Starting with the goblin extermination

Below is a natural depression, like a circular arena, where a one-sided massacre is taking place.

It was a five-person adventurer party, or more accurately, a party that once had five people.

A giant wolf, larger than a horse, was standing on an unrecognizable corpse, tearing at something with its head down.

Accompanied by a teeth-grinding "crunch," the sound of the neck bone being chewed up.

This team is completely finished.

A human shield bearer clad in chainmail was pinned to the trunk of a large tree like a crooked painting. A large dent was in his chest, his shield lay several meters away in a pool of blood, and he was long since motionless.

Another orc with a face full of scars completely broke down. He dropped his heavy two-handed axe and scrambled into the dense forest.

Turning your back to a wild beast is the most foolish decision.

A huge black shadow darted out from the shadows to the side. It was another dire wolf. It was larger than any wolf Logan had ever seen in his life, its gray fur standing on end like steel needles.

It didn't pounce immediately, but followed the orc with light, playful steps, like a sheepdog herding a flock of sheep.

He's dead.

Logan coldly watched the fleeing orc, thankful that he wasn't the one being treated like a toy below.

Whoosh!

Arrows shot from behind the dire wolf, intended to stop its advance.

But it was completely useless.

Just as the arrow was about to hit, the dire wolf's massive body slid back along the ground in an extremely strange manner.

The dire wolf dodged the arrows, which was expected.

But Logan's eyes widened.

For some reason, Logan could see a burst of dark red magic energy suddenly erupting from the base of the dire wolf's limbs.

Monsters can use combat techniques?!

Before Logan could react, semi-transparent text flashed before his eyes:

[Analysis in progress...]

[Mastered Combat Skill: Wolf Attack LV1]

【Wolf Attack LV1 (1/100)】

...?

"And then there's the matter of figuring it out on your own during battle. But those kinds of geniuses mostly exist in the bullshit tales of bards, don't believe them, kid!"

"If you really did that, the grass on your grave would be two meters tall!"

The words that the old dwarf Thorin had said in the tavern echoed clearly in Logan's mind.

To master combat skills in battle is something only heroes, as sung by bards, can do.

Then what about someone like me who can grasp combat skills with just one glance?

Could it be that I'm not only a freak, but also a genius?

Logan took a deep breath.

They can only be attributed to hard work and sweat.

Logan was thrilled to have learned the new combat skills, but the orc below him could no longer feel anything.

In just a moment.

The dire wolf that had unleashed [Wolf Attack] transformed into a dark red afterimage.

With a gentle bite, the huge wolf's jaws seized the unruly lamb by the scruff of its neck.

Click.

The crisp sound of bones cracking echoed through the forest. There was no scream; the orc's body went limp like a puppet with its strings cut.

"No... don't come any closer!!!"

A human girl behind them had gone mad with fear. She frantically pulled at her short bow, completely forgetting her past training. Her whole body was trembling violently, tears and snot streaming down her face, and she was making meaningless sobs.

With a few whooshing sounds, the rain of arrows didn't even touch a single hair on the dire wolf.

The other half-elf ranger beside him seemed a little calmer; he could still draw his bow fully, but fear still made his hand tremble uncontrollably as he pulled the string.

"Aaaaaaaaahh ...

He roared, as if to bolster his courage, and an arrow whistled through the air and pierced the dire wolf's shoulder.

bingo!

But hope instantly turned into despair.

The dire wolf merely stopped and glanced at the arrow lodged in its shoulder. The arrowhead had only pierced the thick fur, not even penetrating the muscle.

It seemed to feel an itch, shook its body, and the arrow fell to the ground like a toothpick that had been deflected.

"They're dead," Elsa's icy voice rang in Logan's ears.

Logan nodded.

Although he had just unexpectedly learned a new combat skill and his strength had improved, he still did not plan to go down to rescue people.

It's not that he's cold-hearted, but the last thing an adventurer should do is take risks.

These were two powerful monsters that should have been roaming deep within the Ash Forest. He would never risk their lives to save these strangers.

He turned to look at Elsa.

Elsa was a little nervous, and she gripped the dagger tightly in her hand.

She couldn't bear to see the two people below being torn apart alive.

But she wasn't stupid; she didn't move an inch.

"Help...help me!!"

The female ranger below finally broke down. She dropped her bow, abandoned her companions, and ran desperately backward.

This was undoubtedly a foolish decision. But now, her broken mind couldn't think of any smart decisions; she just wanted to live.

However, exposing your back to a predator is like pressing the alarm for dinner.

A dire wolf moved, not charging at full speed, but leaping lightly, like a black lightning bolt.

"don't want!!"

The half-elf tried to stop him, but was knocked away by the dire wolf, crashing heavily onto the rocks and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He struggled to his feet, his vision blurred. The direction the girl had run was now being approached by dire wolves, and the dark scene was about to be stained with blood.

But the expected scene did not appear.

Click, click, click.

Strange sounds pierced the silence of the forest.

It wasn't the sound of a wild beast running, nor the crisp sound of a branch breaking.

That was the sound of metal striking metal.

Those were the sounds of synchronized footsteps.

That was the sound of heavy objects rolling through the forest.

The girl crashed heavily into a broad chest, looked up, and her dazzling golden hair obscured her eyes, followed by a gentle smile.

"Who is it?!" Elsa looked up in surprise.

The two dire wolves suddenly stopped moving. They abandoned their previous relaxed posture, arched their backs sharply, their neck fur stood on end, and they let out an unprecedented low growl.

A group of people emerged from the shadows of the depression.

There were five people in total.

Heavy plate armor, greatswords, longbows—this was a well-equipped adventurer party, yet they remained spotless as they traversed this filthy forest.

Logan's hair stood on end instantly.

A long-lost sense of oppression emanated from them.

Those were his past memories.

On the night the dragon descended, my father held a longsword, and before him stood many warriors in white...

This is the aura of a professional.

And it was an entire team of professionals.

The leader was a tall man with brilliant blond hair that flew across his head. His face, as resolute as marble, bore the marks of time and bore a gentle smile.

He patted the weeping girl on his chest and gently shielded her behind him.

At the same time, he easily lifted the heavy greatsword behind him with his other hand.

"brute."

That was the only word Logan heard.

next second.

A frenzied white storm erupted.