Chapter 130: Ten Mana Beasts?... I'll handle them all

A knot formed in Kyle's stomach as he identified the beasts—ten Tier 1 mana beasts amidst over hundred common ones. Their intimidating auras made the earlier wave seem like child's play."Everyone, get ready!" Kyle barked, his voice steady despite the tension.

The team froze, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as they turned to face the incoming threat.

Upon sensing the mana signatures of the Tier 1 beasts; silence enveloped the group before Lina broke it.

"Ten mana beasts?" Lina asked with disbelief. "We were expecting maybe two or three, not this!"

Finn gritted his teeth. "We're not in the best condition for this… Our mana reserves are almost empty." His gaze drifted toward Zara, who was leaning against Brutus with a pale face and visible fatigue.

Zara had given everything during the first wave, ensuring the team didn't falter. Her healing had been critical and without her, they would have run out of mana sooner.

Now, however, Zara looked completely drained. She clutched an empty mana potion bottle in her trembling hands.

"I'm… sorry," she whispered. "I don't have anything left. I used up my last potion a while ago."

Kyle's gaze softened as he approached Zara, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You've done more than enough, Zara. Without you, we wouldn't have survived the last wave."

Zara shook her head weakly. "But I can't help anymore. I've failed you all."

"Don't say that. You've kept us going this far. Now, it's my turn to pick up the slack."

Kyle quickly accessed his inventory and four high-grade mana recovery potions materialized in his hand. Their bright blue shimmering color immediately caught the team's attention.

"Here," Kyle said, tossing one potion each to Finn, Celine, Lina, and Zara. "Drink these. We're not out of the fight yet."

The team stared at the potions in awe. High-grade potions were rare, expensive, and incredibly potent. The mere sight of them was enough to bolster their morale.

Finn turned the vial over in his hands with disbelief evident in his expression. "High-grade? Kyle… where did you even get these?"

Kyle waved off the question. "Focus on the fight, not the details. Drink up. We'll need every bit of strength we can muster."

As his teammates uncorked the potions and drank, Kyle retrieved a low-grade mana recovery potion for himself.

He gulped it down, ensuring they believed it was another high-grade mana potion.

The sweet, syrupy liquid slid down his throat, but did nothing to his infinite mana reserve.

Zara, the most affected of them all, looked visibly better after drinking her potion. The color returned to her cheeks, and her trembling subsided.

"I… I feel so much better," she murmured, blinking as if in disbelief.

"Good," Kyle said with a nod. "We'll need you at your best, Zara."

Meanwhile, Celine adjusted her gloves and said with a grim expression. "Ten Tier 1 beasts… That's a problem. Even with the potions, can we really handle them?"

Kyle's tone was firm as he responded. "We can. Stick to the plan, and we'll get through this."

"I'm not scared of a few overgrown pests. Let them come—I'll roast them alive," Lina added with a smirk after cracking her knuckles.

Celine sighed, shaking her head at Lina's bravado. "This isn't about being scared. It's about being realistic."

Kyle raised a hand, silencing them both. "Lina's right, in a way. We can't afford fear or doubt right now. The beasts will sense it. Focus on the task at hand."

Lina shot Celine a smug look before turning her attention back to Kyle. "So, what's the plan, boss?"

Kyle stepped forward, addressing the entire team. "We'll divide and conquer. Everyone focuses on the common beasts first.

Eliminate them as quickly as possible. Keep the battlefield clear so we're not overwhelmed. I'll handle the Tier 1s."

The team exchanged uneasy glances. Finn was the first to voice their concern. "All ten? By yourself? That's insane, Kyle."

"I've got this," Kyle replied confidently. "Trust me. Once you've cleared the common beasts, you can all join me and provide support. Until then, stick together and focus on survival."

Zara wasn't buying what he said and couldn't help but ask: "Kyle… are you sure? Even with your strength, taking on ten mana beasts alone is—"

"I can do it," Kyle interrupted. "You don't know what I'm capable of. Trust me to handle this."

Lina crossed her arms, her fiery demeanor returning. "If Kyle says he can do it, he can. Stop doubting him, Zara. Those beasts don't stand a chance against us—or him."

"Besides," Lina added with a smirk, "Those Tier 1s are just overgrown bullies. They'll burn like the rest."

Kyle's lips curved into a faint smile at Lina's confidence. "That's the spirit. Keep that fire going, Lina. We'll need it."

The team, bolstered by Kyle's confidence and their rejuvenated mana, nodded in agreement.

Kyle glanced at the treeline again. The beasts had arrived.

'This won't be easy,' he thought. 'But we'll make it through.'

He took a deep breath and his gaze sweeped over his team one last time. "Positions. They're almost here." Stay tuned for updates on M V L

The others scrambled into their assigned roles, ready to face the oncoming horde. Kyle remained at the center, his katana glinting in the sunlight as he prepared for the fight of their lives.

'This is going to be messy,' he thought, adjusting his stance. 'Time to get to work.'

Kyle quickly activated [Lightning Dash] and zipped towards the first Tier 1 mana beast he could locate. It was an opponent he was very familiar with—A Flame Cat.

Behind it, more Tier 1 beasts appeared—a Rock Golem, a Storm Hawk, and others, their names flashing in Kyle's mind as he assessed their abilities.

With a quick step forward, Kyle activated [Lightning Dash] and a bolt of blue lightning crackled around him as he blurred into motion, closing the gap between himself and the Flame Cat in an instant.

The beast reacted quickly, lunging with fiery claws, but Kyle was faster.

His katana arced through the air, its enchanted blade leaving a trail of frost. The clash was loud, sparks flying as the Frozen Claw met the Flame Cat's blazing claws.

Kyle slid back, pivoting to avoid a fiery swipe. Channeling mana into his blade, he unleashed the enchantment.

"Ice Slash!"

Frost exploded from the blade, encasing the Flame Cat's legs in slight ice. It didn't do much to it but Kyle could feel it's movement was restrained a bit.

Not wanting to give it any chance. Kyle raised his free hand and casted [Lightning Bolt].

A crackling spear of electricity formed instantly and shot forward, striking the Flame Cat square in the chest.

The beast screeched as it collapsed to the ground—lifeless.

'Wow,' Kyle thought, impressed with his strength. 'That was quick.'

A notification from the system followed almost immediately, interrupting his building thoughts.

[You have slain a Tier 1 mana beast: Flame Cat]

[Reward: 1 Tier 1 Mana Core obtained]

Kyle was surprised when he saw the core, but quickly remembered his first kill—The system had helped him to extract the core, thereby placing it in his inventory. Sёarch* The Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

'That's very convenient,' Kyle thought with a smile before the thought of what would happen after they were done with the battle surfaced in his mind.

Surely, they would retrieve the cores... Only to see nothing. Kyle didn't dwell on his thoughts for too long and refocused his attention to the battlefield, ready to continue with his massacre.

'I'll figure out something when the time comes.'