"So that's why you're all so confident." Rokhan nodded for a moment, then looked at Ash and shook his head. "But even so, that alone isn't enough."
"What if I told you that I can help you guys become stronger, and in less than a month, our tribe will become the strongest in this region?" Ash responded with a chuckle.
Rokhan's lips curved into a faint smile. "And where does that confidence come from?" He glanced toward Old Ni. "From him?"
"Obviously not." Ash shook his head lightly. "But what if I can prove that I truly have the means to back up my words? If I do, will you—"
Before Ash finished his sentences, Rokhan interrupted with a nod. "Yes, that is… Assuming you really possess that capability."
Ash laughed quietly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as a smirk formed on his face. "Then don't regret the choice you just made."
After that, Ash explained everything to them—the same things he had told the others before. As expected, the Mirefang warriors were stunned. Doubt filled their expressions, and none of them were willing to believe his words right away.
After a while, they finally came up with a way to verify whether what Ash claimed was true.
Since Ash had already told the others that he had nearly reached his current limits, the only way to prove his claims was to complete Uncle Zan's mission.
That was precisely why he decided to help Uncle Zan in completing his mission earlier than it was supposed to be, which was actually a good thing in itself.
In the end, both sides agreed to head out and hunt a 4th Rank Beast together. At the same time, they decided to leave one 3rd Rank Warrior behind from each tribe to stay behind in case something unexpected occurred during their absence.
Ash chose to leave Vakra behind. As for the Mirefang Tribe, they decided to leave their newest 3rd Rank Warrior—the same man who had guided Ash and the others through the swamp earlier.
Leaving the Mirefang Tribe behind, the group departed and headed east.
The Mirefang warriors moved with practiced ease, leading the way through the swamp's natural barriers. Murky water, twisted roots, and thick reeds tried to slow their pace, yet none of it mattered to the group as they kept moving at the same pace.
Before long, the humid air thinned. After exiting the swamp, they headed straight toward the east.
The jungle welcomed them with towering trees and dense undergrowth. The group advanced steadily.
Roughly ten minutes later, the trees began to thin, and the forest finally gave way to open land.
A vast grassland stretched before them. Tall grass swayed gently with the wind, rolling like waves beneath the open sky.
The change in scenery was sudden and refreshing, yet no one let their guard down. They crossed the grassland at a steady pace, and after another five minutes, a massive silhouette slowly rose in the distance.
A mountain with its towering peaks pierced the clouds.
'So this is Blackmaw Mountain.' Ash thought to himself.
Blackmaw Mountain was infamous throughout the region. It was known as a death zone, as it was a place crawling with powerful beasts, many of which had already reached the 4th Rank. Several strong tribes lived near its outskirts, tribes that possessed multiple 4th Rank Warriors of their own.
Even so, none of them dared to truly enter deep into this mountain.
To tribes without a 4th Rank Warrior, Blackfang Mountain was nothing short of a forbidden zone.
After a brief pause, Ash led the group forward.
Once they stepped into the mountain range, the atmosphere changed immediately. The air grew heavier, and the ground became uneven, littered with broken stones and claw-marked trees.
The deeper they went, the more oppressive the pressure became. Not long after, movement erupted from all directions.
Low growls echoed as ten massive figures emerged from the shadows. They were once ordinary animals—wolves, boars, panthers, and other beasts, but their bodies had grown bigger.
Their eyes gleamed with savage intelligence, and the aura radiating from each of them clearly marked their strength as 3rd Rank Beasts.
Ten of them.
Ash calmly assessed the situation. With Old Ni, who stood firmly at the 4th Rank, and nine other warriors, six of whom were from the Mirefang Tribe, the numbers matched perfectly.
"You each take one," Ash said evenly. "Old Ni, just hold yours back. Don't end it too quickly."
Old Ni snorted softly but nodded.
The moment Ash finished speaking, the battlefield erupted.
Old Ni stepped forward first, intercepting his opponent with ease. His movements were slow and controlled, deliberately restrained. He blocked, dodged, and countered lazily, as if merely passing time.
To him, the fight was nothing more than a dull exercise, as the difference between their stats was too huge.
[Nirgos Ragh'Tal]
[Age: 65]
[Race: Human]
[Rank: 4th Rank Warrior]
[Talent: Ironblood Sword Mastery (A)]
[Equipment: - ]
[Stats (x24)]: Strength: 212 / Agility: 220 / Health: 213 / Endurance: 210 / Sense: 207 / Mana: 201 / Magic: 200
[Active Skills]:
[Sever the Line (A Rank) — Executes a wide, sweeping slash designed for battlefield dominance. The attack can strike multiple enemies in a single arc.]
[Iron Weight Slash (B Rank) — A brutal downward strike that channels full body mass and momentum into the blade.]
…
[Passive Skills]:
[Veteran's Rhythm (B Rank) — After several continuous exchanges, attack and defense timing subtly improves. Grants small bonuses to parry precision and follow-up strikes. The bonus is lost if combat flow is broken.]
…
There were a few more skills, but they weren't worth mentioning. That was why he didn't want to look at them in detail.
Then, he moved his gaze to Uncle Zan, as he almost missed the battle because of how quick the battle ended.
Facing a massive bear, he drew his sword without hesitation. A sharp glint flashed as he unleashed his A-rank sword skill.
Three clean strikes followed in rapid succession, as each one of them was precise and lethal. By the time the third strike landed, the bear's massive body collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
Kargan's battle was no slower, as his opponent was a powerful lion, its muscles coiled with explosive strength. Kargan met it head-on with his fists blazing.
With his A-rank fist skill, he struck three times, and each blow was heavy enough to shatter bone. The lion barely had time to roar before its body slammed into the ground, unmoving.