Chapter 14: Courage of the Weak

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Courage of the Weak"Now I understand why he acts so arrogantly," muttered one of the Knights of Grimreach, his voice low but carrying a hint of awe. "He’s a tough one!" Everyone nodded in agreement, even Patrick himself, though his gaze was elsewhere. But his eyes weren’t fixed on Dax, the towering figure of strength and valor. No, they were locked on Lian. The boy had chosen to join the fray to protect his fellow villagers, a selfless act that earned him respect in the eyes of many. Yet Patrick’s stare held no admiration—far from it. A flicker of disdain crossed his features, hidden quickly behind his usual charming smile. "Throwing your life on the line for strangers? To what end?" he thought, his brow furrowing for a fleeting moment before his mask of warmth returned, as if nothing had ever disturbed his composure. Lian, meanwhile, was locked in combat, facing the two Iron 4 monsters left wounded by his earlier attack. His fireball had worked a miracle, a blazing testament to his courage. The boy had achieved his goal—stepping into the fray to save his people. But now, he stood alone against two Iron 4 Shadow Wolves. "Alright, when I get out of here, I need to study my system and everything else more thoroughly... for now, let’s focus on the battle at hand," Lian muttered to himself, steeling his nerves as the beasts circled him. The two Shadow Wolves growled, their fear of the human palpable. They had witnessed—and felt—the devastating collateral damage of Lian’s attack. Yes, collateral damage. The beasts hadn’t even been at the center of the explosion, yet they were grievously wounded. They could have died, and now they burned with a primal desire for vengeance. Seeing that their primary target, Dax Reed, had gone to face their alpha, the two monsters turned their fury on the one responsible for their pain—Lian. The boy’s face was set with determination as he held his ground, sword drawn and gleaming under the dim light. He was ready to meet their assault. The enraged Shadow Wolves didn’t hesitate, lunging toward the human. Despite their injuries, their movements were frighteningly fast, like shadows flickering in a storm. Lian could barely keep track as they circled him, their snarls echoing in the tense air. One of the wolves, however, was missing a leg, making it slightly slower than its companion. Lian’s sharp eyes zeroed in on this weakness. That was his target. "I won’t let you win so easily," he whispered, gripping his sword with both hands. The weapon felt like an extension of himself now. Well... just to say. Mana coursed through his body, amplifying his strength, but it wasn’t enough to match two Iron 4 monsters. The Shadow Wolf with the wounded eye charged forward, its fangs bared and claws tearing into the earth with every step. Though the beast moved like a blur, Lian reacted in time, rolling to the ground to dodge the attack. But this left him vulnerable to the three-legged wolf. As the second beast lunged, Lian acted on instinct, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade struck the creature’s muzzle, leaving a shallow gash. It wasn’t much, but he’d survived the first assault. The Shadow Wolf snarled, retreating for a moment before resuming its attack. At the same time, the faster wolf seized the opportunity, leaping at Lian’s blind side. Lian, now back on his feet, was forced to roll through the mud again to narrowly avoid the first wolf’s claws. But the second wolf was quicker, its teeth sinking into his exposed ankle. "Damn, damn, damn!" Lian shouted, panic surging through him as pain seared his leg. The agony of the monster’s teeth in his flesh was all too real. Tightening his grip on his sword, Lian swung with all his might, aiming for the beast’s head. The creature, caught up in the thrill of tasting human blood, didn’t see the blow coming. Splash. The sound of blood spilling echoed around them. The Shadow Wolf’s grip loosened instantly, the pain in its head overwhelming. With a weak whimper, it tried to leap back, but Lian was ready. Preparing another strike, he drove his sword into the creature’s wounded eye. A low, agonized howl rang out as the beast stopped thrashing, its body going limp. "Yes!" Lian hissed, exhilaration coursing through him as he watched the wolf’s carcass slump to the ground. But in his moment of triumph, the other wolf—the three-legged beast—lunged, its bared fangs aiming for his left arm— Meanwhile, just a few meters away, Dax was locked in a brutal duel with the alpha. His determination was unmistakable, a fire in his eyes that refused to be extinguished. His muscles strained beneath his tattered armor, every movement a testament to his unyielding will. The alpha was massive, its rage palpable, but Dax refused to be intimidated. "No matter how strong you are, you’re still just a monster!" he roared, dodging another swipe of its deadly claws. With a fluid motion, he ducked low and struck at the creature’s exposed flank. His blade sank deep into the beast’s battered body, drawing a pained roar before it pressed its assault. It lunged, jaws snapping, but Dax rolled to the side. Reading the monster’s attacks had become easier for two reasons. First, the alpha was slowing, its countless wounds and blood loss taking their toll. Second, it was a monster. Its fighting style was predictable, unchanging. Once you learned its patterns, it was manageable—and Dax was a master at this. "Just die already!" Dax bellowed, pulling his blade free and striking again, this time aiming for the neck. The sword bit deep, black blood spraying across the ground. The alpha let out a final, choked growl before collapsing, its massive body kicking up a cloud of dust and mud. Dax had done it. Exhaustion was evident in his heavy breathing. His hand still gripped his sword tightly, his face smeared with mud and sweat. "Done," he muttered, glancing back at his wounded comrades. But as he looked at them, he noticed their expressions—a mix of shock and respect. They weren’t focused on his victory. "Huh?" Turning to follow their gazes, Dax understood why. Lian was facing two Iron 4 Shadow Wolves alone while his comrades watched from the sidelines. "What are you all staring at? Why aren’t you helping the kid?" Dax growled, limping and bloodied, his frustration aimed at the two Knights. They said nothing, merely lowering their gazes as if to highlight their condition. They could barely stand, their bodies riddled with wounds. In their state, they were useless to Lian. "Pathetic!" Dax spat, turning back to the fight, ready to step in at any moment. And that moment came quickly. Lian had just driven his sword into the wounded eye of one wolf when the other lunged from behind. "Watch your back!" Dax shouted, charging toward the beast. Lian, still reeling from his victory over the first wolf, barely registered Dax’s warning in time. He turned just as the second wolf’s fangs closed in, mere inches from his face. Instinctively, he raised his arm to shield himself, squeezing his eyes shut. Seconds passed, but the expected pain never came. "What?!" Lian gasped, opening his eyes to see black blood gushing from the beast’s throat. "Huh?" He glanced around, only to find Dax, wounded and exhausted, his bloodied sword still in hand. "You alright, kid?" Dax asked, turning to Lian. His tone was gruff, but a glimmer of respect shone in his eyes. Lian nodded, his breathing steadying. "Yeah... thanks," he managed, leaning on his sword for support. The pain in his ankle was excruciating, but he was alive. "Looks like my right ankle’s really got bad luck..." he thought with a wry smile, recalling a similar injury from his fight with the Stone Bulls two days prior. Dax clapped him on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over. "Not bad for a rookie. But next time, don’t close your eyes in the middle of a fight, no matter what. You’ve got to be ready, even in the face of death. And you’re a Mage, aren’t you? Use that damn magic!" Lian laughed, though inwardly he wanted to cry. The pat on his shoulder had forced him to shift his weight onto his injured ankle, sending a jolt of pain through him. "I’m trying, believe me," he said, his voice tinged with both defiance and exhaustion. --- Author Here! Damn, F in chat for Lian!