Confused but relieved, they turned back to the cause—another Khalid stood behind them. The one that was leading them vanished into thin air.
Isshin blinked. "What…?"
Khalid, the first, crossed his arms. "A simple clone technique. I was curious to see how long it would take you to realize you were going around in circles."
Isshin, still attempting to process what had happened, complained to Raijin, "Good thing Khalid-sensei was prepared. What would you have done if he wasn't here?"
Raijin, unimpressed, simply stated, "Spirits aren't considered living beings in these kinds of traps. I could've deactivated it anytime."
Before any of them could consider it further, a figure in the distance stirred. An old, wizened man with a hood over his head stood far back in the forest, his eyes narrowing. "My illusion was broken that easily?! " he exclaimed, his voice incredulous. His fists clenched, then he turned to the undead minions at his command—wolves, goblins, and strange, tree-climbing creatures that appeared to be simian predators. "Find them. Kill them."
Meanwhile, Khalid and the students were in the clearing, now aware of the danger. Soon, the rustling of leaves and the snapping of branches heralded the approaching horde. The students took in their circumstances quickly. Isshin's system scan presented them with their comparative strength—most monsters were level 30. But quantity made them formidable.
"How many?" Karin asked.
Isshin didn't hesitate to respond. "Eighty-seven."
Karin shot him a surprised glance, but there was no moment for questioning. Khalid stepped aside, watching them closely. "I will not intervene unless absolutely required. Let us see what you have learned."
The battle was joined.
Rune, tapping into his fondness for constructs, created five huge golems that stomped into combat. Their heavy limbs crashed into the enemy ranks, crushing bone and sending the horde tumbling. Karin, on the other hand, activated her new speed-enhancing method, her qi flowing through her legs as she darted between enemies, cutting through them with precision. Isshin concentrated his thunder qi, his body crackling with electricity as he dashed forward, sword in hand.
A wolf attacked him. He swung his sword, firing a sharp crescent of sword aura that cleaved the beast in two. A monkey-like creature dropped from the trees overhead, its rubbery body contorting in mid-air as it attempted to attack. Isshin anticipated the attack, thrusting his fist into its side in a burst of thunder qi. The beast withdrew from the strike, but soon recuperated, snapping its jaws at him.
Before it had a chance to strike a second time, Karin's dark strings slashed across its throat, beheading it neatly. Another goblin rushed towards them, sword raised, but a golem barreled into it, pinning it to the earth. Rune, controlling the construct from a distance, smiled. "I'm a bit of a necromancer myself."
The battle raged on, and the three students slowly gained the upper hand against their attackers. Isshin, however, who was leading the charge, started to become surrounded bit by bit. His body moved on instinct, dodging and counterattacking, but there were so many attackers that he was left open to assault. Rune and Karin moved to reinforce him, but in that moment, Isshin's head cleared. His understanding of his own cultivation deepened.
A memory of training with Raijin came to mind. "If you can shape your qi with sufficient accuracy, you can impart the form of a spear to it."
Isshin exhaled, letting his instincts take over. His thunder qi roared, assuming the form of a crackling, glowing spear. As the energy stabilized in his hand, a name emerged. "Channel of Gungnir."
With a powerful thrust, he hurled the spear outward. A burst of lightning exploded from it, cutting across the battlefield in a destructive arc. The enemies that stood in its way evaporated instantly, creating a smoldering crater behind.
The battle was over.
As the three of them caught their breath, Khalid finally spoke. "Good job."
They had barely had time to get their breath when a shadow loomed over them. A figure even more ominous than before gave them the chills. From the mouth of a cave, a robed figure emerged.
The necromancer, his frustration visible, glared at the decimation of his army. "All my work undone so soon?! "His hand shook with anger as he held it up. "Then I'll take you all to hell with my masterpiece."
Behind him, a massive form moved. Coming into view was a repulsive, giant abomination—a amalgam of various creatures, its body stitched and sewn together from wolves, goblins, and those unsettling monkey-like demons. It had an unpleasant likeness to a griffin but was twisted and distorted in form.
With a sharp command, the necromancer barked, "Kill them!"
The abomination did not move.
The necromancer stumbled back. "W-what are you waiting for? Attack!" He raised his hand, as if to repeat his command, but before he could say another word, the creature turned on him. With terrifying speed, it struck, ending its creator's life in a single brutal motion.
An eerie silence fell over the battlefield.
Isshin used his system to scan the beast. The result made his spine shiver. "Level 96."
Even without a system, the others could feel it—this was far above their level.
Khalid stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he looked at the abomination. His face was calm, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Alright, you wanna-be griffin. Let's fight."