Chapter 99: It All Starts With Cutting Trees
Because speaking with each other was going to deduct points from their final scores, those who knew one another exchanged silent nods before stepping forward.
Among the gathered scholars, the elves had the biggest advantage. They were accustomed to traversing forests and were light on their feet.
Once the professors gave the signal, they quickly surpassed the humans and charged forward. They were going to be the first to clash with the monster wave.
Leonard looked around him, observing the number of scholars in close proximity.
"Staying too close would allow others to steal my kills. Better make some distance."
Changing his trajectory, he moved diagonally, pushing deeper into the forest.
The monster wave would cover a vast area.
If everyone clustered around a single point, it could jeopardize the mission. Not only would it breed chaos among their ranks, but the monsters that didn’t encounter anyone along their path might circle around, effectively trapping them.
"Just because we’re being supervised doesn’t mean we can slack off."
The density of the dark trees slowly increased. They blocked the sunlight from overhead, turning the area as dark as if it were the middle of the night.
Eventually, Leonard judged that he had reached an adequate position and halted in place.
Glancing behind him, he peered past the wilderness toward where the Lower Sector was located.
Those who grew up in privilege didn’t think much of it, but the first sector of the city was constructed to act as a shield, slowing down the monsters from reaching the deeper parts until reinforcements arrived.
Often, that meant when a monster wave was underway, some creatures would inevitably slip through the cracks and reach the districts where civilians lived, causing casualties before the monsters could be contained.
That danger was one of the reasons Leonard had always been on his guard, anticipating when a monster might show up on their doorstep.
"Our mission is to suppress the monster wave. However, that doesn’t just include slaying the creatures, but also protecting the civilians behind us."
Those who were eager to prove themselves might have missed the true goal of the task, but Leonard hadn’t.
Not to mention, compared to everyone else, he had a vital advantage...
"It’s too dark to see anything. At this rate, the monsters will easily ambush me or go around me..." He mused aloud, his eyes settling over the trees.
"Time to cut."
Titanic Oath granted Leonard 2 Strength for every level he had. Since he was Level 14, that boosted his Strength by 28 points. Combined with the 28 Strength he already had, this brought his total to 56 Strength!
However, that was not all.
With the Lumberjack Title at play, which made it 100% easier to cut down trees, each time he swung his axe, it was as if he possessed 112 Strength!
For a first-year scholar who was merely Level 14, such strength was unprecedented!
With next to no effort, Leonard’s axe severed the first tree effortlessly.
He nodded with satisfaction and shifted his sight to the next tree.
"Fireball!"
Curious, he tried to use the skill to speed up the process.
Sadly, the fire was instantly extinguished when it came into contact with the tree’s dark bark.
"Before, I wondered why the trees regrew so fast after being cut down, released pollution, and couldn’t catch fire... At least thanks to Scarlett, I know that they are, in fact, calamity monsters, which explains why they are so hard to get rid of..."
He chuckled.
"Regardless, they will all fall before my axe!"
Promptly, he cleared a small area of trees, measuring five by five meters.
It wasn’t much, but it was enough to let the sunlight seep through and illuminate the surroundings.
Just then, the distant thudding of heavy footsteps reached him. The Grade 1 monster wave had arrived.
Leonard paused and gazed at the monsters that had entered his territory.
He could never mistake the green creatures with large bellies and pointy ears.
"Goblins."
He found it amusing. Goblin was the first creature he had slain after awakening.
GA!
The goblin horde bared their fangs at him, eyes filled with malice.
Yet Leonard didn’t worry in the slightest. They were the weakest monsters for a reason. It was only fitting that the monster wave would begin with them.
"Now that I think about..."
A smirk appeared on his face as he summoned Callum.
"Master!" The Griffin rejoiced and unfurled his wings upon being summoned.
"Callum, do you see those creatures?" Leonard patted his familiar on the head and pointed at the group of goblins, who were wondering why their prey wasn’t fleeing in fright.
"Yes, I do!" Callum nodded enthusiastically. "What are they exactly?"
Leonard grinned.
"Food."
"!!!"
Callum’s eyes shone like little stars.
After undergoing the changes from consuming the Growth Potion, he had been starving, trying to keep up with the demands of his body, and was eager to test himself in combat!
The Level 1 Goblins were sure to prove the perfect targets!
GA?!
The goblins were too slow on the uptake. In a heartbeat, Callum lunged forward.
His beak targeted the head of the nearest enemy, while he clawed at the creature’s back with his sharp talons, keeping it at bay.
[Callum has defeated a Level 1 Goblin!]
[Callum has gained 1 Experience!]
Familiar: Griffin [Level 1]
[Experience: 1/100]
Despite both creatures being only Level 1, Callum had the advantage of his Heavenly Rank. There was no way a mighty Griffin was going to lose to a group of lowly goblins!
Scared out of their wits, the monsters stepped backward cautiously.
Callum lifted his gaze and tilted his head to the side in intrigue. The blood that dripped from his beak sent the goblins further into despair.
"Don’t let them escape! ...And also, don’t eat them all. Leave one so that its corpse would attract more of its kind." Leonard instructed his familiar before going back to cutting trees.
"Roger!" Callum squeaked happily.
The goblins cried out in terror.
Leaving his familiar to its own devices, Leonard called forth Valor.
The loyal knight appeared at once, more than willing to give his life for his master.
Puzzled, Valor glanced around, searching for any sign of threat and finding none.
Usually, Leonard summoned him only when he was about to die, yet no life-threatening danger was nearby.
Valor scratched the back of his helm.
"Don’t just stand around. Get to work!"
Leonard ordered as he gestured toward the severed trees.
"Nothing will be getting past us... So we’re building a wall."