The deformed wind wolves charged at me from all sides, their movements erratic and wild. They didn't seem to care if they hurt each other in their frenzy.
They were completely berserk, blood dripping from their mangled forms. At this rate, they wouldn't last much longer—and they also can't no longer manipulate wind for some reason.
But
Physically, they were far stronger than before.
Two of the wolves lunged at me from the front, their gaping jaws snapping with reckless fury.
Ego Style, Sword Form: First Slash.
The phrase echoed in my mind as I prepared to swing my sword, aiming to cut them down before they could reach me.
0
But just as I moved, the third wolf blindsided me, its jagged teeth clamping down on my arm.
Fortunately, my vambrace took the brunt of the bite, but the force behind it was staggering. I gritted my teeth, my attack interrupted as I staggered back from the impact.
The front wolves didn't relent, closing in fast. I had no choice but to evade, jumping back to avoid being overwhelmed.
Despite my best efforts, I wasn't fast enough. One of their claws grazed my right leg, leaving a sharp, stinging pain as blood trickled down.
I clenched my jaw, ignoring the discomfort. The fight was far from over.
My breathing was ragged, my body screaming in protest from the internal toll of Ego's flames. Every second mattered now; I didn't have the luxury of dragging this out.
I analyzed the three deformed wolves, searching for a way to finish them off quickly.
[I think we should retreat…] Ego's voice echoed in my head, laced with concern. [I mean, you've already done a lot of damage to them.]
"And you think they'll just sit around and wait for us to come back?" I snapped. "If I let them go, they'll retreat deeper into the beast zone. Tracking them down will be nearly impossible."
Ego went silent for a moment before responding. […Then what's your plan? Even if you somehow kill these three, there's still that Tier 4 Wind Wolf… and the Nine-Tail Fox.]
I clicked my tongue in frustration, my mind running out of options. Ego was right. Killing these three wasn't the end of the fight.
But if I couldn't overpower them directly, I'd have to outlast them.
I made my decision. "If I can't kill them head-on, I'll let their own blood loss do the work. I'll evade until they drop."
[Fine, fight to the death if that's your plan. Just don't say I didn't warn you when your arm falls off.]
The blue flames of Ego's power faded from my body as I cut off the ability. I needed to conserve what little strength I had left.
My gaze shifted to the distance where the Nine-Tail Fox sat, its haunting melody still hanging in the air. It was watching the fight with a casual indifference, as if amused by the chaos it had created.
Beside it, the pack leader—a Tier 4 Wind Wolf—stood silently. It didn't lift a paw to intervene, but its eyes gleamed with barely restrained fury.
I steadied myself, gripping my sword tightly. This wasn't over yet.
But then, my body starts trembling uncontrollably. The aftereffects of using the Flame of Ego are finally kicking in.
.
.
.
Finally, the last deformed wolf collapses to the ground.
I stagger, gasping for air, my breaths coming out in shallow, ragged huffs.
My body feels like it's falling apart. My leather armor is in tatters, barely clinging to me, and a deep scratch runs across my chest, oozing blood.
The vambraces on my arms have shattered, leaving jagged edges digging into my skin. Blood trickles from dozens of small cuts across my arms. My hands are trembling so badly I can barely grip my sword.
I cough violently, spitting out blood. The internal damage from overusing the Flame of Ego is getting worse, each breath a painful reminder.
[REM, WATCH OUT!]
Ego's voice cuts through my haze of exhaustion, but before I can react—
WHOOSH!
A powerful gust of wind slams into me with the force of a battering ram, lifting me off the ground.
I crash into a boulder with a sickening thud, pain exploding across my back and ribs.
"Fuck!" I scream through clenched teeth, the agony radiating through my body.
My vision blurs for a moment, but when I manage to focus, I see it.
The pack leader—the massive Tier 4 Wind Wolf—is slowly approaching me, its glowing eyes locked onto mine with cold malice.
And behind it, the Nine-Tail Fox watches, its presence suffocating. The fox's tails sway lazily, as though it has all the time in the world, its hauntingly calm demeanor in stark contrast to the chaos it has caused.
I'm cornered. And I'm in no condition to fight.
But for some reason, there's a smile on my face.
Even though I might die at any second...
I can't stop smiling.
A part of me is finding this situation exhilarating. Standing on death's edge, staring it in the face—I haven't felt this alive in a long time.
I force myself to stand, my legs shaking under the strain, and begin to approach the pack leader.
The air around us shifts, charged with tension. I can feel it—the wolf is preparing another attack. The air gathers around it, swirling with deadly intent, the pressure growing with each passing second.
My smile only grows wider.
The rush of wind screams toward me, sharp and ferocious, but instead of flinching, I take a step forward, meeting it head-on.
Ego Style, Fist Form.
The words echo in my mind as I lift my left arm, steadying it against the roaring wind.
"First Strike," I murmur under my breath, my voice steady despite the chaos around me.
I swing my fist down with all my remaining strength, and the air around it ripples violently.
BOOM!
The impact creates a shockwave that collides with the oncoming gush of wind, stopping it in its tracks. The force of the shockwave sends debris flying in all directions, and the ground beneath me trembles.
For a moment, silence fills the air, broken only by my ragged breathing and the low growls of the pack leader.