Four days later..

A group sneaked into the forest of the beginner village waiting for their prey to show up.

At the front of the group was Ren who had gained a scouting skill, raised his hand.

Seeing the signal, Arvin immediately made the group halt at once.

"Earth Pygmy pack ahead," he whispered, pointing through a gap in the trees. "Three of them. Level four."

The group lowered their stances. The air turned tense, and even the rustling leaves felt louder than before. Through the trees, three bulky pygmy hog -like creatures were seen moving slowly.

Their bodies were covered with rough, stone-like fur.

Arvin tightened his grip on his sword and looked at the others.

"Take your positions," he said softly.

Kellar stepped forward without hesitation, planting his shield firmly in front of him. His posture became firm as he stood like a wall.

"I’ll take the front," Kellar said firmly.

Ren moved slightly to the side, already knocking an arrow. His eyes stayed locked on the targets sharply.

"I have clear shots," Ren said quietly.

Mira raised her staff, and faint energy gathered around its tip.

"I’m ready too," she said.

Behind them, Lira closed her eyes for a moment, and a soft glow formed around her hands.

"I will support you all," she said gently.

Reigns stood beside them, watching the pygmies closely. His expression was serious as he adjusted his stance.

"Let’s not drag this out," Reigns said.

Arvin gave a small nod.

"Move."

Kellar stepped out first, making his presence known. His heavy step crushed a branch under his foot, and the sound immediately drew the attention of the Earth Pygmies.

The pack of pygmies turned their heads sharply, their eyes locking onto the group. A low growl spread through the air as they began to move.

"Incoming," Ren said.

The moment they charged, Ren released his arrow.

The arrow cut through the air and struck the first pygmy in its shoulder. The beast staggered slightly but did not stop. Instead, it let out a louder growl and rushed faster.

"Brace!" Arvin called out.

Kellar slammed his shield forward just as the first pygmy lunged. The impact was heavy, and the force pushed him back a step, but he held his ground.

The second pygmy moved around the side, trying to flank.

"Left!" Ren shouted.

Arvin reacted instantly. He dashed forward and intercepted it.His sword clashed against the pygmy ’s hardened tusk. Sparks flew on impact, and the vibration ran through his arm, but he did not pull back.

Reigns moved in right after him. He struck from the side, aiming at the pygmy’s legs to slow it down while ordering the splash shooter to intervene in case he is in trouble.

The third pygmy charged toward the back line, aiming straight for Mira. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Mira’s eyes widened slightly, but she did not panic. She raised her staff and released her spell.

A burst of energy shot forward and hit the pygmy mid-charge. The force pushed it off balance, and it stumbled.

"Now!" Mira called out.

Ren fired another arrow instantly. This time it pierced the pygmy ’s neck, and the beast collapsed to the ground after a short struggle.

"One down," Ren said, his voice still steady.

At the front, Kellar was still holding off the first pygmy . Its claws scraped against his shield, leaving marks, but he did not falter.

Lyra stepped forward slightly and raised her hand.

A soft light covered Kellar and Arvin.

"Boost," Lyra said.

The moment the light touched him, Kellar felt his strength steady, and the strain on his body eased.

"Good timing," Kellar said.

Arvin took a deep breath and stepped in again. He shifted his stance and struck at the pygmy ’s neck with a clean, focused swing.

The blade cut deeper this time.

The pygmy let out a sharp cry and staggered.

"Finish it," Arvin said.

Reigns moved in quickly and delivered a final strike to its side. The pygmy collapsed soon after, its body going still.

[You have killed Lv 3 pygmy.]

[You have gained 20 days of tradable lifepsan.]

Only one remained.

The last pygmy was still struggling against Arvin from earlier, its movements now slower due to the damage.

"Go," Arvin said.

Kellar stepped in to block its movement. Ren fired another arrow, hitting its leg and forcing it down. Mira followed with another spell that struck its body and disrupted its balance.

Arvin closed the distance and ended it with a final strike.

Arvin closed the distance and ended it with a final strike. His sword cut cleanly and the last pygmy dropped to the ground.He exhaled lightly and turned around, ready to check the others.

At that exact moment, a snake suddenly shot up from the ground near his feet. Its body was thin but fast, and its fangs were aimed straight at him.

"ARVIN!"

Lira, who spotted it and shouted in alarm. Her voice broke the brief calm that had settled after the fight.

Arvin reacted at once and turned to intercept, but the snake was already too close. Just as it was about to reach him, a small charge of energy slammed into its head and tore it off instantly. The body dropped and twitched on the ground.

Before anyone could relax, another snake burst out from the bushes. It moved even faster, but another blast hit it mid-air and shattered it into pieces.

Arvin stepped back slightly and looked toward the source. Two plants nearby were faintly moving, and soft sounds came from them. Reigns stood beside them, his hand still slightly raised from the attack.

Arvin looked at him for a moment and then gave him a thumbs up.

For a few seconds, no one spoke. The tension slowly faded, but their eyes still scanned the surroundings carefully.

Kellar lowered his shield slowly and let out a deep breath. His shoulders relaxed a bit as he shifted his weight.

"That went well," he said.

Ren relaxed his bow slightly, but his gaze kept moving through the trees and bushes. His posture stayed alert.

"The area is clear for now," Ren said.

Mira lowered her staff, and the energy around it faded. She rolled her shoulders lightly as the strain left her body.

"We handled it cleanly," she said.

Lira stepped forward a little and looked at each of them carefully. Her eyes moved from one person to another, checking for any injuries.

"You all did well," Lira said softly.

Reigns glanced at the fallen pygmies and then at the group. His expression remained calm, but his eyes showed a bit of thought.

Arvin wiped his blade on the grass and then sheathed it. He looked ahead through the trees again and slowly shook his head.

"This place has become useless," he said.

Reigns also nodded and then looked up at his level.