Chapter 22: The Battle Unfolds

With its huge white body, the monster approached us, its ferocious eyes locked onto us with intensity. The armored back and imposing stature revealed its identity— an Armored Back Great Bear. This creature was native to cold regions, resembling a polar bear but with the addition of a protective armor. Notably, this formidable monster had already reached the peak of the 4-star level, potentially possessing the power equivalent to a 5-star creature.

Anna and I found ourselves rooted in place as the monster steadily closed in on us. Our backs were against the cave wall, leaving us with limited options for escape. Anna suggested that she would distract the monster while I made a run for it, handing me the herb as a precaution.

"No! It's too dangerous to split up now," I objected, recognizing the risks of separating in this critical situation. "The monster's target is the herb, and if one of us takes it, we'll undoubtedly become its primary focus. Moreover, the chances of successfully splitting up are slim at best."

Anna seemed unconvinced, her frustration evident in her voice. "Then what do you propose we do? Are you suggesting we simply wait here for our demise?"

I understood her desperation, but the truth was that we were currently trapped and waiting for an opportunity to escape was our only viable course of action.

The seconds stretched out like an eternity as we watched the monster draw closer with every step. Finally, just as the monster reached a mere 100 meters from us, the opportunity we had been waiting for arrived.

"Run!" Sarah's voice echoed from outside, accompanied by a blast of magic. Light chains coiled around the monster, temporarily binding it and granting us a precious opening.

Reacting swiftly, Anna seized me under her arm and summoned a flame wing spell. Wings of fire materialized behind her back, propelling us out of the cave in a swift glide.

We barely regrouped with Sarah and Thomas when a roar reverberated from inside the cave, sending chills down our spines.

"William, stay put!" Anna gently lowered me to the ground before taking her stance. It was clear she intended to face the monster head-on.

"Anna, don't be reckless! A mature Armored Back Great Bear is a 4-star monster. You can't win this fight," I cautioned, deeply concerned for her safety.

A confident smirk played across Anna's face as she revealed her true strength. "You're underestimating me. In the confines of that cave, I may be at a disadvantage, but here, in the open space, strength is not determined solely by level."

With those words, Anna unleashed her full power, exposing her true capabilities. I was astounded to discover that she had already attained the level of a 3-star mage, a feat unheard of among our peers. Even at our school, the highest-ranking mages were merely at the peak of the 1-star level. Anna had managed to conceal her true abilities from everyone, perhaps planning to reveal them only upon graduation.

Drawing her weapon, a short red spear, Anna brandished a formidable magic artifact that functioned as both a mage wand and a weapon. Judging by its quality, it appeared to be a 4-star artifact. Anna had gone all out for this encounter.

Moments later, we heard the thunderous sound of the beast charging toward us. "Incoming!" Anna dashed toward the monster, spear in hand. Her fire wing spell, although only lifting her slightly off the ground due to her lower level, enhanced her speed, compensating for the disadvantage and bolstering her combat prowess.

I watched the battle unfold with rapt attention, my eyes fixed on the intense mage confrontation mere meters away. Experiencing a mage battle up close was an entirely different sensation from watching recordings online.

Anna fought with remarkable bravery, executing each move and spell seamlessly, as if it were second nature. Observing her now, I realized just how fortunate I had been to emerge victorious against her in our previous encounter.

Interrupting my focus, Thomas uttered words that sent a wave of unease through the group. "I hate to break up the excitement, but it appears we have company."

I turned to see what Thomas was referring to, and the sight was undeniably grim. Another Armored Back Great Bear emerged, signaling that our situation had taken a turn for the worse.