Chapter 48: What Big Teeth You Have

  It was enormous, its fur pitch-black and milky-white eyes different than the rest – more precise and deadly.

  Its fangs seemed like blades as it let out a low growl, the sound vibrating the air around me.

  Standing protectively in front of Diona, I tightened my grip around Silverfang, ready to fight as Déjà vu made sure to remind me I had already faced this monstrosity.

  The beast tilted its head back and howled again, the sound reverberating through the chamber – not just noise, but an attack. The sound wave struck like a hammer, making me stagger and fall to my knees as a fifth of my HP dropped from the sheer force of being too close.

  “Stay back!” I shouted at Diona, hoping she would understand.

  The Pack Leader didn’t wait. It lunged forward, faster than I anticipated, claws extended, aiming straight at me.

  I sidestepped with Dash Step, narrowly avoiding the strike. As its momentum carried it forward, it twisted mid-air, its claws slashing horizontally. I barely raised Silverfang in time, forced to block, the impact sending vibrations up my arms and dropping my HP by 10%.

  The beast didn’t relent. Its massive body moved quickly, darting left and right, the zigzag pattern making it difficult to predict its next move. It feinted to my left before spinning to my right, its claws aiming for me. I ducked, rolling under the swipe, immediately retaliating with Blade Rush. I closed the gap and aimed the glaive at the wolf’s flank, but it twisted faster than I could react, slamming its tail at me. Muscle Memory kicked in and I ducked just in time, rolling to the side and swinging Silverfang in a wide arc to force it back.

  It pressed the advantage, launching at me again.

  I barely managed to dodge in time. The wolf landed where I had been moments before, the impact shattering the stone floor beneath it.

  Okay, I underestimated it because its level was lower than mine. These half-measures won’t cut it – time to get serious.

  I activated Wind Rush, hoping to match it in speed now.

  Escaping another attack, I quickly circled around the beast with two successive Dash Steps and drove Silverfang into its ribs. This time I was too fast for it.

  The beast roared, swinging its claws at me, forcing me to back away.

  Then it gained distance, opened its maw and released another sound wave – this one sharper and directed straight at me.

  Acting on instinct, and Muscle Memory, I smashed Silverfang at the ground, activating Explosive Strike. The explosion met the sound wave mid-air, the resulting eruption sending a shockwave rippling through the chamber and damaging the beast.

  The Pack Leader growled as it was forced back, its massive paws scraping against the stone to regain balance.

  It lunged again.

  I dodged with Dash Step once more, countering with a quick strike that grazed its flank. But the beast was too fast – and too smart – for me to land consecutive hits.

  We danced like this for a while. It would lunge, I’d dodge, and I’d manage a single strike before it evaded and prepared again.

  Eventually, when I finally managed to get it 50%, something changed.

  Pack Leader suddenly shifted its posture, howling stronger than before. Suddenly, blue lightning crackled around its body, illuminating the darkness around us.

  I tightened my grip on Silverfang, my mind raced as I processed its transformation. Could it use that lightning to strike me from a distance? Would I even be able to get close without the lightning driving me back?

  Before I could form a plan, the chamber echoed with a new set of growls as eight Undead Wolves rushed inside, surrounding me.

  Great…

  The pack lunged in unison. I reactivated Wind Rush, dodging their attacks and creating some much-needed distance, slaying three of them in the process.

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  As they regrouped, I swung Silverfang in a wide arc, activating Horizon.

  The wind slash tore through the air, slamming the wolves and sending them stumbling backwards.

  And then I saw it.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Pack Leader moving. The lightning surrounding its body flared, crackling brighter as it blurred into motion – so fast I could barely catch its movement.

  Time seemed to slow down as I realized the sad truth: it was faster than me – a lot faster.

  In a split second, the giant wolf appeared on my blind side, its lightning-coated maw wide open and aiming for my body. But there was no time to dodge.

  Reacting on instinct, I activated Wind Fortification.

  As the wolf’s fangs closed around me, an invisible layer of wind surged outward, forming a protective barrier around my skin. The barrier exploded on impact, sending a shockwave through the chamber.

  Pack Leader was hurled backward by my air magic, skidding across the floor. Its minions were caught in the blast as well, flying in all directions.

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  I didn’t waste a second, utilizing Blade Rush to close the distance and finish them off.

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  [+318 XP]

  Then, I aimed for the leader.

  I surged forward with another Blade Rush, targeting its electrified torso. But just as I swung, Pack Leader blurred into motion again, its body twisting way too fast. It dodged effortlessly, disappearing from my sight.

  Muscle Memory reacted immediately – it had done this before: feigning pain, followed by an evasive counter. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, pivoting sharply just as the wolf lunged from behind.

  Silverfang met its maw mid-attack, lightning crackling everywhere. Sparks leaped from the glaive, some striking me, steadily dropping my HP to 30% as we were locked in a stalemate.

  The clash broke, and we separated. I struggled to steady my breathing as my mind raced. What could I even do against this insane speed?

  I wished for a moment of peace to consume something to restore my declining health, but Pack Leader wasn’t giving me a chance. It lunged at me with its incredible speed.

  I activated Dash Step, just barely dodging its jaws. The wolf slammed into the ground where I had been a moment before as my boots skidded across the floor, barely keeping my footing before it was on me again.

  The thing about Pack Leader wasn’t just its speed – it was actually its precision. Even when its first attack missed, it pivoted instantly. Every lunge flowed seamlessly into the next, leaving me no openings to counter.

  I rolled under a swipe, the wolf’s lightning-coated claws slicing through the air above me. The second I regained my footing, it lunged again, forcing me into another Dash Step, and then another, and then another. It gave me no moment to rest.

  I growled in frustration as I kept dodging.

  I wanted to strike back, but I couldn’t. It was obvious that in this current state, I would likely miss, and that would cost me everything. The extra fraction of a second I’d lose recovering from a failed swing would be all the wolf needs to strike. And then – it’s all over. Checkpoint was still on, so not everything would be lost, but still…

  I knew I had to wait it out. To reach the moment when its frenzy state ceased. Only then could I attack.

  [Stamina: 25% - Movement Speed reduced by 10%]

  [Second Wind: Movement Speed and Agility exhaustion debuffs disabled]

  [Movement Speed restored]

  I’d almost forgotten about Second Wind. Exhaustion wasn’t really an issue for me as long as I play this right.

  So despite the dire situation, I still had an ace up my sleeve. Once my stamina hits zero, it would replenish instantly.

  That means I just need to keep dodging, stay focused, be patient, and wait it out.

  We kept at it – the wolf attacking, chasing me while I dodged constantly – until it finally happened.

  Pack Leader faltered, its movements becoming slower, the crackling lightnings dimming.

  This is it.

  Without hesitation, I activated Blade Rush, closing the gap in an instant as I charged Explosive Strike on my way there. The glaive pulsed as I appeared next to the beast, slamming it against the wolf with all my strength.

  The impact resulted in both an explosion and a critical hit, sending Pack Leader flying backward, its HP bar plummeting to 25%.

  [Second Wind: Activated]

  [Stamina: 100%]

  Powered by my renewed stamina, I pressed the attack. Activating Blade Rush again, I closed the distance. The wolf, despite its injuries, twisted and dodged with its amazing speed. But this time, I was ready.

  Muscle Memory kicked in again – a flicker of familiarity. As the wolf reappeared at my side, I pivoted sharply, my free hand snapping forward with a Wind Blast.

  The surge of wind that erupted from my hand slammed into the beast’s face, stunning it.

  With the wolf stunned, I positioned and swung the glaive in a powerful arc, the blade carving deep into its chest, landing another critical hit, courtesy of my subclass.

  Pack Leader let out a final, sorrowful howl as its HP dropped to 0%. Its body collapsed to the ground, glowing brightly as it dissolved into light.

  [Pack Leader - Defeated]

  [+494 XP]

  As the light faded, three items remained: a glowing white orb, a glowing blue orb, and a…wolf’s fang?

  Surprised, confused - and everything in between - I approached the fang first, picking it up.

  [Lightning Bearer’s Fang]

  What the hell? Lightning Bearer? What does that even mean?

  I analysed it more thoroughly. It was sharp, almost like the blade of a knife, with lightning crackling around it, leaving me uneasy, believing it could damage me.

  Unsure of what I could do with it, I stored it in my second inventory for now.

  [Item Acquired: Lightning Bearer’s Fang (Weapon Component) – Added to Inventory #2]

  It seemed like the Déjà vu System recognized it as a weapon component. Well, sure, I guess the fang does look sharp enough to be used as a dagger’s blade. Plus, the root part of it was quite large, so theoretically speaking a blacksmith could craft a handle around it without it affecting the blade’s size too much.

  The question was: where would I even find a blacksmith around here? There wasn’t one invited to this quest, as the Burning Suns’ Enchanters were meant to buff our weapons between levels to prevent them from breaking. I could try Sandrest’s blacksmith, Malcolm, but I’m pretty sure he’s visiting relatives in the capital this week.

  I sighed, turning my attention to the other items, I picked up the white glowing orb.

  It was named The Bounding Light. The description read: A fragment of the wolf’s unmatched speed lies within, raw and untamed.

  I closed my hand around it, and the orb’s glow intensified.

  [The Bounding Light: You have gained 5 Agility Points]

  A grin spread across my face. Just like the orb Kaelstrife had dropped, this one granted extra stat points – only this time, it focused on a single stat. Thankfully, it was the exact one I was most proficient in.

  My Agility stat rose to 31, and my overall level increased to 82.

  Finally, I picked up the blue orb.

  It was named Speed of Light. The description read: An orb imbued with the restless spirit of a once-bound storm. Forged from the essence of a beast once raised by the first wielders of magic. It hums, promising the impossible.

  The description was enough to make me crush the orb in my hand, just as I had with the previous one.

  Then, something unexpected happened.

  [Skill Unlocked: Speed of Light – Perception and Movement Speed are quadrupled for the next minute. Can stack with other abilities. Cooldown: 24 hours]

  Quadrupled? And can stack?! With my already high Agility, and Wind Rush, I might actually be able to move at the speed of light.

  Suddenly, the word impossible in the description made perfect sense.

  But the cooldown was ridiculously long – essentially making it a once-per-run skill for me.

  Still, the idea of moving so fast, even for just a minute, was incredible. In combat, this one minute should feel like an eternity.

  Satisfied with the loot, I turned back to where I’d last seen Diona – before we were attacked.

  She wasn’t there.