But this was not because they didn’t work hard, but rather due to the limits of their talent. In fact, from these mercenaries, Ryan Bennett could sense a certain aura—a steely, iron-blooded aura. Even though they weren’t powerful, even though they hadn’t mastered advanced martial arts, these mercenaries used the swords in their hands and their boiling blood to slay magical beasts, repel bandits, and protect the commercial trade from Ruhr to the imperial capital.

Very soon, the caravan was ready. Ryan Bennett set out on the journey to the imperial capital with them. It was noon, and the sunlight beating down brought a wave of heat. The young man turned to glance at the city walls of Ruhr—this was the first place he had set foot on after arriving on Hailan Star, and he was sure he would return someday.

The road ahead was long. As a member of the transmigrators, could Ryan Bennett make a name for himself?

※※※

The campfire crackled. The chill of early spring lingered, and the forest night was a bit cold. Ryan Bennett and the members of the caravan sat around the fire, drinking and laughing. It had already been fifteen days since they left Ruhr City.

Although he wore a smile, Ryan Bennett wasn’t actually in such a great mood. How to put it… he was a bit bored. Adventure wasn’t as glamorous as he’d imagined. Along the way, they ate in the wind and slept in the open, exhausted and weary. Every night at dinner, they’d sit around the fire and listen to the elders tell stories, but to be honest, they were nowhere near as exciting as novels. Ryan Bennett shook his head and told himself to endure—everything would get better. Once he reached the imperial capital, he would surely be able to show his talents and carve out a new world for himself.

Though it had been tough, the good news was that the journey had been fairly smooth so far, with no bandits or dangers encountered. Still, the experienced mercenaries didn’t let their guard down. Under the command of Captain Nick, they set up several sentry posts around the camp.

The fire blazed, and people drank cheap spirits. Though the taste was poor, it kept them warm and drove away the chill of early spring nights. They were only halfway through dinner when suddenly a sharp whistle pierced the air. Nick's expression changed, and the resting mercenaries beside him stood up, drawing their blades and nocking their bows. That whistle was the prearranged warning signal.

“Everyone, don’t panic. I’ll go check it out!”

Calm in the face of danger, his style was admirable. Though this small mercenary group wasn’t particularly strong, their experience was considerable.

Roar!

A fierce howl shook the trees. The sound was far louder than any beast king on Earth. Not good—it was a magical beast.

Most of the merchants’ faces turned to fear. How could they be so unlucky?

Hailan Star had a far more complex ecosystem than Earth. Animals were divided into two types: ordinary beasts, which were generally fiercer than those on Earth, and the other kind—magical beasts, the stuff of fantasy novels.

Magical beasts, as the name implied, possessed some kind of special ability. They were the very definition of ferocity. Unless necessary, even powerful mages were reluctant to provoke them. Today, luck really wasn’t on their side.

Roar!

The trees trembled, and the sound drew closer and closer. At last, Ryan Bennett saw the legendary creature. Its appearance—how to describe it—was a bit like a tiger from Earth, but at least twice as large, and instead of smooth fur, its body was covered in hard armor plates, bristling with countless sharp spikes.

“Sword-armored Tiger!”

A flash of shock appeared in Nick's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by steely resolve. The situation was dire. The Sword-armored Tiger was an earth-type magical beast, and according to the Adventurers’ Guild records, it was rated as level four. Compared to it, their own strength was far too weak.

Blood still stained the magical beast’s mouth—clearly, the two mercenaries on sentry duty had already been killed. Witnessing their comrades’ tragic deaths, the other mercenaries’ eyes filled with anger, but they didn’t act rashly. At times like this, it was even more important to follow the captain’s orders.

Unlike ordinary beasts, magical beasts were not only powerful but also intelligent. Their intelligence increased with their level. It was said that the most powerful magical beasts were as smart as humans.

The Sword-armored Tiger was a level four beast—a typical mid-tier magical beast. The fierce light in its eyes showed that it was out hunting for food. As the saying goes, “Man dies for wealth, birds die for food.” The danger of a hungry magical beast needed no explanation.

But it could also tell that the dozen or so people surrounding it were not to be trifled with. Roaring, the Sword-armored Tiger let out a threatening growl.

Ryan Bennett and the caravan members hid at the back. This youth from Earth wasn’t very afraid; he was more excited, with a hint of nervousness. A magical beast—this was something that only existed in novels! Just how different would fiction and reality turn out to be? Ryan Bennett's eyes shone as he stared at the magical beast in the clearing.

Although the Sword-armored Tiger was intelligent, it wasn’t very smart. This standoff quickly wore down its patience. With a furious roar, it lunged at a mercenary on the left.

Chapter 7: Spiritual Storm

“Grant, watch out!”

That mercenary was only about twenty years old and hadn’t been in the business long, lacking experience. Faced with the magical beast’s gaping, foul-smelling maw, a flash of panic crossed his face. It was too late to dodge. In his panic, he could only swing his sword desperately.

But the strike was wild and off-target. The Sword-armored Tiger moved like the wind, dodging to the side. Its sharp claws lashed out—squelch! Blood sprayed as its claws pierced the mercenary’s chest.