“Prepare to fight,” Chang Shiru said grimly.  These were students from Greatwood High; they couldn’t abandon them. Besides, escape was impossible. Black Iron rank 2 Sand Rats were much faster.  This fight was unavoidable. Either the rats died, or they did.

Xiong Tao gritted his teeth, raising his wooden shield in front of Chang Shiru. As a Shield Bearer, his offensive capabilities were limited; his role was to protect.

Chang Shiru drew her bow, an arrow nocked and ready.

Soren, dagger in hand, waited calmly, a hint of excitement in his eyes. Six rank 2 Sand Rats meant 60 experience points – enough to reach Black Iron rank 2.

Chang Shiru glanced at Soren. “Hey, get over here!”  Once the rats attacked, Soren would be defenseless.

Soren ignored her, his gaze fixed on the approaching rats.

“Idiot,” Xiong Tao muttered.  If Soren wanted to be foolish, so be it.

The three Greatwood students arrived, panicked, the six Sand Rats hot on their heels.  Battle was imminent.

Chang Shiru fired.  A golden streak flew through the air, striking a Sand Rat.  The rat exploded in a bloody mess.

The death only enraged the remaining rats.  Four of them charged towards Chang Shiru and the others.  Xiong Tao held his shield firm, while the other three, all melee fighters, counterattacked.  They fought well, but the rank difference was telling.  They were immediately on the defensive.  Chang Shiru, their strongest attacker, could only watch helplessly, her skill on cooldown.

The remaining Sand Rat lunged at Soren.

“He’s done for,” Chang Shiru sighed.  Alone, Soren stood no chance against a rank 2 Sand Rat.

But as the rat closed in, Soren calmly swung his dagger.  With a spurt of blood, the rat was split in two.

“How…?” Chang Shiru gasped, stunned.  A Wood Summoner, one-shotting a rank 2 Sand Rat?  Was this real?

“What is it?” Xiong Tao asked anxiously, his attention focused on the other rats. He hadn’t seen what Soren had done.

“He… he killed it,” Chang Shiru stammered.

“What?” Xiong Tao turned to look.  Soren, dagger dripping blood, strode towards another Sand Rat and swung.  The rat was bisected.

“Holy…” Xiong Tao’s jaw dropped.

Without pausing, Soren dispatched the remaining three rats with swift, brutal efficiency.  It was like cutting through vegetables.

Silence descended.  Xiong Tao and the others stared at Soren, dumbfounded.  Five rank 2 Sand Rats, killed in five strikes.  What terrifying power!  And from a Wood Summoner, no less.  When had Wood Summoners become so formidable?  This wasn’t a summoner; it was a melee monster.

Soren, ignoring their stares, eagerly opened his status screen.  Five rank 2 Sand Rats meant 50 experience points.  He should have ranked up.

Name: Soren Hawthorne

Class: Wood Summoner

Rank: Black Iron 2

Attack Power: 70

Defense: 15

Agility: 19

Mental Power: 20

Experience: 0/200

Health: 300

Mana: 180

Intelligence: Unknown

Skill: Summon Lesser Treant (1)

A grin spread across Soren’s face.  Reaching rank 2 had boosted all his stats.  As long as he didn’t encounter hordes of Sand Rats, he could roam the Endless Desert unchallenged.

Wiping his dagger, he looked at Xiong Tao, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Now you know who’s arrogant.”

Xiong Tao flushed crimson.  He’d mocked Soren, thinking him a weakling.  Now, Soren had proven him wrong, delivering a stinging slap to his pride.

Soren turned and walked away.

“Thank you,” Chang Shiru said gratefully.  Without Soren, they would have been killed.

“Don’t mention it,” Soren replied casually, disappearing over the dunes.

“Chang Shiru, which academy is he from? He’s incredible!” one of the students, wielding a long knife, asked.

“I don’t know,” Chang Shiru shook her head.

“A mage, stronger than us melee fighters… what kind of monster is he?” another student murmured.

…

As Soren walked, he heard the sounds of fighting.  Where there was fighting, there were Sand Rats.  He quickened his pace.

Cresting a dune, he saw a large basin below.  A long-haired female student was surrounded by Sand Rats.  Three skeletal figures fought alongside her, repelling the rats with surprising strength.

“A Necromancer!” Soren breathed.  Necromancers were the most powerful summoners, far surpassing Wood Summoners.  They were also incredibly rare, fewer than five on all of Aella Earth.  He hadn’t expected to encounter one here.  Which academy was she from?

He decided to leave.  The Sand Rats were only rank 1.  Despite their numbers, the Necromancer seemed to have the situation under control.  If he intervened, she might think he was trying to steal her kills.