Still Mays POV
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Screaming out my rage I hurriedly drew my sword from its sheath before rushing at the miniature tree. "Gorageragaaa!!!!" giving a monstrous roar at my charge, the ground around the creature started to crack as large roots shot out of the ground before heading towards me. Using the sharp edge of my sword, I cut the majority of the incoming roots while using the flat side of my blade to deflect the rest as I quickly made my way over to my daughter. Gritting my teeth as I swung my sword faster, I did my best to ignore the image of my daughter lying against the ground as a large puddle of blood surrounded her body. "Aura enhancement" shouting out one of my skills, my body was instantly enveloped in a blinding light as my movement speed, body strength, and eyesight got a large boost.
Feeling the ground rumble under me I quickly stopped my foot against the ground propelling myself to the left. Not even one second after I had moved from the spot, large roots broke out of the ground, stabbing the place that I had been moments ago. Twisting around themselves, the roots changed directions before launching themselves right for me. Not having time to dodge, I quickly put the flat side of my blade In front of my body as I blocked the incoming attack. Feeling my feet slide out from under me I could only think (Shit) before I was sent flying through the air. Impacting a tree, I let out a gasp of pain before gravity took over, and I fell face-first into the ground.
Letting out painful gasps as I pushed myself up off the ground, my eyes widened in fear as I gathered my strength and quickly rolled away from my previous position. Only a moment later a large tree root impacted the ground where I had been just moments before. Continuing to roll, I barely dodged a line of roots that lodged themselves into the ground at the places that I had just been. Using the momentum of my roll, I rolled myself back onto my feet before continuing to allow the momentum to help me move farther backwards. Steadying myself on my feet, I gave a cough of pain while putting my hand over my mouth. Feeling an even larger burst of pain come from my lungs, I gave one last big cough before feeling something wet impact my hand.
Taking my hand off my mouth, my eyes widened in fear at the sight of my hand covered in a large amount of blood. Hearing the sound of something moving through the air towards my direction I hurriedly swung my sword in a sharp ark as I deflected an incoming root. Looking past the incoming roots at my daughter's body, I hardened my resolve before reading my sword and rushing forward. Dodging many of the incoming projectiles, I continued to make my way towards my daughter, who was lying about thirty meters from the plant. As I got closer to the plant, the roots suddenly stopped before resuming their attacks, but this time with more ferocity.
Swinging my sword in desperation, I continued to deflect, cut, and dodge the incoming attacks as I slowly made my way towards my daughter. Feeling a root Pierce my shoulder, I let out a yell of pain before quickly using my sword and cutting the root and then pulling it out of my shoulder. Looking to my left, I calculated the distance between my daughter and me before noticing that it was a little less than fifteen meters. "Flash step" yelling out another one of my skills, my body became blurry as I immediately disappeared from my spot before appearing In front of my daughter. Grabbing her body, I once again yelled "Flash step" before my body blurred before disappearing and reappearing ten meters away from where I previously stood. As my feet touched the ground my hand went up to cover my mouth as a large cough escaped my lips along with a large glob of blood. The spell that I had just used put a huge strain on the body and was only supposed to be used once per month at the very least.
So of course using it two times in a row would have repercussions. Quickly taking out a healing potion, I poured most of the liquid over my daughter's wound before pouring the rest in her mouth. Hearing the air being split in my right, I quickly grabbed my daughter's body before jumping to the left, barely dodging the pointed tip of a large root. Having already grabbed my daughter, I quickly turned around before bunching up my legs and propelling myself forward. "GWARGAGAGOOOAR!!!!!!!" Letting out a roar full of rage, the tree's body began to move erratically as the surrounding ground started to crack and tremble. Not waiting to see what the tree was doing, I picked up my speed as I did my best to get away from the monstrous creature.
Feeling a bad premonition, I momentarily turned around before fear instantly took hold of me. Moving the four vines that were wrapped around its body and that I had not noticed earlier thanks to the battle, the tree moved them over to the dead wolves that surrounded its body before inserting the vines inside the wolves heads. About a second later, all the wolves body's started to tremble and spasm as wooden spikes started to pop out of each of the wolves backs. The newly grown spikes started to clack against each other as the wolves bones started to make cracking sounds while their fur started taking on a greenish hue. The wolves eyelids fluttered before popping open with a fierce growl.
Their eyes instantly focused on me before glowing with a red light as the wolves lifted themselves off the ground. The wolves all raised their heads simultaneously before letting out a synchronized loud howl. As the howl ended, the pack slowly turned towards my direction. Looking at this creepy scene, I couldn't help but scream "SHHHHIIIIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!" as I forced my body to the limit as I started to pick up speed, leaving a large dust trail floating behind me.
Giving a growl, the wolves bunched up their feet before chasing after me. Lowering their heads, the wolves gave a growl as the wooden spikes along their body's started to make loud cracking sounds before they were shot out of the wolf's body as another spike instantly regenerated and took the last one's place. Widening my eyes, I quickly turned my body as I dodged the incoming projectiles while protecting my daughter's body with my own. Feeling a spike graze my shoulder, I grit my teeth as I forcefully endured the pain while dodging the incoming projectiles. Feeling my body start to turn sluggish, I started to worry as I started to get hit with more of the wooden spikes.
At this point, my breaths started to come out in short gasps as more of my blood started to cover the forest floor. Feeling a spike graze my shoulder while another pierced through my leg, I just continued to grind my teeth against each other as I endured the pain while protecting my sweet daughter. Continuing to run forward, I used the sharp side of my sword to destroy the bottom of a barely standing dead log that I was just passing, I used the momentary destruction to change directions as I continued to run to put more distance in-between me and the wolves. Looking ahead, my eyes widened in surprise as I forcefully put my foot against the ground, stopping my momentum. In front of me stood three of the wolves that had been following me, each of the wolves had their shackles raised as they all let out fierce growls. Hearing something moving behind me, I turned to see the other three wolves come up behind me before stopping.
Widening my eyes at the realization, I couldn't help but smile bitterly. (They lured me into their trap) Knowing that I was now surrounded, I slowly put my daughter, who was still unconscious, down before readying my sword. Observing the wolves, I allowed my eyes to roam as I waited for them to make their move. Giving a growl, the biggest wolf that was obviously the leader launched itself at me as the spikes on its back glowed a bright-green color. Following the first wolf, the rest of the pack followed only a moment later than they all attacked at once.
Giving a fierce yell, I quickly slashed my sword at the cleanest wolf as a long slash mark appeared on its stomach. Feeling something scrape my arm, I immediately reacted by kicking out my leg. Feeling my leg connect with something, I heard the pained yip of a wolf before I felt the jaws of three different wolves attach themselves to both of my legs as well as my left shoulder. Giving out a scream of pain, I grabbed the fur coat of one of the wolves before throwing it off of my back. Feeling another wolf take its place, I cried tears of pain as I did everything in my power to stay standing.
Seeing one of the wolves getting closer to my unconscious daughter with its mouth wide open, I felt fear take a hold of me before a fierce determination overtook my body. Stabbing my sword through my stomach, I heard the pain yip of a wolf as I felt my blade slice through something besides my flesh. Feeling the jaws in my shoulder loosen, I used the rest of my strength to grab the wolf's body before sending the wolf's body flying. Seeing the wolf impact the one that was about to bite my daughter, I gave a sigh of relief for her momentary safety as a sudden sharp pain forced a pained gasp out of my mouth, followed by a large amount of blood. Momentarily ignoring the pain I took my sword before stabbing it into the wolves biting my feet, quickly kicking them off me I hurried to stand over my daughter's body.
Feeling my vision start to turn dark from exhaustion, I bit my tongue as hard as I could as the sudden pain woke me up from exhaustion. It's a good thing because the wolves that I had just knocked down were already back up and circling us once again. Looking down at my daughter, I gave a small bitter smile before readying my sword. Allowing tears to fall from my eyes, I opened my mouth wide before saying only five words. "Song of protection, life exchange!!!" As the words left my mouth, a beautiful song started to escape my mouth as the golden aura, which still surrounded my body thanks to my Aura enhancement skill, suddenly grew even brighter.
As my aura turned blindingly bright, a long stream of golden energy left my body before connecting with my daughter and enveloping her in a golden aura. Surrounding her body, the golden aura floated around her for a second before crystallizing into a see-through golden barrier that looked to be able to withstand anything. Growling in pain I grinded my teeth against each other as the hair on my head grew paler in color before taking on a dark grayish hue. "I love you" whispering these words, I felt the strength leave me as my body fell heavily onto the floor. But unlike what you would think, I didn't lose consciousness.
(The skill I used was a very special one. The skill takes a full five minutes to charge. After being charged, the skill needs an already activated skill that boosts the user's overall fighting power before being able to activate. Once activated, the skill uses the already activated skill that boosts the user's fighting prowess to raise the user's aura to an astronomical amount. After reaching its peak, the now fully charged aura is transferred over to whoever the user targets before enveloping them with the aura made from the skill. Afterward, the aura crystallizes into a magic barrier of enormous strength to protect the one chosen. The skill will automatically keep the one affected in suspended animation until someone with good intentions comes along to take care of the one chosen. So, even if the user were to die, the person selected would stay safe. The only problem is that the skill saps all the user's strength and leaves them paralyzed for three weeks after use, leaving the user completely defenseless.)
(It's strange, even though I'm about to die, I can't help but feel happy. Knowing that my daughter is safe fills me with a sense of warmth that just makes me feel accepting of the death that's coming. My only regret was that I never got to say goodbye to my daughter.) Seeing the wolf come closer, I felt tears fall from my eyes as I felt death loom over me. (Rose I love you, and I truly hope that when you grow up that you know that I will always be with you. (╥﹏╥))
Unfolding its legs out from under it, the wolf propelled itself towards me with its jaws opened wide. Seeing the wolf in midair I gave it one last defiant glare with my eyes as the wolf closed its jaw around my neck... or so it tried. Hearing the sound of a twig snapping come from my right, I had no time to think before something gray flew past me before impacting the wolf's body and sending it flying. Waiting for my eyes to focus from my exhaustion, I let out a mental gasp of surprise as I finally saw my savior. (It's the fox from the adventure guild!!!!)
END OF ARC 3
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Hope y'all liked the 2,000 word chapter. You can thank everyone that recently bookshelves my book for the longer chapter. I finally got 270 bookshelves. Yaaaaaay. Thank you to all y'all fox pups. Welp, see y'all in the next chapter