Elrian took a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion of the day's events. Sensing the dwindling reservoir of qi within him, a sense of urgency bubbled up. He needed to complete his task swiftly and head home before his energy was entirely drained.
He crouched down next to the rat's carcass, and his fingers expertly traced the creature's anatomy. Though the rat was much like any ordinary animal, its body was more muscular and its skin tougher, evident signs of its evolution into a Qi-infused creature. He took out a small, sharp knife from his side pouch and made a precise incision from its jawline down to its tailbone.
As he worked, Serpwingra offered silent support, its presence a comforting assurance against the lurking dangers of the forest.
Elrian's skilled hands separated the layers of skin, revealing a structure similar to common animals but pulsating with a subdued energy. He carefully maneuvered around the organs, searching for the core, which he knew would be located near the heart region.
After a few minutes, Elrian's fingers found what they were looking for. The core, pulsating with a gentle, bluish glow, was nestled between the heart and liver. With utmost care, he detached the core, placing it in a special pouch designed to contain and preserve these potent items.
He then proceeded to close up the incision and concealed the rat's remains. It was crucial not to leave traces of his hunts, lest other predators be attracted to the site.
With the core securely tucked away, Elrian realized the enormity of his fatigue. He needed to make it home. Every step was a chore, and his surroundings began to blur as exhaustion set in.
The familiar rustle of the forest's leaves and the distant chirping of birds were his only companions as he made his way through the winding paths. Memories of the day's adventures played in his mind, reinforcing the lessons he had learned.
The setting sun cast long shadows on the forest floor, turning the green canopy above into a riot of fiery hues. But Elrian wasn't focused on the beauty around him; he was solely driven by the thought of getting home.
As he neared the forest's edge, the familiar silhouette of the village began to emerge in the distance. The sight filled him with relief; he was almost there. However, just as the comfort of safety beckoned, an ominous rustling came from behind him. Elrian halted in his tracks, a shiver running down his spine. He was not alone.
The emergence of the two greenish wolves caught Elrian off guard. Their eyes glowed menacingly, their wind affinity clearly visible as their forms seemed to shimmer and ripple with the currents. Their lean muscles flexed as they readied themselves, prepared to pounce.
Every instinct in Elrian's body screamed at him to attack, but he knew better. With only a tenth of his qi pool remaining, a head-on attack would be rash. Instead, he fell back on his recent training, centering himself to primarily defend and evade.
The wolves were quick, powered by the wind, darting in and out with incredible agility. They threw wind blades towards him, sharp gusts that cut through the air with deadly precision. Elrian danced around them, using minimal movements and even less qi. He let the wind blades come close, dodging them at the last possible moment, conserving his energy.
Serpwingra's voice echoed in his mind, guiding him, "*Feel the rhythm of the wind, anticipate their moves.*" Elrian did just that. He could feel the subtle shifts in the air, the changes in pressure just moments before an attack.
As the wolves continued their relentless onslaught, Elrian's defense grew sharper. Each evasive move became more efficient, using less qi but achieving the same, if not better, results. He was learning to synchronize with the very element the wolves wielded, turning it against them subtly.
Every time a wolf lunged, Elrian would pivot just so, letting the momentum of the beast carry it past him, causing it to crash into trees or rocks. The wolves, though fast, began to show signs of fatigue and frustration.
Seizing on an opportunity, Elrian focused his remaining qi into a powerful Galestrike. He feigned vulnerability, drawing one of the wolves in. Just as it was about to strike, he unleashed the Galestrike. The wolf, caught off guard, was sent reeling backward, temporarily dazed.
However, the other wolf saw through his ploy and charged with renewed ferocity. Elrian's qi was rapidly dwindling, and he knew he couldn't sustain another focused attack like that. He needed a plan, and fast.
With every fiber of his being, Elrian connected with the wind around him. He felt its whispers, its nudges. Acting on instinct, he waited until the last moment and then used the wind to redirect the wolf's own wind blade back at it.
The blade struck the wolf, causing it to howl in pain. It wasn't a fatal blow, but it bought Elrian some time. Breathing heavily, he assessed the situation. The battle was far from over, but he was slowly turning the tide in his favor.
With the two wolves temporarily disoriented, Elrian knew he had to seize the opportunity. But he also realized brute force wasn't the way to go. Instead, he had to employ efficiency, combining soft and hard techniques to navigate the wolves' relentless energy attacks.The first wolf lunged again, sending another wind blade slicing through the air. Elrian, drawing from the soft teachings of Serpwingra, used a minimal amount of qi to subtly manipulate the air currents around the blade. Rather than outright deflecting it, he guided it just slightly off course, making it harmless.
The second wolf, seeing this, tried a different approach. It pounced, attempting to land a physical blow. Elrian used a hard method this time, focusing his qi into a Gale shield just in front of him. The wolf crashed into the shield, disoriented by the sudden resistance.