Chapter 13: Big Boom!

Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Big Boom!Lian trembled, slightly frightened. He could not compete against a monster of that caliber; he would be killed in an instant. He could not even read its movements. "I could use magic!" he thought, his eyes widening. His previous attack had been powerful enough; he was certain it could harm that monster. "But it is too fast. It could dodge the blow without issue. Moreover," his expression darkened, "I could accidentally hit one of the Knights. After all, I do not have full control over my spells. What is more, I am not even sure I could replicate what I did before..." The sound of a low, pained growl drew his gaze away from the battle with the Iron 5 Shadow Wolf. His eyes turned to the scene nearby, where the three monsters were keeping Dax occupied. But the Knight was not weak by any means. Somehow, he had managed to slash his sword downward, slicing clean through one monster’s flank, severing its leg. "Well done!" Dax thought, his gaze resolute. He burned with determination to prove he could handle this alone, without relying on others’ aid. Seeing the scene, Lian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "An opportunity!" he murmured. Without thinking, he positioned himself and prepared his spell. "Geometric Spells: Circle." Closing his eyes, the shape of a circle appeared in his mind. His hand was aimed at the wounded monster. It no longer moved as before; it had slowed. Dax also wanted to kill that monster first, but the ferocity of the other two Shadow Wolves intensified. They no longer attacked as before but stayed back, defending against Dax’s strikes. Elder Patrick observed the unfolding scene with a serene gaze. He intended to send his men to aid the struggling Knights, but just as he was about to give the order, something caught his attention. It was Lian. He had moved closer to the area where Dax was fighting the three monsters. "Let him handle it," Patrick thought, shaking his head at the three Grimreach Knights. "Pathetic," Sera muttered, noticing Lian’s actions. But the boy paid no heed. He was focused on drawing a circle. Unlike before, this time the shape was forming more clearly. It was far from perfect, but he was on the right path. And just as the shape was about to complete, Lian shouted. "Ignis Arde, Ignis Globus!" The same scene from before reappeared under everyone’s watchful eyes, except for the Dustwall Knights. A large, intimidating fireball formed in the open palm of Lian’s hand. An instant later, his hand trembled, and the fireball took flight, hurtling toward the Shadow Wolf wounded by Dax’s strike. However, it was not the only one in that area. The other two Shadow Wolves, intent on protecting their companion from Dax’s attacks, remained in its immediate vicinity. The Knight was slightly irritated. He had not expected such a tight defense. The wounded monster itself fought with incredible grit and ferocity. "I must succeed, and quickly!" Dax murmured with a serious gaze, before his eyes widened, and he turned back. Something was coming toward him! "What in the world?!" he shouted, leaping backward to dodge whatever was about to hit him. As he evaded, Dax realized the attack was not aimed at him but at the monsters he was fighting. "Damn it!" he yelled before a deafening explosion sent dirt and debris flying, hitting him in the process. A cloud of black smoke rose from the ground, but it could not hide the flames spreading beneath it. Lian’s attack had been a success! Perhaps it was a bit too powerful, but it had worked. "What?!" The boy’s expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. He had wanted to help Dax, but he had not expected to finish the job alone! [Accuracy: 55%] The strike was more devastating than the previous one, partly due to the improved precision in drawing the shape. Elder Patrick observed the scene with sparkling eyes, while the three Grimreach Knights wore grim expressions. If they had taken that hit, they would have been severely injured but not killed. "Only a waste of mana, truly..." Sera muttered, staring at the explosion’s site. The smoke had cleared, revealing a flaming crater. Pieces of limbs and internal organs were visible all around, with ash and dust covering the area. Not far from the crater, the two Shadow Wolves still stood, their figures blackened, blood dripping from their bodies. In particular, one was missing a leg, while the other had a bleeding eye. Their combat strength and threat had been drastically reduced; they were merely waiting to be finished off. Their gazes were filled with fear and terror. They had not expected such a thing; it had happened so suddenly. Dax was on the ground, his face smeared with dirt and his armor dented. His eyes held a grim, contemplative expression. He thought the same as the Grimreach Knights. If that strike had hit him, he would have been swept away, but he would not have died. Lian’s heart raced, guilt gnawing at him. His spell had worked, but it had nearly harmed Dax—an error he could not afford to repeat. After all, he had used his spell to help, not to hinder Dax. Soon after, a howl echoed through the area. The Iron 5 Shadow Wolf was howling at the sky. Despite their combined efforts, the monsters had failed to kill any humans. The creature roared and howled in sorrow. If it wanted, it could have fled, escaping to join another pack, but it knew well. A presence among the human group watched it with a menacing air. It would not escape alive, but it could fight for a sliver of hope. That was what it sensed from the gaze of the human at the group’s center. With a menacing air and nothing to lose, the Shadow Wolf lunged at the human. The Dustwall Knight was injured and exhausted from his efforts to survive thus far; he could no longer hope to live. But at that moment, Dax intervened. The Knights, now exhausted, had stood by his side; he could not let them suffer at the hands of a monster. Not to mention, they came from the same city. They were not part of the same hunting team, but they knew each other. He had to help them. Despite his dirt-smeared face and dented armor, Dax was swift and precise in blocking the alpha’s claws. The Shadow Wolf was frustrated—so much so that it was willing to sacrifice its life to inflict even a sliver of extra damage on the humans. Abandoning defense and evasion, the monster exchanged dozens of blows with Dax in a short time. On the other hand, the Knight could not act like the monster. He valued his life; he could not afford to neglect defense. The battle took an unexpected turn. Dax used all his strength to fend off the monster’s relentless, desperate attacks. "Damned bastard! Die already!" Dax’s words were lost in the wind as he faced the monster. Victory had become difficult but not impossible. The monster continued to take damage from the Knight’s counterattacks. The alpha’s body was covered in cuts and wounds, its eyes gleaming with ferocity and resignation. It, too, knew it was only a matter of time before it was killed. The air grew heavy with the scent of blood and scorched earth, the swamp’s oppressive atmosphere amplifying the clash’s intensity. Dax’s sword, swift as the wind, sliced the Shadow Wolf’s body with precision. Every strike was targeted, every movement calculated. --- Author Here! Am I mistaken, or is Lian becoming increasingly skilled at creating circles? Could it be that he even draws them in his dreams?