Chapter 182: Argent Heights against the Metalspine Ravagers

The forest grew darker as Valecrest advanced. Silas didn’t slow down, and if anything, his pace became more deliberate.

His threads had already spread throughout the surrounding forest, crawling between tree trunks, slipping beneath leaves, wrapping around branches, and extending hundreds of meters ahead.

To anyone else, the Blackridge Expanse was an enormous forest filled with countless blind spots. To Silas, it was a map.

Every movement was visible, every sound had a location, every creature was a point of information, and right now, there were thirty-six monsters ahead, and beyond them was Argent Heights.

Silas’s lips curled upward.

"Everyone."

The team immediately stopped.

"What?" Damien looked over his shoulder.

"Don’t attack yet."

Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Silas pointed toward the forest ahead.

"Because I want to see what Argent Heights does."

Alpha stared at him.

"You’re using another academy as free entertainment."

"Correct."

"You didn’t even hesitate."

"Why would I?"

Alpha sighed.

"You’re terrible."

"I’ve been told."

Silas leaned against a tree, and the others reluctantly followed. Chloe stood beside him, her spear resting against her shoulder.

"You really aren’t going to help?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because we’re supposed to reach the Observatory." He glanced toward her. "And because I want to know what the other academies can do."

His eyes glowed faintly.

"Information is more valuable than a few monster cores."

Alicia crossed his arms.

"You’re treating this tournament like an experiment."

Silas smiled.

"Everything is an experiment until someone gets punched."

Godfrey stared at him. "You’re weird."

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Through his threads, Silas watched.

***

Leonard Voss suddenly stopped, causing the students behind him to nearly walk into his back.

"What happened?"

Leonard didn’t answer immediately. His eyes narrowed as he stared into the forest. Something was moving, several somethings. He could hear it, a faint scraping sound.

The sound came from multiple directions. Leonard slowly raised his hand.

"Everyone, prepare."

The group immediately became alert. One girl pulled a pair of metallic gauntlets over her hands, while another student drew a short sword. A third raised his bow.

"What are we facing?"

Leonard’s expression hardened.

"Monsters."

"How many?"

He listened again, and the scraping became louder.

"Too many."

The ground suddenly trembled, while a strange clicking sound echoed between the trees. A large creature stepped out from behind a tree. It looked vaguely like a porcupine, except that it was far larger. It was nearly three meters tall when standing on all fours.

Its body was covered in thick, dark-gray fur, but the most noticeable feature was the enormous metallic spikes protruding from its back.

The spikes weren’t natural-looking. They resembled sharpened steel. Some were black, while others had a faint green sheen running along their edges. Droplets of poisonous liquid dripped from their tips.

Leonard’s expression changed.

"Metalspine Ravager."

The creature opened its mouth, releasing a deep growl. The trees shook as dozens of Metalspine Ravagers emerged from the forest. Some were barely larger than ordinary dogs, while others were the size of horses.

Behind them, something massive moved. A gigantic Metalspine Ravager stepped into view. It was nearly six meters tall, with its body covered in layers of thick metallic quills. Several broken trees were embedded within its fur.

Its eyes glowed crimson, and a pressure rolled through the forest. The weaker students immediately felt their bodies tense.

Leonard’s expression became serious.

"B-Rank."

Then another roar echoed. A second massive creature emerged. Three A-Ranks. The entire Argent Heights team went silent. Someone swallowed nervously.

"There are..."

"Three." Leonard tightened his grip on his weapon. "Three A-Ranks."

One student looked around nervously.

"And the rest?"

"F to C-Rank."

"How many?"

"Thirty-two."

Nobody spoke. The largest Metalspine Ravager suddenly lowered its body, and its quills began vibrating. Leonard’s eyes widened.

"DOWN!"

FWOOM!

The creature’s entire back erupted as hundreds of metallic spikes launched through the forest. The students scattered.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Spikes slammed into trees, stone, and armor. One student raised a shield, blocking a spike, but the impact sent him sliding backward.

"POISON!" Someone shouted.

A spike grazed another student’s arm. The moment it touched his armor, green liquid splashed across the metal, and the armor began sizzling.

"Don’t let them touch you!"

Leonard charged forward, and his sword flashed. A smaller Metalspine Ravager’s head flew into the air. Another lunged, but Leonard spun and slashed its throat open.

"Keep formation!"

The Argent Heights students moved. One student slammed both hands into the ground.

"Stone Rampart!"

A wall of rock erupted, and the next wave of metallic spikes slammed into it. Another student fired a barrage of arrows, and several monsters dropped.

A girl raised both hands.

"Wind Cutter!"

Blades of compressed wind ripped through the forest. Two C-Rank monsters were torn apart. The battle intensified.

The Metalspine Ravagers were aggressive and fast. And their spikes were poisonous. The weaker monsters surrounded Argent Heights while the three A-Ranks waited for an opening.

Leonard noticed it.

"They’re coordinating."

One of the A-Ranks suddenly charged. The ground shattered beneath its feet. Leonard raised his sword, and the monster swung its enormous body. He blocked, but the impact sent him flying. He crashed into a tree.

"Captain!"

Leonard coughed. "I’m fine!"

The monster charged again. His eyes sharpened. He quickly stepped aside, and the creature smashed into the tree. He jumped, his sword glowing silver.

"Moonfall!"

The attack cut deeply across the monster’s shoulder, and black blood sprayed across the ground. The A-Rank roared.

Leonard landed. He had barely recovered when another monster attacked from behind. He turned, but he was too late. A metallic spike flew toward his chest, and would’ve pierced when a thread snapped across the forest.

TING!

The spike stopped, and Leonard froze. The metallic quill hung suspended inches from his armor.

"What..."

The thread pulled, causing the spike to fly sideways and bury itself inside a tree. Leonard looked toward the direction it came from, but saw nothing, only trees. But someone was watching. He could feel it.

Behind a massive tree, Silas stood with his arms crossed. His threads surrounded the entire battlefield. He had saved Leonard without anyone realizing it.

Chloe glanced at him.

"You stopped the spike."

"I was curious."

"About?"

"Whether their leader would survive."

Damien scoffed.

"You could have just let him get hit."

Silas shrugged.

"Then we’d lose the entertainment. He’s doing well for an A-Rank, but it’s only a matter of time before..."

Alpha looked at him. "You really are terrible."

"Thanks."

Silas’s gaze shifted toward the three A-Ranks.

"They’re stronger than I expected."

Chloe glanced at him.

"Do you want to fight them?"

"No."

"No?"

"Not yet." His eyes narrowed. "I want to see how far Argent Heights can go."

He paused.

"Besides..." A faint smile appeared. "There’s something more interesting happening."

Through his threads, Silas felt movement. Someone else was approaching the battlefield. It was not a monster, but another team.

Silas’s smile widened.

"Oh."

Alpha noticed.

"What?"

"Looks like we’re about to have more guests."