The resources Lily and Timi had gathered throughout the Level 1 Region had already been astonishing.
Although the overwhelming majority were raw materials, that didn't reduce their value in the slightest.
Many herbs could be consumed directly to strengthen one's body.
Lily, in particular, had harvested practically everything she came across. She wasn't planning to use any of it herself. Instead, she intended to give everything to her cousin.
Although she didn't fully understand their exact values, she knew her cousin definitely did. Whatever she couldn't use, he would certainly exchange for something more suitable for her.
Meanwhile, Timi's reasoning was much simpler. He gathered everything because it was valuable. Even if he couldn't personally use a particular herb or ore, someone else in the Land of Origin might appreciate it.
As long as something possessed value, there would always be someone willing to trade for it. In exchange, he could obtain whatever resources best suited his own growth.
Because of that, neither of them had shown the slightest intention of leaving behind anything remotely valuable.
After all, no one had ever complained about possessing too many treasures. Of course, they only took as much as they could in consideration of their storage space.
The two continued deeper into the Wolfhowl Forest. The towering trees became denser, their branches intertwining high above to block out much of the light.
Thick roots snaked across the forest floor, while the richer mana made even the ordinary plants appear far more vibrant than those in the Level 1 Region.
Barely ten minutes later, both Lily and Timi stopped at almost the same time.
Twenty meters ahead, a group of wolves slowly emerged from between the trees. There were over twenty of them.
Their dark-gray fur shimmered faintly beneath the dense mana, and every pair of emerald eyes stared directly at the intruders.
Without hesitation, both activated Detect. Panels immediately appeared before them.
[Dire Forest Wolf]
[Level: 5]
[Grade: Rare ★]
[Dire Forest Wolf]
[Level: 6]
[Grade: Rare ★★]
[Dire Forest Wolf]
[Level: 7]
[Grade: Rare ★★]
The two silently read through the information. A strange expression appeared on both their faces.
The levels were nothing special. Level Five. Level Six. Level Seven.
Those were even lower than many monsters they had fought inside the previous region. Yet their grades were completely different.
Every single wolf was at least One-Star Rare. Several had even reached Two-Star Rare.
In the Level 1 Region, a One-Star Rare creature was already qualified to become the ruler of a territory.
A Two-Star Rare monster was unquestionably a boss. Yet here, an entire pack possessed that level of quality.
It was as though boss monsters had suddenly become ordinary beasts.
Before either of them could think any further, a deep growl echoed through the forest.
ROAR!
The lead wolf lowered its body before shooting forward like a gray arrow. The remaining wolves followed immediately.
More than twenty figures burst through the undergrowth simultaneously, surrounding the two from multiple directions with astonishing coordination.
Unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong targets.
Lily calmly stepped forward. Her sword left its sheath in a single smooth motion. A silver flash crossed the forest. The charging wolf hadn't even realized what had happened. Its head slid cleanly from its neck.
Blood sprayed into the air as the body continued forward for several more meters before collapsing heavily onto the ground.
Almost simultaneously, Timi also moved. His movements were nearly impossible to follow.
One moment he stood where he was. The next, he had already appeared beside another wolf. His sword swept across with ruthless precision.
A second head flew into the air. Before the corpse even struck the ground, Timi had already disappeared again.
The remaining wolves instinctively tried to change formation, but never got the opportunity. Silver light flashed repeatedly, and dark shadows flickered between the trees. One corpse after another crashed onto the forest floor.
Within only a few breaths, the entire wolf pack had been annihilated.
The forest returned to silence. The only remaining sound was the slow dripping of blood onto the leaves below.
Timi looked at the corpses with a serious expression.
"We should be careful."
Lily nodded with an equally solemn expression.
"We should be careful."
Lily nodded with an equally solemn expression.
"Yeah."
Although they had killed the pack quickly, neither of them was foolish enough to think the fight meant the Level 2 Region was harmless. These wolves had only been ordinary monsters here. Yet in the Level 1 Region, every single one of them would have been treated as a boss-level creature. That meant the danger of this place was fundamentally different.
If ordinary wolves were already One-Star and Two-Star Rare creatures, then what about a Level 10 boss in this region? Would it still be Rare Grade? Or would it be something even higher?
The thought made Lily's grip around her sword tighten.
Timi silently crouched beside one of the corpses and examined it.
"This place really isn't the same."
Lily walked over and stored several of the wolf corpses away.
"Let's not rush too deep for now. We'll explore the outer area first."
Timi nodded.
"That's safer."
The Forest Wolf beside Lily sniffed one of the corpses before letting out a low whine. Lily glanced at it.
"What? You feel pressured?"
The wolf lowered its head slightly. Lily sighed and patted it.
"Then you and Big Bull stay behind us."
Timi looked at the two beasts, then at Lily. He still didn't say what he was thinking. The two continued forward, but their pace had clearly slowed.
As Lily and Timi carefully made their way through the Wolfhowl Forest, Michael had finally recovered most of his energy in the Fourth Layer.
Inside a dark cave hidden between two cliffs, he slowly opened his eyes.
"Almost back to normal."
He stood up and stretched his shoulders. After resting for a while, the exhaustion from Echoed Bestowal had faded greatly. His soul still felt slightly strained, but it was no longer painful.
Michael was just about to leave when heavy footsteps echoed from outside the cave. A moment later, a five-meter-tall ape-like monster walked in, dragging a bloody prey in one hand.
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