(44) First trial [4] First door complete

The leader, Jagrel, who was giving orders to everyone, before Mangrel took over faced the province plant wolf with a hardened face. 

Though things had turned stable thanks to Mangrel, there were still many who received grievous wounds. The cultivators who were spineless were the majority of the ones, who died in the past four minutes. 

Playing a filtering role, only the ones who fought or even resisted despite their initial fear were the only ones alive. 

Being the center of focus a while ago, Jagrel was dissatisfied with Mangrel. However, he didn't show much reaction externally, he couldn't bring any satisfactory results while being the commander. He could only blame his commenting ability for that. 

Jagrel was smart, being the successor of a small sub-clan of the Moon's shadow sect, consisting of demonic cultivators, his father passed on many worldly lessons to cover up his weak aptitude. 

Hence Jagrel was aware that he would only gain ire if he did something to disturb Mangrel and instead invited a huge loss. Therefore, he didn't resist Mangrel taking over control.

Coming to the demonic inauguration was a blessing for him, though it depends on his ability. Jagrel was determined to not lose this chance that might be his only hope of rising in this life. 

'I don't care if I have to work below someone if it means I can survive this trial!' Jagrel activated spells frantically, casting low-grade spells and martial one after another while moving around.

"You bastard!"

In the distance, a young cultivator made use of another cultivator, to escape his misfortune of being aimed by the providence plant wolf. Causing a chain of curses launched at the person who used others as bait.

This was not the only incident that occurred in the past few minutes. 

Many young cultivators used vicious means to survive, not caring if they had to sacrifice others for it. 

Their moral was non-existent. 

Mangrel's eyes shone: 'Birds of the same feather flock together! From their attitude, I can decipher more about their living atmosphere, but I don't have the time to waste on this subject right now.' 

"Now!" Mangrel shouted.

Without a moment of delay, a cultivator cast the spell Mangrel had instructed before. 

Shadow veil!

It was a rank zero, low-grade spell which is mostly used to bind people momentarily. It could be used to blind the target too. 

It was useless against the Providence plant wolf normally. A shadow moved around it.

Mangrel paused, before dashing forward. 

The providence plant wolf felt the origin essence circulating from everywhere. Causing it to fall into a state of confusion, before jumping back to make some distance, seeing Mangrel's movement. 

The providence plant wolf was not restrained by the shadow veil, it was after all a rank zero upper-grade beast. While the shadow veil was only low-grade. 

Howl!

However, before it could recollect itself, the providence wolf felt piercing pain in one of its eyes. 

A spike was visibly piercing deep into the providence wolf's eyes. 

It moved a step, before laying limp on the ground. The spike had apparently reached its brain. 

Not surprised by the result, Mangrel continued moving, collecting the heart with the claw, then choosing the next target. 

Jagrel's eyes twitched, 'That creepy claw technique can really allow him to ignore material world laws. He killed another one of them too...' 

Looking around, it was apparent that Mangrel had gained more trust from everyone. 

He couldn't help but feel jealous, he was aware of the immense benefit that evil art provided the caster. There was no backlash too which made it a top-grade art. 

This time, unfortunately, Mangrel was not able to eat the heart in peace, as two providence plant wolves moved right at him. 

As if playing around, Mangrel dodged both the providence plant wolf's attack, as if they were nothing but jock. 

The cultivators, who were in the shadow, were in a daze, looking at Mangrel's exceedingly frightening adaptability. 

It was as if he could predict all their attacks in the back of his head. 

Raised beasts have certain attack patterns they follow, Mangrel was making use of this fact.

Seeing Mangrel making use of a disadvantage between the two Providence plant wolves, not-so-good cooperation, Bukeren was doubtful about where Mangrel came from. All his actions were unbelievably ingenious, putting the so-called battle expert to shame. 

And he was still 13 years old! 

'A talent...Not in cultivation but in the aspect of planning and scheming, he shines more than anyone.' Bukeren accepted that Mangrel had talent. 

Having a high aptitude does not mean they are always standing on the top. The path of cultivation was a solitary one, filled with hardship. Without wits, surviving on this path would be impossible. 

'Not to say that the kind of attitude he has shown up till now is very compatible with the demonic path.' Bukeren smiled, putting most of his attention on Mangrel.

After taking care of one providence plant wolf, Mangrel easily took care of the other one by himself. He ate the hearts hurriedly while keeping a vigilant mind. 

Checking for the situation around him again, Mangrel began changing the formation of the group's fight against the providence plant wolf. 

"Go and reinforce that group, don't let those wolves break through, no matter the cost. I will reinforce you after I take care of the ones on the left frontline." A simple yet reassuring command left Mangrel's mouth. 

"We will depend on brother's strength then!" 

"Please reinforce us afterward!" 

They moved, putting their trust in Mangrel. 

Mangrel moved around like this, fighting wolves and changing the formation around the place quickly. 

In the end, the second door was just an inch away from fully opening. 

'Wait...this formation seems weird...' Jagrel's eyes squinted, before a realization hit him, causing his heart to jump in fright. 

'Such an ingenious plan!' Jagrel couldn't help but admire. 

No one noticed, but if not all, most of the injured people were on the frontline. There were a few uninjured acting as cover too. 

This injured would face the head-on attack of whichever beast exited the second door now. This allowed Mangrel to retain most of the usable pawns around. 

'I would have never thought of such a plan while fighting against those wolves. He did it with such a natural expression...just what kind of life did he live before coming here?' Jagrel glanced at Mangrel involuntarily. 

But at that instant, Mangrel's eyes met with Jagrel's. A small smile formed on Mangrel's face as if expecting Jagrel's action. 

The emotionless eyes which were devoid of any kind of life, made Jagrel freeze with a chill on his back. 

Having made an ideal formation, Mangrel was able to hunt eight providence plant wolves in total. And it allowed him to get some breather in the middle as well. 

Signaling Jagrel to come to him, Mangrel proposed: "Let's work together." 

Jagrel was sure that Mangrel knew that he found out the intention of his action just now. 

'It doesn't seem like he wants to silence me...It looks like he deemed me to be a useful person. Then, I shall accept!' Jagrel nodded his head to Mangrel decisively. 

"Take care of that group, make them survive instead of gaining some meager kill numbers. Do I need to remind you what kind of trial this is?" Mangrel patted Jagrel's shoulder in the middle of the formation, made up of fifty or so young cultivators. 

"....Yes!" Jagrel showed a self-reflecting expression upon hearing Mangrel's order.

Jagrel realized his prior blunder. 

Blinded by his determination and drive, Jagrel didn't pry deeper into the nature of the trial and focused on earning more accomplishment. Leading to his poor result in leadership. 

If he concentrated on survival, the result would have been different. 

'He saw right past my actions...' Jagrel could only smile wryly at this point.