick tree.

The tree was large enough to shield his body, allowing him to blend into his surroundings.

Lynn held his breath and gathered all his mental power, his ears straining as he carefully listened to the sounds coming from every direction.

The chewing continued, each sound low and sharp, as if it were striking directly against Lynn's nerves.

His heart pounded like a drum, as though it might leap from his throat at any moment, yet he did not dare make the slightest movement.

Suddenly, the chewing gradually weakened, replaced by a rustling sound—the soft noise of footsteps crushing dry leaves.

The footsteps came from afar, slowly growing clearer and heavier. They were obviously approaching Lynn's direction!

Lynn's pupils abruptly contracted. His breathing nearly stopped, and his entire body seemed to freeze as he desperately reduced his presence to the lowest possible level.

Holding his breath, he slowly shifted his gaze toward the source of the sound and cautiously peered out.

"Tap! Tap!"

The footsteps drew closer and closer. Finally, Lynn caught sight of a moving figure.

The first thing to enter his view was a four-legged creature, entirely covered in black scales—it was an Earth Rhino Beast!

This Earth Rhino Beast moved with a touch of laziness, but someone was following behind it.

It was a blond youth with a sturdy build and steady steps.

Lynn found his face somewhat familiar.

Ten days ago, when choosing Earth Rhino Beasts, this person had relied on his strong fists to kick another competitor unconscious, acting with utter tyranny.

"Could it be..."

An extremely terrifying suspicion flashed through Lynn's mind.

Were the youths who had died so miserably along the way truly not killed by magical beasts, but by the person before him?

Just then, the blond youth seemed completely unwary. He casually yawned, stretched, and said lazily, "I killed over twenty on my side. They should have about the same over there. Wait a little longer and see if there are any fish that slipped through the net, then we can go back and report..."

Hidden behind the thick trunk, Lynn carefully concealed himself as every word from the blond youth reached his ears clearly.

"So it really was him! How ruthless! How strong!"

Lynn rapidly analyzed the other party's motives and the potential threat he posed.

From the blond youth's words, he learned that this person was not acting alone—he had companions.

"Why are they attacking the other examinees? Aren't they afraid of angering that wizard?"

This question lingered in Lynn's mind.

As someone who had transmigrated here, he was still exploring the rules and logic of this world.

The original owner of this body had merely been a lucky person who had entered the Furnace Trial by chance, and knew nothing of the complicated background and unspoken rules here.

But since the blond youth could slaughter other examinees without restraint, he must have had some way of avoiding that wizard's punishment.

A conjecture flashed through Lynn's mind: that wizard had intended from the start to use this trial to select the best apprentices and eliminate the weak.

And the blond youth's early actions perhaps aligned perfectly with that wizard's philosophy of survival of the fittest.

Lynn clenched his fists, his chest rising and falling sharply.

He understood very clearly that, judging from the blond youth's words, this person intended to leave no survivors!

If Lynn were discovered, he would undoubtedly become the next target.

"No matter why he's doing this, there's no doubt that this man is my enemy—a mortal enemy!"

Lynn grew increasingly calm, but his expression also became more grave.

The blond youth before him and his companions were undoubtedly formidable—killing more than twenty people without suffering any injury was not something an ordinary person could accomplish.

That meant that once they noticed him, it would be a fight to the death!

"When enemies meet on a narrow road, only one can survive. Then don't blame me..."

A cold glint flashed deep in Lynn's eyes.

He had been in this world for barely half a month, yet he had already been forced to the edge of life and death. The crisis before him left him with no choice but to make a decision.

After calming down, Lynn began calculating rapidly.

He knew full well that if he relied solely on his physical abilities, he stood no chance in a direct confrontation with the blond youth.

The other party's physique and strength completely surpassed his own. The outcome of hand-to-hand combat was obvious.

But Lynn was not without a chance—he was a first-level Wizard Apprentice, possessed spells, and still had one trump card: Daze Spell!

This was a spell that could briefly disrupt an enemy's mind. Though its duration was limited, if used properly, it might become the key to turning defeat into victory!

Lynn's gaze sharpened slightly. His heart beat ever faster, but his killing intent gradually rose as well.

"The blond youth is a formidable enemy, but he may not be without weaknesses. If an opportunity arises..."