Daily Rewards! Transmigrating into a novel as a side-character!-Chapter 201: Fight For Yourselves [2]

"You've killed two out of six," I corrected coldly. "That's not winning, that's barely surviving. And now they're going to attack more carefully instead of testing you individually."

As if confirming my assessment, all four remaining wolves charged simultaneously in coordinated assault that targeted the weakest points in the students' formation.

COORDINATED STRIKE! MAXIMUM PRESSURE!

This time the students actually tried to work together rather than fighting as panicked individuals. Thomas raised multiple earth barriers creating a defensive perimeter. Sarah and the wind mage provided ranged support, their attacks now somewhat better aimed after the earlier practice. The melee fighters positioned themselves to intercept wolves that broke through the barriers.

It was still messy and inefficient, but it was actual teamwork rather than random flailing.

One wolf broke through the left barrier and immediately met two swords from students who'd positioned properly. Neither strike was perfect, but both connected and the accumulated damage forced the wolf to retreat with serious injuries.

Another wolf tried leaping over the barriers entirely, attempting to attack the ranged fighters directly. But Thomas anticipated the tactic—probably something he'd seen in training—and created an earth spike that caught the wolf mid-air.

PIERCE! IMPALE!

The spike penetrated the wolf's abdomen, gravity and momentum driving it deeper. The wolf died thrashing on the stone spike, unable to free itself.

Third kill achieved

Three wolves left now, including the alpha.

The remaining subordinate wolves showed visible hesitation, their earlier confidence completely shattered by watching half their pack die to prey that should have been helpless.

The alpha snarled commands, but I could see its own calculation shifting. Pack leaders didn't survive by throwing away their lives in unwinnable fights.

It barked once more—different tone this time. A retreat order.

The three surviving wolves turned and fled into the forest with practiced coordination, abandoning the fight entirely rather than risking further casualties.

The students stood there breathing heavily, weapons still raised, clearly uncertain whether to celebrate or prepare for renewed attack.

"They're gone," I confirmed after tracking the fleeing wolves' blood signatures until they were well outside engagement range. "Pack hunters know when to cut losses."

Thomas lowered his earth barriers, his arms visibly shaking from mana expenditure and adrenaline crash. "We... we actually survived that."

"Barely," I said bluntly, walking forward to examine the aftermath. "Your formation was sloppy, your coordination was poor, and at least three of you should have died from basic mistakes. But you fought when it mattered, learned during the engagement, and killed three Elite-rank beasts without my intervention."

I looked at each of them individually. "That's the minimum standard required for survival out here. Do better next time, because the next pack might not retreat when things get difficult."

The harsh assessment deflated their brief moment of triumph, but that was intentional. Overconfidence after one messy victory would get them killed faster than fear.

"Tend to your wounded, recover mana, and distribute any useful materials from the dead wolves," I instructed. "We're moving again in ten minutes."

Marcus was starting to regain consciousness, groaning as awareness returned. When his eyes opened and he saw the three dead wolves surrounded by exhausted but alive students, confusion crossed his features.

"What... what happened?"

"Your new team killed three Elite-rank wolves while you were unconscious," I said flatly. "Welcome to the group. Next fight, you participate whether you like it or not."

His expression showed he wanted to protest, but looking at the determined faces of students who'd just proven themselves in combat made him swallow his objections.

Good. Maybe he'd find some spine after seeing what ordinary students could accomplish when they chose fighting over hiding.

We had more ground to cover and more survivors to find.

After resting for ten minutes and allowing the students to recover their mana and treat minor wounds, I turned my attention to Marcus, who was still sitting against a tree looking shell-shocked.

"Marcus, you're going to guide us back to where your team was," I stated clearly.

His face went pale. "I... I can't go back there. They're all dead. The beasts might still be—"

"We know they're dead," I interrupted. "But we need to check the site for survivors who might have scattered like you did, recover any useful supplies, and document what happened for academy records. Now get up and lead us there."

Marcus looked like he wanted to refuse, but the other students were already gathering their equipment and preparing to move. After witnessing them fight and survive, his earlier excuses seemed hollow even to himself.

"Fine," he muttered, standing unsteadily. "It's... it's about twenty minutes northwest from here. Just follow me."

We moved through the forest with Marcus leading, his steps hesitant but compliant. The other students followed with newfound confidence from their recent victory, though I could see exhaustion setting in from mana expenditure and adrenaline crash.

The journey took closer to twenty-five minutes due to Marcus's uncertain navigation, but eventually we reached a clearing that showed obvious signs of recent combat and slaughter.

Blood stained the grass in multiple locations. Torn fabric from academy uniforms lay scattered. Claw marks gouged into trees marked where beasts had cornered fleeing students. And in the center of the clearing lay four bodies—students who hadn't escaped like Marcus.

"There," Marcus whispered, pointing with shaking hand. "That's where we were teleported. The beasts came immediately, and everyone just... everyone died so fast."

I was about to order the same burial and supply recovery procedure when my enhanced senses detected something.

"Combat positions NOW!" I commanded sharply.

The students immediately tensed, those who'd fought earlier moving into the defensive formation they'd developed while Marcus looked around frantically for the threat.

Then the beasts emerged from the treeline.

The three wolves that had retreated from our earlier encounter returned, apparently having circled back. But they weren't alone anymore.

Two massive wolves accompanied them—both radiating unmistakable Transcendent-rank auras that pressed against the air with palpable weight. These were clearly the pack leaders, larger and more scarred than their subordinates, with intelligence gleaming in their eyes that suggested genuine cunning rather than simple animal instinct.

HOWL!

The Transcendent wolves assessed our group with calculating stares, recognizing me as the primary threat while dismissing the students as negligible.

"Formation!" I commanded. "The three Elite wolves are yours to handle. I'll deal with the Transcendent pair. Do NOT engage the Transcendents under any circumstances—you'll die instantly."

Thomas swallowed hard but nodded, already raising earth barriers while the others prepared their techniques.

The five wolves split as if following unspoken agreement. The three Elite-rank subordinates moved to engage the students while the two Transcendent leaders focused directly on me.

Both Transcendent wolves attacked simultaneously with coordination that spoke to years of hunting together. Their speed was exponentially faster than the Elite-rank pack members, covering the distance in a blur that would have been impossible for normal perception to track.

I met them head-on, Blood Enhancement flooding my system while Supernatural Physique provided the foundation for explosive movement.

CLASH!

My sword intercepted the first wolf's snapping jaws, the impact creating a shockwave that rippled across the clearing. My free hand caught the second wolf's claws mid-strike, grip strength enhanced enough to prevent it from tearing through my defense.