Nathan knew he had no choice but to take risks. He had to step out and find Dante amidst the thick mist.
He silently moved in the direction he believed Dante was, though the trembling ground beneath him and the ominous growl of the wolf made every step feel heavier.
Nathan feared he could be killed at any moment if he was not careful. Dante was attacked because he had let his guard down and he can't make the same mistake.
With every few steps, he spun around to view every direction, fearing that the large wolf could charge from any direction at any time.
The bombs they had been using weren't ordinary. They were crafted by a renowned alchemist and contained a rare isomer of carbon. The gas not only obscured vision but also created shadowy illusions within the mist.
This made it a versatile tool, useful for both hiding and escaping from targets, provided one knew how to manipulate the images effectively.
One could alter the size of their shadow by reducing exposure to the gas. In simpler terms, lying flat on the ground minimized the shadow cast into the illuminated fog, effectively concealing their position.
Nathan and Dante had relied on this technique to evade the wolves, but with the mist thinning, the margin for error was vanishing rapidly.
"Grrr—"
Nathan snapped his head toward the guttural sound as a massive silhouette loomed in the mist. His instincts kicked in, and he dove to the side, rolling across the dirt just in time.
The wolf charged through the spot where Nathan's faint shadow had flickered moments before, its frustration evident in its deep, guttural growl.
The canine beast attempted to sniff out his scent, but the effort backfired as it inhaled too much of the smoke at once, erupting into a fit of furious coughing.
Nathan, lying low on the ground, crawled toward a nearby tree. The towering, sturdy trunks were his only shield against the rampaging wolf. The beast's predatory intellect had vanished, replaced by a wild frenzy as it charged aimlessly, enraged by Nathan's earlier attacks.
Nathan knew time was slipping away. The smoke was thinning, and reinforcements would soon arrive to aid the large wolf. He gritted his teeth in frustration as he glanced at the countdown.
[ arriving at your location in 0:44 ]
"Only a few seconds more," he muttered, trying to steady his nerves as he carefully climbed the massive tree.
Right as Nathan stepped onto one of the tree's branches, the smoke had cleared halfway, and the field became visible from his elevated position. His eyes fell on the bloodied trail on the ground, his gaze following the path until it landed on Dante, still alive and leaning against a tree. Nathan felt a brief wave of relief, knowing his partner had managed to hold on. But with the smoke dissipating, it wouldn't be long before the wolf would zero in on him.
Nathan quickly scanned the area for the wolf, and to his horror, it was nearing Dante.
"Shit! I need to distract it," he cursed under his breath, the urgency demanding immediate intervention.
Transforming his hands, Nathan aimed the spear, his muscles tensing as he adjusted its trajectory while his focus remained on the wolf's movements.
His breath was shallow, each second stretching as he calculated the perfect moment to strike. A bead of sweat dripped down his forehead, the weight of the situation pressing on him. With a sudden burst of effort, he threw the spear with all his might, his arm snapping forward as the weapon flew through the thick fog.
The spear flew, slicing through the mist, closing in on the wolf just as it neared Dante. The beast, sensing the bloodlust, reacted instantly. Its massive body twisted and hurled sideways, yet the spear struck midair amidst the thinning fog, which had lightened to a mere haze.
*Spurt*
Despite the wolf's evasive movement, Nathan grinned in satisfaction, his fist clenched tightly. The spear had landed exactly at the side of its body, the spot he had repeatedly attacked earlier.
The wolf writhed in pain, howling loudly, its cry echoing across the jungle as the spear remained lodged in its side.
He reverted his hands back to normal, an attempt to conserve energy, knowing the fight was far from over. His muscles burned with the strain of the earlier transformation, but he couldn't afford to let his guard down now. Every second counted.
With careful, deliberate movements, he descended from the tree, his eyes never leaving the struggling wolf below. The creature thrashed wildly, its massive body jerking with each futile attempt to dislodge the spear. Blood poured from the wound, soaking the ground beneath it, but the beast refused to relent.
The fog had completely dissipated as Nathan landed on the ground, his eyes fixed on the wolf when a notification sound rang in his ears.
CLING
Nathan didn't need to glance at the screen. He snatched the floating potion that materialized in an instant, uncorked it, and drank the entire contents in one swift gulp.
A rush of warmth spread through his body as the potion took effect. His muscles, previously tense and sore from the earlier strain, felt lighter, and more responsive. His senses sharpened, and the fatigue that had been gnawing at him seemed to vanish in an instant. The surge of energy filled him with renewed confidence, a clarity that made him feel invincible for a brief moment.
He dropped the empty vial on the ground and summoned the
Truth be told, this was his first time facing an enemy at close range, but there was no fear in his eyes. The lingering effects of the strength buff had bolstered his confidence, making him feel capable of anything.
"I'm gonna skin you alive, pup!" he yelled, his voice dripping with defiance. The wolf, its bloodshot eyes meeting his, growled in response, its fury palpable.
The beast had just removed the spear with its fangs, tossing it into the grass. Now, with its gaze fixed on Nathan, the wolf roared in anger, stomping the ground in a show of dominance.
The large wolf vanished from its spot in the blink of an eye, its speed unnatural as it halved the distance between them in an instant. Nathan didn't hesitate, his arms transforming with a surge of energy, disregarding the strain on his chakra reserves.
His mind remained focused with every fiber of his being tuned to the imminent danger as he sprinted forward to face the beast.
The wolf leaped into the air, its massive paws raised, aiming to crush Nathan under its weight.
But Nathan, anticipating the attack, reacted with precision. As the wolf soared toward him, he stopped in his tracks, sliding through the narrow gap just before the beast descended.
He narrowly avoided the body press, feeling the rush of air as the wolf's massive body crashed down where he had been only moments before.
Nathan seized the opening as the wolf struggled to recover from the earlier impact. He jumped high before the beast could react, his body barely landing on top of it. His lower half clung to the wolf's sides, his legs pressed against its ribs as he fought to maintain his balance.
The wolf's massive form bucked beneath him, thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to throw him off. Its movements grew more frantic, but Nathan held on, his grip tight as the creature continued to struggle.
As the wolf's frantic shaking slowed, exhaustion taking over, Nathan saw his chance. He struck instantly, driving the knife deep into the wolf's back with a swift, precise motion.
*Stit* *Stit* *Stit* ....
*Stit* *Stit* .....
"Grrroo-"
*Stit* *Stit* ...
Nathan's strikes grew more vicious, each stab driven by a mix of desperation and fury. The knife tore through the wolf's flesh with sickening force, each thrust was a violent punctuation to the creature's weakening body. The wolf's cries were drowned out by the sound of the blade sinking deeper into its flesh, its body trembling under the relentless assault.
The repeated stabbings weakened the wolf further as it kneeled. It had not expected Nathan to match its strength. Having already wasted energy running aimlessly and with the Javelin attack draining its vitality, the beast was in a critical state.
The wolf knew it was about to die, but it refused to accept being killed by a single human. It had prided itself on being the alpha of the jungle.
Stit Stit
"Aaaaroooo!"
Stit
Nathan's stabbing slowed as his mind suddenly caught up with the situation. The wolf howled with all the energy it had left, its cry ringing out like a prayer, a desperate plea for help in its dying moments.
To the wolf's surprise—and to Nathan's horror—the prayer was answered.
"Aaroo!" "Aarooo!"
The air was filled with a chorus of growls, which was louder than before, signaling the arrival of a pack.
Nathan's stabbing died down as his gaze shifted to the pack of wolves charging toward him from a distance. There were at least seven of them, each baring its fangs and growling, their eyes locked on him with a ferocity that sent a chill down his spine. They were still a few hundred meters away, but the speed at which they were closing the gap was unmistakable.
He was snapped back to reality as he sensed something within him shifting. His hands reverted to normal—not from chakra depletion, but because the five minutes of his blessing had expired. The adrenaline that had been driving him now began to fade as he began to think clearly. But, at this point, he was already quite screwed.
"Hahhh... Hahhh... Shit!" Nathan cursed, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His chest burned, struggling to take in enough air. He glanced down at his trembling hands, realizing he had been gripping the knife too tightly.