The next morning, in the Shadow City, the square of the governor's mansion.
"Everyone, today's training is very important. It will decide whether you can become a magic apprentice and have the right to enter the highest academy — the Imperial Academy of Elden." Third-level magician, Lady Lina Howard, the governor's wife, floated on the high platform. Her serious voice spread throughout the whole square. "Awakening your talent is just the beginning. The training in the Beast Mountains will test your real strength."
Below the platform, a hundred of the most talented people from the Silverton Town gathered. Without exception, they were all noble youths. They had already put on their expensive wizard robes and were holding various wands, looking full of confidence.
On the viewing platform, Dylan leaned over to the governor, Carl Howard, and whispered: "Carl, is that fool Daniel really dead?"
Governor Carl coldly laughed and said with no doubt: "Put your mind at rest. The shadow wolf will never let anyone who steps into its territory live. Daniel must be dead by now, turned into wolf dung."
Although the wizard tower would investigate the strange deaths of awakened people, this system had long been just a formality.
"That's good," Dylan couldn't help but touch the talent card at his waist, which was now completely bonded with him. His eyes were full of pride. "S-grade Element Control. I have become the most promising wizard in the Elden Kingdom."
With the governor's command, the hundred-person group rushed toward the outer area of the Beast Mountains. Everyone was full of confidence.
At the same time, in a small valley not far from their training area, Daniel was riding on the shadow wolf Abraham, looking down from a high place at this 'luxurious' group.
"They're here! Finally!" Daniel jumped off Abraham and said with gritted teeth: "My dear Dylan, you would never dream that I not only didn't die in the beasts' mouths, but I have prepared a big 'surprise' for you!"
Abraham and Alexander were sitting by Daniel's feet. The two beasts were in complete mental connection with Daniel, and their eyes were shining with bloodthirsty light.
Daniel suppressed his anger and, with a trembling hand, touched the two beasts. His voice was cold: "Abraham, Alexander, do you remember the battle plan I told you about last night?"
"Howl!" Abraham excitedly wagged its tail to show it understood.
"Ugh!" Alexander hit its chest to respond.
Daniel took a deep breath and opened the system panel.
[Daily Golden Phrase has been refreshed!]
[Phrase One: Apostle of the God. Effect: Control wind, rain, and lightning. Can call strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning to attack enemies.
Note: Can be used three times a day, each time lasting thirty seconds.]
[Phrase Two: The Heart of the Dragon Emperor. Effect: All beasts respect you. You can send a pressure that reaches the soul of the beasts. Beasts within ten kilometers will obey 300% more.
Note: Can be used once a day.]
[Phrase Three: Human Beast. Effect: Body defense increases by 1000%, immune to most physical attacks.
Note: Cannot be immune to magic attacks or soul attacks.]
Daniel's original plan was to have Abraham and Alexander force the beasts to create a beast storm. But when he saw the second phrase, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"I choose number two — the Heart of the Dragon Emperor," Daniel said happily, not hesitating at all in his mind. "It's just what I needed. I was worried about how to control the beasts like they were part of my body."
[Golden Phrase 'The Heart of the Dragon Emperor' has been activated!]
In an instant, Daniel's heart pounded hard, like a war drum, and an invisible ripple spread out in all directions.
Within ten kilometers, all the beasts felt a powerful, unavoidable call from the very depths of their souls!
"Howl!"
"Roar!"
"Chirp!"
Around Daniel, the cries of all kinds of beasts echoed from every direction!
First-level storm wolves, second-level iron-armored boars, third-level colorful tigers... even two fourth-level beasts that usually stayed hidden!
They ran from all over the Beast Mountains toward Daniel's position. Soon, the whole valley was filled with more than a thousand beasts. They were packed so tightly that the valley was completely full!
Then, they fell silent, waiting for Daniel's next command. At the front of the beast group were two fourth-level beasts — a flying griffin and a ground-dwelling scaled beast.
"The power of the Dragon Emperor's Heart is truly terrifying," Daniel said, watching the amazing scene before him. Especially seeing two fourth-level beasts obeying his call, he was filled with shock.
At this moment, the noble group, who were searching for beasts in the outer area of the Beast Mountains, felt the ground shake. The whole Beast Mountains suddenly became completely silent.
"What was that shaking just now? Did the beasts move in large numbers?" one noble youth asked, confused.
Dylan laughed coldly and said, "It's impossible to be a beast storm. If a beast storm happened, our violent crystals would have already detected something wrong."
The violent crystals could warn of a beast storm, but they showed no reaction at all.
"It really can't be a beast storm. But the Beast Mountains are always lively. Everyone, stay alert," said Governor Carl, frowning. He had a strange feeling something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what.
After hearing the governor's words, everyone relaxed. As for the part about staying alert, no one took it seriously. The group moved forward a bit.
At that moment —
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The ground suddenly started shaking! Dust rose from all sides! Then came a loud, earth-shaking roar from the beasts! Trees shook violently, and birds flew into the sky in panic.
"What's going on!?" Everyone felt a sudden sense of fear.
"Fuck!" A veteran guard captain climbed up a hill, his face turned pale, and shouted, "It's... a beast storm! Run!" He grabbed his stunned nephew and ran away without looking back.
As the captain finished speaking, a dark mass of beasts ran out from all directions of the forest, cutting off all the noble youths' escape routes.
"Where are the guards? Stand up and fight!" one noble youth shouted.
"Damn it! They dared to leave us behind! We paid them to protect us," another shouted, angry, as he saw almost all the guards had safely escaped the beast storm.
The guard team was mainly made up of common people, with a few slaves mixed in. Their job was to do odd tasks for these noble youths for a few coins. Would they fight hard? Absolutely not! Under Daniel's special arrangement, most of the guards escaped safely.
On the ground, a huge silverback bear stood in the middle of the beast storm, watching carefully. On its back sat a human-like creature wrapped in a black robe!
In the sky, a fourth-level griffin led a group of first-level poison-stinger wasps, second-level iron-beak hawks, and third-level illusion night crows. They blocked the governor Carl's way out, covering the sky.
Underground, the ground-dwelling scaled beast dug traps without rest. It was waiting for Daniel's order to bury Dylan and the others in an instant.
"Everyone, it's been a while. I wonder if you like this gift," Daniel took off his black robe and said with a smile. "Looks like you're very happy. Then I can rest easy."
"Daniel?!" Governor Carl's face changed completely. He couldn't believe his eyes. "You're not dead? This beast storm... was it you?"
Daniel ignored Carl and looked at the noble youth who was wearing the most expensive and beautiful wizard robe. He gritted his teeth and said: "My dear friend Dylan, I really missed you!"
"You... you should have died in the shadow wolf's mouth!" Dylan staggered back. His talent card fell from his waist.
"Dead?" Daniel laughed wildly into the sky. "Of course I'm alive! Welcome to the Beast Mountains! My 'friends' have been looking forward to you for a long time."
As Daniel finished speaking, the beast storm, which had been waiting impatiently, finally exploded!
"Help! I don't want to die! Someone save me!"
"Why did this happen? It's all Dylan's fault!"
...
The noble group was completely destroyed in an instant, leaving only broken remains behind.
The noble youths who had been so proud just yesterday were now worse than homeless dogs!
"Damn it! Fourth-level magic — Wind and Cloud!" Governor Carl shouted with his staff in hand, and at the same time, he secretly broke the communication stone.
Suddenly, strong winds blew, pushing back the beast storm for a moment, giving the noble youths a short break.
Daniel watched the helpless people and ordered the griffins and the ground-dwelling scaled beast, which had been waiting for a long time, to join the battle.
The bloody massacre began again. In just a few moments, more than a hundred noble youths were reduced to only ten or so people — Dylan and others whom Governor Carl had specially protected. They were the core sons of the noble families of Liuyun City and couldn't be harmed.
Just as Daniel was about to finish them off, a voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
"Kid, let people go if you can. Walk away now, and I'll spare your life!" an old man ordered.