Eleanor Clark was sharp-eyed. The moment he saw the girl's starting stance, his expression changed dramatically. He had just shouted "Don't—" when the girl shot forward like a cannonball, slamming hard into him and carrying him through the air. The two of them crashed together into a large tree.

That collision left the girl dizzy and dazed, but Eleanor Clark suffered injury upon injury, immediately coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.

The girl realized she had caused trouble again. She hurriedly scrambled up, supported Eleanor Clark, and anxiously asked, "Are you all right? I—I don't even know what happened."

Eleanor Clark's face was as pale as paper, a bitter smile on his lips. Weakly, he said, "It's nothing, I... won't die yet."

"I, I..." The girl bit her lip, not knowing what to say.

"Help me up."

This time, the girl finally learned to be careful, helping Eleanor Clark to his feet little by little.

Eleanor Clark spread his feet apart, one hand on his chest, the other pressing his abdomen, eyes half-closed, standing motionless.

In fact, when Eleanor Clark had just been guiding the girl on how to exert force and channel her strength, whether by pointing or pinching, it wasn't out of any improper intent. Rather, he had quietly activated the parts of her body that had been enhanced by the Holy Radiance.

The enhancements on the girl's body, though not as formidable as Eleanor Clark's, still met the entry-level standard for a Dragon Rider Warrior. She was ten times, even eight times stronger than an ordinary guard, and far surpassed a normal person.

When these powerful muscles exerted force together or coordinated, they could unleash incredible strength—what outsiders would see as godlike or demonic power.

Thus, the punch and the collision the girl had just delivered to Eleanor Clark were both strikes at the level of a Dragon Rider Warrior.

At this moment, Eleanor Clark was still in a weakened state, having just awakened from hibernation. He couldn't withstand such blows and was injured on the spot. If not for his body being thoroughly transformed by the Holy Radiance, leaving almost no weaknesses, he might have been seriously wounded by the girl.

Everyone in the settlement, including the girl, was affected by the power of the Holy Radiance day after day. Their physical abilities far exceeded those of ordinary humans, yet they knew nothing of martial skills, nor how to use the power of the Holy Radiance.

In Eleanor Clark's eyes, they were all uncut gems. With time and careful polishing, they could become another Dragon Rider Battalion.

What he had just taught Alice Clark were the three basic combat techniques exclusive to Dragon Rider Warriors. The method he was now using to heal himself, however, was a secret imperial technique, passed down only within the royal family, designed for rapid recovery and power consolidation on the battlefield.

Just as he was about to finish, Eleanor Clark suddenly heard a piercing, mournful howl from afar—half human, half wolf, filled with murderous intent and malice.

The moment the howl reached their ears, Alice Clark's expression changed instantly. She cried out, "Ghouls!"

From his first encounter with Alice Clark to entering the settlement, Eleanor Clark had heard the term "ghoul" more than once.

Even someone as proud and unruly as Grey Hawk was extremely wary of ghouls, even somewhat fearful. And now, fearless Alice Clark, upon hearing the ghoul's howl, turned pale with fright.

"Run?" Eleanor Clark asked.

The girl drew her hunting knife and shook her head. "It's too late. We can only fight with all we've got. Once these ghouls let out their war howl, it means the hunt has begun—in other words, they've already found us. If we run, we'll just lead them straight to the settlement."

"Oh, all right," Eleanor Clark nodded, his tone utterly calm, as if he hadn't realized the girl was talking about a fight to the death.

His composure made Alice Clark glance at him in surprise amid the chaos of preparing for battle. The girl's grip on her knife tightened, her stance growing steadier and stronger, as if infected by his calm.

As the howl echoed, the forest suddenly fell silent. All the birds and beasts vanished without a trace. In the vast woods, not even the chirp of an insect could be heard.

Eleanor Clark's ears twitched slightly; he caught a faint rustling sound. The device implanted in his ear immediately amplified and pinpointed the noise, and a vague image appeared in Eleanor Clark's field of vision, rapidly approaching from the front flank.

In reality, Eleanor Clark hadn't actually seen the attacking ghoul—there were still many trees, bushes, and tall grass between them.

But with his enhanced sensory devices, the attacker was instantly located. Combined with Eleanor Clark's unparalleled combat experience, he was able to sketch out this phantom image in his mind's eye.

As the ghouls drew closer, the images quickly multiplied. In the end, five figures were coming straight at them, while two others flanked from the sides, attempting to encircle Alice Clark and Eleanor Clark.

By this point, Alice Clark was no longer nervous at all. Her gaze was resolute, her breathing steady, and she gripped her hunting knife tightly, ready to fight to the death.

At that moment, Eleanor Clark suddenly said calmly, "Don't forget what I taught you."

Chapter Twelve: Power to Rival the Holy Radiance

The girl was startled, but her body moved instinctively. She spread her feet and assumed a lunging attack stance. Eleanor Clark nodded to himself—Alice Clark truly had a gift for combat. With just a short period of instruction, she already looked the part.

The tall grass ahead rustled, and five ghouls burst from the undergrowth, then fanned out, slowly closing in on Alice Clark and Eleanor Clark.

At first sight of the ghouls, even Eleanor Clark was taken aback, almost doubting his own eyes.