Chapter 6: Planning an Ambush (Please keep reading, add to favorites, and recommend!)

Chapter 6

Lynn’s mind raced. Although he was a Level 1 wizard apprentice, he was, in the end, only a Level 1 wizard apprentice.

The "Daze" spell he had mastered could significantly affect ordinary people, but the situation before him was entirely different.

Every candidate who managed to enter the Crucible assessment possessed wizarding talent.

In other words, their innate mental strength was far superior to that of an ordinary person.

"The effectiveness of my 'Daze' spell..."

Lynn frowned, his conclusion already reached—the effect of this spell on the blonde man would inevitably be a notch lower than what was described in the *Primary Meditation Technique*.

"One strike... I only have one chance."

His gaze gradually sharpened, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

He knew very well that he was not skilled in close-quarters combat, nor had he received any training in fighting.

The blonde man before him was powerful; there could not be the slightest mistake.

What "Daze" could provide was a brief moment of confusion.

According to Lynn’s understanding, if the target were an ordinary person, this duration might last about five seconds.

However, since the opponent was also an apprentice with wizarding talent, Lynn estimated that the spell’s effect would last at most two to three seconds.

Two or three seconds was enough for a combat expert to deliver a fatal blow.

But for Lynn, it was clearly far from enough.

His physical fitness was average, and his body had not undergone rigorous training.

If he could not quickly close the distance and strike the opponent's vitals in a short time, this life-or-death duel would have no chance of victory.

"When he comes over, he will definitely notice my scent or the traces I left behind. This means I must seize the only opportunity to strike; there will be no second chance..."

Lynn’s thoughts grew calmer, and a viable plan gradually took shape in his mind.

He knew he must not panic, nor could he act rashly.

Not far away, the blonde youth walked slowly deeper into the woods with his Earth Rhino, seemingly searching for any survivors.

Lynn held his breath, hiding behind a thick tree trunk, his powerful mental energy capturing the movements around him until the footsteps faded and disappeared completely.

Only then did he slowly release the Breath-Holding Technique, exhaling a long breath before raising a hand to rub his brow.

"The plan is set... but the difficulty of executing it still makes my heart race..."

Lynn took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and scanned the tattered robes on his body.

He picked out a long piece of fabric and carefully tied it to his own Earth Rhino.

Afterward, he quickly searched the woods for a suitable ambush spot.

After selecting a location with uneven terrain, Lynn tethered the Earth Rhino to a thick tree and deliberately hung a piece of rag behind the tree, which, from a distance, looked like someone had accidentally exposed a corner of their clothing.

Time was tight; he knew the blonde youth could return at any moment. Beads of sweat soon formed on his forehead, but even so, Lynn suppressed his anxiety and remained calm.

"Three steps to the plan: bait, weapon, kill! Step one complete!"

Lynn looked around and chose an ambush spot near several uneaten corpses.

Since moving the bodies was too strenuous, he simply chose a position close to them to avoid wasting time.

Relying on the mental advantage of a Level 1 wizard apprentice, Lynn’s memory of the surrounding terrain was exceptionally clear. He quickly simulated the blonde youth’s possible line of sight

"An apprentice checking the corpses, with the Earth Rhino right beside him; looking from that path, one could lock onto the target at a glance..."

After confirming the ambush spot, Lynn dragged two corpses to place them around the ambush point, while gripping a broken bone left behind by the deceased.

The bone had an irregular fracture with sharp edges, like a natural blade.

"Breath-Holding Technique!"

Once all preparations were complete, Lynn quickly cast the Breath-Holding Technique, completely masking his presence.

He carefully hid his body beneath the two corpses, waiting silently for the prey to arrive.

Although the bodies had not yet rotted, the feeling of being in the same place as the dead still made Lynn shudder; nausea and fear surged like a tide.

But he knew this was the only method he could come up with in such a short time. If he didn't stay with the dead now, he would be the one becoming a corpse once the blonde youth found him!

He endured the discomfort, blending himself completely into the environment, not daring to make a sound.

Finally, his keen ears caught the sound of footsteps in the distance.

The footsteps drew closer, each one striking like a heavy hammer against Lynn’s heartbeat.

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

The sound was clear and heavy, carrying a cold, rhythmic cadence.

A cruel smile curled the corner of the blonde youth’s mouth, his gaze locked firmly on the shadow of the robe flickering behind the tree.

After hunting down more than twenty people, he had become increasingly adept at this hunting game.

Except for a few sturdy candidates who had delayed him slightly, the others were like little rabbits delivered to his doorstep.

Of course, "A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit." The blonde youth didn't know the build of the person behind the tree, so to prevent accidents, he decided to approach cautiously.

Just then—

"Roar!"

A low growl erupted suddenly!

An Earth Rhino lunged from behind the tree, its nostrils flared—it had clearly caught the scent of a stranger and roared angrily at the blonde youth.

Lynn, hiding under the corpses, felt his heart leap.

He knew the characteristics of the Earth Rhino very well; once it sensed danger, it would actively protect its master.

And this was the key part of his plan!

The appearance of the Earth Rhino did indeed startle the blonde youth for a moment, but immediately after, a fierce light flashed in his eyes.

"Opportunity!"

He knew this was the moment the opponent’s guard was down, and for him, this was not to be missed.

"Die!"

The blonde youth sneered and lunged with sudden force, pouncing toward the Earth Rhino like a leopard.

As someone trained in swordsmanship, his movements were swift and precise. He held a sharp bone spike in his hand—a weapon he had taken from the bones of the dead, prepared specifically for slaughter.

His target was originally the opponent's neck, but because of the Earth Rhino’s sudden roar, he couldn't adjust in time and could only stab directly at the part exposed behind the robe.

"Rip—"

The bone spike tore through the robe effortlessly, but the next instant, the blonde youth’s pupils contracted violently.

No one!

There was no one behind the tree!

"What is this!?"

The blonde youth’s mind went blank, but before he could react, a wave of intense dizziness washed over him, completely submerging him.

"Daze" had been activated!

Lynn had been prepared, waiting for exactly this moment!

The instant the blonde youth lunged, he had decisively cast "Daze."

The blonde youth’s movements stalled instantly, his body swaying slightly, his fierce expression turning into confusion in a flash.

Disoriented, his pouncing trajectory went completely out of control; not only did he fail to hit his target, but he also lost his balance and fell to the ground in a heap.

Lynn’s taut nerves were like an arrow on a bowstring. Seizing this opportunity, he shoved the two corpses off himself, gripped a sharp bone blade in each hand, and a flash of frantic ruthlessness crossed his eyes!

"Now!"

He rushed toward the fallen blonde youth like a starving tiger, casting all fear and hesitation to the back of his mind, raising the bone blades to stab wildly at the opponent’s head and neck!

One! Two! Three!

Lynn’s arms felt as if they were infused with infinite strength, the bone blades stabbing repeatedly at the blonde youth’s eyes, neck, and other vital parts.

Blood splattered, and the foul, fishy scent rushed into his nostrils, making Lynn want to retch, but he couldn't care less!

The effect of "Daze" was short, but it was enough to decide life and death.

In those brief two or three seconds, the blonde youth lost all ability to react, becoming a target waiting to be slaughtered.

However!

"Roar!"

As soon as the "Daze" effect wore off, the blonde youth erupted violently. He roared like a mad beast, using all his strength to throw Lynn away.

"Ah—!"

Lynn crashed heavily to the ground, the bone blades slipping from his hands.

The violent impact sent tearing pain through his entire body, and his head felt as if it had been struck by an iron hammer; intense pain and dizziness struck simultaneously, leaving him almost unable to move.

The blonde youth clutched his neck and eyes, the pain forcing a beast-like roar from his throat.

He reached up to touch the wounds on his face and neck, his hands coming away drenched in blood, the scalding liquid sliding through his fingers.

"No!"

"Impossible!"

He roared through gritted teeth, his hands gripping the bone spike, stabbing wildly at his surroundings like a madman.

His eyes were already blurred, barely able to see anything, and blood continued to pour from his cheeks and neck, dyeing him completely crimson.

At this moment, he looked like a demon crawling out of hell, exuding a suffocating, murderous aura.

Meanwhile, Lynn was already exhausted, his body limp and weak.

He lay on the ground, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, using every ounce of his strength to barely keep his eyes open.

The scene before him set off alarm bells in his heart—the blonde youth was swaying, his strength clearly greatly diminished.

But the bone spike in his hand still swung erratically, like a trapped beast on the verge of death, capable of delivering a fatal blow at any moment.

Blood gushed from the blonde youth’s neck; his frantic struggling and flailing made the blood spray even more violently, and the thick red liquid soon covered his entire body.

Every move he made kicked up a mist of blood, and the air was filled with a suffocating, heavy scent of iron.

"Hold on... just hold on a little longer..."

Lynn gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms, forcing himself to maintain his final shred of consciousness.

His eyes stared unblinkingly at the blonde youth, his inner tension stretched to the limit.

Finally, the frantically swinging arm gradually slowed, the blonde youth’s movements became sluggish, and his swaying body was no longer steady.

As the blood drained away, his strength was completely exhausted.

"Thump—"

The blonde youth’s body finally gave out, collapsing heavily to the ground.

A deathly silence instantly enveloped this bloody patch of land, leaving only the sound of Lynn’s ragged breathing.

Lynn lay stiffly, his gaze fixed directly on the blonde youth’s corpse, as if unable to believe he was still alive.

His throat was too dry to make a sound, and the tension deep within his soul finally unraveled, an indescribable sense of exhaustion surging into his heart like a tide.

"I won..."

He whispered, a bitter yet relieved smile appearing on his lips.

(End of chapter)