**Chapter 96: The Rescue Team Moves Out**
As Rest entered the scene as a member of the rescue staff, he quickly realized that this was a monster-infested area. Naturally, monsters were already on the prowl.
“Grrrrrr…!”
Before him stood three Wolf Beasts, snarling and baring their fangs in a show of intimidation. They had already noticed Rest and his companions.
“Alright, I’ll be watching. Danira, Thomas, Rest. Take down one each. Nakua, stay back and wait.”
Yuglut, the team leader, issued his orders. Thomas was a student from the Knight Department, while Nakua was from the Priest Department. Although both were members of the Executive Committee, they had barely exchanged words before this moment.
“Alright! I’ll take the one in the middle. Thomas, you take the left, and Rest, you handle the right.”
“Understood.”
Rest didn’t question why Danira was giving orders; there was no point in rebelling, so he simply agreed. The Wolf Beast before him was likely no stronger than the ones he had trained against.
“Let’s finish this quickly… *Wind Cutter!*”
“Gyaah…!”
Before the enemy could move, Rest unleashed his spell. The blade of wind sliced through the head of the Wolf Beast on the right, dispatching it effortlessly.
“Take that!”
“Gyaah!”
Danira lunged at the central Wolf Beast. As it lunged to bite him, he deftly dodged its fangs and swung his sword. The sharp blade cleaved deeply into the beast’s neck, ending its life in an instant.
“Ha! Yes!”
“Gyaow Gyaow!”
The third member, Thomas, though not as composed as Rest or Danira, managed to avoid the Wolf Beast’s attacks and take it down.
“Good, looks like we’re in the clear.”
Yuglut lightly applauded the three who had defeated the monsters without any trouble.
“It seems you can handle the basics. By the way… Rest, how many more times can you cast that spell?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Just answer quickly. It’s a direct order from your captain.”
Yuglut’s tone was curt. Rest sighed softly before responding.
“I’m not sure how many, but with this spell, I could cast it a hundred times without running out of magic power.”
“Oh, that’s reassuring… Alright, let’s move on.”
The group advanced across the plains, taking their designated positions as previously instructed.
“We’ll wait here. As soon as the distress signal goes up, we’ll move to rescue.”
“Understood.”
Rest and his companions were, after all, rescue staff. They would defend against any attacking monsters but would not actively hunt them. They kept a vigilant watch around them, glancing at the sky for any sign of a distress signal.
“Oh…!”
After thirty minutes of waiting, a red smoke signal rose in the eastern sky. It was a magic item used to request rescue.
“Alright, let’s go! Hurry!”
Yuglut took off running. Rest and the others followed suit. It seemed Yuglut was using Body Enhancement, as he was moving at an impressive speed.
(*If I used High Accelerator, I could easily overtake him… but since we’re operating as a squad, it wouldn’t be wise to act independently, even in an emergency.*)
Rest matched his pace with his comrades as they raced across the plains, eventually arriving at the location where the distress signal had been sent.
“GAAAAAAAH!”
“Ugh…!”
“Damn… those monsters…!”
There were four humans and two monsters present. Two of the humans were facing off against the monsters, while one lay on the ground, and the last was tending to the fallen comrade. The two engaged in battle were injured and looked battered.
Facing the standing humans was a massive Black Lion Beast, roughly the size of a bear.
“We’re coming to help! I’ll take the right, and you three take the left. Nakua, tend to the injured!”
Yuglut gave concise orders and drew his sword, heading toward the Black Lion on the left.
“Thomas and I will move to the front! Rest, provide support from the back!”
Danira stepped forward alongside Thomas to confront the Black Lion. In battles where knights and mages teamed up, it was customary for the knight to take the front line while the mage supported from the rear. Danira’s judgment was sound.
(*I could step forward without any issue… but I’ll let the two knights take the lead this time.*)
Rest positioned himself behind his two knight companions, observing the Black Lion. It was a formidable monster, and anyone with little combat experience against beasts would likely fall within minutes.
(*That said… it doesn’t seem like an overwhelmingly strong monster. As long as I don’t let my guard down, we should be fine.*)
“*Wind Cutter!*”
Rest unleashed two spells simultaneously, slicing through the front legs of the Black Lion, which was as large as a bear.
“Gugyaaah!?”
While he didn’t completely sever its legs, the Black Lion lost its balance significantly.
“Nice shot!”
“Y-yeah…!”
Taking advantage of the opening, Danira and Thomas kicked off the ground. They flanked the Black Lion, striking it repeatedly with their swords.
“Gugyaaahhh!”
Despite sustaining numerous cuts, the Black Lion fought back with its bloodied claws.
“*Ice Thorn!*”
“Gyaow!?”
Rest cast another spell. Two ice spears pierced the Black Lion’s eyes, blinding it.
“First the legs, now the eyes… you really don’t hold back!”
Danira shouted as he launched a sharp thrust. Dodging the wildly flailing claws, he delivered a decisive blow that pierced the Black Lion’s body and struck its heart.
“G… A…”
The Black Lion collapsed to the ground, motionless. Dark red blood slowly spread across the plains, marking the end of the battle.