As we walked towards the road, Elara and I began to discuss our plan of attack. We knew that taking down a pack of wolves wouldn't be an easy task, but with our combined skills, we were confident that we could do it.
"Okay, so we know the wolves are attacking travelers on the road," Elara said, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to figure out why they're doing it and how to stop them."
I nodded, thinking back to my encounter with the wolves. "I think they're being driven by something," I said. "Maybe they're hungry or threatened in some way."
Elara nodded, her brow furrowed in thought. "That makes sense. If we can figure out what's driving them, we might be able to find a way to stop them."
As we walked, we began to brainstorm ideas. We knew that the wolves were attacking travelers on the road, but we didn't know why. Was it because of a lack of food in the forest? Or was it because of some other threat?
"I think we need to do some reconnaissance," Elara said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We need to get a closer look at the wolves and figure out what's driving them."
I nodded, feeling a sense of agreement. "I can scout ahead," I said. "I can try to get a closer look at the wolves without being detected with mana sense'
Elara nodded, a plan forming in her mind. "And I can use my archery skills to provide cover from a distance," she said. "If anything goes wrong, I can provide backup."
As we continued to plan, I couldn't help but think about the world we lived in. The kingdom of Eridoria was a vast and mysterious place, full of magic and wonder. But it was also a place of danger and uncertainty, where monsters and bandits roamed free.
I thought about the academy, where we were training to become Mages. What kind of world were we preparing to enter? And what kind of challenges would we face when we graduated?
As we approached the road, Elara and I fell silent, our senses on high alert. We knew that the wolves could be lurking anywhere, waiting to strike.
But we were ready. We had a plan, and we had each other' back . And with our combined skills, we were confident that we could take down the wolves.
As we approached the road, I realized with a jolt of embarrassment that I had forgotten to use my Mana Sense ability during my previous encounter with the wolves. I had been so caught up in the heat of the moment that I had neglected to use one of my most valuable tools.
I mentally kicked myself for the oversight. If I had used my Mana Sense, I might have been able to detect the wolves' presence earlier and avoided the surprise attack.
But I couldn't change the past. What I could do was make sure to use my Mana Sense now, as we prepared to face the wolves again.
I focused my mind, reaching out with my senses to detect any signs of mana in the area. At first, I felt nothing but the gentle hum of the forest's natural energy. But then, I sensed it - a faint pulse of mana, coming from a nearby thicket.
I signaled to Elara, pointing to the thicket. She nodded, her eyes locked on the target. We crept forward, our senses on high alert.
As we approached the thicket, I could feel the mana growing stronger. It was a dark, turbulent energy, unlike anything I had sensed before. I knew that this was no ordinary wolf.
Suddenly, a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the thicket. A massive wolf, its fur as black as coal, emerged from the underbrush. Its eyes burned with an unnatural intensity, and I could feel its malevolent energy coursing through the air.
Elara drew her bow, arrow at the ready. I stood beside her, my hand on the hilt of my wooden sword. We were ready for this.
The wolf charged, its jaws open wide. Elara loosed an arrow, striking the wolf in the shoulder. But it didn't slow down. It kept coming, its eyes fixed on us with an unholy hunger.
I drew my wooden sword, feeling the familiar weight of it in my hand. I charged forward, meeting the wolf head-on. Our blades clashed, the sound of wood on claw ringing through the air.
The wolf was fast, its movements lightning-quick. But I was faster. I dodged and weaved, my wooden sword flashing in the sunlight. Elara provided cover fire, her arrows striking the wolf with precision.
But the wolf was relentless. It kept coming, its energy fueled by some dark and ancient power. I could feel its mana coursing through the air, a palpable force that threatened to overwhelm us.
I gritted my teeth, focusing my own mana. I could feel my energy responding, rising to meet the wolf's challenge. Our blades clashed again, the sound of wood on claw echoing through the forest.
This time, I was ready. I channeled my mana into my wooden sword, imbuing it with a burst of energy. The wolf's eyes widened as my sword bit deep, striking true.
The wolf let out a deafening howl, its body crashing to the ground. We stood panting, our chests heaving with exertion. We had done it. We had taken down the first wolf.
And then, in the midst of our triumph, a sudden, piercing sound echoed through the air: DING!
A burst of light enveloped me, and I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins. The air seemed to vibrate with an otherworldly power, as if the very fabric of reality was acknowledging my achievement.
You gained 40 EXP!
Level Up!
From Level 2 to Level 3
My stats flashed before my eyes, updating in real-time:
HP: 110 → 120
MP: 55 → 60
And, as a bonus, I received 2 Attribute Points to allocate as I saw fit.
I grinned, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. I decided to invest 1 point in Strength, feeling my muscles grow more defined and powerful. The second point went into Agility, granting me a newfound quickness and reflexes.
But as we caught our breath, I sensed something else. Another pulse of mana, coming from deeper in the forest. This one was stronger, more powerful than the first.
I turned to Elara, my eyes locked on hers. "There's more," I said, my voice low and urgent. "We need to be ready."
Elara nodded, her face set in a determined expression. We stood back-to-back, our senses on high alert, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
The battle was far from over.