Whoosh!

A gushing sound of water can be heard after walking further inside the cave…

​​

The party of about twenty people had increased by five as they decided to take the captured tamers as prisoners.

Their existence is a shred of great evidence about the Greiner Family's failure to guard the western border or perhaps proof that they've betrayed the kingdom.

At the moment, Hendrick could not be sure yet…

"Look…"

They arrived in another wide area where a small stream of clean water can be seen.

They saw several beasts around including the Inferno Wolves so the other elite tamers must be nearby. However, they couldn't see them.

"Where are they?"

The noise of the gushing water could no longer hide their presence after getting this close.

The beasts noticed them and started to guard the stream…

"Hmm?" Their actions baffled the Hunters a bit.

"Ready your weapons…"

Hendrick said as he tries to look around to find the tamers of these beasts… He looked at Lord Castillo to find an answer but his face says that he was also clueless.

Stella noticed that the place they were at has similarities to the previous cave she found… There is a similar altar but this time, the stone in the middle was missing. It seems that it was already taken out…

"Kill them…" Hendrick declared as they couldn't just wait for the beasts to launch their attack.

There were Inferno Wolves, Three-Eyed Viper, and surprisingly, a very familiar Phantom Wolf hiding in their midst…

No one noticed the wolf until now due to its innate ability to hide in the darkness… Even with their enhanced vision, they could barely make a shape with the beast…

'Master… That wolf…'

'I know… It seems that he recognized you as well… Don't die.'

'Of course! I'll do my best to stay alive!'

Stella replied matter of factly.

A few weeks ago, she encountered a group of young wolves that were practicing their hunt. Unfortunately, they preyed on her as she ended up killing one of the young wolves in the process...

The father of the wolf backed away after giving her a long cold stare…

Stella clearly remembers that due to the cold eyes of that parent wolf.

'To think that I'll meet this guy here…'

Everyone here was confident that they can kill a Phantom Wolf as long as it is daytime…

However, if it was in this dark and creepy area where the terrain wasn't to their advantage, then there was a high chance that some of them would perish before they kill this beast.

"Ulysses, Misha, and I will hold down the Phantom Wolf while you guys eliminate the others…"

"Sir Hendrick, we have an Arcanist here that can help you ensure that it won't slip past your defense…"

Lord Castillo said but he was not referring to himself. There is a 4th-Class Arcanists in the team that has an Arcana Magic called Flare that could last for five minutes… The light would be able to help them lessen the wolf's maneuverability.

"Alright!"

Hendrick nodded as they took action…

Roar! Ssshaa!

The wolves and vipers started to hold their ground as they fought Stella's group.

Splash! Splash!

However, as they were fighting the beast, the tamers suddenly emerged from the water!

They seemed to be surprised as well as they hurriedly took positions and held their weapons!

"Tsk! Those guys are useless.."

"That's fine... We'll just kill these bugs..."

"Mhmm… You really followed us here, Sir Knight…"

One of the Tamers said as he combs his hair with his hands.

He has long brown hair that covers his strong but cheerful face… He stood elegantly despite his narrow frame… It appears that he's the leader of the group…

"Haha… Now you've shown your faces."

Hendrick chuckled as he finally realized why they have decided to hide their face with a hooded cloak before…

"Caiden Lamkin, leader of Red Wolf Gang in Erliente Dukedom, a former elite soldier…. No wonder…"

"Haha! So you know me? Am I that popular? I didn't know…"

"Hmph… There's a bounty in your head posted by the dukedom… However…"

Hendrick didn't say his speculation but it seems like this man's mission was extremely important that the Dukedom decided to cut off ties with him so even if he was busted like now, the Dukedom would not be liable and will be treated as independent action of a criminal organization…

'Tsk… A good move.'

Even if they try to file a case to the Dukedom for this violation of the national treaty, it wouldn't make any difference due to the identity of this man… Unless they proved that he's working with the Dukedom, there's nothing that they can do…

In the end, they can only eliminate this group of people.

Their evidence about the Greiner Family's negligence would also lose their weight as it will be treated as a normal case for criminal's trespassing instead of having cooperation with the Dukedom…

Thud! Thud!

The tamers didn't emerge alone as they were carried by some black crocodiles…

Their tails slapped the ground and created a crack on it…

They seemed to have tamed them especially for this part of the cave…

"Another mid-grade beast… Be careful." Hendrick said as he worriedly looks at the Phantom Wolf.

Fighting an Evil Beast at this place wasn't a good idea…

The tamers right now were obviously stronger than the previous group that they've fought, so they had to mind their actions…

"Leave the Phantom Wolf with me… It would be better if the Knights would focus with the Tamers instead…"

"Stella? Are you sure?"

"Yes… I'd rather fight this wolf than those crocodiles…" Stella replied as she smirked a bit. She's also sure that the wolf wouldn't bother attacking the others as long as she's alive.

The crocodile's tough skin was also something that she might have trouble with.

Aside from that, most of her sword techniques may not be suitable for their heights.

"Fine… But Misha will assist you here…"

"I understand."

Ulysses and Hendrick have an Arcana so it would be better if they fight with the tamers instead.

"Be careful, Captain… Those Tamers were only surprised at first but I noticed that they immediately calmed down after gauging all of us…"

"They might be bluffing… But alright, we'll be careful."

Hendrick answered the worried Misha. She has a good sense when it comes to this kind of situation so he listened.

Since these tamers were suspected to also possess one, it would be more balanced if an Arcanist would confront them.

Hendrick looked at Lord Castillo to back them up in the upcoming battle.

***

'Master… Are you sure that I can fight him alone?'

'No… It's just that the tamers look more dangerous. Especially that Caiden Lamkin…'

With Reiji's Danger Sense, he could somehow rate the threat of the person near him… and Caiden seems to be more dangerous than the 3rd-Class Arcanist with them.

He even wants to suggest escaping but their path outside was blocked and even if they go out, the swarm of Forest Rats may just kill Stella…

Grrrrr~

The Phantom Wolf salivated as if it was starved for many days… It seems that he really bore some grudge at her…

Boom!

The wolf stomp his feet and pounced towards Stella…

'Come!'

Stella crossed her swords and took the wolf's attack head-on…

Bang!

She managed to block it!

"Behind you!"

Misha shouted as she noticed a shadow forming behind Stella… It was one of Phantom Wolf's abilities when he's in the darkness...

It seems that the Flare that the Arcanist used wasn't that effective…

Nevertheless, the warning was not needed since Reiji noticed this as well… Surprisingly, even Stella sensed the danger as she already shifted her weight to her left foot to dodge by dashing in a different direction.

'Ho~ You noticed it before Misha and I gave you a warning…'

'Hehe… Isn't this one of your teachings… Having a full grasp of Ma'Ai in every battle…'

Stella replied as she regained her balance…

She didn't stop attacking the beast as she wanted to control the pace of their fight.

Renzoku Waza!

A consecutive sword strike from Stella halted the wolf's action as it tried to back away by controlling the shadow to take him away.

However, Misha didn't idle around and bashed the wolf with her small shield...

The wolf didn't take too much damage but it seems that Misha was successful in making it angry.

The wolf pounced at Misha but Stella quickly acted…

Suriage Waza: Men-Suriage-Men!

"Haa!"

Stella managed to hit the head of the pouncing wolf as she executed a perfect kendo technique!

As expected for someone whom he graded as a 2-Dan… Stella's continuous practice really helped a lot in this situation.

Although this technique was commonly used in Kendo, it still required perfect coordination between her footwork and strike…

She managed to dodge the pouncing wolf and also hit its head at the same time…

"Impressive!"

Reiji commented after seeing her beautiful swordsmanship… Who wouldn't be happy if your students show promising skills after teaching them?

Bang!

A loud sound was heard as one of the Knights was thrown at the cave's wall…

As Reiji noticed that Misha and Stella were having an easier time fighting together, he observed what was happening with the others and realized that Hendrick was indeed at a disadvantage fighting the leader of the Red Wolf Gang…