Chapter 9: Chapter Eight: Surrounded by Beasts

The next few weeks just flew by without any changes. Helix only taught Kai ancient magic and nothing else. After a day of studying, Helix would cook dinner. Because of that, Kai felt that he was starting to gain weight every day. Nevertheless, everything just passed by smoothly. Now, Kai could now read ancient languages and common languages without any difficulties. Something like this, to learn two languages at once in just a few weeks is truly unprecedented.

Holding a book in his hand, Kai stared out the wide window and solemnly stared at the winter covering the whole land outside. The north is always in winter, but now that it really is in the winter season, the snow and blizzards are much worse than normal. With a weather like this, nobody would dare to go out…

Kai wanted to head to the nearest village for more information about the current situation but it was not like he can do anything about this weather. There's another way to go to the nearby village but…

"Zein, you've already mastered the two languages. Reading books and learning magic would be easier now. So today, let's do something different."

"So, it's time for me to use magic…? What do I have to do?"

"It's simple. Go out and hunt magic beasts. Bring back at least ten of them."

"..."

Kai really appreciates this teacher of his but… Isn't he just too much of a spartan?

Kai took a deep breath as he calmly said, "Hel- Master, I haven't learned a single thing about magic yet. How could I…?" Master is now how Kai calls this man, who almost shoved a fork to his throat when he called him by his name one time during dinner. First, he didn't want to be called 'Helix'. Then, he also refused to be called 'master'. Only when Kai jokingly suggested calling him 'master' did he agree. Seriously, what is wrong with this person?

Feeling wronged, Kai's expression turned quite sad. But Helix ignored it and replied, "You'll learn as long as you experience it yourself. Getting hurt is normal but you don't have to worry about dying. Pain is normal, Don't tell me you're afraid of it?" Helix lately noticed that he's been talking more and more, but he didn't mind. He raised an eyebrow as he looked at Kai with questioning eyes.

Before that scrutinizing gaze, Kai was unfazed as he shamelessly admitted, "I am! I don't want to be in pain!"

This response made Helix narrow his eyes on Kai with an indescribable gaze. He closed his eyes for a moment before sighing, "Seriously…" He mumbled softly before he approached Kai. The other, feeling threatened, tried to take a few steps backward but he was too slow to do so. Helix had already grabbed the collar of his clothes and light shone underneath them. Kai was almost blinded by the light that suddenly surrounded him but when he finally came, he was already inside the forest with Helix still holding him. He has yet to prepare himself but Kai was suddenly shoved into the cold snow, and the book in his hand fell from his grasp as well.

Helix bent down a little and grabbed the book before Kai could and said, "What are you afraid of? They are merely magic beasts. With me here, you dare to fear them?" Helix lightly tapped the thick book on Kai's head and cleaned off the snow from it.

"As long as I am here, I won't allow any harm to fall upon you."

Kai lifted his head, placing a hand on the spot where he was just tapped on. Helix's eyes seem to be brighter than it usually is. His long black hair that contrasted the white snowy surroundings looks much more majestic and beautiful.

But Helix wasn't done speaking yet. "But what about when I am occupied? If you do not want to learn and endure a little pain, then how are you going protect yourself?" He didn't wait for Kai to reply before disappearing together with the book for a second and then he reappeared sitting on the sturdy branch of a nearby tree.

Kai helplessly looked at the aloof man who is now casually reading the book. Living is already difficult but this guy is making it harder for him. But he couldn't bear to get angry at him, after all, what he said really did make sense. So, accepting his fate, Kai braced himself and took a deep breath.

It didn't take long before he heard light footsteps, with only him and Helix being the living people around here, there was no doubt that those footsteps belongs to the magic beasts he is supposed to take care of today. Kai swallowed the saliva inside his mouth, as well as his nervousness. There's no backing out now. To escape is to face Helix's anger.

Kai would rather face these beasts rather than face Helix's obvious wrath in his indifferent expression.

However, as soon as Kai mentally prepared himself, he immediately encountered a problem. Unlike the last time when he encountered magic beasts, he at least had a sword. But now, he has nothing. No protective gear, no weapon, no magic. And he finally realized how close he is to the goddess of death right now.

Despite that, Kai kept his calm. He slowly lifted his head and looked at the celestial-looking man sitting peacefully on the branch as if he had no care about the world. "Master, at the very least, could you please give me some advice? Or an instruction? Even a simple hint will do…"

It was like his voice reached a deaf person's ears and the other didn't give a single word of response. But, Helix did shift his gaze towards Kai. Helix pulled the book closer to his face and now, his lower face is hidden by the book. But his purple eyes peered on Kai in silence.

The beasts finally showed themselves but Helix has yet to respond, Kai could only move his attention to these vicious magical beasts. Like last time, the beasts that came were large, wolf-like beasts with black fur and glowing red eyes.

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From Kai's perspective, they look more like demonic beasts rather than magic beasts…

Truly frightening, look at those fangs! Even the obsidian knife from his world can't match the sharpness of those saliva-dripping fangs! Ah! Don't they look hungry? Don't tell me, the food they want to eat right now is—

Kai got goosebumps and rubbed his arms through the thick, long-sleeved clothing. There are at least five of these beasts right now, there's no doubt that there are more coming too. Originally, Kai wanted to kill magic beasts one by one. But in front of him right now is a group of them.

'It would be seriously dangerous if they decide to attack me all at… once…'

As soon as Kai finished his thoughts, the group of beasts suddenly leaped higher than the trees, their dangerously sharp claws and fangs all aimed toward Kai. The target could only run for his life and scream

"Master! I'm sincerely begging, I really need help to understand magic first!" He knew that he could create magic with his will, he tried it once before inside the library. But what kind of magic should he do?! The only magic he created was the one he used against the formation! It was such a puny magic that not only did it not affect the formation, but it also backfired on him. How could he use something like that on these vicious beasts? Not only would it not do any damage, but it would probably also provoke them. He would be courting death if he use it ah!

Hearing his sincere words that actually make sense, Helix kindly decided to give him a hint. What a generous teacher he is! Now forced in a deadlock, surrounded by the magic beasts that bore their fangs towards him while he stood underneath the tree that Helix was on.

The other narrowed his eyes on the magic beasts and exerted a little bit of his magic, causing them to halt their movements temporarily, of course, he made it like so that they were only waiting for a chance to strike on Kai. His voice, deep and cold, reached Kai's ears when he spoke.

"First-level classification magics are mainly for convenience uses. Starting a fire, creating water, modifying the earth, generating electricity, and such. Because of that, learning it is easy as long as one has enough inner mana storage. Even the common people could use it and they could cast it without any chants."

A cold gust of winter wind hits Kai's already cold body and shivers involuntarily, yet he still tried his hardest to listen to Helix's words. He was about to reply back but Helix started speaking again, "As I remember… You've done that before already. A simple first-level classification magic with only mana and no element against the formation in the library."

Helix yet again fell into a cold silence once the last word left his lips. Kai thought for a moment but suddenly, the beasts that hadn't moved for a while started to move again. Helix already lifted his magic on the beasts and let them do whatever they want. With only a few seconds to think, Kai used all of his brain to form a plan in a single moment.

'Beasts weakness, distraction, trap…'

As long as he wishes for it, as long as he has mana, he can do it.

He didn't move an inch from his original position even when the beasts that surrounded him all jumped toward him. Only, when they were only at arm's length did Kai move both his hands. He lifted them and closed his eyes shut tightly.

'Please work… Electricity… Electricity in a circle form… Electricity in a circle form, super bright!'

Though his eyes were closed, he could still faintly see the white flash through his closed eyelids, it was enough to be proof that he managed to do it. But Kai didn't have time to relax yet. He forced himself to open his eyes and saw the beasts who had their eyes closed, groaning as if they had been blinded. However, Kai was aware that it was temporary so he moved immediately. After electricity, he needs to shift the earth this time. He looked around, checking for the location of the five beasts around him, and hurriedly imagined his next move, 'Holes underneath the beasts…'

One by one, he was cautious and hurried but at the same time, patient with casting these spells.

His first plan was to blind them, then trap them underground. Although the hole is deep, these beasts are capable of jumping back up in no time with their extraordinary leg power and sharp claws. So Kai then made the holes muddy with water. That was enough to make their footwork unstable but still, that was not enough. That is why Kai ultimately decided to fill these holes with water.

From what Kai had observed, although these beasts are similar to wolves when it comes to appearance, they are quite different. This kind of beast's weakness is the cold. It's quite unusual for a beast race that grew in a place with the coldest temperature all year round.

Their furs are dark as the black night sky for the purpose of absorbing as much heat as possible during the day. The messy and thick fur also prevented the cold air from reaching its skin. So… Since they are so well-guarded against the cold, doesn't that mean that it is their weakness? Kai really couldn't come up with another answer to this.

Though wind can't pass through their fur, water could. And since the temperature is so low, the water slowly froze. But with the help of Kai who lowered the temperature even more with his newly learned magic, the freezing process rapidly increased.