Kan, who had overheard Sokram’s words, joined the group, his expression mirroring the dissatisfaction of the rest of the team. “So, you thought we wouldn’t be this good at hunting boars?”

Sokram showed a complicated expression.

He wasn’t trying to start a confrontation, but he couldn’t lie to them. “Guys, don’t take it personally, but yes. Yesterday, while hunting, you were all uncoordinated. Your formation had too many holes in it, so many that it took us the whole noon and afternoon to hunt five male boars…”

He paused, taking a breath and seeing that they weren’t mad but somewhat dissatisfied with what they heard. “…And sometimes, the boars even broke through your encirclement, rushing at the supporting members of the team. That much could be blamed on my rushed attempt to fix Kazzah’s lack of leadership and pitiful plan. But your lack of proper defense, forcing the only healer to overexert herself and stand so close to you, can’t be blamed on Kazzah alone.”

That was hard to hear, but the team didn’t deny it.

Sokram could see they were absorbing his advice, so he pushed a little more. “Also, none of you studied your prey beforehand. You didn’t know its patterns of attack, weaknesses, or habits during the mating season. But all the knowledge I shared with you was something you could find at the academy’s public library, just like I did. And even if the mission was a last-minute call, this is knowledge you should have ingrained in your brain, being hunters of the north, right?”

They had no excuses.

What Sokram said was right.

They should have known their prey better, not just for this hunt but for the ones they had participated in before Sokram joined the team, before losing a team member and another turning into a cripple.

They had never taken the time to study and prepare themselves properly. Seeing how efficient the hunt was when done with efficient preparation, all of them felt embarrassed.

“But today, you guys showed me how talented you are,” Sokram said, turning to Kan. “Kan, the way you danced around those boars today, with so much precision, even though the boars were tiers above you all, you still managed to kill two of them.”

Then he turned to Kiana. “I saw you copied the basics I showed you yesterday with my fiery mana shield and incorporated them into your technique when deflecting their blows. Although I know you used the protection of the runestone to practice, you still learned just from watching me.”

Meeting Lara and Nora’s gazes, Sokram alternated between them. “You are berserkers. There’s very little logic in your way of fighting. But if you improve your technique to the point that it becomes instinctive, even while in a state of rage, you’ll be able to fight much better.”

Sokram’s gaze returned to the meat he was preparing, seasoning it a little more.

However, he still had more to say. “The sheer difference between what you did yesterday and what you did today isn’t because of the runestones. It’s because you were better prepared. So, think about it, even if it’s a little preparation, it’s still better than none.”

Sokram took the meat off the fire, cut it into eight steaks, pierced each with wooden sticks, and gave them to the team while biting into his own piece. “Damn, this is good! You guys will see, this week, while cultivating, because of this meat and its nutrients, gathering energy will be a little faster.”

Then he grinned mischievously and joked, “Just don’t overeat it, or no one will stand to stay near you for too long, haha.” He waved his hand near his backside to show them what he meant. “It can get really… uncomfortable, haha.”

Kiana looked at Sokram with an exaggerated mock-suspicious expression. “Are you a two-headed dragon?” she asked, referencing the duality in his personality, which was becoming quite obvious.

Sometimes he acted mature and wise, but then he reverted to his childish ways.

Sokram smirked and nodded, knowing well what she was referring to. But to prove her right, he joked childishly, “Yes, big sis, but you’re too young to understand what I mean.”

And patted her head, seeing her confused expression, while Kan and Lucy burst out laughing.

Kiana didn’t appreciate being looked down on, but she didn’t get the joke at all.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

And it wasn’t just her, except for Lucy, who was raised in the Purple Pavilion in the slums, and Kan, who was a boy; none of the other girls understood it either.

After lunch and a short but much-needed break, the team was eager to improve.

A renewed energy surged through them, not just from the hearty meal, but Sokram’s words resonated within them.

The first group of boars Sokram tracked had only four females; it was a simple deal.

The ambush group managed to kill the male boar before Sokram had finished the females, which boosted their morale.

The following three hunts were also somewhat easy, repeating the same cycle, rinse and repeat.

Sokram lured the male boar away to an ambush point and slaughtered the females.

After receiving Sokram’s feedback, they didn’t allow the male boars to escape anymore, proving to Sokram that it was a good decision to invest in them.

As for Sokram, he purposefully aimed for bigger groups after the first, those with five or more females, like the first group of boars they had hunted.

He wanted to test his own limits but also push Savannah and Amber a little more to see if they could handle it.

But on the last group they hunted that afternoon, just after luring the male boar and returning to the females, Sokram glanced at Savannah, quickly checking her state.

What he saw wasn’t good.

Her appearance had turned pale as if she was straining herself.

Her eyes were closed, clearly showing she was trying not to lose control over the barrier and the siphoning of mana.

Suddenly, just as Amber called the Lightning Rain spell forth, Sokram heard a sharp, jagged crack that echoed like shattering ice, sending a chill down Sokram’s spine.

His gaze snapped to the pentagonal walls, where web-like fractures spread at an alarming rate, glowing faintly as if resisting their inevitable collapse.

He knew then that the runestones had reached their limit, and so had Savannah.

A sense of urgency washed over him.

There were six Tier 7 Uncommon Female Boars trapped in the barrier.

He could definitely outrun them, but he couldn’t ensure that if he did, the ones fighting the male could escape unscathed.

However, he still had a few trump cards.

Since he was the one who decided to push them to their limits and caused this situation, it was his responsibility to ensure their safety.

Making up his mind, he grinned inwardly, looking at Amber and Savannah as if they had become his new prey, but only for a moment.

In the next moment, just as he had done many times before, Sokram moved through lightning into the barrier.

But instead of using his sword art, his mind calculated with precision.

He knew he would only have one shot at this.

Seeing that the boars were ignoring him completely as if they considered the puny being that joined them completely harmless, he realized they had chosen to continue attacking the barrier instead of dealing with him.

That gave him all the time he needed, a window of opportunity he wouldn’t waste.

Everything happened in an instant.

Sokram’s mind went into overdrive, his Hyper Cognition and Precognition working hand-in-hand as he waited for the perfect moment.

As if Fate smiled at him, the boars inside the barrier were simultaneously struck by a paralyzing snake of lightning.

He had three seconds…

First, he cut the supply of mana for both Savannah and Amber while inhaling a deep breath.

Two seconds…

The mana that entered his lungs barely touched his mana pool, as it was drawn toward his arms and feet.

Along with mana, he also strengthened his muscles with his Vital Energy while concentrating his Spirit Essence on his sword.

One second…

Savannah and Amber’s eyes went wide as the spell and barrier flickered out of existence without either of them realizing why the stream of mana had been cut off.

But even before they could process what had happened, what they saw left them speechless.

‘Killing Blade Art – Mixed Form - Dark Lightning: Annihilation Slash!’

Sokram’s body spun, his Aura Blade entering the Manifestation State.

As if his katana had extended and become meters long while snakes of dark lighting coated it, they saw, in one spin, Sokram cut the six boars, six Tier 7 monsters, in half.

It was as if a circle made of a very dark aura and lightning had shot out from him.

It was too fast, too indefensible, too overwhelming to comprehend.

At first, the boars didn’t realize what had just happened.

It was only when they tried to turn toward him and felt their bodies hit the floor that they noticed they were dying.

There were no terrified screeches, no cries of pain, just a hateful stare at the being who was so much smaller than they and yet so terrifying.

Sokram felt his legs weaken and fell to his knees on the crimson-stained, snowy ground, breathless.

His exhaustion wasn’t just from sharing his mana; it was the stress the move had put on his body.

Even Leona had forbidden him to use that technique unless he had no other option.

Amber was about to run toward him when she realized why he had done it.

All it took was one glance at Savannah, who was shaking, drained of color, and breathing raggedly.

“Sorry…” Savannah muttered.

Amber knew the apology wasn’t meant for her.

She looked at Sokram, who had entered a meditation state to replenish his energy.

But her sharp senses picked up on something amazing.

“Chaos Energy…” Amber muttered, louder than she should have.

Sokram’s eyes shot open, and he looked at her with a coldness that made her uncomfortable.

His gaze quickly shifted to Savannah, who was equally shocked.

All Sokram did was raise a finger to his lips.

The message was clear: Not a word.

And his expression made it clear to them that Sokram had a side they didn’t know, one that would give them nightmares.

It wasn’t because of his combat prowess or the Chaos Energy.

It was the killing intent in his eyes as he gave them that clear warning. What they saw in that instant wasn’t the cheerful and mischievous boy they had grown fond of.

What they saw was a monster ready to kill, one they would never dare to cross.