Teamwork Makes the Dream Work?

After receiving the reward from Mr. Thomar, Lucas Nightshade walked back to the center of Veiron village. Although the village was small, its atmosphere was lively and bustling. The villagers seemed friendly and open, unlike the busy and cold impressions of big cities in the real world. Lucas felt a bit more comfortable in this new world, though he remained cautious about any potential dangers.

As he walked, he noticed more quest boards near a small, simple inn that was full of people. He approached to look at the list of quests, hoping to find something more challenging. This time, there were various types of quests: gathering herbs from the forest, delivering messages to nearby towns, and more. But one quest caught his attention.

Quest: Clear the Wolf Den

Description: A cave to the east of the village has become home to vicious wolves that have been attacking livestock and farmers. Eliminate this threat and make the roads safe again!

Reward: 200 Gacha Points + 30 Silver Coins

Lucas smiled. "This is more like the kind of quest I need," he thought.

Wolves might sound intimidating, but he had a new skill, Blazing Slash, which should give him a significant advantage in battle.

"Alright, let's give it a try."

He took the quest paper from the board and brought it to the village chief's office for confirmation. The village chief's office was small, made of stone and wood, with a simple sign that read "Village Chief Elwood." Lucas politely knocked on the door, and an old man with a thick gray beard opened it. The man's eyes were sharp, and his face was lined with wrinkles, but a friendly smile graced his lips.

"You must be the new adventurer, right?" Elwood asked, his voice low but full of authority.

"Yes, sir. I'm Lucas Nightshade," Lucas introduced himself. "I'd like to take on this quest about clearing the wolf den."

Elwood nodded while looking Lucas over, as if assessing whether he was capable of handling the task.

"That cave has been a major problem for us, and the wolves inside aren't just ordinary animals. Are you sure you can handle it alone?"

Lucas smiled confidently. "I've got a few tricks up my sleeve, sir. I think I can manage."

"Tricks, you say?" Elwood smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll give you the chance. But this isn't an easy task. To make sure, I'll send a guide who knows the area well to accompany you. I trust you won't mind?"

Lucas was surprised for a moment but nodded in agreement. "Of course, I don't mind," he replied. "Who will be accompanying me?"

Elwood turned and shouted into the office, "Finn! Come here! I've got a job for you!"

A young man with messy brown hair appeared from the back room. He seemed laid-back and grinned broadly with an air of confidence.

"Finn Quickstep, reporting for duty, sir!" he said, giving a salute that was clearly exaggerated for humor.

Lucas immediately felt something odd about this guy. His gaze was full of cleverness, and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Ah, so this is my guide? He seems more like a thief than a guide," Lucas thought to himself.

"Finn will guide you to the wolf cave," Elwood continued. "He may be a bit... much, but he knows these paths like the back of his hand. If you want to survive those wolves, he's the man you need."

"Thanks for your help, Finn," Lucas said politely, though he wasn't entirely sure about his decision. "Let's get started."

Finn chuckled and clapped Lucas on the shoulder. "Don't worry, buddy. I know all the best hiding spots if things get hairy. And hey, you look like someone who can handle a few wolf bites."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Hopefully, it won't come to that, but thanks for the tip," Lucas replied sarcastically.

After accepting the quest from Village Chief Elwood, Lucas Nightshade and Finn Quickstep set off toward the wolf cave east of Veiron village. Finn, with his relaxed demeanor, led the way, regaling Lucas with tales of past adventures that sounded like exaggerated jokes. Meanwhile, Lucas walked cautiously, focused on his surroundings and preparing himself for whatever might come.

After about half an hour of walking through increasingly dense forest, they arrived at the entrance of the cave. A cold wind blew out from the cave, carrying a foul stench that made Lucas wrinkle his nose. The damp, dark stone walls were covered in thick moss, making the atmosphere even more eerie. The flickering light from Finn's torch provided only a small amount of illumination around them.

"This is it," Finn whispered, glancing at Lucas. "The wolves are definitely inside. The cave is pretty deep and winding, so make sure you stick close to me."

Lucas nodded, trying to stay calm even though his heart was beating faster. "I'm ready," he whispered softly. He gripped his sword tightly and stepped inside, following Finn.

The atmosphere inside the cave grew darker and stifling. Every step they took echoed long into the cave, as if the cave itself was warning them to stay away. The sound of dripping water could be heard in the distance, like a ticking clock counting down to something inevitable. Lucas remained alert, trying to catch any unusual sounds.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed from up ahead. Lucas stopped, his eyes searching for the source of the sound in the darkness. Several pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared before them, and Lucas could make out the silhouettes of large wolves moving in the shadows, slowly but surely approaching them.

Finn swallowed hard, his whisper barely audible. "Remember, these wolves are dangerous. If they attack, we need to be ready to fight."

Lucas nodded and looked straight ahead. In his mind, he opened the System Window and chose to activate his newly obtained skill from the gacha, Blazing Slash. His sword suddenly ignited with a bright red flame, illuminating the cave around them. Finn looked surprised by the sudden flash of fire but didn't comment, assuming it was some sort of magic or sword technique Lucas had mastered.

The wolves seemed to hesitate for a moment, but one of them, larger with a scar across its face, let out a loud howl that echoed through the cave walls. It seemed to be a signal for the rest of the pack. With threatening growls, the wolf pack began their attack.

Lucas reacted immediately. He stepped forward quickly, swinging his flaming sword toward the nearest wolf. Blazing Slash emitted a searing wave of heat, causing the air around them to ripple. The slash cut through the air with a sharp hiss, and the flames from his sword engulfed the first wolf that leaped at him. The wolf was hit squarely on its side. Fire quickly consumed its fur, and the creature howled in pain before collapsing to the ground, writhing as it desperately tried to extinguish the flames.

However, the rest of the pack did not retreat. The scarred, large wolf leaped forward, its teeth gleaming under the flickering torchlight. Lucas dodged to the side, causing the wolf to leap into the air in vain. In one swift motion, he turned and slashed again with Blazing Slash, this time striking the large wolf's hind leg. Flames shot out from his sword, scorching the fur around the area. The wolf growled, limping but still standing.

The other wolves saw this as an opportunity to attack. Lucas swung his sword quickly, holding them off, but there were too many of them. Suddenly, one of the wolves lunged at him from the side, ready to strike. Finn, standing behind, noticed the danger and swiftly threw a rock at the wolf, causing it to momentarily divert its attention.

"Keep moving, Lucas!" Finn shouted. "Don't let them surround you!"

Lucas couldn't express how grateful he was to Finn for his quick action. He shifted his position again, using the narrow confines of the cave to force the wolves to approach one by one. He saw two wolves trying to attack simultaneously from the front and side. With one powerful horizontal strike, he swung his sword, and the flames from Blazing Slash fanned out like an open blade. Both wolves were hit by the fiery wave and were thrown back, howling in pain.

However, Lucas could feel his MP starting to drain. He couldn't keep using Blazing Slash repeatedly. He racked his brain, searching for another way to handle the situation.

"I need to make these wolves retreat. If I can intimidate them long enough…"

Lucas took a risk. He raised his sword high, gathering the last of his MP, and with a loud voice that echoed through the cave, he shouted.

"Get out of here! Or you'll all burn!"

He slammed his sword down with full force, unleashing his final Blazing Slash. A powerful wave of fire spread from his sword across the cave floor, creating a terrifying curtain of flame. The light produced was so bright and the heat so intense that the remaining wolves backed away in fear. Their eyes squinted, and their growls turned into howls of terror.

Finn stared, wide-eyed.

"What in the world…?" he muttered in shock, but there was no time to dwell on it.

The wolves began retreating, one by one running deeper into the cave's darkness, disappearing with desperate howls.

Lucas stood panting, his breathing heavy. His sword still glowed with embers that were beginning to fade.

"We did it…," he said quietly, letting out a long breath of relief.

Finn, still shocked by what he had just witnessed, nodded quickly.

"Yeah, you did it. I don't know what kind of trick you just pulled off, but I have to say, you've got a real talent for this."

Lucas only gave a small smile, saying nothing. He knew that the system window and the skills from the gacha were secrets he had to keep to himself.

"Yeah, just an old trick," he replied briefly, trying not to draw any more attention.

After confirming the cave was safe, they began making their way out with slow but steady steps.

"I guess you're not so bad, Finn," Lucas finally said, feeling more at ease now. "You were quick to act during the fight."

Finn chuckled lightly. "Hey, you haven't even seen half of my greatness, buddy. But yeah, I've got to admit, you're pretty good yourself for a new adventurer."

With newfound respect for one another, they headed back to the village to report their success. Lucas couldn't wait to use his new gacha points, hoping his luck would continue to hold out.