CHAPTER 23: LYRA’S GROUP OUTPERFORM

The knight was named Alric—a disciplined and proud warrior who carried himself with a quiet authority. Though only at the adept level, his noble lineage and polished skills made him a respected figure within Westlite Academy. He had a reputation for strict training and high expectations.

Beside him stood Cedric, a mage at the mid-adept level. Draped in finely embroidered robes that marked his elite status, Cedric was known for his sharp intellect and calm demeanor. While his magical potential was somewhat limited, his deep knowledge and refined technique compensated, earning him a prestigious teaching position.

Together, Alric and Cedric represented the polished, elite side of Westlite Academy—confident and accustomed to setting the bar high.

The knight, Alric, glanced toward the gathered students. His voice was steady but carried a note of authority.

"Alright," Alric said, turning to both Marn and Talia, "we can start. All the students are here."

Beside him, Mage Cedric stepped forward, his rich robes catching the sunlight. "Then let’s not waste time," he said with a faint smile. "You may now enter the dungeon and begin your exploration."

A ripple of excitement—and a few nervous glances—spread through the students.

Almost immediately, the students began moving. Some quickly formed groups, whispering strategies as they checked their weapons and gear. Others preferred to go solo, confident in their own abilities.

Darian, with his usual quiet focus, chose to head in alone. Lyra and Aria teamed up with Calen, forming a small hunting party as they made their way toward the dungeon’s entrance.

After entering the dungeon, everyone started to move their own way.

Inside the dungeon, the scenery shifted unexpectedly. Instead of cold stone walls, they found themselves surrounded by lush greenery—towering trees with thick canopies, vines draping over moss-covered rocks, and the sound of running water somewhere in the distance.

Lyra’s group moved cautiously, weapons ready, but there was no sign of danger. Fifteen minutes passed, and still, they hadn’t encountered a single monster.

"This is... strange," Calen muttered, scanning the dense foliage. "Usually, you can tell what kind of monsters you’ll face by the dungeon’s environment. But this one feels... mixed."

Just as they began to wonder if the place was empty, movement flickered at the edge of their vision. Out from between the trees stepped a small pack of sleek, catlike monsters. Their fur glistened faintly with a greenish sheen, and their eyes shone bright yellow in the filtered light.

The creatures didn’t attack immediately. Instead, they prowled low to the ground, sniffing at the grass, trees, and even the air—almost as if they were searching for something in the dungeon’s surroundings, though it wasn’t clear what.

Lyra kept her eyes fixed on the pack, her grip tightening on her weapon. "They’re distracted by something... But if they notice us, they’ll pounce."

Instead of moving, Lyra raised her wrist and tapped the small crystal embedded in her hunter’s bracelet. A faint blue light scanned the creatures, projecting a translucent panel in front of her.

[Monster Identified]

Rank: F-tier

Classification: Beast-type—Cat species

Power level: Pick apprentice level. (In human power level)

Behavioral Note:

Pack hunters typically patrol small territories.

"Felines," Lyra murmured, reading the display. "Low on the hierarchy. Barely more dangerous than wild dogs—if you’re prepared."

The pack suddenly froze, ears twitching. Their heads snapped toward the group, pupils narrowing to sharp slits.

A low growl rippled through the air. One of the larger felines arched its back, tail lashing as its fur bristled.

"They’ve noticed us," Lyra muttered, lowering into a defensive stance.

Without warning, the first beast lunged toward the group. The rest followed, moving in a coordinated rush, their movements quick and predatory.

Calen nudged his canine beast forward.

"Go!" he commanded. The hound-like creature bolted ahead, its claws digging into the soft earth as it met the charging felines head-on.

Aria drew her sword with a sharp shing, planting her feet. Her stance wasn’t flawless, but her grip was steady—enough to hold off an opponent at her level.

Lyra’s hands moved quickly, weaving basic runes into the air. A small flame flickered into existence at her fingertips, growing just enough to form a fireball the size of her palm—hardly a devastating spell, but enough to burn fur and flesh if it hit.

The pack didn’t hesitate. Three of the cat-like monsters fanned out, trying to circle them, while the largest pounced straight for Calen’s beast. The two animals collided in a blur of fur and teeth, snarls echoing through the greenery.

Aria stepped forward, steel clashing against the claws of an incoming feline, sparks flying as she barely deflected its swipe. Lyra gritted her teeth, her spell building as she searched for a clear shot.

The fight dragged on longer than any of them expected.

Calen’s beast lunged, clamping its jaws around the largest feline’s throat, twisting until a sharp crack ended its thrashing.

Aria’s blade flashed, carving a deep gash through another attacker’s side. The monster staggered, tried to pounce again, and was met with a finishing thrust to the chest.

Lyra’s fireball slammed into the smallest of the pack, the heat scorching fur and flesh alike until it collapsed in the dirt, unmoving.

One by one, the rest fell under their combined assault.

When the last creature hit the ground, the clearing was silent but for the three of them, panting and spattered with blood.

After some time of struggling, they managed to kill the first group of monsters. When the bodies settled, they collected the monster cores—low-grade ones, but still worth something. This time, they got three in total.

Wanting to recover quickly, they brought out potatoes from their supplies and started cooking a simple meal. The rich, earthy aroma filled the air as they ate. The vegetables worked fast, restoring their mana and easing their fatigue. Calen, after finishing his portion, was surprised at how effective it was. He couldn’t help but think the price Rowen charged for potatoes and tomatoes was completely worth it.

Once they had rested, they pressed deeper into the forest section of the dungeon, hunting more of the cat-like monsters. By the time they were done, their stock of potatoes was empty. With no more supplies to restore their mana, the group decided it was best to leave.

Exiting the dungeon, they made their way to the exchange post.

After leaving the dungeon, their group headed toward the exchange post. They ran into a few fellow students along the way, all carrying their own monster cores.

Inside, the place was crowded. Many students had gathered—some waiting to exchange their loot, others just wanting to see which group had a good harvest.

Calen’s group moved toward the counter where monster cores could be traded for mana stones. When their turn came, Lyra stepped forward and set a cloth bag on the table.

The clerk untied it, and a small pile of round, faintly glowing monster cores rolled out. "Fifteen cores," the clerk said after counting.

A small ripple of talk ran through the crowd.

One boy muttered to his friend, "How’s that even possible? Even with five people in our team, we only got three cores."

From the other side of the room, a student wearing the Westlight Academy emblem scoffed, "What, a low-level school can kill that many monsters? How is that even possible?"

Another added in disbelief, "Yeah... even with expensive mana recovery potions, we can only hunt six or seven monsters at most."

Even Clark, the clerk at the counter, looked stunned. This was the highest number of monster cores he had received from students all day.

Clark then took out the total of 30 low-grade mana stones and gave them to Lyra’s group.

(1 low-grade monster core = 2 low-grade mana stone)

Just when they are about to leave, they encounter another person.