Summoned As A Mere Nobody-Yet Possesses An SSS-Rank Ability

Now good — the red wolves are down. I just have to close the distance between us. I'm sure she won't have enough mana to summon more; taming monsters like red wolves eats through you fast. Once I take her out, this is over. I can win this. I can end this. Let me close the gap, Doro thought as he lunged forward.

But Cora twisted, stepped left and up, murmured an incantation, and the beasts trembled. Dark energy seared along their fur; one that had been blind blinked, its cloudy eye clearing as if nothing had happened. The broken rib that had caved in mended itself; the wolf with the torn lip shook its head and rose, whole. Doro froze. How could that be? All their wounds knit back together, and energy flowed through them like a current.

"You thought that was the last of me?" Cora said, voice cold and steady.

Doro stumbled back. This is bad. This is very bad. She can heal them — and with some kind of shadow-tinged magic. My leg and elbow are still bleeding; I might not be able to close the distance. I won't lose, he told himself. I'm an A-rank too. Losing to a woman would be a disgrace I can't accept.

He tore the sleeve off his tunic, wrapped it around his wounded elbow, squared his shoulders, and spat, "Come on. Try if you dare. You'll still lose." Cora watched him with a slow smile. Even if he beat her ten times, she could restore her beasts. And if a single lash of her whip finds bone, it will snap. That is the plan, she thought, and the smile did not leave her face.

Hey, what was that? Was that healing magic she used? That isn't dark energy… but it definitely isn't normal healing either, Nolan said as he watched from the arena.

"Yeah, you're right. It's not healing. It's something else," Lyra replied, her eyes narrowing. "It looked like she was using a forbidden spell, same as kyrion."

"Oh—you're right. That would make sense," Nolan muttered. "If they're companions, then it's possible they both have access to it. But still… how? Forbidden spells aren't something you just stumble across. They're nearly impossible to learn without the right sources."

"That's what makes it strange," Lyra said. "How could she have mastered something like that?"

Nolan clenched his jaw. "I don't know much about forbidden magic, but I can tell Doro's in trouble. He looked like he had this fight under control after taking down the beasts, but now…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "She turned the tables completely."

Lyra's expression tightened. "He might still win, but the chances are slim. The way it stands, Cora has the advantage. The only hope Doro has is his endurance and making sure not even one strike from that whip lands. If it does, it could end him."

"Yeah, you're right. He's actually finding it hard," Nolan said, his eyes fixed on the arena. "He already has injuries. I didn't watch his previous fights, but it's clear he's someone who excels in close-range combat, not long-range. From the way he moves, he could go toe to toe with a swordsman. And that claw, his fingers are incredibly strong, strong enough to block a sword strike. But against this kind of combo…" He shook his head. "It's not the right match for him."

Lyra nodded. "Exactly. Cora's holding a whip and summoning monsters at the same time. The red wolves can fight him close-range, while the whip keeps him at a distance. He has to worry about both. That's a tough situation for anyone."

Linda leaned forward, her voice low with concern. "Do you really think he can win now? Because… I don't. I just want to hear your opinion."

"The chance of winning is very slim," Lyra admitted. "You won't lose hope, but realistically, she has the upper hand. The only way Doro can turn this around is if Cora has no more hidden tricks. But since she's already using forbidden magic, there's no guarantee she's shown everything."

Celia suddenly stood up from her chair, her fists clenched. "Master, even if she learned the forbidden spell, I think I'm strong enough to beat her. Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Yeah, I know…" Nolan said quietly. Then he shook his head. "No. Stop. You two, Celia, Linda, just watch. Watch her closely. Every attack matters now."

Lyra added, "That whip she's holding, it's more dangerous than it looks. Annoying too. If even one strike lands clean, it could change everything."

Together, they all fell silent, their eyes locked on the battle unfolding in the arena.

"I said, come at me. Or are you getting scared?" Doro shouted. "I don't have any special attack like Fido's. But the only thing I can do is wait for the red wolves to come again. This time when they come, I'll take them out. And the moment I take them out, I'll immediately close the distance between me and her. Then I'll end it." Doro thought, then smiled. "Don't worry, I'm coming now."

"It seems you are getting cocky. I'm going to show you your place, you loser," Cora sneered as she raised her hand. The red wolves rose and started running toward him.

As Doro prepared to punch, the first red wolf leapt at him. He swung, but the wolf bent in midair and dodged the blow, sinking its teeth into his wrist. Doro tried to hit it back with his left hand, but the wolf slipped away and he jumped back, baffled. "What's going on? They've gotten smarter. And stronger. No, this is bad."

Then the red wolf began to glow with the dark energy Cora had used to mend them.

"What's going on? No… I'm injured again. What's going on?" Doro thought, gritting his teeth as the pain pulsed through his wrist.

"When someone tames a beast or a monster, they can command it, guide the way it should attack, control its movements. But this… this isn't the same.