Kaleb's Chi flared as he launched a desperate counterattack, sending a spiral of wind and lightning toward the beast. The attack struck, but the wolf barely faltered, shaking off the energy as though it were nothing.
It leaped, its jaws wide and crackling with Chi, aimed directly at Kaleb's throat. He barely rolled away in time, the creature's power searing the air around him. Each movement of the wolf radiated menace, its silver fur shimmering unnaturally.
Kaleb landed hard on the rocky ground, pain lancing up his side. His mind raced, flashes of his exile and his first fight with a wolf flickering in his thoughts. Then, he had been powerless, his spiritual sea shattered. Now, he could feel the storm within him—but the wolf's strength still dwarfed his own.
The wolf prowled, its glowing eyes locked onto Kaleb. A low growl echoed through the forest, a sound that seemed to vibrate in his chest. Kaleb clenched his jaw, forcing himself to rise. "This isn't the same as before," he muttered, his voice steady despite his trembling legs. "I'm stronger now."
The wolf's ears twitched, and it lunged again, faster than before. Kaleb summoned a wall of wind, but the beast tore through it like paper. He twisted his body, lightning crackling along his arm as he drove his fist toward its side.
"Thunder Fang!" he roared, his strike connecting. The force sent the wolf skidding back, but it righted itself instantly, shaking off the attack as if it were a mere inconvenience.
Kaleb's eyes widened, realization dawning. The wolf wasn't just enduring his attacks—it was absorbing them. The faint glow of its fur intensified with every strike. "It's feeding on my Chi," he muttered, dread curling in his stomach.
A mocking laugh echoed from above. Floki lounged on a tree branch, twirling a twig in his fingers. "Finally catching on, storm boy? Took you long enough."
"Not helping, Floki!" Kaleb snapped, dodging another swipe from the wolf. The claws grazed his arm, leaving a burning trail that sizzled with Chi.
Floki grinned, leaning forward. "Oh, I'm helping. Just watching you flail around is the most fun I've had in centuries."
Kaleb gritted his teeth, a mixture of frustration and desperation boiling in his chest. The wolf charged again, and he barely managed to block with a burst of water. The impact sent him stumbling, his knees hitting the ground.
"You could step in any time!" Kaleb shouted, his breath ragged.
Floki tilted his head, his grin widening. "Oh, I could. But where's the fun in that?"
The wolf didn't wait for their banter to finish. Its fur pulsed with an ominous light, and it howled, the sound splitting the air like a blade. A wave of energy surged outward, tearing through the trees and sending Kaleb flying.
He crashed into a boulder, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs. Pain wracked his body, and he coughed, spitting out blood. "This… is worse than before," he muttered, his vision swimming.
The wolf stalked closer, its eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Kaleb forced himself to stand, every muscle protesting. His Chi flickered weakly around him, the storm within struggling to respond.
Floki's voice cut through the haze. "Kid, you're not gonna win this one. You're too green."
Kaleb glared at him, defiance burning in his gaze. "I don't care. I'm not giving up."
Floki sighed, shaking his head. "You're stubborn. I like that. But this isn't just any beast." He leapt down, landing gracefully. "It's a Shadow Wolf. And you, storm boy, are not ready."
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping shut where Kaleb had stood a heartbeat ago. Floki stepped forward, snapping his fingers. The air around the wolf shimmered, and it froze mid-attack.
Kaleb stared, his chest heaving. "What… did you do?"
"Put it in time-out," Floki said casually, inspecting his nails. "Shadow Wolves are nasty business. Their power grows with every bit of Chi they steal. If I'd let this go on, you'd be wolf chow."
Kaleb's shoulders sagged, exhaustion overtaking him. He watched as the wolf struggled against the invisible bonds holding it, its growls shaking the air.
"You knew what it was this whole time," Kaleb said, his voice low. "Why didn't you stop it earlier?"
Floki's grin returned, sharp and unapologetic. "Because you needed to learn. This world doesn't pull punches, storm boy. Neither should you."
The bindings around the wolf tightened, and Floki's expression grew uncharacteristically serious. "This thing was sent after you, Kaleb. Someone wanted you dead. Badly."
Kaleb's heart pounded, the weight of Floki's words sinking in. "Who?"
Floki didn't answer immediately. He raised a hand, and the wolf dissolved into shadow, its howls fading into the void. "That," Floki said, his tone dark, "is what we're going to find out."
Kaleb's knees buckled, and he sat heavily on the ground. The fight replayed in his mind, each moment of desperation and near defeat etched into his memory. He clenched his fists, frustration simmering beneath his exhaustion.
Floki plopped down beside him, crossing his legs. "Cheer up, kid. You survived. And you learned something."
"Yeah," Kaleb muttered. "That I'm not strong enough."
"Not yet," Floki said, his tone uncharacteristically kind. "But you've got something most people don't—grit. And grit, storm boy, is what turns storms into legends."
Kaleb looked at him, surprise flickering in his eyes. For a moment, Floki's usual mischief was replaced by something deeper. Then, just as quickly, it was gone.
"Anyway," Floki said, standing and stretching. "There's a shiny plant around here you'll want. Storm Lotus. It'll help patch up your Chi."
Kaleb's brow furrowed. "Storm Lotus?"
Floki pointed to a nearby cliff, where a faint glow emanated. "Go on. It's not gonna pick itself."
Kaleb dragged himself to his feet, his body protesting every step as he approached the glowing plant. The Storm Lotus pulsed with energy, its petals shimmering with colors that shifted like a stormy sky.
He hesitated, then reached out, plucking the flower carefully. The moment he held it, a surge of Chi coursed through him, mending the cracks in his spiritual sea and reigniting the storm within.
Kaleb exhaled, the fatigue lifting slightly. He turned back to Floki, who was already walking away. "What's next?"
Floki glanced over his shoulder, his grin returning. "You'll see."