I Became a Cub in the Elven Kingdom - Chapter 235

Chapter 235: Ephit Arrives

The steep canyon slopes made for treacherous footing. Ephit, moving with agile leaps, paid no heed to concealing his appearance. The hooded cloak that usually hid his features billowed in the wind as he surveyed the battle traces along the path. When he spotted several human corpses ahead, a flicker of surprise flashed in his blood-red eyes.

He teleported closer and crouched beside a Swordsman, examining the fatal wound.

The Swordsman had been brutally impaled through the heart by some massive magical beast.

Ephit frowned deeply and moved on to inspect the other corpses. None were intact, all bearing signs of savage mauling by wild beasts. Their faces were frozen in expressions of terror, their deaths gruesome.

The emblems on their chests identified most as Senior Mages and Senior Swordsmen—elite adventurers among humans, capable of withstanding magical beasts below the Fifth-Tier.

Ephit rose and scanned the surroundings, spotting a magical beast corpse nearby.

He swiftly approached and studied it, his expression turning puzzled after a long moment.

This isn’t a magical beast!

Magical beasts, by definition, retained animalistic traits regardless of evolution. Yet this corpse was grotesquely shaped, bearing no resemblance to any known beast. A dense aura of Dark Force emanated from the body.

Ephit’s brow furrowed even deeper.

Is it… a creature of Darkness?

The Dark Force within its body was exceptionally dense, surpassing even that of Dark Elves.

Ephit felt a mix of surprise and suspicion, developing a wariness toward this monstrous being.

While Dark Elves possessed Dark Force, it was ultimately a product of the God of Darkness’s influence, an acquired trait. The monster’s corpse lying on the ground, however, was different. Its Dark Force was innate, as if it had emerged directly from the depths of Hell.

Ephit narrowed his eyes slightly and stored the monster’s corpse in his storage ring.

He decided to take it back for detailed study later. For now, the most urgent task was finding Lanno and Luka.

Those two little fellows are really getting bold, he thought, especially Lanno. The boy had an extraordinary talent for potions, mastering over a hundred formulations at such a young age.

No wonder he’s been researching potions to conceal auras and disguise appearances lately. He was planning this escape all along.

Ephit had been tracking them for days, repeatedly misled by their tricks. If he hadn’t known their destination was the Woba Grand Canyon, he would have lost their trail entirely.

When I catch them, should I praise them or punish them?

Ephit rose, twitching his nose as he caught a faint, familiar scent.

Whether their aura-concealing potion had run out or they hadn’t had time to use it while being pursued by monsters, the scent of the two little fellows grew clearer with each step of his pursuit.

He sensed that just a little further, he would surely find them.

With a flash of movement, Ephit teleported over ten meters, following the Dark Elf Cub’s aura. As he advanced, he saw more signs of battle: the ground was severely damaged by the monsters. He didn’t even need to stop to examine the tracks; the direction of the monsters’ movement was clear to the naked eye.

After passing through a forest, he entered a slope littered with stone piles. Ephit’s expression gradually turned grim.

Judging by the footprints, at least eighteen monsters were pursuing the cubs.

The humans who had been killed earlier included Senior Mages and Swordsmen, all equipped with high-grade armor, potions, and magic scrolls—formidable opponents in their own right. Yet they had fallen prey to the monsters. Lanno and Luka, only Intermediate Mages, stood no chance against such overwhelming numbers of powerful creatures.

Ephit relentlessly teleported, expending his magic power to save the two cubs whose lives hung by a thread.

“ROAR—”

Suddenly, a thunderous bestial roar reverberated through the skies, sending animals within a hundred-mile radius fleeing in terror.

Without hesitation, Ephit teleported toward the source of the roar.

After teleporting over two hundred meters, he materialized atop a towering boulder. Before he could steady himself, he beheld a colossal, nightmarish creature radiating dark energy.

Ephit’s pupils constricted sharply.

This monster rivaled an Eighth-Tier Magical Beast in power. Even with his strength as a Senior Grand Mage, defeating it would take considerable time.

The creature was in a furious frenzy, its tentacles thrashing wildly as it bared its bloodstained maw, unleashing a threatening roar at its opponent.

Ephit’s keen eyes swept the scene, spotting a young Swordsman confronting the monster and a Light Magic Barrier five or six meters away.

From that distance, he couldn’t discern the figures within the barrier, but he vaguely sensed the presence of about a dozen Mages.

Just as Ephit was hesitating whether to intervene, the young swordsman moved.

He raised his silver sword high, releasing a sharp, pure burst of sword qi. The blade erupted in a blinding light.

Light Slash!

As the swordsman swung his silver sword horizontally, the light surged forward in a fan-shaped arc, hurtling toward the monster.

The monster roared, ignoring the swordsman’s Light Slash. Its tentacles shot out like arrows, sacrificing defense for a desperate attack. The swordsman, prepared for this, nimbly dodged the onslaught. His sword moved with swift, precise strikes, severing several tentacles.

Meanwhile, the mages within the Light Barrier simultaneously unleashed their magic, relentlessly suppressing the monster and forcing it to retreat.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ephit’s mind.

Judging by the power of their spells, there were at least six Senior Archmages within the Light Barrier!

No, perhaps even Grand Mages.

It seemed they didn’t need his help after all.

Ephit prepared to resume his search for the Dark Elf Cub. He leaped down from the boulder, circled around the monster, and passed the Light Barrier, instinctively glancing sideways.

That one glance froze him in his tracks.

“Lanno! Luka!”

The two small boys being protected by the mages were the Dark Elf cubs he had been searching for all week.

Ephit’s expression sharpened. A massive, pitch-black bow materialized in his hand, and he conjured a razor-sharp arrow with magic power. Drawing the bowstring taut, he aimed for the monster’s head.

Whoosh—

The arrow shot forth, striking the monster squarely in the eye.

Aow!

Caught off guard, the monster let out a piercing shriek. Its tentacles flailed wildly, ignoring the swordsmen’s attacks as it charged ferociously toward the Light Barrier.

“What’s happening? Where did that arrow come from?”

Inside the Light Barrier, Shu Li saw the charging monster and immediately chanted a Light Magic Spell to reinforce the defense formation.

Celius unleashed a barrage of Cross Slash, Bright Light Slash, and Gale Slash attacks to halt the monster’s advance.

“Someone’s helping us!” Decio turned to see a figure in a hooded black cloak standing near the Light Barrier. The figure lowered the bow and arrow, replacing them with a high-grade magic staff.

“Great God of Darkness, Miroga Hodeh, grant me the power to bind all things—Entangling Technique!”

As the deep incantation echoed, countless sturdy vines erupted from the earth, ensnaring the monster’s massive body.

Thump—

The monster crashed to the ground, bound tightly by vines.

Celius stood frozen, sword in hand, while Shu Li and the others inside the Light Barrier stared in stunned silence.

Lanno and Luka trembled at the familiar voice, their faces a mix of fear and joy.

Shu Li tilted his head, studying the “Mage” standing outside the Light Barrier with disbelief.

That voice… it belonged to Ephit!

They had encountered him outside Vanaku!

But with the Dark Elf Cub here, Ephit, who was searching for them, was bound to appear.

“Did he just invoke the God of Darkness?” Decio asked.

“Yes, you heard correctly,” Kumandi replied, frowning.

“A spell invoking the God of Darkness—he’s a Necromancer!” Budno exclaimed, his face pale with horror. His childhood experiences had left the little fairy with a deep-seated fear of Necromancers.

Lanno retorted angrily, “Ephit isn’t a Necromancer!”

“Huh? Ephit?” Angele asked, surprised. Was this the same Dark Elf Ephit who had collaborated with Sperien?

Hearing the conversation inside the Light Barrier, Ephit lowered his hood, revealing his distinctive Dark Elf features. His blood-red eyes scanned the humans trapped within.

When his gaze fell upon Shu Li, Ephit froze in surprise.

Shu Li winked at him, flashing a radiant smile.

Ephit maintained his composure, but his inner turmoil surged like a tempest.

Though the youth before him was disguised as a human, with subtle alterations to his appearance, Ephit recognized him instantly as the little fairy he had collaborated with for eight years.

“A full-grown Dark Elf!” Hector exclaimed, clicking his tongue.

While Dark Elves were known to frequent the Central Court, this was Hector’s first close encounter with one.

Cindy and Nasha observed him with curiosity, noting his distinctive aura and refined features. He was remarkably clean, unlike any Dark Elf they had encountered before.

Yes, clean.

They detected none of the Dark Elves’ characteristic malice radiating from him.

The little fairies stared intently at Ephit, scrutinizing him from head to toe, their gazes practically glued to his form.

He’s Ephit!

The Dark Elf who helped Sperien relocate little fruit!

So this is what he looks like!

In stark contrast to Moryx’s roguish demeanor, Ephit exuded an air of cultured composure and pristine refinement. Were it not for his ashen skin and crimson eyes, he could easily be mistaken for a White Elf.

The little fairies’ admiration for him soared.

Shu Li pretended not to recognize him and greeted him in Elven, “Greetings. We are Mage Apprentices from St. Vilia Magic Academy. Thank you for your assistance.”

Ephit’s gaze swept over the Magic Emblem on Shu Li’s chest before he pointed to the two Dark Elf cubs inside the Light Barrier. “I am their guardian. I should be the one thanking you.”

Shu Li smiled. “No need for thanks. Rescuing cubs is simply the right thing to do.”

Ephit nodded, offering no further words. He aimed his magic wand at the monster, now bound into a cocoon by vines, and began chanting a spell.

In perfect synchronization, Shu Li raised his own magic wand high and called out to his teammates, “Let’s finish it in one go!”

This fusion monster was far stronger than a single creature, equivalent to an Eighth-Tier Magical Beast, posing a significant challenge to the Light Squad. However, Shu Li wasn’t intimidated. With Celius drawing the monster’s aggro, and Shu Li, the little fairies, and the dragon attacking together, defeating it was only a matter of time.

Now, with the assistance of Ephit, a Senior Grand Mage, their efforts would be doubly effective.

As a Wood-type Magician, Ephit’s magic provided cover for Shu Li, who seized the opportunity to silently cast wood-type spells, launching subtle attacks against the monster.

This monster possessed only brute strength; regardless of its level, it could only launch physical attacks.

When countless vines bound it, it was helpless, reduced to roaring and thrashing in furious frustration.

The monster’s thick hide proved impervious to attack. Despite several minutes of relentless assault, the group failed to breach its defenses.

“This fusion monster’s defense is insane!” Amanda complained, itching to transform into his dragon form and tear it apart with his claws.

“Yeah, it’s way tougher than those earlier monsters,” Budno agreed. Finding his water arrows ineffective against the monster’s scales, he switched to a spell that encased its mouth and nose in a Water Sphere.

Let’s see if it can breathe underwater!

The monster opened its mouth and inhaled, swallowing the Water Sphere whole.

Budno stuck out his tongue and conjured a water serpent, sending it crashing into the monster’s mouth. “You want to swallow? Then swallow this!”

Decio, seeing the opportunity, cast the Fire Serpent Technique to assist. The water and fire serpents intertwined, instantly raising the temperature as scalding hot water surged into the monster’s gaping maw.

“Aaaaaah—!” The monster howled in agony, its screams tearing through the air.

Yet even this assault proved insufficient. As the monster thrashed, half the vines binding it snapped.

Seeing the monster about to break free, Shu Li had a flash of inspiration. “Celius, cut its fleshy tumor!” he shouted.

The dozen or so monsters they had killed earlier also had thick hides, but those whose tumors were damaged died the fastest.

The tumor was their weak point.

Celius immediately leaped onto the monster’s head, aimed at the tumor, and mercilessly slashed. As the tumor was severed, the monster roared in agony, green blood spurting everywhere. Celius nimbly retreated, dodging away.

Simultaneously, fire serpents, light orbs, ice arrows, earth spikes, and other spells rained down, successfully breaching the monster’s defenses.

As Shu Li finished chanting the Fire Attribute spell, an Eastern Fire Dragon materialized from thin air, roaring as it charged toward the monster, its searing flames engulfing the massive creature.

“Augh—”

The monster’s roars gradually weakened. By the time the Fire Dragon vanished, the creature had been reduced to charred remains.

“It’s dead!”

The little fairies cheered, clapping their hands in delight.

Hector, Cindy, and Nasha collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Shu Li dispelled the Light Barrier, and the two Dark Elf cubs raced toward Ephit, throwing themselves into his arms.

Ephit held them close, his expression unchanging.

Lanno and Luka grinned ingratiatingly.

Shu Li turned to Celius and said, “Thank you for your hard work.”

Celius wiped the sweat from his face and shook his head. “This is also a form of training.”

The Arena matches were only meant to be sparring, but fighting monsters required a life-or-death mentality—two completely different experiences that greatly enhanced his swordsmanship.

It seemed he would need to venture out for trials more often in the future.

As for the Black Knights hunting him… let them come! He would kill them one by one, or two by two.

A ruthless glint flashed in Celius’s eyes.

Shu Li turned to Est and noticed he was still frowning. “What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled.

Est looked up in a certain direction, his expression grave. “Something is approaching.”

“What is it?” Shu Li asked, bewildered.

The next moment, a beam of purple light descended from the sky with a deafening boom, shattering the ground and sending rocks flying. The Light Squad had no time to react and were struck by the debris.

“Watch out!”

Est shielded Shu Li, taking a football-sized rock to the back.

“Ugh!” he grunted.