Back at the Adventurer's Guild, Cruzer reported the successful completion of the rescue mission. The receptionist reviewed the details and nodded approvingly.
"Well done, Cruzer. You've completed the first quest and earned your reward," she said, handing him a pouch of 500 Energy Stones. "Keep up the good work, and you'll reach D rank in no time."
Cruzer thanked her and pocketed the reward. He knew there were still two quests to complete, but he felt more confident now. He set his sights on the next task: clearing the road of Nightfang Wolves.
The Nightfang Wolves were known for their ferocity and cunning. Cruzer prepared himself, ensuring he had enough potions and equipment. He set out towards the eastern road, where merchants had reported frequent attacks. The sun was high in the sky, casting long shadows on the path as Cruzer walked.
The further he went, the more signs of wolf activity he noticed: claw marks on trees, tufts of fur caught on bushes, and the occasional half-eaten carcass. He tightened his grip on his sword, ready for the encounter.
It wasn't long before he heard the low growls of the wolves. They emerged from the underbrush, eyes gleaming with hunger and malice. Cruzer counted at least a dozen, their sleek, black forms circling him.
"Aerial Cutter," he shouted, the skill's name creating invisible blades of air. He targeted the wolves at the center of the pack to scatter them. The invisible blades pierced through the rough hide of the wolves, blood gushing out of their bodies.
Ding! Nightfang Wolf killed. Obtained Exp points x40, Nightfang Claw x1, Nightfang Hide x1.
They yelped and snarled, taken aback by the sudden assault. Cruzer didn't give them a chance to recover.
"Fireball," he shouted, creating a ball the size of a basketball. He was surprised to see the increase in the radius of the fireball. Previously, he could conjure a fireball the size of a tennis ball. He surmised that this was the result of the Elemental Fusion manual.
He threw the fireball towards the direction of the Nightfang Wolves. The fireball landed right at the middle of the pack and exploded, sending a shockwave and shredding the wolves near the explosion.
Ding! Nightfang Wolf killed. Obtained Exp points x40, Nightfang Claw x1, Nightfang Hide x1.
The remaining Nightfang Wolves turned ferocious, realizing that their pack was in danger.
The alpha wolf, larger and more menacing than the rest, arrived at the front and charged at Cruzer with a furious howl. The remaining wolves spread out, surrounding Cruzer from all sides and charged at him.
Cruzer grinned, showing no fear towards the wolf pack. "Time to try out my new skill," he murmured and shouted, "Mudwall." Mud from the ground started to rise up and created a sturdy wall all around him in an instant. The charging wolves collided headfirst into the wall, staggering and falling down due to the heavy impact on their skulls, rocking their brains.
Ding! Nightfang Wolf killed. Obtained Exp points x40, Nightfang Claw x1, Nightfang Hide x1.
The charging alpha Nightfang Wolf, however, backflipped as soon as it saw the Mudwall being formed and created distance between itself and Cruzer. Taking this opportunity, Cruzer lowered the Mudwall and then attacked the remaining Nightfang Wolves.
He created more Aerial
Cutters and sent the invisible blades right to the heads of the now staggering wolves. Each blade from Aerial Cutter precisely found the necks of the Nightfang Wolves and sliced them.
Ding! Nightfang Wolf killed. Obtained Exp points x40, Nightfang Claw x1, Nightfang Hide x1.
Cruzer realized that his control over the elementals was much smoother, all because of the cultivation manual. He felt excited over the fact that he could feel himself getting visibly stronger. He then turned his sight to the last remaining wolf, the alpha.
It had a pair of piercing red eyes, full of anger and bloodlust. The alpha looked ready to kill Cruzer. Cruzer decided to take the offensive, took out his sword from his terminal, and dashed towards the alpha.
He activated Fury Cutter, a frenzied strike of his sword, thrusting the blade multiple times towards the wolf. The alpha Nightfang dodged the attacks by sidestepping. It was clear that it was more agile and intelligent than the normal Nightfangs.
After the fury of attacks stopped, the alpha Nightfang pounced on Cruzer with its front claws full of razor-sharp claws, swiping towards him. Cruzer tried to block it, so he readied himself in a defensive stance and faced the attack head-on.
He was pushed back a few meters, his boots digging into the dirt as he struggled against the sheer power of the wolf.
The alpha Nightfang continued to lash out its claws, forcing Cruzer on the defensive. Gritting his teeth, Cruzer shouted, "Sparkle," and lightning started to crackle around his body.
Cruzer could feel that the electrical power was much greater than before, it was thrice stronger than the last time he used Sparkle. He channeled the lightning through his sword towards the alpha.
The Nightfang Alpha could sense the danger, but it was too late. The lightning coursed through its body, the electricity numbing its muscles and burning its internal organs. The alpha let out a pitiful howl as it fell to the ground.
Cruzer was panting heavily, his breath ragged. He looked at the alpha that was still alive despite the internal burning of its organs, looking at him with hatred-filled eyes. He quickly stabbed his sword into the heart of the Nightfang, twisting it to ensure the death of the beast.
Ding! Nightfang Alpha killed. Obtained Exp points x100, Nightfang Fang x1, Nightfang Claw x1, Nightfang Hide x1, Elemental Core(Incomplete) x1.
Ding! Level up
Breathing heavily, Cruzer surveyed the aftermath. The road was littered with the bodies of the fallen wolves. He took a moment to catch his breath and decided to move a little bit away from the area as the smell of blood could attract other monsters.
He then climbed the top of a tree, before taking out healing potions and consuming it in order to heal some minor scratches from his fight with Alpha and decided to rest for a while as he was exhausted after the fight.
Closing his eyes, he asked," System show me my attribute panel."
A transparent screen flickered around his eyes.
Name: Cruzer
Level: 21
Talent: ?? 1 star: Elemental Devouring (passive), Elemental Affinity 4 stars: Basic skills: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and Aether Control
HP: 500
MP: 400
STR: 80
AGT: 74
INT: 70
WIL: 74
END: 76
Blank Attribute Points: 160
Skill Points: 30
Cultivation Manual: Elemental Fusion Manual
Skills: Fury Cutter, Sword Barrage, Sparkle Level 10, Fireball Level 10, Heal Level 8, Mudwall Level 1, Aerial Cutter Level 1