To become the apex of C-rank creatures, sheer physical might is never enough. After all, there are always those who specialize in countering brute strength.
The Forest Direwolf, while boasting an incredible resistance to magic, also wields attacks akin to magic itself. It can gather the mana within its body into its throat and unleash a howl that manipulates the ambient magical energy.
Such a howl directly disrupts its targetโs mana, making it almost impossible even for magical beasts adept at countering physical threats to withstand.
โโฆ โฆโ
Struck head-on by the howl, all of Shurimโs maintained spells collapsed at once. Her body instantly reverted to that of a normal person, leaving her unable to resist the dreadful sonic onslaughtโher whole being felt as though it was about to be torn apart.
Gritting her teeth, Shurim endured the pain and reached behind her for her staff. She grasped it with both hands and plunged it into the ground before her.
โใแแแแแแแแทแบแแโฆ โฆโ
โPfftโcough, coughโฆ โฆโ
Just as she tried to muster her mana and cast a spell, the rampaging energy inside her body ran wild and scattered.
โโฆ โฆโ
Shurim clamped down even harder, forcing herself to keep trying.
โใแแแแแแแแทแบแแแแแทแบแแแ แชโฆ โฆโ
โCough, cough!โ
โใแแแแโฆ โฆโ
โCough, coughโฆ โฆโ
After several attempts.
โใแแแแแแแแทแบแแแแแทแบแแแ แชแกแแืงืแแบแแแพแชแแปแแขแแแแแแแบแแแพแ แแทแแแฑแ แบแใโ
A brilliant white light erupted from Shurimโs body. In an instant, the sense of mana rampage vanished. The barrier stood as unyielding as a reef in a storm-tossed sea.
Third-tier Light magicโSanctuary Barrier.
Unlike other defensive spells, Sanctuary Barrier does not defend against physical blows, but wards against curses and negative effects. Arrows or fireballs would pass straight through it, but against a negative attack that sends mana into chaos, it excels.
It was a pity that Shurim had not studied the Forest Direwolfโs abilities in detailโsuch records were scarce to begin with. So she hadnโt known about this attack; otherwise, she would have cast Sanctuary Barrier from the start and avoided her current injuries and near defeat.
It was easy to imagine: if she hadnโt managed to activate Sanctuary Barrier, sheโd have been dead from the howl, or left grievously wounded and stripped of all buffsโfacing the Forest Direwolf with no hope of survival.
โโฆ โฆBut now, in the end, Iโm the one whoโs won!โ
The Forest Direwolf, still caught in its continuous roar, neither heard Shurimโs words nor noticed that she was no longer affected by its howl.
โEnhance!โ
โLighten!โ
โFortify!โ
โWarcry!โ
โAndโฆ โฆโ
โIce Construct!โ
One after another, rays of light flashed by. In moments, Shurim was restored to her peak state.
โHooโ!โ
At this moment, the howling ceased.
Panting, the Forest Direwolf tried to catch its breath and looked in Shurimโs direction. When it saw her standing there completely unscathed, it froze.
By its experience, this sort of prolonged howl should have left any opponent shattered or, at the very least, temporarily incapacitated. But none of those signs appeared on Shurim at all.
As it hesitated, Shurim finished readying herself.
โโฆ โฆItโs my turn!โ
As the petite figure charged toward it at high speed, a hint of panic flickered in the Forest Direwolfโs eyes. Yet it stubbornly refused to believe its tried-and-true technique had failed.
It opened its jaws wide again, sucking in air and preparing another howl directed at Shurim.
โYou think youโll get a second try?โ
โWater Cannon!โ
Just as the howl was about to erupt, a massive column of water appeared from thin air and blasted straight into the Direwolfโs gaping maw.
โGraaahโโ
Gallons of water surged down its throat, leaving the Forest Direwolf choking and sputtering, unable to unleash its howlโreduced to hacking coughs of agony.
โLightning Strike!โ
Shurim pressed her advantage.
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the heavens, striking the Forest Direwolf in an instant. Under normal circumstances, such a lightning bolt would scarcely have penetrated its fur, but now, drenched in water and riddled with bleeding wounds, the electricity coursed straight into its vulnerable body.
โGraaahโ!โ
The Forest Direwolf let out another scream of agony.
Whooshโ!
The whistle of something cutting through the airโinstantly, the Forest Direwolf rolled frantically to dodge.
A frigid ice greatsword slashed along its side, opening a bloody wound and shaving away clumps of fur.
โGrrrโฆ โฆโ The Forest Direwolf staggered to its feet, shaking its head in an effort to focus on Shurim. But the lingering effects of the lightning left its limbs stiff and awkward, exposing one opening after another.
โTidal Roarโ!โ
Crash!
A huge wave appeared from nothing and surged toward the Forest Direwolf.
Its whole body shuddered. The memory of being shocked by lightning left it dreading even the sight of water. It wanted nothing more than to avoid a second round.
Yet the wave was too vast; there was nowhere to run. The Forest Direwolf was drenched to the bone.
Now a soaked, bedraggled wolf, it scrambled desperately to escape.
But fortunatelyโat least for nowโno more lightning struck. Unfortunately, something else descended.
โFreezeโ!โ
A bitter wind swept through its sodden fur, and its soaked body froze solid almost instantly.
The Forest Direwolf shuddered, its limbs trembling uncontrollably as the cold sapped its strength, its movements slowing drastically.
Against the sunlight, the Direwolf saw the figure of its opponent leaping high, the ice sword glittering with deadly brilliance. For the first time, it felt a true chill of mortal terror.
โโฆ โฆGraaaahโ!!!โ
At the scent of death, the Forest Direwolfโs primal savagery was roused to its peak. No longer caring about wounds or sluggish movement, it fought back with its oldest, most savage weaponsโfangs and clawsโlaunching a furious, desperate assault at its foe.
Shurim did not back down either, meeting the berserk Direwolf head-on.
Shards of ice and splatters of blood mingled once more at the heart of the battlefieldโฆ โฆ
As a thread of twilight colored the sky.
The long battle finally drew to a close.
A cold, gleaming sword pierced the Forest Direwolfโs throat, leaving a gaping wound.
Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgleโฆ โฆ
Scalding blood poured forth, melting the ice blade.
Neither side moved.
The Forest Direwolf, battered and broken, could move no longer. In its final moment, its gaze rested quietly upon the victor standing atop its head. Yet the only response was the opponentโs lifeless eyes and a body ready to collapse at any moment.
You winโฆ โฆ
The Forest Direwolfโs eyes slowly closedโand never opened again.
Shurim, propped against her melting sword, half-kneeling atop the Direwolfโs head, also remained motionless, her gaze empty. The forest was silent.
The wolf pack looked on in silence.
No one knew when the first wolf stood up, turned, and slowly walked into the endless forest.
Then the second, the third, the fourthโฆ โฆ
The whole pack, in silent acceptance, acknowledged Shurimโs victory and the dissolution of the mixed wolf packโฆ โฆ
โWaa~! Waa~! Waaโฆ โฆโ
As carrion birds cawed from the treetops around the Goblin tribe, the light in Shurimโs eyes flickered back to life.
She flipped herself off the ground and warily surveyed her surroundings. The Goblin tribe lay silent, the only sounds those of the scavengers. The hundreds of wolves that once surrounded the village had vanished without a trace.
Were it not for the wolf corpses littering the ground, it would have seemed a mere dream.
โโฆ โฆโ
Shurim gazed into the shadowed forest for a long time.
Then she turned and walked deeper into the woods. Passing by the massive corpse of the Forest Direwolf, she paused briefly, glanced down at it, and then continued on her wayโฆ โฆ
โฆ โฆ