Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Advancement!
Tuck carefully listened to his father's commands from the sidelines, his steps slowing as the footsteps behind him grew louder. Flames ignited on the sword in his hand.
At that moment, a Water Arrow spell struck the Earthshaker Bear on the forehead, causing it to roar in pain.
Roar!
The Earthshaker Bear looked at the human figure thirty meters away, clad in a blue cloak and seemingly standing still. However, the raised magic staff in the figure's hand fueled its rage!
It pounded its chest with a thumping sound, channeling its anger into boundless energy. Its heavy steps sank into the soil, leaving deep imprints as it charged forward.
"Hmph!" Tuck noticed the Earthshaker Bear giving up on chasing him. His eyes flashed coldly as he monitored the battle markings he had left behind. With a swift motion, he activated Phantom Rewind.
The barely visible trails left behind glowed faintly red, and in the blink of an eye, Tuck seemed to leave an afterimage as he returned to the exact spot the Earthshaker Bear had just vacated.
"Flame Slash!"
He lunged forward, thrusting his flame-wreathed sword. The slow-reacting Earthshaker Bear only trembled when the sharp flame pierced its back.
Despite landing a hit, Tuck showed no signs of joy on his face because he realized that his sword had become lodged inside the bear's body.
The Earthshaker Bear, now deeply irritated, tensed its muscles. Instinctively, as the pain hit, it activated its magic.
The surrounding earth elements condensed, forming a layer of earthen armor around its body.
This dual defense caused Tuck's sword to be stuck halfway into the bear's body.
"Such thick skin!" Tuck cursed. With his attack thwarted, he knew better than to linger. Standing toe-to-toe with a beast like the Earthshaker Bear would only result in him being overwhelmed.
A massive paw swung down, causing a sonic boom.
But Tuck seemed to vanish from his spot, reappearing along his retreat path.
He even provocatively gestured with his fingers, taunting the bear, "Come on, keep chasing me!"
Following his father's advice and the training over the past few days, Tuck had become increasingly proficient with Phantom Rewind, expertly executing it in battle.
Roar!
Seeing the human knight evade its grasp once again, the Earthshaker Bear nearly coughed up blood in frustration. Its nostrils flared, releasing faint puffs of smoke.
It had lived in the Dark-Winged Eagle Ridge for years, always ready to engage any creature of similar strength in brutal hand-to-hand combat. Never had it been toyed with like this by two humans using tactics to wear it down!
Whoosh!
Another Water Arrow spell hit the bear squarely in the chest. Reilly winced slightly, almost feeling sorry for the bear's exaggerated reaction.
Once again, the Earthshaker Bear turned its attention to Reilly.
Phantom Rewind! Flame Slash!
Every time the bear turned to chase Reilly, Tuck would strike from behind.
"I'm back!" Tuck shouted as he slashed at the back of the bear's head.
Watching from the tree, Rhett finally smiled. He muttered to himself, "Good. They've finally mastered the art of teamwork, using their numbers to their advantage and coordinating flawlessly."
After ten minutes of futile rage, the heavily wounded Earthshaker Bear finally collapsed to the ground.
Its earthen armor faded, and Tuck leaped forward. With the bear defenseless, the energy-infused sword made quick work of severing its limbs.
Standing triumphantly on the bear's back, Tuck signaled to someone in the shadows.
Tyles emerged from the forest, wielding his spear. Over the past half-month, it had become his signature weapon.
After a round of stabbing, the message Family Member Defeats Enemy Above Their Level, Fate Points +2 appeared, and Rhett leaped down from the tree.
"Well done. In just a week of training, your teamwork has improved significantly, and I've noticed it all," Rhett said as he approached Tuck and Reilly.
Reilly marveled, "Father, the strategy you taught us—'retreat when they advance, pursue when they retreat'—is simply brilliant. Not only does it minimize casualties, but it also conserves our energy."
Rhett gave him an approving nod. "Exactly. When you outnumber the enemy, you must maximize your advantage. In the wild, always stay vigilant of your surroundings.
"If you can defeat an enemy more easily, conserve your energy rather than going head-to-head. Every battle is not just about defeating the enemy but also ensuring that we minimize our losses and conserve our strength for any unexpected challenges. Remember, the enemy isn't just the one you're trying to defeat; it's also those who might be trying to defeat you."
These final words struck home, and both Tuck and Reilly nodded in agreement.
After dealing with the Earthshaker Bear's corpse, the group decided it would be a waste not to enjoy it. So, they agreed to have a barbecue that night.
Fortunately, Reilly had come prepared with several bags of spices, making the meal particularly flavorful.
Late that night, while the others rested, Rhett sat cross-legged on the ground. Thanks to the recent extermination of a group of Blue Crystal Ants—weak Tier 1 magical beasts—his Fate Points had swelled to 157.
With a thought, he opened the system interface.
Would you like to begin a Real Simulation? Each day simulated costs 1 Fate Point.
"Yes!"
...
On the 141st simulation, Rhett's breathing remained steady, but his brow furrowed as his meditation progressed. He felt as though his mental energy had pierced a critical threshold.
With each breath, the gap in that barrier widened.
Gradually, his mental energy seemed to spill over, expanding rapidly. The process was tumultuous, like waves crashing or winds howling.
As time passed, the storm in his mind calmed, signaling the end of his transformation.
When complete silence filled his mind, Rhett realized that his mental energy had expanded severalfold.
He stood up, the wind tugging at his robes, and felt the immense mental energy brimming within him. He had never felt so powerful.
"Too bad I didn't bring any Moonlight Potions with me on this trip. Otherwise, I could have refined a few more," Rhett thought, but he wasn't disappointed.
The joy of advancing to a Tier 3 Mage filled his heart.
"Return!"
A ripple appeared before his eyes as Rhett returned to reality. The drop from Tier 3 Mage back to Tier 2 left him feeling uncomfortable.
Simulation complete. Please select one attribute to retain.
1. Constitution
2. Battle Qi
3. Mental Energy
Without hesitation, Rhett chose the third option.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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