Within a mere ten seconds, four heavy iron chains were hoisted, concealed perfectly along the path of the Crag-Smasher Ape’s charge.

  CLANG—!

  The moment the ape drew near, the mercenaries holding the ends of the chains exerted every ounce of their strength. The chains snapped taut in a heartbeat.

  The ape plowed straight into the trap. Those anchoring the chains moved instantly, looping the cold iron around the beast's massive frame.

  "[Ice Crystal Shackles]!"

  The Blood Wolf mages flourished their staves. Mana coalesced, once again freezing the ape’s joints in a layer of jagged frost. Blocked yet again, the Crag-Smasher Ape erupted in a roar of pure, unadulterated fury.

  In truth, the ice couldn't stop a beast of this magnitude; it served only to sap its momentum. But that split second of struggling was all the squad needed. The four chains were passed and locked, binding the ape securely to the ancient trees.

  "Why is a Class-rank beast out here..." Blood Wolf gasped for air, his lungs burning.

  It was a stroke of luck that this ape was only Level 45 and hadn't yet awakened its innate talent skills. If it had, the Blood Wolf Squad—caught off guard as they were—would never have stood a chance of surviving this encounter unscathed.

  "Execute it! Quickly! We can't take a Class-rank beast alive!"

  Blood Wolf barked the order, his mind sharp despite the exhaustion. If it were an agility-type beast, they might have stood a chance at containment. But a strength-type? It was a walking catastrophe. Moreover, their mission didn't require a live capture.

  "[Bursting Fireball]!"

  The mages focused, manifesting massive orbs of roiling flame. Outside of lightning magic, this was the most destructive spell in their repertoire. Against the ape’s iron-like hide, magical bombardment was far more effective than physical hacking.

  BOOM!

  The fireballs slammed into the beast, erupting in a violent inferno that swallowed the clearing. Yet, the grim expression on Blood Wolf’s face didn't soften.

  HRAAAAAAA—!

  A deafening roar erupted from the heart of the flames, the sheer force of the sound nearly extinguishing the fire itself.

  "It’s still alive!" Blood Wolf’s face paled. He raised his shield and kicked off the ground with a desperate burst of speed. "Get back!"

  He shoved a nearby squad member away from the inferno just as a massive black shadow blurred through the smoke.

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  "Brave-rank Skill: Burst!"

  CRASH—!

  The ape, its fur still flickering with embers, slammed into Blood Wolf. The staggering impact sent the mercenary hurtling backward, snapping several trees like toothpicks before he finally crashed into the dirt. Even with [Burst] active, Blood Wolf could barely withstand the assault of a truly enraged Crag-Smasher.

  ROAR!

  The ape beat its chest, its thunderous howl shaking the very leaves on the trees. Charred wounds and blackened blood covered its body, making it look like a demon crawled out of hell. The snapped remains of the iron chains—each as thick as a child's arm—lay scattered in the dirt, broken by raw, primeval strength.

  "Hold it! Don't let it reach the Captain!"

  The ape was in a berserk frenzy. Seeing more humans blocking its path, it lunged. Under that crushing power, not a single man was a match for the beast. A single blow from those fists meant death or permanent maiming. Within moments, over ten members of the Blood Wolf Squad were down. Yet, not a single person retreated.

  "Cough... cough..." Blood Wolf struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of dark blood.

  Physically, the gap between man and beast was an ocean. Without powerful skills to bridge the divide, a contest of raw strength was a guaranteed win for the monster. By intercepting that last blow, Blood Wolf had sustained severe internal injuries; even his Battle Qi was beginning to stagnate.

  "At this rate, the whole squad is going to die here," he thought. He used his shortsword as a crutch to hoist himself up, raising his shield for one last stand.

  Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow flicker.

  The ape was still roaring, its fists swinging like the scythe of the Grim Reaper toward his men.

  "Yo! A Crag-Smasher Ape? Well, I guess wandering around the forest in the middle of the night wasn't a waste after all!"

  A hearty, boisterous voice rang out.

  A figure blurred forward, meeting the ape head-on. A massive greatsword swung upward in a vicious arc, clashing directly with the ape’s descending fist.

  BOOM—!

  A heavy, muffled shockwave rolled through the clearing. To everyone's horror and disbelief, the colossal ape was actually knocked back two full steps.

  The figure landed lightly on the grass.

  "Tiger Hunt!" Blood Wolf gasped, his eyes wide.

  "Hey, Blood Wolf! Long time no see. How’s life treating you?" Tiger Hunt laughed, shouldering a massive, wicked-looking blade.

  "Are you... are you really that lone-wolf Tiger Hunt?"

  The members of the squad stared in shock. Knocking back a berserk Class-rank beast with a single swing was not something a Brave-rank warrior should be capable of. Even a Berserker famous for their strength shouldn't be this powerful.

  "What's the matter, you little pups? Don't recognize me anymore?" As a famous solo mercenary in Cloud Mist City, Tiger Hunt had crossed paths with these squads many times.

  "No, but... Look out!" a mercenary screamed as the ape lunged at Tiger Hunt’s back.

  "Here we go again. Alright then—I’ll be taking this ape for myself!" Tiger Hunt’s face showed not a hint of fear. He spun on his heel and charged.

  BANG—!

  The two collided again. The impact sounded like a clap of thunder. But as Tiger Hunt swung the Berserker Greatsword, he didn't give an inch to the Class-rank beast.

  CRASH! BOOM!

  Tiger Hunt swung the blade like a madman. The passive skill, [Rising Fury], had triggered the moment their blades first met. The superior craftsmanship of the Berserker Greatsword was far beyond any common weapon, and as the skill's effects stacked, Tiger Hunt actually began to push the ape back.

  "He’s... he’s suppressing a Crag-Smasher Ape? Did this guy pass his trial and reach Class-rank?" Blood Wolf watched, leaning on his sword in total bewilderment. He had known Tiger Hunt for years, but he never knew the man possessed such monstrous strength.

  "Since when did the Captain know someone this strong?"

  "Is that really the same lone-wolf we used to see?"

  "No way... I must be hallucinating."

  The men of the Blood Wolf Squad watched in stunned silence as Tiger Hunt traded blows with the forest's nightmare, looking for all the world like he was having the time of his life.