【Master! To your left! Watch out!】

“Got it!”

Following Norton’s instructions, Li could avoid the griffin’s attacks with ease. She might be an alchemist, but she wasn’t helpless in a fight. She’d spent years searching for ingredients out in the wild, facing all kinds of monsters and enemies along the way. It had given her a little training, so this was well within her abilities!

After the Netherworld Griffin lunged and missed, Li spotted her chance. She swung the wooden club in her hand straight at its head!

The blow sent the Netherworld Griffin—still only a juvenile—stumbling back two steps. But the wooden club in Li’s hand shattered, too.

Li quickly backed away several steps, putting some distance between herself and the Netherworld Griffin. Maybe it was still young, or maybe this was the first time something like this had happened to it. Either way, it seemed a little dazed, and didn’t immediately lunge at her again.

This wooden club was completely useless...

It broke after just one hit!

Li glanced around. There was nothing else here she could use as a weapon. Was she really going to face the Netherworld Griffin with her bare fists?

If so, she was seriously screwed!

Li watched the Netherworld Griffin closely, keeping an eye on her surroundings, too. If an opportunity came up, she had to take it. Now wasn’t the time to go toe-to-toe with the Netherworld Griffin—but it wasn’t as if she had no chance at all. She wanted to see just how much stronger her body had become.

Almost without thinking, she reached into her pocket. Her hand came up empty, and only then did Li remember. Right—she didn’t have a single potion on her. She could’ve tried drinking some kind of strength-enhancing potion, but given her situation...

“Tch.”

She backed away a few steps. Apart from that rock, there was nothing around her.

“Norton, think you can take a gamble with me?”

【Master? What are you planning to do?】

“Something a little crazy. Do you think the Netherworld Griffin will use its flames at this age?”

【There’s a fifty percent chance a juvenile Netherworld Griffin has already learned to use its Azure Netherflame. Are you sure you want to take that gamble?】

Should she not take the gamble?

Was she supposed to run?

Li was fairly confident she could get away if she tried. But with the Netherworld Griffin watching her so intently, it definitely wouldn’t let her leave. From the moment it spotted her—and especially after she hit it—that little brat was furious.

The Azure Netherflame on its body kept writhing as if it were bristling, sparks flying everywhere. That was how it felt.

“Then I’ll take the gamble!”

【Master! What?!】

Norton never expected Li to charge straight at the Netherworld Griffin. It opened its mouth and lunged to meet her.

Its jaws were enormous. Even as a juvenile, it was bigger than an adult human!

This wasn’t just a test of her courage. She also had to find out where her body’s limits lay. At the very least, Li wasn’t about to die here!

That was why she had to take the gamble! If it was worth the risk, then she had to go for it!

Li sprang into the air, leaping just a little higher than the Netherworld Griffin. That tiny difference was the key to her success!

The Netherworld Griffin sensed something was wrong and immediately spread its wings, taking to the air!

“That’s the moment I was waiting for!”

Li was already starting to fall. She slammed down onto the Netherworld Griffin’s head, then seized her chance and drove the wooden spike in her hand toward its eye!

Squelch!

ROAR!!!

A howl of pain!

Thud!

“Ugh!”

Li fell too, crashing onto the rock.