The direwolf facing Leylin finally launched an attack, a gleaming claw specked with blood slashing towards him, carrying a hot wave of air.
[Host is under attack! Most efficient method of dealing with it: use the cross blade to block at a 50-degree angle to the right, then pierce!]
Leylin's eyes flashed as he tightened his grip on the cross blade, his breathing technique circulating at full force. His muscles coiled like springs, prepared for the impact.
"Ha!" With a shout, he followed the AI Chip's instructions precisely. The cross blade swept to the right, deflecting the incoming claw.
BANG!
A shockwave traveled up his arm, the sheer force of the impact making him feel as though he had struck solid iron. His fingers trembled for a fraction of a second before he steadied himself.
"This direwolf is stronger than me… If I keep blocking its attacks, I'll be exhausted before long."
Instead of launching a counterattack, Leylin took a cautious step back, assessing the battlefield. The black-robed Knights held firm at the perimeter, their greatswords flashing like silver arcs under the fading light.
Among the students, George stood out, moving with an elegance that almost made his deadly swordplay resemble a performance.
"His Knight Technique must be of a Grandknight grade." Leylin mused, but he didn't care much his
The fight dragged on, the sun dipping beneath the horizon, shrouding the grass plains in darkness. Now, only the eerie glow of the direwolves' aquamarine eyes illuminated the battlefield.
"Hah… hah…" Leylin gasped for breath. Blood soaked his robes, belonging to the direwolves he had wounded but despite the AI Chip's efficiency, exhaustion clawed at his limbs. Leylin only looked to defend himself and wound the Direwolves, because killing them is riskier.
"The black-robed Knights still have some energy, but even they won't last much longer."
His gaze flickered toward the white-robed Magi. They remained motionless, seated in the center of the camp, surrounded by a three-meter radius of emptiness. The surrounding acolytes kept their distance, as if instinctively fearing the aura they radiated.
"They should be taking action soon, I should end my fight and retreat. This was a valuable combat experience."
The direwolf pack had lost a third of its number, but their ferocity only seemed to grow. Their howls pierced the night air, an ominous chorus foretelling the final wave.
"Aowuuuuuu!"
At the head of the pack, the lead direwolf's cry sent the remaining beasts into a frenzy. They lunged forward, their movements wilder, more reckless—completely abandoning their previous tactics.
"It's here—the final wave!"
Leylin took a step forward, gripping his cross blade tighter.
Bang!
A massive force struck his blade, nearly knocking it from his hands. Leylin gritted his teeth.
"These ones are bigger… stronger."
[Direwolves identified: Elite Direwolves. Strength: 2.3, Agility: 4.1, Vitality: 3.1. Highly loyal to the pack leader.]
The AI Chip provided its analysis, but Leylin didn't need numbers to recognize the danger. These weren't ordinary direwolves. Their hulking forms, nearly twice the size of their kin, proved their role as elite warriors of the pack.
And they were here to break through. Without hesitation, Leylin engaged the nearest bodyguard direwolf, maneuvering around its attacks rather than clashing head-on.
His cross blade danced through the air, slicing across its limbs, inflicting wounds but never overextending.
The battle raged on. The defensive perimeter wavered.
A desperate scream tore through the night.
"AHHHH!"
A direwolf had broken through. The acolytes screamed as it rampaged through their ranks. One of the girls—her face pale with terror—stumbled and fell, the beast lunging toward her with a savage snarl.
"Save me!"
Nearby, another acolyte was already down, his throat torn open.
"Lets end this." Leylin reached into his pouch with a swift motion, retrieving a handful of berries. He tossed them into his mouth, chewing rapidly before swallowing. The instant burst of energy steadied his trembling limbs.
At the same time, the black-robed Knights finally unleashed their trump card.
"Activate your secret skills!"
A roar erupted from their ranks. Muscles expanded, veins bulged, and their entire forms seemed to swell with raw power. Their strength surged, their strikes heavier and more brutal.
[Knight Secret Skill detected! Strength and defense increased; agility decreased!]
The AI Chip recorded the transformation. Leylin's eyes gleamed with fascination.
"So this is the secret skill of Knights…With this data, I should be able to create a life seed next time. "
For a moment, he was tempted to continue observing, but—
"AAAAH!"
The direwolf had reached the fallen girl. Its jaws opened, aiming for her throat—
Leylin found an opportunity to slay the beast and he moved. Step forward. Twist. Cross Slash.
The movements were instinctive, refined by the countless simulations in his mind.
His cross blade slashed downward, cutting deep into the direwolf's flank. Blood sprayed, but Leylin wasn't done. With a powerful twist, he redirected the force of his strike, forming a brilliant arc in the air.
Cross Slash!
The second cut followed instantly, intersecting the first wound. A cross-shaped gash appeared on the direwolf's body.
"NOW!"
Leylin advanced. His sword flashed.
SHLNK!
The direwolf's head separated from its body. A moment of silence followed. Then—
The surrounding direwolves hesitated. Even the black-robed Knights turned their heads for a glance.
Leylin exhaled, stepping onto the severed head of the direwolf he had slain. Leylin smirked beneath his bloodstained face,'I've done enough.'
Leylin stepped over the massive corpse of the direwolf to went towards the barricade, the dead wolves lifeless eyes staring at nothingness. The battlefield around him was still in chaos, but in this moment, he felt strangely detached. A strange pulse ran through his body, a deep resonance he had never felt before.
Suddenly, a crisp mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Beep! Anomaly detected! Unknown energy signature awakening within Host! Initiating emergency diagnostics...]
A sharp pain shot through his skull as countless fragments of information drilled into his mind—foreign yet familiar, as if they had always been a part of him but had been locked away. His vision blurred, and for an instant, the world around him ceased to exist.
Then, a new prompt from the A.I. Chip appeared before his eyes.
[Ability Awakened: Soulbound Devourer]
Core Function: The ability to bind or devour the souls of slain creatures.
Soul Binding: Host may tether a defeated soul to his own, allowing him to summon and command it in battle. The bound soul retains its memories and instincts but is subordinate to Host's will. The power of bound souls gradually diminishes after binding.
Soul Devouring: Host may consume the soul directly, absorbing fragments of its strength, skills, or memories. However, frequent devouring risks overloading Host's mind.
Limitations: Powerful souls resist binding or devouring. Excessive soul absorption can cause instability.
[Would you like to bind the soul of the slain direwolf?]
Leylin's eyes flickered. The direwolf had been a formidable opponent, and having it as a spectral beast under his control would be valuable for the current him.
'Would the Magus detect it? Magus are quite adapt in manipulating soul energy.' Leylin turned serious, asking the A. I. Chip.
[Beep! According to the information inherited from host powers, binding and devouring both involve different mechanism. If host commands to bind the Direwolf deceased soul, it would take a translucent spectral form, which would release small undulation of soul energy susceptible to be perceived by experienced Magus...]
[..But if host request to devour it, it would release soul essence because currently host cannot control his spiritual force. ]
'So I can't do either?' Leylin furrowed his brows.
[Beep! Recommend action is devour! The soul energy is not same as soul essence. Its a grade of existence that's impossible to be perceived by someone unless they are perspective to the laws of Magus World themselves.]
"So magus below Rank 7 can't feel it, in short. Does that mean Soulbound Devourer is a law? Anyways devour it,"He commanded.
A chill swept through his body as the slain direwolf's corpse remained the same but an invisible energy shuddered unnaturally.
A faint black thread extended from Leylin's chest, weaving itself into the direwolf's soul, locking it to him.
Inside Leylin's consciousness, a translucent, spectral wolf rose, its aquamarine eyes now dim and submissive, suddenly a repressive energy attacked the Direwolf.
A formless wail echoed in his mind, silent yet deafening, as an unseen force was sucked into him. A shudder ran down his spine, an overwhelming rush of something ancient, wild, and raw flooding his body. Power. He could feel it, a foreign vitality surging through his veins, melding into his own. His muscles tensed, his senses sharpened, and a whisper—something not entirely his own—lingered at the edge of his consciousness.
[Devouring complete..]
Leylin kept his glance at the Magus far away who didn't show any change and exhaled, his body still adjusting to the strange sensation of having another existence tethered to his own. A sinister smile played on his lips.
This world was dangerous, but now, he had a new weapon and he would use it mercilessly.
'Show my stats.'
[Beep! Leylin Farlier. Strength: 2.8, Agility: 3.1, Vitality: 2.9, Status: Healthy]
'Almost at the threshold of a full fledged Knight.'