"Are they still holding their positions?" Ash asked, glancing at the old man beside him.
Old Ni nodded. "Yes. They haven't moved at all, even after everything that's happened."
"Excuse me, Tribe Lord… May I ask something?" Riven stepped forward, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Go ahead." Ash smiled lightly.
Riven hesitated for a moment before asking with a bitter smile. "Why did you choose to upgrade me instead of someone stronger? For example… our former Tribe Lord or even the War Chief?"
He then explained the reason to everyone present except to Old Ni, who already knew the truth behind the missions and their hidden difficulty levels.
When the others finally understood the reality, their expressions darkened.
It turned out they had all been deceived.
What they believed were easier mission levels, especially the 4th and 5th, were actually traps. That was precisely why most people in the Stoneveil Region instinctively chose those levels, thinking they were the safest options.
Nevertheless, Ash thought that it was a kind of blessing in itself since he thought so far ahead.
In his opinion, those who have chosen the 1st or 2nd level missions were trash, as their potential was basically ruined.
With the system in his possession, Ash preferred warriors who took the risk of choosing higher levels. If they failed, he could always elevate their strength himself.
Of course, that didn't mean he would simply upgrade everyone without conditions.
If he did that, they would grow lazy and overly dependent on the system. From Ash's perspective, they still needed to contribute, whether through effort, results, or loyalty, depending on the circumstances.
"What's the plan now?" Uncle Zan asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Ash.
Ash turned toward Old Ni and Uncle Zan, smiling faintly. "I want both of you to kill your own opponents as quickly as possible. That's why I gave you extra healing and mana potions."
He then continued, "As for the two strongest beasts, Uncle Zan and Kargan will handle one each—"
Uncle Zan interrupted. "But Kargan's stats are far lower than—"
Ash waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, he just needs to hold the beast back for a while… Just until Old Ni kills his opponent and comes to assist."
Ash turned to Kargan and smiled faintly. "You can manage that much, right?"
"Holding it off for a short time won't be a problem." Kargan nodded with a calm expression.
"Good." Ash nodded in satisfaction.
He then shifted his gaze toward the remaining five 3rd Rank Warriors from the former Mirefang Tribe. "All of you will assist Riven in holding back one beast. Be careful, and prioritize your own safety above everything else."
"Understood, Tribe Lord." They replied in unison.
Ash then gave them one 3rd Rank Healing Potion each since he still has 5 of them from the previous purchase.
"Can I also help?" Mira asked, her eyes shining with eagerness, as she wanted to try her strength after becoming a 3rd-rank warrior.
"No." Ash shook his head firmly.
"But, I can just shoot from a distance—"
Ash cut her off immediately, waving his hand dismissively. "If I said no, then it's no."
"Hmph!" Mira stomped her foot in frustration and turned away, crossing her arms beneath her soft mountains.
…
Strangely enough, the beasts outside remained completely still, as if they were patiently waiting for the group to make the first move.
Subsequently, the group split apart without hesitation.
Kargan headed toward the Far East. Old Ni remained closer to him, positioning himself slightly to the side where the terrain opened wide.
Uncle Zan moved toward the center, while Harold shifted to his left with a spear resting across his shoulder.
Farther to the left, Riven advanced together with the five 3rd Rank Warriors, their formation tight and cautious.
The five 4th Rank Beasts stood several hundred meters away from the cave entrance, looming silhouettes against the rugged terrain.
The moment the distance closed, the silence shattered.
A thunderous roar erupted as a beast stepped forward—a huge bear standing nearly four meters tall. Its fur was thick and dark, veins of mana pulsing faintly beneath its hide as its massive paws crushed stone underfoot.
In response, Old Ni stepped forward as his posture shifted instantly.
The moment he drew his sword, his aura sharpened to be more heavy and oppressive.
The bear charged first.
Despite its massive size, it moved with a fast speed. With a deafening roar, it swung its massive paw as it used its (Crushing Paw) skill.
As its paw descended, mana erupted violently from its forelimb. The thick fur parted as an enhanced claw of condensed energy formed over its natural claws—translucent and humming with destructive force.
Old Ni wasn't the one who backed down from the attack as he met it head-on.
Clang!
The moment the energy claw collided with Old Ni's blade, a shockwave burst outward. The ground beneath them cracked, dirt and stone exploding in all directions.
Old Ni slid back several steps, boots carving deep trenches into the ground. His arms trembled slightly from the force, but his grip on the sword remained unshaken.
The bear didn't give him time to breathe as it raised its other paw and brought it down in a wide arc. Another energy claw formed instantly, its pressure alone shredded grass and split rocks apart.
Old Ni twisted his body sideways, narrowly avoiding the attack. The claw grazed past him, carving a deep gouge into the ground behind him.
Before the bear could follow up, Old Ni stepped in.
His movements became smoother and more precise as his passive skill (Veteran's Rhythm) quietly took effect.
He shifted his footing, reading the bear's movement, the timing of its mana surges, and the slight delay between skill activations.
Then he struck as he used his (Iron Weight Slash) B-ranked skill.
Old Ni raised his sword overhead and brought it down in a brutal vertical arc. His entire body weight followed through the strike.
Boom!
The blade slammed into the bear's shoulder. Mana erupted violently as its (Ironhide Fur) skill was activated, and the dense fur hardened like layered chainmail.
Sparks flew as steel ground against reinforced hide.
Yet, the force of the blow drove the bear's massive body downward, forcing it into the ground with one knee.