Mana beasts were creatures whose very bodies were akin to mana catalysts, with mana coursing through every facet of their being. Their actions were driven solely by the remnants of instinct from what they were before their mutation. No longer creatures of flesh and blood, they had transcended physical needs. As long as they could absorb mana, they didn't need to sleep, didn't need to eat, and would never tire. The most terrifying aspect of their existence, however, was that every one of their basic biological functions had been replaced with mana formations—not simply matching but far surpassing their original capabilities.
These formations granted mana beasts supernatural abilities, shaped by the concentration and attributes of the mana that had mutated them.
As the violent clash of intent between Seraline and the Flame Wolf intensified, the captain—standing at a distance—began to question if he was hallucinating. It was like shadows were being projected into the world, their forms indescribable, flickering in and out of view like phantoms.
Mana beasts, though lacking sentience, were not without will.
Willpower was the foundation of motivation, the driving force of desire, the fuel that allowed a being to push toward its goal, overcoming obstacles. Human willpower was like a battlefield, constantly warring with distractions and conflicting desires. But beasts were different. Their thoughts were simple. They knew their place in the world and on the food chain. When they hunted, there was no doubt. When they killed, there was no remorse. In battle, they did not waver. They fought with the certainty that came from knowing their role in the natural order.
This simplicity gave their willpower an intensity that far surpassed that of most humans. The stronger they were and the higher they sat on the food chain, the more fierce their instinct to dominate.
These shadows collided and immediately repelled one another, but it took the captain a moment to comprehend what he was witnessing. The violent shadow ripping and tearing at the force it clashed with, and the calmer, yet all-consuming opposition, like fire devouring coal. These were the wills of two Adept-level beings, clashing with such intensity that they had become a structure in reality—a mana construct born of pure willpower and the concentration of mana in that dividing line between two opposing sides.
Then, suddenly, it all vanished. The manifestation of Seraline's will disappeared instantly, and with it, the Flame Wolf—poised to strike—vanished from sight. The captain's eyes went wide. He hadn't been able to track its movement at all. Panic clawed at his chest as he scoured the area with his eyes.
But Seraline was different.
The moment the Flame Wolf vanished, she sprang into action, kicking off the ground and flipping through the air. Barely a heartbeat later, the Flame Wolf reappeared exactly where she had stood, slamming its massive paw into the earth with terrifying speed and force. The ground shattered as if it were brittle glass, cracks spidering out ten meters in all directions. But that wasn't the end—light began to glow from within those fissures, growing brighter with each passing second.
Landing on the charred remains of a half-collapsed rooftop, Seraline watched as lava erupted from the cracks, shooting high into the air like an explosive geyser. As molten rock rained down, she waved her spear, diverting the blobs to splatter onto the roof around her.
The Flame Wolf growled, frustrated by its failed attack, and flames began to seep from the corners of its mouth like exhaust from an engine. Seraline's sixth sense practically screamed at her in warning, and without hesitation she bolted, leaping off the roof with such force that the remains of the building crumbled beneath her feet. She held the young boy close, his earlier cries reduced to quiet sniffles. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the Flame Wolf's flames intensify, and then it opened its maw wide, unleashing a beam of pure, condensed heat. It wasn't a wild burst of fire—it was so concentrated that it looked like a beam of molten light.
As the Flame Wolf turned its head towards Seraline, anything, stone or metal, it was irrelevant; everything the flames passed over began to superheat and melt within seconds. It was only after traveling past the two hundred-meter mark that the flames would expand back into normal fire in a cone-like shape, engulfing entire streets.
Every step she took was followed by the ground erupting into molten sludge just behind her. And the worst part was that it was gaining on her.
Watching the battle unfold, the captain was momentarily confused.
Why isn't she moving at full speed? Is she exhausted? No, that can't be it. She just manifested her will a minute ago. Even if she were low on stamina, she could supplement it with her aura.
The Flame Wolf's attack might have been difficult for an Apprentice-level knight to dodge, but Seraline was beyond that. Adept-level knights could move faster than the speed of sound—there was no reason she shouldn't have been able to outrun those flames.
Then it hit him.
No, wait. The boy!
Seraline was shielding the child with her body and aura. But if she moved at her top speed, even her protection wouldn't be enough to keep him safe. Realizing this, the captain's heart raced as he watched Seraline's grip tighten around her spear. As she landed on a dirt street, she spun, using her feet to skid to a stop while turning to face the approaching inferno. Her eyes shifted, her expression growing eerily calm, almost serene as her eyes glazed over. The wild aura that usually burned around her now coated her and her spear in a quiet, steady flow.
Weapon Unity.
It was the briefest usage of it, but it was all she needed. With one hand, she raised her spear and thrust toward the oncoming flames. The motion wasn't fast or forceful, and it certainly wasn't strong enough to create a shockwave or disperse the fire. But that didn't matter. In that instant, Seraline was one with her spear, an existence capable of piercing through anything.
As her spear touched the center of the Flame Wolf's attack, the flames collapsed inward. The fire behaved as though it were a solid object being drilled through, and in an instant, a hole opened up. Around her, the flames raged in every direction, but they couldn't touch her. Even as her aura faded and she and her spear became separate once more, the flames couldn't fill the gap she had created. It lasted until the moment the Flame Wolf finally closed its mouth, and the flames began to die out.
As the remnants of the Flame Wolf's breath faded, the charred remains of houses and the scorched stone supports were nowhere to be seen. Everything combustible had been reduced to ash, and whatever couldn't burn had melted into molten pools on the ground. Still, the Flame Wolf wasn't satisfied. Its low snarl revealed sharp teeth, its frustration evident as it spotted Seraline in the distance, completely unharmed.
The captain, who had been holding his breath, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Seraline and the boy were safe after being engulfed. But even as the tension eased, he realized the situation had worsened.
The Flame Wolf's attack hadn't landed, but it had done something just as dangerous—it burned down everything within a two-hundred-meter radius. There were no more buildings or ruins for Seraline to use as cover. Nothing to hide behind. No obstacles to slow the mana beast's relentless assaults.
"This is bad," the captain muttered under his breath.
"Mana beasts are already naturally stronger than humans at the same level. If she has to fight it head-on in this situation, she won't stand a chance..." Seraline couldn't afford to fight at her full strength and still protect the boy. And there was no way she could run far enough to ensure his safety without putting other survivors at risk. She knew that, and the captain knew it too. He took a deep breath, bracing himself.
If she was going to survive this, he'd have to do something.
On the ground, Seraline and the Flame Wolf locked eyes, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Seraline knew that running was no longer an option. If there had been buildings left standing, she might've been able to use them to buy time. But now, any attempt to flee would leave her wide open. Taking the Flame Wolf head-on was her only choice.
As she steadied herself, she felt the young boy trembling in her arms. She glanced down at him, his face buried against her, his small body curled up tightly. Her expression softened, her voice turning gentle as she spoke.
"Hey." The boy didn't respond to her, but Seraline didn't seem to mind.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise. Just keep holding on, okay?" She reassured him. The boy stayed silent for a moment, but slowly he shifted, peeking up at her. His wide eyes met Seraline's, and though her face remained calm, the boy saw something more. Those bright, rosy eyes shone like jewels, even amid the devastation around them.
"I... I'm scared," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. Seraline nodded softly.
"I know."
"And... I miss my daddy..." His words clearly hit Seraline, her eyes narrowing slightly as she nodded again.
"I know." If she had been faster—if she had arrived just moments sooner—maybe she could have saved them both. But she hadn't. That was the simple truth, which meant now all she could do was ensure that the boy in her arms survived.
And perhaps because he could sense that resolution, the boy clung to her clothes a little tighter.
"Good," Seraline whispered as her gaze shifted back to the Flame Wolf. It had been circling, searching for an opening. But it seemed its patience had worn thin as it lunged forward.
This time, Seraline didn't retreat. She braced herself, taking a stance as the Flame Wolf began its charge. Starting with a slow, deliberate walk, it quickly accelerated though, turning into a blur of searing heat. Each step it took scorched the ground. Within seconds, it was upon her. Its front paw shot forward, claws glowing red-hot, slashing through the air with terrifying force.
Five flaming streaks arced toward Seraline. She quickly dodged to the right in reaction, narrowly avoiding the attack. The burning claws left a trail of molten marks in their wake.
Still, despite her dodging, the Flame Wolf was quick to react, already looming over her before her feet had even touched the ground. Its jaws were opened wide, ready to snap down and tear her apart. This time, Seraline didn't dodge. Instead, she leaped to meet the beast head-on. With all the power she could muster, she drove her leg upward, striking the Flame Wolf squarely in the jaw. The impact forcefully slammed its mouth shut, sending shockwaves through the air. Despite its massive size and likely weighing tons, the giant wolf was lifted off the ground.
But the Flame Wolf recovered mid-air, twisting its body to lash out with its flaming tail, snapping it toward her like a whip. Seraline had no time to evade, so she turned so that she was facing the attack with her back while also covering her rear with her spear and bracing herself. The impact of the tail, combined with the mana flowing through the wolf's body, sent a violent jolt through her aura, briefly weakening its usually solid defensive structure.
The boy let out a small cry as Seraline was hurled through the air, a trail of fire following behind her from the Flame Wolf's tail. She spiraled, struggling to regain control. Stretching out her free arm and legs, she managed to stabilize herself just enough to drive her spear into the ground. The force of the impact and drag slowed her momentum, and she landed on the ground hard, her legs absorbing the shock as she skidded to a stop.
Before Seraline could even catch her breath, her sixth sense warned her again. She glanced up just in time to see another five flaming claws hurtling toward her, already closing in from only twenty meters away. The Flame Wolf must have launched them the moment it landed on the ground.
"Grounded Arts: Multi-Strike!" Seraline's will flared to life once again, engulfing her and her spear in a radiant aura. As she swung her spear, it seemed as though mirages—afterimages of her arm—materialized around her, each one wielding a spear of its own. Five arms, five spears, all moving in perfect unison. The five spears met the five flaming claws mid-air, colliding with explosive force. The beast's mana clashed against her aura, and an eruption of fire spread out at the point of impact, creating a massive wall of flame.
But just as the wall began to thin and decompose back into raw mana, the Flame Wolf burst through it from Seraline's left, like a predator emerging from behind a curtain. Stuck in the middle of her attack, Seraline couldn't counter. The mana beast's front leg was already raised, poised to crush her.
She had no time to think, only act. Dodging in any of the cardinal directions wasn't an option—the molten earth erupting as the aftermath of its attack would get her before she could get far enough away. So, instead, she leaped straight up, soaring into the sky just as the Flame Wolf's paw slammed into the ground. The impact cracked the earth, causing lava to erupt beneath her. But now, Seraline found herself in an even worse situation.
She was airborne—completely vulnerable.
The realization hit her even faster than it had hit the Flame Wolf, but when it turned its gaze upward, she saw the recognition flicker in its eyes as well. A low snarl escaped its throat, and the flames along its back flared with violent intensity. They no longer resembled flames but spikes, perfectly shaped as if molded from solid flame. The wolf's body tensed, and in an instant, the ten flaming spikes shot from its back like missiles. They veered wildly at first, but then locked onto Seraline mid-air, converging on her from all directions.
The flames that had disappeared from the Flame Wolf's back returned just as the fiery missiles closed in on her. Seraline's expression darkened, her mind racing. There was no way out. She had no move in her arsenal that could counter an attack coming from ten directions at once—at least, not without taking some damage. If she were alone, she could survive. Her aura was strong enough to tank the hit, leaving her with only a few injuries. But with the boy in her arms, that wasn't an option.
He wouldn't survive, and Weapon Unity wouldn't work this time.
Seraline's Weapon Unity blurred the line between human and weapon, her aura taking on the properties of her spear. If she used it to its full extent to defend herself, anything that came in contact with her body would be pierced through—including the boy she held in her arms. It was one thing to use it briefly for a single attack, but for defense in a situation like this, it was impossible. The only option she could think of was to throw the boy, endure the attack, and then catch him before he hit the ground.
But can I pull that off? What if the mana beast gets to him first? What if it intercepts me?
Doubt flooded her mind as she calculated every possible outcome. Time seemed to slow, every second stretching out as her thoughts raced. It was while in that heightened state that she saw him—on the ground below, clad in the same worn armor as the other captains. His arms were open, and his eyes locked with hers. She didn't know what he was doing there or what his intentions were, but she didn't have the luxury to question it. Without hesitation, she pulled the young boy off her, who had his eyes shut tight and had been clinging to her for dear life. His panic surged as she suddenly flung him from her grasp, throwing him at a fast but survivable speed toward the waiting captain.
The captain reacted in an instant, rushing forward to position himself.
"I've got you!" He yelled as he caught the boy in his arms, spinning to negate the impact a bit. The boy started to cry after being caught, the fall having been rough on his small body, but there was no time for comfort.
At that exact moment, the fiery missiles collided with Seraline, a massive explosion of fire ripping through the air. The blast shot out in all directions, engulfing the sky in flames. Embers rained down like burning ash, filling the air with heat.
The captain's eyes were fixed upward, staring at the ball of fire that now consumed the sky.
Even if she's an Adept-level knight, taking a hit like that...
The captain shook off the thought as he kept his eyes fixed on the sky, and so did the Flame Wolf. It showed no interest in him or the boy; its focus was entirely on whether its primary threat had been eliminated. But just a second later, a hole was forcefully torn open at the bottom of the swirling mass of flame, and through it, Seraline came crashing down. She landed in a crouched position, her aura fully manifested yet calm and controlled.
She had entered Weapon Unity at the last second before the impact.
"Yes!" The captain's shout of relief echoed as he saw Seraline unharmed. The Flame Wolf, however, let out a deep, thunderous bark that rattled the air, more like a roar due to its immense size. The pressure from its voice alone sent Seraline's hair and clothes whipping in the wind, while magma splattered violently around her. Still, she remained composed as she turned her head slightly, casting a glance back at the captain and giving him a subtle nod of thanks.
Catching her signal, the captain nodded back and mouthed, "Good luck," before quickly sprinting off with the young boy in his arms. He knew they couldn't stay any longer—it wasn't safe. As they disappeared from view, Seraline exhaled slowly, her breath steady and measured. Rising from her crouched position, she redirected her attention to the Flame Wolf.
Its eyes burned with feral rage, filled with the raw desire to tear her apart. In stark contrast, Seraline's gaze was blank, like an untouched canvas—calm, focused, and ready. With her arms now free, she shifted into her fighting stance, facing the mana beast head-on.