Lucas glanced at Benny, who was acting haughty, and said to him, "He's right. He's a member of our tribe too. Don't be so hostile!"
Benny still looked unconvinced, and Windsor spoke up to explain, "There's nothing wrong with what he said. Getting to know one another will benefit the tribe in the future."
Seeing that Windsor agreed, Benny said nothing more.
After Lucas returned home, he began preparing some things. Although he did not know whether this world had bacteria or anything like that, he figured there probably was not much difference.
So he stole some of his father's liquor and distilled it briefly. Then he stole some linen and found some cotton batting and similar materials. He soaked them in the liquor and dried them in the sun, then soaked and dried them again. After repeating this several times, he sewed four masks for himself and his three friends.
After their exercises the next morning, he arranged a meeting place with them. When he went home at noon, he secretly brought along his dagger and the thin little knife, less than ten centimeters long, that he had secretly forged. He even brought his Blood Courage Bright Silver Spear!
When they gathered at the tribe's entrance, Lucas noticed that the others had brought weapons too. Windsor had brought a bow, Benny a long blade, and Eric a sword.
Seeing that everyone was there, Lucas said to Eric, "Let's go. You know the place, so take us there."
They slipped out of the tribe and headed toward the place Eric knew. After crossing a mountain, they stood at its foot. Eric said, "Once we're across the river, I know a place in the valley opposite where another tribe dumps corpses."
Lucas nodded and looked at the shallow river. Unfortunately, he did not have any magic like Wind of Perception and could not detect danger. Fortunately, this little river was very shallow, less than half a meter deep. There probably would not be any large magical beasts in it!
After Lucas and his friends waded across the river, they headed toward the valley opposite. When they reached a cave entrance, Lucas asked in confusion, "Is this the place you said had corpses?"
Eric nodded, while Benny looked at the cave entrance in the cliff. He said to Eric, "Isn't this obviously a cave carved out by water?"
Lucas also looked at Eric. Seeing his confident, affirmative gaze, he said nothing more. Windsor stepped forward and said, "I looked around, and there seem to be snakes. Let's finish looking and leave soon!"
Lucas nodded and prepared to climb up to the cave to take a look. Just then, Benny suddenly said to him, "There's a snake."
Lucas hurriedly shielded Windsor behind him and turned to see a green snake more than ten meters long flicking its tongue at the four of them beneath the cliff.
Lucas had learned about some magical beasts from his father and knew that this was a level 4 magical beast, a Green-Striped Python. All of them were only level 3, so they clearly could not beat this enormous creature.
He hurriedly told everyone, "Benny, protect Windsor. Windsor, harass them with your bow and arrows. Eric, I'll launch the surprise attack. Watch for an opening and support me."
They were still children, after all, and Windsor's and Benny's legs were already trembling. With a hint of tears in her voice, Windsor said to Lucas, "Brother, I'm scared."
Lucas did not dare turn his head, but he still encouraged Windsor and the others. "Don't worry. I'm here. You have to be strong. I need you to protect me."
Windsor answered shakily. Eric was frightened too. But seeing how composed Lucas was, he remembered that he had always treated Lucas as the person he wanted to surpass. Although he was afraid, he still summoned his courage and said in a trembling voice, "All right."
Lucas knew that the Green-Striped Python had not attacked yet because it was looking for a weakness in their little group. Fortunately, the four of them currently had their backs to the cliff,
which greatly reduced the pressure of defending themselves! But Lucas had an adult's soul, after all, and knew that in their current situation, they could not drag this out any longer. If he and his friends kept stalling, the others all risked breaking down under the pressure. When that happened, all four of them would most likely die here.
After saying that, Lucas immediately told Windsor to shoot. Trembling, Windsor asked uncertainly, "Do we really have to attack? What if it charges at us?"
Lucas sighed inwardly, knowing that these children probably could not be relied upon. Just then, Eric's voice came from behind him. He took the sword from Windsor's hand, then said, "I'll shoot. Rush in when its attention is drawn away. I'll cover you!"
Lucas nodded. After taking a deep breath, Eric immediately loosed an arrow. Seeing that these morsels of food actually dared attack it, the Green-Striped Python instantly grew furious and prepared to charge straight at them. Seeing this, Lucas rushed forward, dragging his spear.
Although Eric's arrow had drawn the Green-Striped Python's attention, it still lashed its tail at the charging Lucas. Lucas gathered his strength and thrust his spear forward, striking the Green-Striped Python's tail with its tip.
As their attacks clashed, the force knocked Lucas back ten steps. Lucas had also injured the Green-Striped Python's tail, but the sight made his heart sink even further. His all-out strike had only injured its tail. He could not inflict a fatal wound on it at all!
If they kept fighting like this, he and his friends would probably really die here. But there was nothing else he could do; Lucas could only keep fighting.
Seeing Lucas locked in combat, Eric knew that his arrows could not injure the magical beast and could only ease the pressure on Lucas. At that moment, Windsor also picked up the sword Eric had stuck into the ground and took a defensive stance.
Eric glanced at Windsor. Although he was a little puzzled that this little girl, usually the most useless of them, had regained her composure so quickly, this clearly was not the time to dwell on it. He said to Windsor, "Keep an eye on the surroundings. I need to help Lucas distract the magical beast. You two watch for any other magical beasts nearby and stop them from ambushing us."
Windsor nodded too. Seeing that Eric, whom he usually disliked most, was calmer than he was now, Benny turned to look at Windsor. Although her legs were still trembling, she gripped the sword tightly and watched their surroundings attentively.
Benny tightened his grip on his long blade too and encouraged himself inwardly. Benny, you can do this. You can't let them outdo you!
As Benny slowly built himself up with these thoughts, he gradually overcame the fear in his heart!
Before you continue