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[Island Creature Detected]

Name: Grave Maw

Threat Level: B-

Status: Hunting

Warning: Extreme Aggression

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Nobody moved because the forest did the honors.

CRAAAAAAAACK!

A tree nearly three meters thick snapped in half. Something enormous burst through the undergrowth.

"What the?!"

The creature looked like a wolf. At least, it might have once been.

Its body stretched nearly ten meters long, covered in patches of black fur and exposed gray flesh. Massive jaws split its face apart wider than any natural animal should be capable of. Rows upon rows of crooked teeth filled its mouth.

And worst of all, its stomach was transparent.

Inside it, everyone could see the human bones. The Grave Maw’s glowing yellow eyes locked onto the students.

ROOOOOOOOOAR!

"SCATTER!"

The beast charged. Olivia reacted instantly.

The monster crossed nearly twenty meters in a single leap.

Boom!

Several students were thrown backward.

Alex rolled across the dirt.

"WHY ARE WE ONLY FINDING B-RANKS TODAY?!"

"SHUT UP AND RUN!"

The Grave Maw switched to the closest student.

Ren.

"Oh, come on!"

The creature’s jaws opened. Ren felt his entire body freeze.

Bang!

A bullet slammed into the beast’s eye. The creature’s head jerked sideways.

Cassien lowered his pistol. "Missed the brain."

The Grave Maw screamed in anger but felt no pain, its attention immediately shifting toward Cassien.

"Ah," Cassien smiled. "Congratulations. You’ve unlocked the secret boss."

The monster lunged.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Three shots, but none of them had much effect. The wounds began to heal before everyone’s eyes.

"Regeneration?" Olivia thought out loud.

"Of course, it has regeneration," Alex groaned. "Why wouldn’t it?"

The Grave Maw reached Cassien. Its claws came down.

BOOOOM!

The ground exploded. Dust erupted everywhere.

"CASSIEN!"

When the smoke cleared, Cassien stood there completely untouched. His body had shifted a single step to the side. The claw missed him by less than an inch.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Even Olivia blinked. Cassien tilted his head.

"Huh."

The Grave Maw froze, confused. Like, genuinely confused.

Cassien sighed. "Now you hurt its feelings."

The monster roared again. This time, it attacked with everything. A frenzy, to say the least. Trees began collapsing around the two, the forest shook, yet Cassien continued stepping around every attack.

One step left, another right, one of them leaning backward.

Like someone casually walking through the rain... or maybe dancing like Michael Jackson. The creature’s attacks slowly became more desperate the more it missed.

Cassien put his pistol back, then pulled out the two daggers in his pockets.

He disappeared, but not completely. A blur passed beneath the creature’s jaws.

[Flow State] activated.

The world seemed to slow suddenly: the angle of the claws, the shift in the creature’s weight, even the tightening muscles beneath its shoulder.

Cassien’s dagger flashed.

SHHK!

A shallow cut appeared across the beast’s foreleg. The creature immediately spun around.

Its tail whipped through the air as Cassien ducked. The tail passed inches above his head.

Olivia tightened her fist.

"How can I call myself the Class Rep when I stand here and do nothing, watching my own assistant fight for his life?" She pinched herself suddenly. "I can’t just watch."

A small wand began to appear in her palms.

"Class Rep..."

"Shush." Her eyes squinted. "I can’t just watch my assistant fight like a pro. I’ll help settle this."

The small wand in Olivia’s hand suddenly dissolved into particles of mana.

Alex blinked.

They began stretching, lengthening, hardening, until finally two long, slender blades appeared.

SHIIING!

Twin swords. Both nearly as long as her arms.

Their silver edges gleamed between the trees while intricate runic markings flowed along the steel like liquid light.

Ren’s jaw dropped.

"You use swords?! On top of that... you’re a dual-wielder?!"

Olivia rolled her shoulder.

"Now’s not the time."

The Grave Maw roared, its massive body aiming toward Cassien once again. Between the dozens of students present, the annoying human with the daggers was the biggest problem.

The Shooting Duel-Wielder.

Cassien Artfold.

ROOOOOAR!

Its claws descended. Cassien stepped back, and of course, the hit missed.

The beast followed with a bite, but Cassien was too quick. Rows of jagged teeth snapped shut inches from his face. The monster’s movements became even faster somehow.

[Flow State].

"No matter what you do, you’ll always be too slow!" Cassien’s grin widened. He opened his arms wide. "Come on...! Come at me then!"

"Just who is he exactly...?"

"Since when was he this strong?"

"How is Cassien not in Class 1-A...? He should be in the student council!"

But then, a blue flash crossed his vision.

SHIING!

Swords slashed across the creature’s exposed shoulder, blood erupting around the Grave Maw as it howled.

And before it could turn, a second blade struck.

SHHK!

"Well, well."

A deep cut opened along its flank. The monster spun around, its tail whipping toward her. A magic circle appeared beneath the individual’s feet.

The spell activated instantly, wind exploding outward.

Ren stared.

"She can cast while fighting?"

Alex laughed nervously.

"That’s the Class Rep for you."

Another one of the creature’s paws came crashing in from the side.

The woman kicked herself back, dodging and landing right beside Cassien.

"A Battle Mage. My first time seeing you in action, Ms. Class Rep. I’m glad you could come to this humble individual’s rescue. I was scared for my life." He smiled.

"Shut up." Olivia giggled slightly. "I simply didn’t want you to get all the fun."

"Look at your weapon, and then check out mine."

She looked at both.

"Coincidence."

Cassien smiled.

"Oddly romantic. A male and female on the front line against a terrifying gigantic creature, on an island, while the rest of our people call for our help."

"Both of us holding the same weapons. We fight similarly, and best of all, I’m the assistant, and you’re the representative. Almost like you’re my queen and I’m your butler. How do you feel?"

"Shut up," she laughed lightly.

Cassien did as well.

"I love your enthusiasm right now, but I can’t say we’re in the safe zone just yet..."

"It’s replenishing its own strength."

Cassien stepped forward.

"Then why not work together?"

He dangled both daggers around his fingers.

"Fighter to fighter, male to female, assistant to representative."

"Let’s kill that son of a bitch."