Meanwhile,
Whimpers and cries echoed from the forest, flames brewed in its center as a group of people passed the burning corpses of wolves. A desperate look passed over the face of a fiery beauty, the gentleness on her face yet compared to the flames that brooded around her fought for supremacy.
"We have to find them!" The Beauty's desperate voice along with her flames increased in volume, "Even if it's just their body… We have to find them." Her knees went weak as she crumpled to the ground as tears streamed down her face.
Xu Xun caught her falling friend. Her eyes looked moist as if she was ready to cry along with her friend. She couldn't bare looking at Astrid like this, ever since the day Seraph and John left she had grown worried and as the days extended she was eventually brought to this state here.
Xu Xun consoled her, she couldn't go against her no matter what. The other people in the group looked around, the forest previously thought impossible to burn… was burning. Shi-Won and Alex, accompanied by a mysterious 3rd party with bandages wrapping him from head to toe, his face concealed in darkness as his hood was up.
Shi-Won donning his silver armor, walked forward, his eyes glanced at the destruction then focused on its epicenter "We have to face the facts, he's dead… John probably got too conf-"
"No!" Astrid shouted, her hands peeled away Xu Xun's as she stood up. "It's impossible! John was there, he could handle anything! Nothing could have happened with John there! Nothing!"
Alex threw his hat into the ring, with a tense smile he attempted to approach the beauty with an outstretched hand."But he's not-"
"John, was stronger than all of us here! Even though his class was low, he was stronger than shi-won!" Astrid fought back against them, her tone was still desperate but it had some reasoning behind it stil. Even if the reasoning was a bit lacking...Shi-won's face went ugly as he heard her carry on. "There is no way that john would lose and even if he did, seraph was also there!"
Shi-won didn't say anything, Alex attempted to persuade her again, "But seraph was a weak class, what could he have done?"
"That's exactly why I'm doubting it! If Seraph was there! John would never go deeper into the forest! If Seraph was there, John would prioritize running away if it was something he couldn't handle!" Astrid's voice grew louder, as the crackling of the flames grew more volatile.
"We'll help you find them…" Shi-won said slowly, "We'll find them. Alright?"
Astrid stared at shi-won, tears continuously pouring down her eyes. She nodded as she spoke "Thank-"
However, her emotional thank you was put on hold as the group heard cracks near them. Then an inhumane roar. The leaves above them pulled back and snapped as a gigantic black wolf covered in some scars and a few smaller arrows plummeted down toward Astrid with its maw outstretched.
Astrid frantically readied her spell, the fire around her dispersed immediately leaving only small scars of the flame on wood as she gathered her mana into her palm. She wasn't fast enough though and the gigantic wolf was already close enough to devour her in a bite…
However, Xu Xun summoned her shield to her forearm and appeared in front of her like an iron statue. The wolf weight slammed into the shield, as its teeth ruthlessly scraped against the iron making huge dents into her shield, she swung her shield shaking the gigantic wolf off as she swung her hammer.
The wolf had already leapt off by that time, her hammer only striking its shadow. Astrid continued readying her spell, the manly trio on the other hand got into their position. The man in bandages suddenly disappeared from sight as Shi-Won sword in hand began his selfless charge.
Alex immediately pulled his bow back and knocked an arrow into it, he had to adjust it as he aimed… However, the wolf wasn't sitting still as soon as it's paws touched the ground it charged toward the closest person. Shi-won who was charging forward.
Shi-won's sword glimmered and The wolf's claw shined like freshly made steel. The wolf pounced forward, it's claws slapping against shi-won's sword. A crisp ring of metal colliding echoed throughout the battlefield, their strength looked equal, however… that was only for a moment as the wolf twisted its body awkwardly, its tail swiping shi-won into a nearby tree.
Xu Xun rushed forward, her shield turned red as she chanted. The wolf charging toward shi-won whipped its head around 180, aggression and anger filled its mind and its source of aggression seemed to be the shield. Xu Xun learned a special skill, which allowed her to attract enemies' attention…
The wolf didn't pounce as expected, instead it sprinted at her like a bullet. Xu Xun wasn't worried though, Astrid behind her had finished her spell and was ready to send it off. With the finishing touches, she let out a sharp sound as she pointed her hands at the charging wolf.
Flames gushed forward like a geyser, as it took form it quickly formed into a ball of flame and splashed against the wolf's chest making it look terrifying as the wolf howled into the sky in pain. It's hide was not pierced but its fur was burnt and on fire recently…
It shook its head and charged again. This time on fire… Xu Xun didn't know if she wanted to laugh or cry. She activated another skill: her shield looked like it grew two times larger before returning back to its normal size.
A light barrier appeared in front of her, the wolf's head slammed into the barrier, cracks were already appearing on it, however, Alex finding his shot finally let loose an arrow… His arrow accurately slammed into the wolf's face… It barely pierced its skin but the wolf let out another manic cry into the sky.
As it cried into the air, Shi-won pounced on it from behind. His sword slashed an X into the wolves hide, again, their strikes barely pierced its thick hide but shi-won could swear that he could see a small bit of blood on the wolf.
However, the wolf was not done yet at all. It suddenly turned around and swiped at Shi-won who blocked it. His second paw suddenly appeared from shi-won's side… Shi-won couldn't block this attack at all and its claw immediately pierced his skin.
The wolf's tail swung behind it, colliding into the light barrier Xu Xun had set up. The barrier broke under the wolf's tail and Xu Xun had to bare half of the impact… but even that sent a shock up her shield arm, almost numbing it.
Astrid was forced to cast a healing spell at the same time, healing shi-won at a rapid quick pace but he was smacked too far from the ation to impede the wolf's rampage. After attacking in such a manner it appeared in front of Alex like a shadow.
Alex kicked off the ground attempting to flee, however, his base speed could barely match the hulking behemoth of a wolf in front of him. The wolf's maw stretched out and latched onto Alex's shoulder and pulled him down to the ground…
"HELP! HELP ME!" Alex immediately began crying out for help.
Xu Xun rushed forward to shield bash the wolf away but then she saw a black shadow appear in the air above the wolf, it descended quickly. A dagger in one hand, they spun it in their hand before cruelly stabbing it into the wolves eye.
He mounted the wolf like it was a horse and the wolf reeled back like it was one as it howled into the sky. Xu Xun didn't stop her charge she instead reeled back her hammer and slammed it into the wolf, as Alex quickly grabbed his bow and arrow and knocked in another arrow.
Xu Xun and Alex's attack both glowed brightly, this was a move they had learned after a few days. A system assisted attack, called heavy strike. Both of their attacks landed on the wolf, the wolf's body was blown away, the arrow pierced its hide completely but was stuck as it made its way into its muscles.
The Assassin ripped their dagger up the wolves eye and leapt off of it. The wolf struggled to its feet, it turned around looking to retreat but a beaten shi-won suddenly appeared in front of it with a golden flash.
Shi-won's sword cleaved into the wolf's neck only going half way through before being stopped… The wolf looked as if it was about to counter attack even with its neck nearly cut off. When a bolt of lightning pierced its entire body…
Astrid then fell to her knees…
"What kind of beast was that?" Astrid said as she was caught by Xu Xun.
Soon their system gave them an answer.
[ Feral Dark Wolf Killed ]
"Feral Dark Wolf? Damn! No wonder why it was super strong." Alex held his shoulder.
"Sh." Shi-won suddenly attempted to hush everyone up.
"What? What's wrong?" Alex the archer, was both the scouter and navigator of the group… If he didn't sense anything then how could shi-won?
"Those arrows in its hide. Those don't look like they belong to our camp." Astrid suddenly spoke quietly.
Shi-won, who had forced everyone to stay silent, nodded, "They aren't."
Alex immediately used his sensory skills, he even pressed his ear up against the ground a couple of times… "Other than a few other little animals, I don't sense anyone else around here…Plus, those arrows didn't pierce it completely so it's safe to assume whoever attacked it is dead."
"Mhm," Shi-won nodded his head. He then swept his gaze across the trees, "Let's go back to camp…"
Astrid immediately attempted to reject ."But what about sera-"
"If seraph is still alive, he's with the people who attacked this beast. They seem to be around here…" Xu Xun whispered into her ear. "Hon, I know you care too much, but right now you need to heal up before finding seraph… only when you're stronger are you able to find him"
Astrid nodded her head slowly, "I understand… let's go then." She allowed Xu xun to carry her.
However, no one could tell. What was going on inside of Shi-won's head. After seeing that arrow, after realizing that he was no longer alone in this world… and perhaps Seraph survived. His face turned ugly… all the way back to the camp he was in the front even Alex, his best friend, wasn't allowed in front of him.