The air was filled with a chilling coppery smell that grew stronger.
At last, nearly all the villagers were inside the building. From the last few, a pair of anxious eyes glanced nervously at A-Lai. They appeared eager to communicate something, yet were held back by shyness, unable to find their voice.
A-Lai felt someone watching him, even without turning around. But just as he was about to look, the girl turned her head and slipped through the door. He watched the familiar sight of her slim back and long black hair vanish from his view.
A-Lai started to lift his hand, then stopped, his hand just hanging there."What am I doing? Saying goodbye to the girl? But what if she doesn't even like me?" He couldn't stop all these thoughts from suddenly rushing into his head.
The headmaster was very sweaty and kept watching the villagers and the two guards.
"A-Lai, Dizzy Dan, hurry back! Don't be reckless!" The headmaster shouted behind them, but it seemed Dizzy Dan didn't hear a thing.
Meanwhile, outside the main gate, the wolves' eyes glowed red as they surrounded the entrance. They moved with stealth and grace, some leaping over the gate, others knocking down obstacles, all without a sound.
"Lord, why don't we attack now? There are only two of them," whispered a voice from the dark forest, eyeing the battlefield.
"It is no fun at all, patience. Let's see what tricks they have first. We've given shelter to those coins; it's time they repaid us. How long do you think the two will last?"
"Not long. Ten minutes at most."
As they gazed at the cascade of coins glinting in the moonlight, A-Lai's voice trembled, caught between dread and excitement."Uncle Dan, is it too late to quit the fight?"
Dan met A-Lai's gaze, seeing not fear, but a gleam of eagerness."You little trickster," he said, his eyes dancing with mischief as they surveyed the distance. With a sly grin, he added,"Brace yourself, the true adventure is just around the corner!"
Stepping back, A-Lai's thoughts whirled."It's like stepping into a tale of heroes. May I be the hero of this story."
Chuckling, Dan replied,"Ah, kid, today you're the hero's trusty companion!"
Finally, the wolves gathered close to the bonfire, their eyes glinting with hungry red light, silently surrounded the entrance. They moved with agile cunning; some leapt gracefully over the wood fence, while others fiercely knocked down obstacles, approaching with ghostly silence.
The wolves' eyes gleamed with a savage light, their ivory fangs dripping with eager saliva. Their dense fur appeared unnaturally rigid under the moonlight, and their tails were tightly tucked, like warriors on the battlefield, ready to charge at any moment.
A-Lai and Dizzy Dan were forced to the center of the courtyard, standing back-to-back. In their eyes, there was no fear, only determination.
A-Lai gripped his iron spear tightly. The shaft, wrapped with rough burlap soaked in linseed oil, had been repeatedly coated and sun-dried, taking on a deep, almost enigmatic black hue. In the tense atmosphere, the shaft seemed to sense his perspiration, silently absorbing each drop.
The spear's weight gave him an inexplicable sense of security. Unfortunately, the spearhead in his hand was merely a wooden training tool this time. Otherwise, its sharp edge would certainly have struck fear into the greedy wolf pack.
Meanwhile, Dan casually picked up an irregularly shaped log to start the fire. The rough-hewn stick exuded a raw beauty, as if it harbored an unpredictable power within.
"Dan! A-Lai! Come back!" Once more the headmaster called out in distress.
A-Lai glanced quietly at Dizzy Dan, whose eyes held only excitement.
"Headmaster, you go inside first. I want to see if the wolves are afraid of people!"
Dizzy Dan, the cherished youngest of the family, grew up with every wish fulfilled, basking in the affection and protection of his older siblings.
His prowess in martial arts was unmatched, earning him admiration from local kids, the pride of his master, and the family's dreams rested on his shoulders.
Such unwavering support shaped his will; once Dan set his mind to something, he was unstoppable.
As they spoke, the swarm of coin creatures launched their first assault. Initially, they quivered softly. Then, they began to whirl more rapidly.
Soon, they spun into a frenzied whirlwind that screeched through the air. At their peak velocity, they launched in erratic patterns.
They moved like cunning and lethal shuriken.
And so, the battle commenced.
Dan leaped into action, his boots thudding and staff pounding the ground.
A-Lai sensed a gentle breeze brushing past his ear. A muted thump quickly followed on the school's wall.
Initially, A-Lai attempted to grab the coin dart, but as the attack unfolded, he quickly shifted to evasion.
In no time, he was twirling his spear rapidly, creating a barrier like a tornado around him.
This defense set off a chorus of metallic sounds. For someone new to combat, this was an overwhelming and challenging first encounter.
As seconds passed, the air filled with sharp whistles. They echoed the chaotic dance of wild bees around him.
Dan, impressed, saw combat rapidly forges skill.
"This boy is clever! I need to figure out how to handle this."
Picking up a fire stick, he dodged attacks and redirected coins back at the wolves, causing yelps of pain.
Before long, Dan saw that A-Lai had begun to send the coins flying back at their source, leading to yelps of pain from the wolves watching. It seemed as if they were blaming their own comrades for their misfortune.
From the dark, a giant wolf grumbled,"Lord, these two are tough. Ouch! Something hit me!"
He clutched his ear where a shadow had grazed him, leaving a streak of blood on his hand.
"Fools!" the Lord's voice seethed with irritation. Ten minutes had slipped by, yet the duo in the field seemed to be enjoying themselves, untouched by fear.
Using the fire stick, Dan tried to redirect coins back at the wolves. After a few attempts, he succeeded, causing yelps of pain.
Dan's fighting spirit surged. He attuned to the sound of the coins, mirroring A-Lai's moves.
With skill, he hit the deadly coins back at their throwers, like a baseball player hitting a home run.
"Gone! Home run!"
"Yes! Outta here! What a blast!"
"Did you see that? Right into the stands!"
Each hit was met with the wolves' anguished howls, and Dan couldn't help but yell out in victory.
"Look who's the martial arts champ now!"
As the battle raged on, the synergy between Alai and Dizzy Dan grew ever more refined. Their movements flowed smoothly, like a dance of shadows and light.
A-Lai used his spear to create impenetrable air walls, acting as Dizzy Dan's strong defense. Dizzy Dan, meanwhile, became an all-star on a baseball field. He deflected the coin creatures' attacks with his wooden staff, hitting one perfect home run after another.
However, they were unaware of a lurking danger. A-Lai's stamina was depleting rapidly, like sand through an hourglass.
Dizzy Dan, in contrast, seemed to have endless energy. His fighting power remained strong. This imbalance could prove fatal at a crucial moment in the fight.