“Woo… …”
The Wolfpack closed in on the house Shurim had flown into, several Tier Two Wolfkin emitting threatening growls through the broken hole, while the rest of the Wolfpack quickly completed their encirclement of the building.
Just as the Tier Two Wolfkin were preparing to rush in, a figure inside the house stirred.
Whoosh—!
A frigid Ice Greatsword, accompanied by the sound of slicing air, instantly swept across the body of a Dire Wolf. As blood splattered everywhere, a swiftly moving figure burst out from inside the house.
“Awoo!”
“Awoo!”
“Awooo—”
The Wolfpack surged again, and Shurim, wielding the Ice Greatsword, chose to strike head-on.
Clang, clang, clang… …
The incoming sharp spikes were swept aside by the ice sword, blocked outright.
The flying wind blades were scattered by a single slash.
Even the Dire Wolves’ hardened skulls were split open by the ice sword.
Gradually, the once-transparent Ice Greatsword now seemed dyed a deep crimson.
“Roar—!”
A massive shadow descended from the sky.
“Did you think that would work a second time?!”
Shurim didn’t dodge; instead, she leapt high toward the Forest Direwolf, charging in the opposite direction.
“Last Light—!”
Man and wolf crossed paths in midair, the sharp claws leaving a bloody gash on Shurim’s body, but for the first time, blood appeared on the Forest Direwolf as well.
Scarlet blood trickled down its snow-white fur, the Forest Direwolf stared in disbelief at the wound now marking its body, stunned. It had been a long time since it last suffered an injury… …
On the other side, as soon as Shurim landed, before she could even regain her stance, she was beset by the Wolfpack, forced to fend off their attacks in haste.
But the Wolfpack was too numerous, and their relentless hit-and-run tactics meant that after each attack, the wolves would immediately retreat and be replaced by others. Every attack or defense forced Shurim to face wolves at their peak, rendering the wounds she inflicted meaningless. New injuries made her movements falter, and her pressure mounted rapidly.
At this moment, the Forest Direwolf charged again, its eyes bloodshot, the rare pain igniting its ferocity.
Bang—!
Its claws struck at Shurim with even greater speed and force than before. She blocked with the ice sword, avoiding a direct hit, but the tremendous impact sent her flying, and the sword shattered into fragments under the blow. “… …Ice Armament Construction!”
Even while airborne, Shurim’s unwavering will allowed her to cast her magic.
A new Ice Greatsword appeared in her hands—just like the tireless Wolfpack, as long as she retained a trace of magic and strength, her weapon would not be broken.
Whoosh—!
She swept the ice sword, injuring several Wolfkin waiting with open jaws, and used their bodies to cushion her landing.
“Roar—!”
No sooner had she steadied herself than the Forest Direwolf’s thunderous roar closed in rapidly.
Shurim glanced up at the charging Forest Direwolf, grasped her Ice Greatsword with both hands, held it before her chest, then slowly closed her eyes and exhaled, entering a state of perfect relaxation.
Whoosh—!
The storm whipped up by the Forest Direwolf’s advance tossed her hair. Shurim’s eyes opened, and she moved.
If viewed in extremely slow motion, one would see Shurim’s speed now surpassed even what it had been before, faster than even the Forest Direwolf could follow, as she struck forward with three rapid slashes.
Roar—!!!
The raised claws froze midair, the Forest Direwolf stared in shock at the scene before it—there, as if a beast equal to itself was roaring back and slashing out with its claws.
“Hunt’s Sight—!!!”
Screeeech—!
The sound of tearing fur rang out, three clear red gashes engraved on the Forest Direwolf’s body—no matter the angle, these were wounds only a king among beasts could inflict.
The Forest Direwolf stared blankly at its wounds, then looked at Shurim ahead, as if witnessing something incomprehensible.
At that moment, the Wolfpack, too, eerily ceased their actions, restlessly agitated. The three sword strikes Shurim had just unleashed made them feel the presence of another king. Without their own king’s command, none dared provoke the suddenly-appearing challenger.
“… …”
“… …If you truly are king of the Wolfkin, then prove it to me—with a one-on-one duel!”
“Ooo—!”
“Roar—!”
The Wolfpack could not understand Shurim’s words, but her provocative stance made her meaning clear.
Each wolf bared its sharp fangs in fury, yearning to shred the one who had insulted the Wolf King.
“Roar—!!!”
A thunderous roar shook the mountains and forests. The Wolfpack fell silent in an instant. All the Wolfkin looked at the howling Forest Direwolf, confused by its actions.
Yet the Wolf King’s orders must be obeyed.
The Wolfpack withdrew.
They retreated to the edge of the Goblin Tribe, forming a circle, leaving the Forest Direwolf and Shurim at its center.
During this time, neither Shurim nor the Forest Direwolf, now as Wolf King, made a move; they only stared unwaveringly at one another.
At this moment, the arrogance and rage in the Forest Direwolf’s eyes had vanished, replaced only by the fighting spirit of a duel staked on pride.
“Whoo—!”
Shurim exhaled, gripping the Ice Greatsword tightly with both hands, raising it before her once more.
Swish!
Boom!
Without any warning or declaration, the two figures, one large and one small, moved simultaneously—only the afterimages of their swift movements and the ringing clash of ice sword and claws could be seen and heard.
Contrary to her smaller build, Shurim displayed immense strength and speed, matching the Forest Direwolf blow for blow. Likewise, the Forest Direwolf, despite its bulk, always managed to keep pace with Shurim’s agile maneuvers.
Severed fur, shattered ice, and crimson blood flew wildly at the heart of the battle.
All the Wolfkin stared without blinking, unwilling to miss the peak duel between two kings.
This was no ordinary duel—it would decide the future of the entire Wolfpack.
Bang!
Shurim once again used the Forest Direwolf’s blow to launch herself into the air, conjuring a new ice sword mid-flight. The Forest Direwolf seized the moment when she was airborne and vulnerable, moving to intercept at her landing spot and adopting its most powerful attack stance.
But its expectations were dashed—though Shurim did enter its attack range as anticipated, its chain of lethal moves failed.
For around Shurim, a strange circle of sword shadows appeared, as if extensions of her body, rendering her movement unpredictable and increasing her killing power.
Claws and fangs were dodged, while its limbs and jawline were instead cut. Seizing the chance, Shurim leapt onto its forehead, pushing off and leaving a deep wound there before landing back on the ground.
“Woo… …”
Blood flowed from the wound on its forehead, seeping into its right eye and dyeing half its vision red.
The Forest Direwolf braced all four limbs, baring its fangs, one eye red, the other green, locking its gaze onto Shurim. Then it opened its massive jaws and sucked in air with force. “?”
The opponent did not pursue, instead suddenly taking this bizarre stance, raising a trace of suspicion in Shurim’s mind.
But soon, she understood its intent.
“Roar—!!!”
A terrifying howl blasted from the Forest Direwolf’s mouth.
The air and earth quaked, but most crucially, the magic within Shurim’s body went out of control, turning chaotic.
“Damn! It still has this move?!”