’Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!’
The footsteps grew faster, closer. Simon’s group scrambled to their feet, weapons at the ready. A mont later, a monster burst through the undergrowth, larger than any Nuthlug they had seen yet.
"That’s the boss!" Dick yelled.
"It’s definitely big," Simon agreed.
It stood a full two heads taller than the others, its body a roadmap of scars where fur refused to grow, revealing nacing patches of bare skin.
’Grrrk! Grrrrrrrrk!’
The creature lowered its stance. Its front was all protruding belly, but its back was shockingly lean, its spine clearly visible beneath the skin. Its eyes were locked on the Golem’s Core, drawn by the surge of Jet-Black energy from Simon’s preparations.
"It’s coming!"
The Nuthlug charged. Simon ran to et it.
"Dick! Shield!"
"On it!"
Dick threw an enchanted shield, and Simon caught it, pulling it up to his chin just as the monster crashed into him.
"Whoa!"
Simon was thrown backward, the force of the impact staggering him. The shockwave was so powerful that chunks of earth fell from the golem’s half-ford arm.
"Simon!" Dick shouted, rushing forward with his sword. "Leave this to us! Focus on the golem!"
"Got it!"
"I’ll cover you!" Kamibarez yelled.
As Simon fell back, she fired a Blood Bullet. The Nuthlug saw it coming and deftly leaped aside. A cold sweat broke out on Dick’s brow. ’Its reflexes are much better than it looks!’
The monster renewed its charge toward the golem. Dick moved to intercept, but irin was faster, launching herself into the air.
With a wave of her hand, a rain of black fire fell from the sky, scorching the grass and forcing the Nuthlug to retreat.
"That’s our dinner!" Dick shouted. "Try not to burn it to a crisp!"
irin shot him a furious look.
"Is that really your priority right now? Besides, we have to cook it anyway!"
The Nuthlug darted away from the flas. As irin and Dick gave chase, Dick nodded seriously.
"You know, that’s a good point. A little pre-sear couldn’t hurt..."
"Focus, you psycho!"
"I’m always focused."
The Nuthlug stomped the ground and launched itself into the air, aiming to leap over them. Dick instantly pulled sothing from his Subspace, spinning and flinging it behind him. A wide, white net unfurled in the air, blocking the monster’s path. Dick imdiately cast his spell.
"Enchant!"
The entire net turned Jet-Black. With nimble movents, he hamred a tal stake into the ground and secured the net to it.
"Move!"
irin gathered Jet-Black into her elbow and slamd it down on the stake. It drove deep into the earth with a heavy ’thud’.
"Ouch!" she yelped, rubbing her elbow.
Dick looked up. The net strained, but the Nuthlug’s montum was spent, and it fell to the ground.
"Yes! We got it!"
But the net was large, and so sections hadn’t been fully enchanted. The Nuthlug instantly found a tear and squeezed through, making a beeline for Simon.
"Dick! You idiot, I swear—!"
Before irin could finish, a trendous roar echoed through the forest. The Nuthlug was sent flying, its body bent at an unnatural angle. It smashed through several trees before tumbling to a stop. Everyone’s jaw dropped as they turned to see what had happened.
"Were you waiting for ?" Simon grinned, his fist extended.
Above him, the now-complete Mud Golem mirrored his pose.
"Hahaha! Nice cover, Simon!" Dick cheered.
"Finish it," irin said coolly. "And Dick, you and I are having a talk later."
’Grrrk! Grrrrrrrrk!’
The Nuthlug, now a bloody ss, staggered to its feet and charged again, roaring in fury.
"Fine by ," Simon said, settling into a fighting stance.
The Nuthlug leaped at the Mud Golem, its claws extending to a terrifying length. It raked them across the golem’s body, leaving three deep gashes. But that was the extent of the damage. The Mud Golem simply clasped its hands and raised them high above its head.
"Ah, Simon," Dick said. "Just a reminder, that’s our dinner, so please go easy..."
’KRA-BOOOOOOOOM!’
The golem’s clasped hands ca down like a sledgehamr, slamming the Nuthlug into the ground. A cloud of dust erupted as the earth buckled under the force.
"Oh dear," Dick muttered.
"Eek!" Kamibarez squeaked.
They both scrambled backward. Incredibly, the Nuthlug was still twitching. The Mud Golem raised its massive foot.
’KRA-BOOOOOOM!’
Another earth-shattering stomp.
Dick nodded with a grimly serious expression.
"Okay, minced at stir-fry it is."
"Why are you suddenly so obsessed with eating it?" irin asked, exasperated.
---
Hongfeng’s mission was a success. After taking down the boss and clearing out the remaining Nuthlugs, the group rested, waiting for their pickup. As they chatted, a figure erged from the bushes.
"So this is where you were."
It was Brad, Hongfeng’s teaching assistant, a man with sun-tanned skin, a short crew cut, and a perpetually sullen expression.
"Good work. I’ve set up a teleportation circle. Let’s go. Professor Hongfeng is waiting."
"Yes, sir!" they chorused.
Finally, it was over. They followed Brad, their spirits high. Just beyond the trees, a magic circle glowed on the forest floor.
"Thank you, sir!" irin said cheerfully.
"We’ll go on ahead!" Dick added.
irin, Dick, and Kamibarez stepped onto the circle and vanished. Just as Simon was about to follow, Brad raised an arm, blocking his path.
"Hold on. You and I need to have a little talk."
"Sir?"
"It’ll only take a mont."
Simon looked back at him.
"If you have sothing to say, why not say it after we teleport?"
Brad let out an irritated sigh and raised his right arm. With a loud crack, a nearby tree splintered and fell, sending a cloud of dust into the air.
"Hey."
Brad’s eyes turned nacing.
"I won’t say it twice. Forget about being a TA and student. Let’s just talk, man to man."
From the tense atmosphere, Simon could tell the man had co looking for a fight. This wasn’t going to be easy to get out of. He nodded slowly.
"Alright. Lead the way."
They stood facing each other a short distance from the teleportation circle. Brad’s expression was grim.
"Haaah, kids these days have no fucking manners," he growled, pressing his temples as if fighting a headache. "Things are happening now that would have been unimaginable in my day."
"If I’ve done sothing wrong, please tell what it is."
"You wanna die, for real?" Brad’s face twisted in a snarl. "Who the hell are you to order Professor Hongfeng around? What the fuck was that? ‘Please teach us survival skills?’ Hah! You’ve got so nerve. Is Professor Hongfeng your personal tutor?"
Simon maintained his calm smile.
"With all due respect, sir, I believe it’s an overstep for you to ddle in matters between a professor and her student. Of course, I am truly sorry that you were called out on your weekend to co get us..."
’Whack!’
Simon fell silent. A stone Brad had kicked was now embedded in the tree next to him, a wisp of smoke rising from the impact crater.
"You think I called you here for that kind of bullshit?" Brad pointed a thick finger at Simon. "You’re fucking playing with Professor Hongfeng’s heart."
"Excuse ?"
"Ha! This bastard doesn’t even realize it."
Brad spat on the ground.
"Just because you’re Special Admission Number One, you think the world is your oyster? I know she offered to make you her direct disciple. You’ve been using that to string her along, taking advantage of her kindness."
Simon was dumbfounded. What on earth was this guy talking about?
"You fucking snake! The professor is such a kind, soft-hearted person! How dare you use her offer as bait to toy with her feelings like this—"
"You’ve misunderstood," Simon cut in firmly. "It’s true that the professor offered to make her direct disciple. But I refused imdiately."
Brad’s eyes widened.
"You refused?"
"Yes. I was very clear about it. The professor respected my decision and said that, personally, she was just curious to see how far I could go. She told that even if I wasn’t her direct disciple, I could always co to her for help. Your accusation that I’m playing with her heart is completely false."
Brad was silent, so Simon continued.
"The invitation to her cabin was her idea as well. As I said, I—"
"Hey."
Brad’s lips twisted into a sneer.
"You really expect to believe that crap? You’re telling Professor Hongfeng is going out of her way for you for no reason? Does that make any sense?"
He thumped his chest.
"I’ve served her for five years. Five! I know how she thinks better than anyone. What could a freshman who’s only been here a month possibly know?"
Simon let out a hollow laugh. This was hopeless. The man was completely unreasonable. No matter what he said, he would just keep insisting he was right.
Simon felt the raw aggression radiating from him. From the very beginning, this man had no intention of talking things out.
"Put it on."
Brad pulled sothing from his Subspace and tossed it to Simon. It was a protective suit.
"This is a high-purity model, on a completely different level from the ones we use in duels or simulations."
Simon said nothing.
"Let’s skip the chatter and settle this," Brad said, shaking his fist. "If you can land a single hit on before this suit’s barrier breaks, we’re done here. I’ll apologize, compensate you, resign—whatever you want."
"And if I can’t land a single hit?"
Brad paused, then took a deep breath.
"Accept Professor Hongfeng’s offer to beco her direct disciple."
Simon’s eyes widened. ’That’s unexpected.’ He’d pegged him as a simple-minded fool blinded by jealousy. Could it be he cared more about Hongfeng’s wishes than his own pride?
"I feel for you, I really do," Simon said, scratching the side of his head. "But forcing your beliefs on others is, without a doubt, the act of a low-life piece of trash. And..."
He pulled on the protective suit.
"I have no intention of backing down from a fight."
He would have to play along for now and find a way to turn this situation around. Simon’s mind began to race.
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