I was an apprentice in Ferren

Chapter 24 Confrontation
There are some things where you don't know the success rate until you do them, but once you take action, even if it's just the beginning, you can basically tell how it will end.

For example, shooting a basket while playing basketball.

Although the ball has just been thrown and the hand is still in the shooting motion, the shooter already has a definite answer in mind whether the ball will go in or not when the ball is thrown.

After DuPont jumped with all his might, he knew the outcome of his action while still in mid-air.

This time, they definitely won't be able to jump in.

Six feet is about 1.8 meters. This height is definitely not enough for an adult male to hurdle, but it is not too difficult to flip over.

If the platform is wide enough, you can easily flip over by simply putting your upper body on your arms and using your strength, although the posture won't look very good.

However, the barbarian's suggestion of jumping over was clearly not included in this category; he himself simply jumped over it with ease, looking incredibly dashing.

Even if he has low standards for himself, he should at least have casually braced himself with his arm, instead of getting his balls scraped halfway through the jump as he claimed.

DuPont warmed up his body before jumping. He wasn't really sure how much explosive power his 14 points of strength could generate, but he tried it out before jumping. With the help of magic, jumping 1.5 to 1.6 meters from a standing position was definitely not a problem. With a running start, jumping over the bar wouldn't be difficult at all. If he used the momentum to flip over, it would be a piece of cake.

Imagine is one thing, do is another. Regardless of his past or present life, DuPont can basically be considered lazy, or as Man Shi would say, he hasn't even stretched his muscles.

This makes his physical coordination quite humorous.

The result was that his body couldn't keep up with his brain, and he jumped too early.

This will definitely get caught on the fence. Now we can only hope that the fence isn't too sharp, or that Man Shi has some kind of family medical skill, so he doesn't actually jump over the fence and become disabled.

Fortunately, the worst didn't happen. Just as DuPont was about to make intimate contact with the fence with his stomach, he felt his collar tighten and was lifted into the yard the next second.

With his collar loosened, DuPont wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "Did I pass or fail?"

"I can only say that your physical abilities as mages are quite amusing, even though your physical fitness is actually pretty good." The butcher had a knowing look on his face: "Alright, it's basically impossible for someone like you who hasn't trained to jump over. I'm just seeing if you have the guts. If you're a coward, then teaching you is a waste of time. You might as well leave early to save yourself the trouble. You've passed this test."

DuPont breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but then felt something was amiss: "But knowing that we are no match for them, isn't having the courage to go in just throwing our lives away?"

“You’re right, but sometimes you can’t just avoid fighting if you want to. This is a world where the strong prey on the weak, even in civilized Harua or Elf Island. If you don’t have the strength, you can only be bullied and exploited. Courage and strength are the foundation for you to face these things. In fact, I think courage is even more important than strength.”

“As long as the difference in strength between the two sides isn’t too great, as long as you still have the courage, there’s a chance to turn the tables.” Man Shi said, taking out an eight-foot-long spear: “When you killed that pig, if it still had the courage to fight back, wouldn’t it have taken you a lot of effort to kill it?”

DuPont nodded, understanding what the other person meant: "You mean, as long as I don't back down, many things will be easier to deal with?"

"That's right. Actually, you didn't have many good ideas at the time. As long as that big pig wasn't afraid, you were actually afraid of it too. But its fear revealed a weakness, giving you the opportunity to deliver a fatal blow."

Man Shi picked up his spear and drove it into a large tree in the courtyard: "Whether it's fighting or killing, sometimes it's about who has the most courage, and in a tug-of-war, it's about who can endure the most pain. As long as you persevere, it's the other person who will collapse. The more natural you look, the more panicked your opponent will be, and once they panic, they will reveal their weaknesses, leading to defeat or even death."

"So the first lesson I taught you is that no matter what kind of opponent you encounter, as long as you still have a breath left, you should never let your opponent realize that you are feeling guilty. Of course, when facing some fools, you can pretend to be stupid to deceive them and make them drop their guard so that they can deliver a fatal blow."

"However, this trick only works on fools. In life-or-death situations, quick thinking is crucial. If you treat your enemy as a fool, you are probably the fool. Don't pretend to be a fool unless absolutely necessary. Facing all enemies with strength and composure is the most appropriate choice. Then, mercilessly finish off your opponent and don't give them a chance to turn the tables."

“Do you know what I admire most about you? Besides your physique, which makes you a promising candidate for a combatant, the most important thing is that you are one of the very few people who are born with a knack for using their brains in fights.” Man Shi said, pointing to the warehouse next to the wooden house, gesturing for Du Bang to follow.

"Whether they are spellcasters or warriors, many people train very well in academies and guilds, but when they actually go on adventures, they forget everything they have learned as soon as they encounter danger. In particular, some women can only scream and yell when they are scared. If you are sure you want to take risks, do not team up with women before you become a formal professional. Do not join teams with women, because it may cause a lot of trouble."

"Of course, the female adventurers you encounter after level 6 are much more normal. Some women can even be more ruthless than men. You must always be vigilant when dealing with these women and not be fooled by their appearance."

"I've digressed. Your second test," Man Shi said, walking towards a simple room that looked like a warehouse. "You can think calmly when facing a pig, but how long can you do that when facing a truly threatening enemy? Can you still maintain a clear mind?"

As Man Shi spoke, he opened the door, and a pair of reflective eyes shone in the darkness. Upon seeing the two of them, he let out a threatening growl.

"There's a gray wolf in here. A few days ago, they came down the mountain to steal sheep from farmers, and I killed some of them, leaving the most beautiful and largest one. I originally wanted to try training it to see if it could accompany me on hunting trips, but unfortunately, after being locked up for three days, it's still a stupid idiot that bares its teeth at me. Your training at noon is to kill it without using attack spells. If you can do that, you'll pass this test. Then I'll teach you some really exciting things."

After hearing this, DuPont looked at the gray wolf inside. It was a ferocious beast that was six feet long and nearly four feet tall. It was baring its huge canine teeth at the two of them, but it was cautious and did not attack.

gray wolf
Attributes: Strength 14, Agility 16, Constitution 15, Intelligence 2, Perception 12, Charisma 6
Attack: Bite, (1D6+1)

Characteristics: Low-light vision, sensitive sense of smell

Savings: Fortitude 4, Reflexes 5, Willpower 2
Challenge Level: 1/2
Status: Hungry, Alert

Note: Wolves are social animals known for their patience and cunning. They know how to divide labor, cooperate, and work together to care for their cubs. When you encounter them, you must always be careful and vigilant, and never expose your back to this cruel creature.

"It probably won't dare to bite you while I'm here, but I'm going to prepare a more interesting prey for you. Of course, if you can't do that, then you won't have to do your lesson tonight."

"..." DuPont's heart raced slightly: "Is all your barbarian training this brutal?"

"Do you think that barbarians wouldn't take care of disabled infants? The barren resources of the northern wilderness can only be distributed through survival of the fittest. Those barbarians who can't even beat wild beasts aren't true barbarians."

After finishing speaking, Man Shi smiled and said, "Your talent is already far superior to that of many barbarian children your age. They don't use their brains like you do, nor do they have any magical spells. Your biggest problem is that you've read too many books and have lost your wildness and ruthlessness. You don't know how to make the most of your body's advantages, nor do you know how to unleash the violent nature within your soul."

"There are no magical items in my yard, only some things that hunters and butchers usually use. There are some medicines for treating wounds in the house. If you really can't beat it, you can hide in the house and protect yourself with your mage armor. It will be no problem. When I come back, it will naturally not be a threat. But if you can't kill it, then I can only say that I may have misjudged it."

"Alright, stop babbling on like a woman." DuPont spat on the ground and quickly backed away. "If you have nothing else to say, then leave. Oh, and remember to close the door so he doesn't run out."

Man Shi was taken aback when he heard this, wondering where the door had ever been opened, but then he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This guy was quite nervous; he actually forgot about it.

"gone."

The butcher left without warning. Sensing the barbarian's presence had vanished, DuPont licked his lips and backed away towards the simple pavilion in the courtyard.

He only carried a mage's staff for self-defense, and without offensive magic, killing a beast with a constitution of 15 with it would be quite difficult. However, the pavilion had hunting traps and nets available, along with short spears, javelins, and skinning knives—all seemingly sharp. If used properly, killing a beast would be no problem at all.

Just like those civilian hunters, as long as they are well prepared, they can defeat their enemies with their experience and wisdom.

The gray wolf in the warehouse watched DuPont slowly retreat, but it did not lower its guard; instead, it growled warily.

Originally, it was just wandering around hunting in the mountains, living a life of irregular hunger. Driven by hunger, it wandered around, but unexpectedly found a group of very easy prey at the foot of the mountain.

sheep.

These sheep are fat and stupid, and they're even penned up with nowhere to run away.

The old wolf in the pack refused to come down the mountain, warning that it might be a trap. Just like how in the forest, sometimes a terrible two-legged creature would throw down bait to lure its prey. If one could not resist the temptation, at best one would be crippled or even killed.

However, hunger robbed these young gray wolves of their reason. Such plump and clumsy prey was hard to find in the forest, and with this meal, they wouldn't have to worry about food for the next few days.

The young gray wolves successfully launched a hunt, but just as they were about to enjoy their delicious prey, the real hunter appeared.

That terrifying two-legged beast was even more ferocious than a tiger. No gray wolf could withstand any of its attacks. Knowing it was no match for the beast, the gray wolf tried to escape, but its survival speed was completely useless. In the end, it suffered a sharp pain and woke up to find itself imprisoned here.

The scent of the two-legged creature made the gray wolf afraid to resist, but how could the hunter in the forest be willing to die here?

However, today the two-legged creature seemed to have finally lowered its guard. Its cave finally had a gap large enough for it to escape, and its presence had completely disappeared.

The gray wolf didn't know if the terrifying monster was out hunting; all it wanted now was to escape this horrific place and return to the mountains and wilderness.

However, although that two-legged creature left, another two-legged creature I'd never seen before appeared.

His aura was much weaker than the previous one, but his eyes held a malicious intent, unlike the tall two-legged beast whose eyes only held contempt and mockery.

Fear of the previous encounter made the gray wolf cautious, but when the two-legged creature in front of it retreated, its courage rose.

Tigers show no fear when facing wolves, but only when facing brown bears do they show any apprehension.

His retreat proves that he is stronger.

The gray wolf began to move forward, its black nose opening and closing, alert to its surroundings even as it was hungry. Only when it was certain that the tall two-legged creature had truly left did its bristling fur finally settle down.

With the surroundings no longer dangerous, hunger began to erode the gray wolf's reason again. The only thing it could resist was the fear from the bottom of its heart, which made it want to escape this terrible cage first, but after circling around, it did not find a place where it could leave easily.

The obstructive wooden fence blocked its view, and its wariness of the unknown prevented it from rashly attempting to jump over it.

If a wolf accidentally breaks its leg, it will be unable to hunt. Even if it returns to the pack, it can only eat the scraps left by other gray wolves. Death and being driven out are almost the only fates of a sick wolf.

Just then, a javelin was thrown, and the sudden whooshing sound made the gray wolf duck to avoid it.

Then it turned its head and looked toward the location of the wind.

It was that delicious, soft-looking two-legged creature, and beside him was a bone product that looked incredibly appetizing.

The gray wolf's eyes turned red.

DuPont breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the gray wolf eagerly turning towards him.

After navigating the most tense standoff, DuPont immediately cast a mage's armor on himself, then took a handful of bone powder from his spellcasting kit and summoned a gray-white skeleton warrior wielding a rusty sword. He placed the skeleton in front of the pavilion, then set up a bear trap behind it, and stood ready with a short spear in hand.

First-level Necromancer spell: Summon Skeleton Minions

Skeleton Warrior: Strength 13, Agility 13, Constitution -, Intelligence -, Perception 10, Charisma 1
The skeleton warriors summoned by first-level spells are very weak in actual combat, but their decent strength and tireless, fearless nature makes these low-level undead very suitable for doing odd jobs during construction, such as dangerous, dirty, and tiring work, to avoid casualties and waste of compensation money.

However, it's unreliable to expect this skeleton warrior to kill enemies. Although it lacks physical strength, its body is light and airy. It also lacks mass and its movement speed is average. In a real fight, it might not even be able to defeat two goblins in a row. It's not worth a precious 1st-level spell slot at all and can be described as utterly useless.

However, in some awkward situations, such as when there is no Rogue/Gazelle in the team to identify traps, you can summon a Skeleton Warrior to scout ahead and step on traps, acting as a temporary meat shield for the mage. It is a fearless little helper who can perfectly carry out the rearguard mission.

To DuPont's surprise, the gray wolf ignored him after it came out, instead circling the wooden fence without even glancing at him.

This guy actually didn't fall for it, damn it.

The gray wolf's strength was comparable to his, but the beast's sharp teeth were incredibly lethal; without the protection of a mage's armor, a single bite would be a huge chunk of flesh.

If we launch a rash attack without the advantage of terrain, and the opponent has the advantage of agility, we may not be able to keep up whether they are fighting or fleeing, and we will definitely be at a disadvantage.

If I want to win easily, the best way is to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out. If the opponent can rush over and fight his skeleton warrior and then trigger a trap, I can basically just poke around and collect the corpse.

However, plans can't keep up with changes. After being ambushed, the beast didn't attack directly. Instead, it circled the pavilion repeatedly, never revealing its back, giving him a perfect opportunity to strike.

This put DuPont in a bit of a bind.

There were no ranged weapons here except for javelins. Of course, even if there were, he had absolutely no shooting experience, and his accuracy would be terrifyingly low. He didn't even have a single magic attack spell. How was he supposed to force the opponent to come and attack him?

Forget it, let's try to get their attention first.

He threw a spear, which was dodged as expected, but fortunately the gray wolf finally began to confront him.

But this guy seemed to know he had set a trap, and he just wouldn't take the initiative to launch a preemptive attack.

That cunning beast...
DuPont cursed inwardly, then turned around, exposing his back to the other person while swaying his body, mimicking a celebrity having an epileptic seizure, frantically twisting his upper body.

I refuse to believe you can still hold back now.
(End of this chapter)