"We're here." Gerald called out.
"Is this where the kobolds stay?" Arthur asked with a dumbfounded look as their 'captain' had brought them back to the den of ash wolves where he literally almost died.
"No, but I'm pretty sure you know where we are..." Gerald replied.
"I know that but why-"
"It because..." Doran chimed in. "We can't go barging into kobold territory without proper teamwork kid... If not, even as strong as we are, we might not make it out alive. And trust me, you do not want to become their prisoner."
"He's right Arthur" Emilia added "Those little things may be weak but their numbers make up for it."
"I see." Arthur replied with a shrug.
"Don't worry Arthur, you'll get used to our tactics soon." Emilia said, cheering him up a little.
"I hope so..." Arthur spoke softly and then asked. "But if you really want to work on teamwork, why are we going towards the core of the forest?!"
"It's quite simple really..." Replied Rachel while patting his shoulder. "You see, the wolf scouts back there can't even be considered useful battle experience for us." She leaning closer towards him, "They're just simply too weak."
"Too weak? Those things?!" Arthur asked out loud, losing his composure.
"Yeah" she replied him, a hint of pride laced in her voice.
'I guess I'll have to see for myself just how good this veteran team is.' thought Arthur.
•••
"Haaaah!"
Doran's battle cry roared out loud as his blade glowed in a shimmering blue light, cutting down wolf after wolf.
Somewhere along the line, a wolf managed to escape to his blind spot in an attempt to bring down .
But before it could go any further, a dagger pierced through its neck from nowhere. On craning its neck to see who it's new enemy was, it's head flew off as the dagger cut it clean through.
"I've got your back, just do your thing!"
"Got it!" The glow on his blades intensified as he charged forward.
With Gerald in the front acting as the shield and Emilia in the back providing ranged support, they managed to take down the pack leader in no time.
"*Huff... So kid, what'd you think?" Asked Doran while flexing his muscles.
But Arthur simply darted his eyes to the side before speaking up.
"You looked cool Emilia, you two Rachel." He commented with aa forced smiling.
"Why thank you Arthur" Emilia replied, her face visibly flushed from the compliment.
"You're doing this to me on purpose aren't ya kid..." Doran asked, trying to contain his rage.
"Maybe if you didn't try so hard it wouldn't hurt so bad..." Arthur replied with a shrug.
"Tch- little brat" Doran cursed as he walked away.
"So what do you think Arthur?... You think you could join the frontlines?" Gerald asked, cleaning the a sweat from his brow.
"Yeah I think I can, but I don't think I can one-shot those high level dire wolves like you guys."
"Don't be shy Arthur you can do it. The way you outmaneuvered us the other day was something spectacular. I think you're good enough for the role."
"Well I don't." Doran added.
"And so?... Who cares?" Emilia replied with a cold insult.
A small smile crept on Arthur's lips as the events played out.
"Sorry but I think that I'd prefer a support role for now."
"If you insist." Gerald agreed while Arthur nodded back in reply.
"Then in that case, why don't we test out our new team?" Rachel called out from the the tree branch she'd been resting on. "Found a bigger pack closeby."
Gerald cast his teammates before replying. "Alright team... Pack up the valuables and let's move out."
•••
"It's an Ash wolf..." Rachel whispered as they hid behind the bushes leading to the pack. "It looks strong."
On contemplating the risks involved, Gerald was about to refuse before a certain someone spoke up.
"It shouldn't be too hard right?" Arthur spoke out, his voice carrying confidence.
"Listen Arthur, even though you fought an Ash wolf the other day, and survived, doesn't mea-"
"I'm not speaking from experience Rachel. I'm saying we can take out the pack with our current battle power." Arthur cut in.
"And what makes you so sure huh?!" Doran mocked.
"I have... a skill that can tell... Are you familiar with 'appraisal'?"
Gasps of shock escaped their lungs on hearing his words.
"Appraisal?!"
"Interesting... Then what does your appraisal say?" Emilia asked in curiosity.
"It says we can win" Arthur grinned as his eyes glowed red from his skill's activation.
•••
"Power shot!"
In the twinkling of an eye, a high speed arrow flew straight at the leader of the pack laying down on a rock. The arrow embedded itself deep into its body causing it to bleed immensely.
"Now attack."
With Gerald in front, the team darted towards the unsuspecting pack of wolves taking a nap under the cool afternoon breeze.
The attack had come as a surprise to the canine beasts. The enemy had struck them at their weak point. With each beast they slew, the raker their formation got, and the closet they got to their injured pack leader.
With a loud howl, the Ash wolf attempted to vanish into thin air, but Rachel appeared just in time to stop it with a stab to the back. Seizing the moment, Emilia fired an arrow the beast's head. But just before it could connect, the wolf dodged it by a hair's breath and successfully vanished into thin air.
Out on the battlefield, Doran and Gerald relentlessly continued cleaving down the other dire wolves, with Rachel assisting here and there with light attacks.
This formation left their rear wide open. The Ash wolf noticed this and pounces at the adventurer who managed to injured it first, its maw opening up for a large bite.
But instead, immediately after materializing, it felt a blade run through its belly, cutting it all the way through spilling out it's guts below.
______________
Congratulations, you have defeated an Ash wolf.
Congratulations, you have defeated an enemy 10 levels above you.
_______________
Wiping the blood from the sword he borrowed from the guild, he spoke up with his eyes narrowed at the wolf before him.
"And that concludes this hunt."