Erik and Liam looked back at Mia, their eyes lighting up with renewed hope seeeing she standing up. A wide smile spread across Liam's face, while Erik's lips curved into a small, composed smile. Both were immensely relieved and glad to see Mia standing again.
"Can you heal us?" Liam asked, his voice laced with urgency.
Mia shook her head. "Sorry, I can't heal I can only give you some armor. It's not much, but it should help."
"That's enough for now," Liam said. "Cast the armor, please."
Mia nodded and focused, her hands moving gracefully as she drew the Rune. The understanding of the Rune came naturally to her as if it had always been a part of her. A bluish energy enveloped Erik and Liam forming a protective barrier around them.
"I can't keep this up for too long, though," Mia warned. "My Aether isn't fully restored yet. So you boys need to finish this quickly."
Erik and Liam nodded in understanding. "We'll make it work," Erik said with lightwork tone. Somehow now that Mia back into the fight with them he feels everything will be alright.
The two remaining giant wolves hesitated, their eyes flickering between their fallen comrades and the trio. They growled and snarled, but their feet started to moved back slowly. It was clear that these wolves were not mindless creatures; they had enough intelligence to recognize when the odds were against them.
Sensing they're about to run away, Erik spoke up. "Don't let them get away!"
"Okay! HYAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Liam screamed a battle cry and charged forward, his axe held high. Mia, caught up in Liam's enthusiasm, also screamed and charged behind him grabbing her crowbar. Erik followed suit, his metal rod ready for action.
The wolves, seeing the determined assault, tried to retreat. But Liam and Erik were too much for them.
They attempted to turn and flee. However, the narrow confines of the corridor were not kind to their escape. Their bulk made swift movement challenging and as they tried to retreat they were quickly hindered by the tight space.
Erik and Liam took full advantage of the wolves' predicament. Liam charged forward with his axe swinging. His powerful strikes forced the first wolf to stumble, giving Erik the opportunity to close in. With his metal rod in hand, Erik delivered precise blows, targeting the wolf's vulnerable spots.
The first wolf, now cornered and struggling to maneuver in the cramped corridor, was at a severe disadvantage. Liam's axe cut through the air with terrible force, striking the wolf's rib. Erik's rod jabbed and struck with relentless accuracy to its stomach and neck, each blow weakening the beast further.
Mia, who had followed closely behind, joined the fray with her crowbar. Her strikes were swift and powerful adding to the coordinated assault. The bluish energy from her Rune armor crackled around them, adding an extra layer of protection and strength to their attacks.
The wolf, overwhelmed and unable to escape, was finally brought down by their combined attack. Liam's axe severed the beast's throat, ending its suffering with a final, gurgling whimper.
[You have gained 50 EXP.]
Breathing heavily but with a sense of accomplishment, the trio looked towards the remaining wolf, which had managed to make some distance but was now desperately trying to escape into the building outside. The narrow corridor had proven a deadly trap for its companion, and the remaining wolf knew it was now or never.
"Let's finish this!" Erik shouted, his voice carrying a note of finality.
The trio moved swiftly, pushing through the corridor and out into the open area. Now the predator had become the prey.
The remaining wolf had made it to the building's entrance. Its powerful legs propelling it forward. It glanced back, eyes wide with fear, as it tried to reach the relative safety of the shadows.
"YOU WILL NOT RUNNING FROM ME, FUCKER!" Liam with a fierce battle cry led the charge once more.
His axe cut through the air, the sound echoing through the open space. Erik and Mia followed closely.
The sight of Liam, Erik, and Mia closing in on it made its desperation evident. The creature's snarls were frantic, its movements erratic.
Erik using his speed and precision and aimed a well-placed strike with his rod. The blow hit the wolf's side, causing it to falter. Liam followed up with a powerful swing of his axe, catching the wolf across its leg. The beast roared in pain, but its attempts to escape were growing weaker.
Mia joined the attack. She struck with her crowbar, each hit landing with a resounding thud. The wolf, now surrounded and exhausted, could no longer mount an effective defense.
With a roar, Liam hacked at the wolf's side, each swing fueled by his anger and the need to end the fight swiftly. The blade of his axe cut through the air with a whistling sound and almost visible force, each strike landing with a sound of flesh cut down. The wolf snarled and snapped at him, but the energy armor protected him. His axe found its mark, slicing into the wolf's flesh.
Erik then suddenly plunged his rod forward, stabbing at the wolf's eye. The beast howled in pain and confusion, its head twisting in agony. Mia seizing the opportunity and moved swiftly. She swung her crowbar with a powerful arc. The weapon connected with the wolf's head, the impact resounding with a sickening crack of the wolf's skull. The wolf staggered, its vision clouded by the brutal assault.
Erik's eyes locked on the beast's chest, he lunged forward with his rod. With precision, he struck the wolf's heart, the metal rod piercing through its ribcage. The wolf's howl turned into a choked gasp, its body shuddering.
Liam swung his axe one last time. The blade arced through the air, slicing cleanly through the wolf's neck a few times in quick succession. The creature's head lolled to the side, and it fell to the ground with a heavy thud.
The last wolf lay dead, its body sprawled out in a lifeless heap. The corridor fell silent, save for the labored breaths of Erik, Liam, and Mia. Their bodies were bruised and battered, but their spirits were lifted by the sight of their fallen foe.
Erik looked at his companions, a sense of weary relief in his eyes. "We did it," he said, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
Liam wiped the sweat and blood from his face, a grim smile on his lips. "Yeah, we did," he replied, though his arm still throbbed painfully.
Mia gave them a nod of approval. "We did a great job, didn't we?"
With the immediate danger behind them, the trio took a moment to recover, their victory hard-earned but satisfying. The battle was over, for now.
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