I Only Tame Dragons

Chapter 108 Cautious Approach

"What are you doing? Don't tell me you're actually considering helping them," Nyx muttered, glancing at Horizon with a shake of her head. "Don't do it, you idiot."

Horizon studied David below. The beastfolk leader was a strong, honorable type who had been surprisingly helpful when Horizon's group first arrived in their designated house.

Unlike most other guilds in the competition, Roaring Beast hadn't mocked or antagonized them. Instead, David had shown them a rare bit of respect.

But that alone wasn't reason enough to jump into someone else's fight. Horizon wasn't the kind to play hero just because someone he knew was in trouble.

"No, we stick to our plan. Let's continue the search," he replied. "Are you certain you don't sense anything unusual here? Like the magical pull of a portal?" he asked, glancing at Nyx.

Nyx furrowed her nonexistent brow, scanning their surroundings. "Nothing. Maybe it's hidden in another elemental region. But the barrier here is strange . . . it's blocking us from reaching the other regions," she said, her gaze unto the invisible ripples pulsing in the distance.

"Then there's probably a task or a key we need to find first," Horizon murmured, considering the options.

They were about to turn away when a loud voice echoed from below, stopping them in their tracks.

"Out with it, you filthy beast! We know you found something!" one of the attackers sneered, pointing his blade at David. "Don't play dumb—we heard you! You know how to get out of this forest and into the other regions!"

Horizon and Nyx exchanged a quick look. David knew a way out? That changed everything.

A member of the Roaring Beast guild shouted back, "You humans only know how to fight dirty!"

"That's right! We found the secret fair and square—we're not handing over the prize of our hard work!" another beastfolk warrior snarled, standing back-to-back with David, claws bared as they held off the advancing enemy forces.

"Then you'll die here!" one of the Iron Fangs members yelled. "Everyone, take them down!"

Iron Fang prepared to strike, advancing with ruthless intent as their allies from Nightshade Syndicate lay hidden in the shadows, ready to ambush Roaring Beast at the slightest opening.

David's team was outnumbered five to ten, a brutal disadvantage in this savage free-for-all. The odds were grim.

David clenched his fists, his sharp gaze surveying the battlefield. Most of his team had built up a natural resistance to poison—a crucial prerequisite for representing Roaring Beast in the competition.

They couldn't afford to waste valuable item slots for antidotes or asking healers to cleanse them from debuffs; every member needed to have a resistant to poison or other debuffs in order to join the competition.

But Nightshade's poison wasn't the only threat. The hidden ambush attacks, appearing out of nowhere, were another danger entirely.

Despite their immunity, David knew his group wouldn't last if they couldn't see their attackers coming.

"Form a tight circle!" David shouted, his voice a deep rumble that demanded obedience. "Don't break formation, and don't let them get behind you! They're assassins; if they strike a weak spot, it'll be fatal!"

As if to test their resolve, Iron Fang launched a barrage of attacks, swinging their heavy, brutal weapons in a relentless assault.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Blades glinted briefly in the dim light as they sliced through the air, each aimed at a vulnerable spot in Roaring Beast's formation.

David's team struggled to fend off both fronts. They were nearly overwhelmed, but he fought on, a fierce determination blazing in his eyes.

One by one, his allies took hits—some collapsing, some barely hanging on, as Rosalia worked frantically to keep the injured from succumbing to their wounds.

But they were wearing thin, their stamina pushed to its breaking point.

"Aren't you going to help them?" Nyx's voice was edged with impatience as she watched the chaos unfold below.

Horizon's gaze remained fixed on the battlefield, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Who said I'm here to help? I'm just . . . observing."

"Observing?" Nyx arched a brow. "What exactly are you waiting for?"

"Waiting for the right moment." Horizon's tone was calm, almost amused. "The moment when David is isolated—then, I might step in."

Nyx's eyes narrowed. "Why wait until he's alone?"

Horizon chuckled, his voice low. "It's just the two of us out here, Nyx. If I jump in now and help David take down Iron Fang and Nightshade, they might just decide I'm their next target. Nice guy or not, I'm not risking it. Not in a competition like this."

He leaned back, crossing his arms as he watched the skirmish unfold below with unruffled patience. "No need to rush. Let's wait and see. They'll wear each other down soon enough and that's when I'll enter."

It wasn't that he was heartless . . . he was only being cautious. He had already learned his lesson in a hard way to follow his head and not his heart.

Iron Fang's leader unleashed another savage blow, swinging his weapon with brutal force. David barely managed to intercept it, their weapons clashing in a harsh grind of steel.

The impact sent shockwaves up his arms, but he held firm, his feet rooted like ancient stone.

"Everyone, hold the line!" David's voice cut through the chaos. "Don't give them an inch!"

Iron Fang's leader laughed, a dark, menacing sound. "You think your pathetic defense can keep us out? We'll crush you here and now . . . Unless, of course, if you hand the information over, we might spare your life."

But David wasn't about to yield. With a fierce roar, he channeled the full force of his beastfolk bloodline, his aura intensifying to a near-physical presence, a wave of rage that crashed against his enemies. He swung his weapon in a wide arc, forcing Iron Fang's leader back a few steps, momentarily disrupting the assault.

Nightshade's assassins saw their opportunity fading and launched one final, desperate assault from the shadows. They darted in, blades aimed for the gaps in Roaring Beast's defenses.

But David was ready. With a quick motion, he activated [Beast Reflexes], enhancing his perception and speed. He turned, countering one assassin's blade with his own, deflecting it harmlessly away.

Yet despite their resilience, David knew their situation was precarious. They couldn't hold out forever, not with Iron Fang's brute strength and Nightshade's deadly tactics.

They needed a miracle—or a sudden twist in the balance of power to survive.