In the forest near Baimum kingdom, a young teen was making a sculpture out of clay. Bit by bit he shaped the sculpture in similar appearance to that of a person he considered his teacher.
Satisfied with his creation he took a deep breath and prepared a wooden dummy to train against.
With embers still burning in his heart to surpass every swordsmen in history Iklavya began his sword training.
He remembered every suggestion Gurdron had made to other students by heart. With every sword swing he put his hundred percent and with every swing his desire to surpass others only grew.
Months have passed since the day of Iklavya's rejection. Gurdron's noble student have also been going through hard training regime.
Some even quit in middle as these pampered kids were not able to handle hard training and returned back to their privileged and luxurious lifestyle filled with alcohol and women.
Within the group of students that stayed was Rjuna, a genius among the new generation.
Gurdron had promised that he would make him 'Rjuna, The Best Swordsman' in the history of Medini.
He was pretty sure of his teachings and Rjuna's talent with sword, it was not an unattainable goal.
Although Gurdron was accused of being biased and showing favoritism towards Rjuna, but he didn't care at all.
According to him, Rjuna was like a diamond and the more he was polished the more valuable he might become in future.
Then one day, Gurdron assigned them a task to hunt monsters nearby to observe all of their growth with their own eyes.
Although, they were quite reluctant at first but no one could reject the orders from their teacher. So they began to hunt down a monsters nearby.
Gurdron was already aware of the fact that, the monsters in their close vicinity were weak and they would be easily manageable by his students.
Gurdron stayed back at the camp to prepare for a celebration and to prepare edible meat that his students will be bringing today.
The trainees had upper hand over monsters with Rjuna leading the pack with assistance of other warriors covering their backs.
While they left the bodies of monsters that were not safe for consumption, they hunted and packed edible meat on their way back.
While they were hunting, they didn't even notice that dozen of eyes were fixed on them.
"Grrrrr" a growl escaped from their stalker.
When the group of trainees were celebrating their triumph and arguing who killed the most monsters, Rjuna noticed that their surroundings have become quieter.
Rjuna whispered, "shhhhh, we are in a deep trouble."
""""Awwwooooooo!!"""
The moment those words left his lips a couple of howls were heard by their group. This made everyone nervous.
Then their stalker stepped out from the bushes which made everyone' jaw drop. They were direwolves.
Dire Wolf was a level 27 class monster, but what made these monsters more dangerous was the fact that they always hunted in packs with perfect coordinated attacks.
With their perfect coordination, a pack of direwolves makes them a threat of the same level as a monster of level 40's.
Some trainees started to turn pale with fear of life while others became extremely nervous.
Rjuna saw that his comrades were losing their confidence so he took the charge and started giving out orders.
Their weakest links were mages who wouldn't be able to handle wolves in close quarters. So they had to make sure to protect them.
Rjuna gave each one of them their perspective roles. The tanks had to play the most important role and ensure that not a single monster could pass their ranks and attack the mages.
The warriors had to ensure to thin out the enemy with mages assistance and ensure no one is attacked from behind.
The monster in packs always used this strategy. They used their numbers to divert their prey's attention and then few of them would attack from behind.
30 young human trainees vs. 20 direwolves. There was a pin-drop silence for a few seconds which was broken by the howl of the alpha of the wolves and the battle for survival began.
Few wolves charged straight at shield bearers with jaws wide open. The tanks planted their shields and waited for the impact.
When the shield made of metal met wolves mass, the tanks skid few inches back.
They were able to hold back these wolves even when they were several times larger compared to these kids.
The average level of the entire trainee's batch was around 20 levels. But with few buffs from mages, they manage to hold their ranks quite well.
When the monster push came to complete halt Rjuna shouted, "Mages use your elemental spell and archers support them. Melee Warriors shall still hold their ground for surprise attacks."
After his order dozens of spell and arrows made their way towards direwolves.
The monsters howled in pain. Few of them lost their eyes and some even lost their limbs.
Rjuna was quite happy with initial results but he didn't celebrate because he knew that the battle has just begun.
Then just as he predicted a small group of wolves tried to flank them from behind. He then gestured the warriors to be ready and engage these wolves head on.
The warriors formed pair and started pushing the direwolves back. With combined effort the young trainees started to gain upper hand.
Then as the battle went on, they were able to push back the wolves.
"AAAWWWWOOOOO"
But right then the Alpha stepped forward and let out an ear deafening howl, after which the trainees started to step back in fear.
'He's using debuffing skills', Rjuna thought to himself while he tried to keep his heart calm and thought how to tackle this issue at hand.
He could no further depend upon his other comrades they were already trying hard just to stand on their legs.
The fallen wolves also started to regroup with their leader. Their eyes were now turned red due to the effect of some skill they were using and their size also increased a bit.
They were ready to charge in and annihilate their preys. When suddenly a voice came from the top of a tree which caught everyone's attention.
"Oh look! So many damsels in destress"
When Rjuna looked towards the location from where the comment came, he was surprised. Even the Alpha wolf was surprised, even he didn't notice the human who was currently hanging down from the tree branch.
"Help us! Go find our teacher and tell him that we need his assistance. We will reward you handsomely latter for your assistance" declared one of the trainee.
"Why should I do that?" said person hanging on the tree branch.
"WHAT?!"
"Am I not good enough to be your knight in shining armor? My sword art is better than the knights and nobles you know"
"Huh?"
Then suddenly that dialogue led to a flashback of some old memory and the noble remembered those word he said to a peasant who wanted to train with them, 'Go back to your mum peasant. Swords are for knights and nobles and not for some country bumpkin.'
"Tch! you still think that you are better than us nobles? You are only alive because you have been hiding over there" said the noble with sneer.
"ha ha! You never change do you?"
The noble ignored him. None in the group even remembered his name or they even didn't care to ask him last time they met.
"You people are quite lucky that unlike you snobby people, I know how to handle myself in forest and that to even without having to fight."
"These wolves have been stalking you since the morning waiting for you get tired and then come for the kill" explained the person from the tree and then somersaulted down landing on his feet.
"You over there!" the person pointed towards Rjuna.
"Me?"
"Yes you! It seems you can handle yourself very well. Come, you watch my back as I deal with them."
Rjuna nodded and said, "Wait! I never got your name."
"Well you don't need to know my name for fighting, do you?" the warrior replied and with his right hand drew his blade and took battle stance.
Rjuna looked at his sword. It was in poor condition. There were several chips and the blade lacked its silver hue and was caked in dried blood and dirt.
But it established one thing, the fact that it was heavily used. This assured Rjuna that at least this guy has been practicing just as hard as them if not more.
Rjuna also followed suit and took the battle stance with his blade as well.
They both faced dozens of wolves that were eyeing them with salivating mouth.
"Awwwooooooo"
Then with the howl of the alpha, the second phase of the battle for survival began.
In the forest near Baimum kingdom, a young teen was making a sculpture out of clay. Bit by bit he shaped the sculpture in similar appearance to that of a person he considered his teacher.
Satisfied with his creation he took a deep breath and prepared a wooden dummy to train against.
With embers still burning in his heart to surpass every swordsmen in history Iklavya began his sword training.
He remembered every suggestion Gurdron had made to other students by heart. With every sword swing he put his hundred percent and with every swing his desire to surpass others only grew.
Months have passed since the day of Iklavya's rejection. Gurdron's noble student have also been going through hard training regime.
Some even quit in middle as these pampered kids were not able to handle hard training and returned back to their privileged and luxurious lifestyle filled with alcohol and women.
Within the group of students that stayed was Rjuna, a genius among the new generation.
Gurdron had promised that he would make him 'Rjuna, The Best Swordsman' in the history of Medini.
He was pretty sure of his teachings and Rjuna's talent with sword, it was not an unattainable goal.
Although Gurdron was accused of being biased and showing favoritism towards Rjuna, but he didn't care at all.
According to him, Rjuna was like a diamond and the more he was polished the more valuable he might become in future.
Then one day, Gurdron assigned them a task to hunt monsters nearby to observe all of their growth with their own eyes.
Although, they were quite reluctant at first but no one could reject the orders from their teacher. So they began to hunt down a monsters nearby.
Gurdron was already aware of the fact that, the monsters in their close vicinity were weak and they would be easily manageable by his students.
Gurdron stayed back at the camp to prepare for a celebration and to prepare edible meat that his students will be bringing today.
The trainees had upper hand over monsters with Rjuna leading the pack with assistance of other warriors covering their backs.
While they left the bodies of monsters that were not safe for consumption, they hunted and packed edible meat on their way back.
While they were hunting, they didn't even notice that dozen of eyes were fixed on them.
"Grrrrr" a growl escaped from their stalker.
When the group of trainees were celebrating their triumph and arguing who killed the most monsters, Rjuna noticed that their surroundings have become quieter.
Rjuna whispered, "shhhhh, we are in a deep trouble."
""""Awwwooooooo!!"""
The moment those words left his lips a couple of howls were heard by their group. This made everyone nervous.
Then their stalker stepped out from the bushes which made everyone' jaw drop. They were direwolves.
Dire Wolf was a level 27 class monster, but what made these monsters more dangerous was the fact that they always hunted in packs with perfect coordinated attacks.
With their perfect coordination, a pack of direwolves makes them a threat of the same level as a monster of level 40's.
Some trainees started to turn pale with fear of life while others became extremely nervous.
Rjuna saw that his comrades were losing their confidence so he took the charge and started giving out orders.
Their weakest links were mages who wouldn't be able to handle wolves in close quarters. So they had to make sure to protect them.
Rjuna gave each one of them their perspective roles. The tanks had to play the most important role and ensure that not a single monster could pass their ranks and attack the mages.
The warriors had to ensure to thin out the enemy with mages assistance and ensure no one is attacked from behind.
The monster in packs always used this strategy. They used their numbers to divert their prey's attention and then few of them would attack from behind.
30 young human trainees vs. 20 direwolves. There was a pin-drop silence for a few seconds which was broken by the howl of the alpha of the wolves and the battle for survival began.
Few wolves charged straight at shield bearers with jaws wide open. The tanks planted their shields and waited for the impact.
When the shield made of metal met wolves mass, the tanks skid few inches back.
They were able to hold back these wolves even when they were several times larger compared to these kids.
The average level of the entire trainee's batch was around 20 levels. But with few buffs from mages, they manage to hold their ranks quite well.
When the monster push came to complete halt Rjuna shouted, "Mages use your elemental spell and archers support them. Melee Warriors shall still hold their ground for surprise attacks."
After his order dozens of spell and arrows made their way towards direwolves.
The monsters howled in pain. Few of them lost their eyes and some even lost their limbs.
Rjuna was quite happy with initial results but he didn't celebrate because he knew that the battle has just begun.
Then just as he predicted a small group of wolves tried to flank them from behind. He then gestured the warriors to be ready and engage these wolves head on.
The warriors formed pair and started pushing the direwolves back. With combined effort the young trainees started to gain upper hand.
Then as the battle went on, they were able to push back the wolves.
"AAAWWWWOOOOO"
But right then the Alpha stepped forward and let out an ear deafening howl, after which the trainees started to step back in fear.
'He's using debuffing skills', Rjuna thought to himself while he tried to keep his heart calm and thought how to tackle this issue at hand.
He could no further depend upon his other comrades they were already trying hard just to stand on their legs.
The fallen wolves also started to regroup with their leader. Their eyes were now turned red due to the effect of some skill they were using and their size also increased a bit.
They were ready to charge in and annihilate their preys. When suddenly a voice came from the top of a tree which caught everyone's attention.
"Oh look! So many damsels in destress"
When Rjuna looked towards the location from where the comment came, he was surprised. Even the Alpha wolf was surprised, even he didn't notice the human who was currently hanging down from the tree branch.
"Help us! Go find our teacher and tell him that we need his assistance. We will reward you handsomely latter for your assistance" declared one of the trainee.
"Why should I do that?" said person hanging on the tree branch.
"WHAT?!"
"Am I not good enough to be your knight in shining armor? My sword art is better than the knights and nobles you know"
"Huh?"
Then suddenly that dialogue led to a flashback of some old memory and the noble remembered those word he said to a peasant who wanted to train with them, 'Go back to your mum peasant. Swords are for knights and nobles and not for some country bumpkin.'
"Tch! you still think that you are better than us nobles? You are only alive because you have been hiding over there" said the noble with sneer.
"ha ha! You never change do you?"
The noble ignored him. None in the group even remembered his name or they even didn't care to ask him last time they met.
"You people are quite lucky that unlike you snobby people, I know how to handle myself in forest and that to even without having to fight."
"These wolves have been stalking you since the morning waiting for you get tired and then come for the kill" explained the person from the tree and then somersaulted down landing on his feet.
"You over there!" the person pointed towards Rjuna.
"Me?"
"Yes you! It seems you can handle yourself very well. Come, you watch my back as I deal with them."
Rjuna nodded and said, "Wait! I never got your name."
"Well you don't need to know my name for fighting, do you?" the warrior replied and with his right hand drew his blade and took battle stance.
Rjuna looked at his sword. It was in poor condition. There were several chips and the blade lacked its silver hue and was caked in dried blood and dirt.
But it established one thing, the fact that it was heavily used. This assured Rjuna that at least this guy has been practicing just as hard as them if not more.
Rjuna also followed suit and took the battle stance with his blade as well.
They both faced dozens of wolves that were eyeing them with salivating mouth.
"Awwwooooooo"
Then with the howl of the alpha, the second phase of the battle for survival began.
