The Invincible Young Master

Chapter 181 - Talentless [3]

As time passed in the outer sector, one day, a noticed arrived calling for a gathering. The summon was abrupt, breaking the monotonous routine of the outer sector.

The boy stood among a small gathering of his peers, their tattered robes and weary faces a stark contrast to the grandeur of the inner sect.

Before them, an elder with a grizzled beard and a hardened expression spoke with clipped indifference.

"There have been disturbances near the city," the elder began, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Your task is to hunt and eliminate the beasts causing the trouble. It's an opportunity to earn merit and resources, if you return."

A low murmur rippled through the group. For outer sector students like them, this was a rare chance to prove themselves, but the danger was undeniable.

Excitement and dread flickered in their eyes as they exchanged uneasy glances.

The elder raised his hand, silencing the crowd. "A team of inner sector students will accompany you."

The boy's chest tightened. His gaze shifted toward the approaching inner sector students, their pristine robes gleaming under the sun.

They walked with an air of superiority, their faces adorned with smug grins that hinted at scorn.

The boy caught the leader's sharp eyes, filled with disdain, and the mocking sneers of the others.

He clenched his fists, swallowing the words threatening to spill out.

They wouldn't try anything reckless... would they?

He resolved to stay on guard, his instincts prickling with unease.

...

The group ventured into the forest, the towering trees casting deep shadows that swallowed what little light seeped through the canopy.

The outer sector students moved cautiously, their weapons at the ready. Though their training was basic, desperation honed their coordination.

Together, they hunted, taking down a few mid-tier beasts with efficient, if unpolished, teamwork.

Despite his lack of talent, the boy's physical training paid off. His strikes were precise, his endurance unmatched as he lunged, dodged, and countered.

The satisfaction of success flickered within him, momentarily overshadowing his doubts.

On the forest's edge, the inner sector students watched lazily, their arms crossed and expressions bored.

Occasionally, they barked instructions, but they made no effort to assist. Their arrogance aggravated at the boy, but he forced himself to focus on the task at hand.

Hours passed before the leader of this inner sector students group, a tall youth with sharp features and a smirk that didn't reach his eyes, finally spoke. "We're moving deeper. Follow me."

The boy frowned, glancing at the carcasses of the beasts they had already slain. "The task is complete. This area is clear."

The leader's gaze turned icy. "Are you questioning my judgment?"

Biting back a retort, the boy nodded reluctantly, his unease growing.

Why push us further?

As they advanced, the forest thickened, the trees closing in with twisted branches that seemed to grasp at the group. The air grew dense and heavy, the sunlight above fading into a dim, otherworldly gloom. The silence was deafening, broken only by the crunch of leaves underfoot.

"This doesn't feel right," whispered the boy his brows frowning. "Are we even in the same forest anymore?"

The leader scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. "Stop whining. This is the correct path. Keep moving."

The boy's fist tightened, his wariness sharpening into suspicion. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, catching subtle signs, a series of deep claw marks etched into a tree, a dark smear of dried blood on the ground. The boy noticed, this place was not just eerie, it was also dangerous.

The students exchanged uneasy glances as another roar, louder this time, reverberated through the trees.

"What was that?" one of the outer sector students whispered, his bravado crumbling.

A lookout near the edge of the group paled and shouted, "Not good! A high-ranked beast is coming!"

Panic spread instantly. The inner sector students, who had seemed so confident moments before, turned tail and fled without hesitation. Their elegant robes vanished into the forest, their arrogance replaced by fear.

The outer sector students also bolted their faces pale with terror. Within moments, the boy was alone.

He lay there for a moment, his body aching and his mind racing. The distant roars were growing louder, accompanied by the sound of snapping branches and the rumble of something massive drawing closer. Every instinct screamed at him to move.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to his feet. Pain flared with every movement, but he stumbled forward, leaning on the tree for support.

Blood dripped from his wounds, leaving a trail behind him, but he pushed on.

If I stay here, I'm dead.

The forest seemed darker now, the shadows shifting unnaturally as the beast drew nearer. Each step was agony, but the boy's determination burned brighter than the pain.

As he pushed through the dense underbrush, the trees began to thin. Relief surged through him as he emerged into a clearing.

But that relief vanished when he realized what lay ahead, a steep ridge, its jagged cliffs plunging into an endless abyss.

He staggered to the edge, his heart sinking.

No way forward.

A deep, guttural growl froze him in place.

Slowly, he turned to see a massive wolf-like beast emerging from the shadows. Its fur bristled with dark energy, and its glowing claws scraped the ground with a chilling sound.

Its golden eyes locked onto him, full of hunger and malice.

The boy backed toward the cliff, his legs trembling.

Better to fall than to be torn apart.

Steeling himself, he prepared to jump.

But the beast moved first.

With terrifying speed, it pounced, its claws raking across his back and slamming him to the ground.

Pain erupted through his body as the creature's weight pinned him, crushing what little strength he had left.

His vision blurred, the edges darkening. This was the end.

But then, a sharp cracking sound shattered the air.

The beast froze, its ears twitching as the ground beneath them began to shift. The boy barely registered what was happening as the ridge trembled violently.

Cracks snaked along the ground, spreading out beneath him and the beast.

A heartbeat later, the cliff gave way.

The boy felt himself falling, the sensation surreal and weightless.

The beast's howls echoed in the void as they plummeted together, swallowed by the darkness.