Rook’s eyes remained fixed on the Demon Beast’s open eye.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The creature’s crimson eye followed every slight movement of Rook’s hand while its massive body remained curled around the golden stone. Rook could hear Milo breathing nervously behind him, but he ignored it.
The Demon Beast slowly lifted its head.
’Dammit.’
Rook immediately pulled his hand away from the golden stone and stepped backward. The creature’s nostrils flared as it caught his scent, and its claws dug into the ground. A low growl escaped its throat before it suddenly lunged forward.
Rook jumped backward just as the creature’s claws tore through the spot where his chest had been. The force of the attack shattered part of the ruined wall behind him, sending pieces of wood and stone flying through the air.
"Move!" Rook shouted.
Milo didn’t need to be told twice. He stumbled backward as the Demon Beast swung its tail toward them. Rook grabbed the back of Milo’s uniform and pulled him out of the way before the thick tail smashed into the ground with enough force to create a shallow crater.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Milo yelled.
"A Demon Beast."
"I know that!"
"Then why did you ask?"
Milo stared at him in disbelief before quickly ducking as another claw swept overhead.
Rook retreated toward the center of the ruined village while keeping his eyes on the creature. The Demon Beast was much larger than Fang, though its movements were somewhat slower. Its thick reddish skin appeared difficult to penetrate, and the metallic armor covering its back suggested that attacking it from behind would be even more troublesome.
More importantly, Rook had almost no idea what rank it was.
The evaluation allowed Demon Beasts between F and D-Rank. Fighting an F-Rank creature was one thing, but a D-Rank Demon Beast could potentially kill him before he had time to understand what it could do.
The creature charged again.
Rook immediately moved to the side rather than retreating backward. The Demon Beast’s claws struck the ground and tore through the earth, but Rook was already several meters away.
’Cain said I’m predictable.’
He couldn’t help remembering the previous day’s evaluation.
Every time Fang cornered him against a wall, he broke left.
Rook glanced at the ruined buildings around him.
’Not this time.’
Instead of creating distance, he moved closer.
The Demon Beast seemed to hesitate for half a second, apparently expecting him to retreat. Rook used that moment to raise his hand.
"Fireball."
A sphere of flame formed above his palm and shot toward the creature’s face.
The fireball struck its cheek and exploded, forcing the Demon Beast to stagger backward. Smoke briefly covered its head, but when it cleared, Rook saw that the attack had done little more than leave a burned patch across its skin.
Milo stared.
"That’s it?"
Rook glanced and ignored him.
He had used Fireball during the first evaluation for exactly this reason. He couldn’t afford to let Cain see him casually throwing around skills that should have been impossible for someone who had awakened only yesterday.
The problem was that Cain had already seen Wind Blade and Vacuum Slash during the fight with Fang. If the man was paying attention, he had probably already realized that Rook possessed more than an ordinary Elementalist should.
Still, revealing the System’s upgraded skills was another matter.
Rook had no intention of showing Milo everything either.
He had no idea whether the boy was trustworthy, and the System was his greatest advantage. Keeping it hidden was more important than showing off.
The Demon Beast roared and charged again.
This time, Rook didn’t retreat immediately. He waited until the creature was almost within striking distance before jumping sideways. The claws passed within inches of his body, and he immediately extended his hand toward the ground.
"Earth Spike."
Several stone pillars erupted beneath the Demon Beast’s feet.
The creature twisted its body in mid-step and avoided the largest spike, but one struck its rear leg and forced it to stumble. Rook took advantage of the opening and fired another Fireball directly at its exposed side.
The explosion pushed the creature several steps forward.
"Rook!" Milo shouted.
Rook looked toward him.
"Behind you!"
He turned just in time to see the Demon Beast’s tail sweeping toward him.
He ducked.
The tail passed over his head and smashed into the remaining wall behind him, completely destroying it.
Rook rolled across the dirt before quickly rising.
’It’s stronger than Fang.’
He could feel it now. Fang had relied heavily on instinct, but this Demon Beast was beginning to adjust to his movements. It had already started changing the direction of its attacks after realizing Rook preferred to evade rather than block.
Rook narrowed his eyes.
’So this is what Cain meant.’
The creature wasn’t intelligent like a Demonkin, but it wasn’t stupid either. Its instincts were enough to make the battle dangerous.
"Can you do anything?" Rook asked Milo.
Milo looked offended.
"I can fight!"
"Then do it."
"I was waiting for the right moment!"
"The right moment is now."
Milo hesitated before pulling the dagger from his waist. A faint glow appeared around his body, and his movements suddenly became lighter.
Rook noticed the change.
"You have an enhancement Trait?"
"Something like that!" Milo rushed forward.
Rook wasn’t sure whether that had been a good decision, but there was no time to stop him. Milo moved surprisingly quickly, slipping beneath the Demon Beast’s next swing before stabbing his dagger into its exposed thigh.
The blade penetrated only slightly.
Milo’s expression changed.
"That’s hard!"
The Demon Beast immediately turned toward him.
"Run!" Rook shouted.
Milo pulled the dagger free and sprinted away as the creature chased him.
Rook’s expression darkened.
’So that’s what he was waiting for.’
Milo wasn’t particularly strong, but his Trait appeared to increase his physical abilities. More importantly, he was fast enough to distract the creature.
Rook raised his hand.
He could end this much faster by using Flame Shot or Flame Burst..but Milo was watching.
If he suddenly produced a spell several times stronger than the Fireball he had already used, questions would follow. He couldn’t afford that.
’Fine. I’ll do it the slow way.’
Rook gathered mana into his palm.
Instead of Fireball, he selected one of the weaker evolved tiers.
"Greater Fireball."
The sphere that formed above his hand was considerably larger than the previous one. The flames burned brighter, and the heat reached Rook’s face even from several meters away.
Milo glanced back. "What the hell?"
Rook ignored him and launched the spell.
The Greater Fireball struck the Demon Beast directly in the back and exploded with considerably more force than the previous attacks. The creature was thrown forward, crashing into the ground and rolling several meters before finally stopping.
Milo stared at Rook.
"That was not the same fireball."
Rook didn’t reply.
Milo opened his mouth but apparently decided against arguing.
Rook took a breath and watched the Demon Beast carefully.
It wasn’t dead.
The creature slowly pushed itself upright, smoke rising from its armored back. Several burns covered its reddish skin, and one of its legs trembled slightly, but it was still capable of fighting.
Rook frowned.
’So even Greater Fireball isn’t enough.’
The Demon Beast roared and charged again.
This time, Rook didn’t wait.
He moved to the side, allowing the creature to pass him before casting Earth Spike beneath its feet. Several stone pillars erupted from the ground, forcing the Demon Beast to leap over them.
Rook expected that.
"Wind Blade."
A compressed blade of air shot toward the creature while it was still airborne. It struck its side and opened a deep wound across its ribs.
The Demon Beast crashed into the ground.
Milo stared at the wound.
"You can use three elements?"
"Four."
Milo’s jaw dropped.
Rook immediately regretted answering.
’Idiot.’
The Demon Beast suddenly rose again, dragging one leg behind it.
Rook sighed.
He had already revealed too much.
There was no point pretending otherwise now.
His hand tightened as he gathered mana again.
He couldn’t use Flame Burst without making the gap between his supposed ability and reality too obvious. Greater Fireball would have to be enough.
He glanced at the golden stone lying several meters away.
They had come here for the stone, not to kill the Demon Beast.
"Keep it busy."
Milo looked at him. "You’re going for the stone?"
"That’s the objective."
"Then what are you going to do about that thing?"
’Ah shit, he asks too much questions.’
Rook smiled faintly.
"Make sure it doesn’t follow."
He stepped forward as the Demon Beast charged once more. He waited until the creature was almost upon him before abruptly moving to the right, breaking the pattern Cain had criticized him for. The Demon Beast’s claws missed completely.
Rook raised his hand.
"Greater Fireball."
The spell exploded against the creature’s face.
While it staggered, Rook sprinted past it and reached the golden stone.
He grabbed it.
A faint golden glow spread across his hand and.
Rook grinned.
"One down."
Behind him, the Demon Beast recovered from the blast.
Its crimson eye immediately locked onto him.
Rook’s smile disappeared.
"Right."
He tightened his grip around the stone.
"Now we run."