The Second Son of the Marquis Wants to Laze Around-Chapter 66: The Difference in Level

"They’re doing good," Raven said quietly as she watched the battle before her, breaking the heavy silence. Kristoff and the other senior knights nodded as they observed Leon and his teammates, who had managed to inflict several wounds on the Thunderclaw. Blood stained its fur, dripping to the ground.

–SLASH!

–SLASH!

–ROOOAR!

They watched as Leon, his armor broken and his face drenched in sweat, managed to land another blow—this time slashing across the monster’s face and injuring its right eye.

–ROOOOOOOOOOOAR!

–BOOM!

The Thunderclaw roared in agony, releasing an electrical shockwave in retaliation. However, seven knights, prepared in advance, raised their shields and blocked the energy blast from spreading across the field. The move created a perfect opening.

Thirteen knights, who had been waiting and charging their spells or preparing their arrows, took aim at the beast.

"FIRE!" Leon shouted.

At his signal, they unleashed their attacks simultaneously.

–Boom! –Boom! –Boom!

The powerful barrage forced the Thunderclaw back, making it stumble slightly as it shook its massive head, glaring furiously at the knights.

Leon’s strategy was simple but effective: block the monster’s attacks and counterattack during its openings. Having fought a similar monster in the past, Leon knew exactly how to handle it. He had divided his squad into seven teams. Each team had a tank to absorb heavy hits, a supporter to assist, and a damage dealer to strike at the monster.

Every time Leon spotted the monster preparing an attack, he would signal the tanks to block, while the damage dealers readied their counterstrikes. And whenever a knight was injured or low on mana, they would rotate out of the battlefield, receiving quick treatment and replenishment from the healers stationed outside, who provided them with healing potions, mana potions, and other support.

But even with this smart strategy, it wasn’t enough. The level difference between the monster and the knights was too big. After two hours, they had only managed to heavily wound it, but not bring it down.

–ROOOOOOOOAAR!

–BLAST!

The Thunderclaw let out an enraged roar, releasing a shockwave so powerful that the entire dome shook violently. Cracks formed across the dome’s surface as its magical energy began to weaken and dissipate. The monster’s body crackled and surged with electricity, its golden fur lighting up like a storm cloud filled with lightning.

The monster had entered Breaker Mode.

Seeing the dome about to collapse, Kristoff immediately took out another magic scroll—the third one Eren had given him—and activated it. He poured his mana into the scroll, and a new purple dome expanded across the battlefield just as the previous one vanished.

"That’s the last one," Kristoff muttered to himself as the scroll dissolved into particles in his hand.

Before the battle, Eren had given him two extra spare scrolls, just in case. He had explained that if the first dome expired and the knights still hadn’t subdued the monster, Kristoff was to use the spares to continue trapping the Thunderclaw. After handing him the scrolls, the young master had simply returned to leaning against a tree, engrossed in reading his thick black book without another word.

He glanced back at Eren, who was still in the same spot and same position, silently reading with a peaceful expression on his face—as if the raging battle just a few meters away had nothing to do with him. He couldn’t help but wonder again what was so special about that book that it completely absorbed the young master’s attention.

Returning his focus to the battlefield, He noticed that many of the junior knights were starting to show signs of exhaustion. Their movements slowed, their magic weakened, and their breathing became labored. Six knights had already been forced to stay outside the dome after suffering deeper wounds and could no longer continue fighting.

Fortunately, before leaving for the mission, Commander Gareth had instructed them to bring hundreds of potions and medical supplies to ensure their safety. The supplies had been divided among the squad, with most of them given to the healer knights stationed outside the dome for quick treatments.

However, it still wasn’t enough. They were running low.

The healers’ hands moved non-stop, treating the wounded with potions, magic, and bandages. Some of the healers’ faces were pale from mana exhaustion, but they gritted their teeth and continued working. No one wanted to give up when their comrades were still fighting inside.

Kristoff clenched his fists tightly. He knew they had no choice now but to hold out. This battle wasn’t just a test of their strength—it was a test of their will to survive and overcome a real threat, no matter how overwhelming it seemed.

Inside the dome, Leon continued to rally his exhausted teammates.

"Hang in there! Focus on defense and wait for another opening!" he shouted.

The junior knights gritted their teeth, gripping their weapons tighter. They still had one last dome left.

And none of them were planning to waste it.

–ROAAAAAAAAAAR!

The Thunderclaw moved at lightning speed, slashing four knights with its electrified claws and sending them flying out of the dome, each one receiving deep, bloody cuts. Their agonized screams filled the air, leaving only thirty-six knights still standing inside the barrier.

The monster suddenly stopped, opening its massive jaws wide as it began charging a sphere of crackling electricity within its mouth.

Leon’s pupils shrank in alarm the moment he realized what was coming.

"Everyone, spread out!!" he shouted desperately.

But it was too late.

The monster unleashed a devastating blast of lightning at the ground. Although ten knights managed to dodge the initial strike, the ground beneath them erupted in a blinding explosion of electric energy, sending them hurtling away, their bodies spasming from the shock.

–BLAST!

–BOOM!!

Without wasting a second, the Thunderclaw lunged toward the fallen knights, aiming to finish them off.

But at that crucial moment, Leon intercepted it, his body now cloaked in raging wind magic as he activated his unique Skill — [Wind Spirit’s Blessing].

–Bang!!

"Get them out of here!!"

Leon roared, ordering the remaining standing knights to drag the unconscious ones out of the dome immediately.

By the time they obeyed, only Leon and fifteen knights were left facing the monster.

Leon gritted his teeth, glaring at the Thunderclaw before him. He hadn’t expected it to be this much stronger. He realized bitterly he had underestimated the situation — no, that wasn’t it.

’No... I didn’t underestimate the beast. I overestimated my team,’ He thought grimly.

Unlike him, who was far more experienced at fighting powerful monsters, his teammates weren’t nearly as seasoned. Some had been adventurers like him, true — but while He had ten years of harsh experience under his belt, the others barely had three to four years.

"Looks like I’ll have to do this myself," Leon muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on his sword, ready to make his final stand.

Meanwhile, outside the dome, Raven frowned deeply, worry etched across her face.

"Shouldn’t you guys help them?" she asked anxiously.

But Kristoff and the other senior knights only shook their heads firmly.

"We can’t," Kristoff said, his voice steady but solemn. "It’s their battle to fight."

Raven’s frown deepened, but she didn’t argue.

As knights, they had their pride. Completing a mission with their own strength was a matter of honor. If Kristoff and the others stepped in, it would only insult the juniors and shame them.

Even so, Kristoff , who appeared calm on the outside, was secretly clenching his fists so tightly they trembled.

Despite maintaining his composure, he was just as worried as Raven.

The mission itself was already incredibly difficult. Taking down a Level 5 monster with only Level 3 knights was way harder than four Level 4 knights doing the same task.

If he faced the Thundercaw alone, he’d be defeated for sure. But if he teamed up with his four Level 4 comrades, they could probably win after a tough battle.

But Leon’s team... they were in over their heads.

Still, Kristoff reminded himself — even if they failed to slay it, there was still one last resort. The guy still had the magic tool the Young Master had secretly entrusted him with.

They still had hope.

...

Meanwhile, somewhere deep in the Dry Forest, Eren stood atop a tall tree branch, operating a drone controller in his hands, scanning the western region of the forest.

His illusion clone remained with Kristoff’s group, keeping up the ruse that he hadn’t left.

Two hours and thirty-five minutes had already passed. Eren finally finished scanning the entire western side.

"Tch. Nothing. How much ground have we covered?" he muttered in annoyance.

He glanced at the holographic green panel projected from his system, where the drone’s exploration percentage was displayed.

[Scan Complete: 82%, Master.]

Useless, answered in a flat tone.

Eren scratched his head, thinking deeply.

’Since 82% of the Dry Forest had already been checked, that only left the northwest side — the last unexplored sector.’

Turning his gaze in that direction, his sharp eyes caught sight of a small mountain range peeking over the treetops in the distance. His expression immediately sharpened.

[Master, are we heading back? It’s been more than two hours already,] Useless asked, sounding a little anxious.

It was worried that the battle with the Thunderclaw might have already ended — and not in their favor.

Hearing Useless’s reminder, Eren finally decided to return.

"Alright. Let’s go."

.....

But when he arrived at the spot where the massive purple dome barrier stood, Eren’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

The entire team of junior knights lay scattered outside the dome, badly injured, each of them groaning or unconscious as they were treated by Kristoff, Raven, and the senior knights.