"Much better," Ethan said with a nod of approval. "That could definitely knock a wolf off its feet." He rolled his shoulder, feeling the faint pull on his mana reserves. "It's more taxing but worth it. Let's see how it handles in an actual fight." He turned to Lia. "Ready?"
Lia's hazel eyes glinted with determination as she tightened her grip on her blade. "Yes, Master."
"Tweety!" Ethan called for the bird. "Take us to the wolf pack." The bird let out a sharp chirp before flitting ahead. The two followed closely, moving silently through the dense forest.
As they approached the stream, the distant sound of growls grew louder. Ethan crouched low, signaling Lia to do the same. Parting a cluster of low-hanging branches, he spotted the pack lounging by the water's edge.
Six wolves, their sleek fur shimmering in the sunlight, were spread out in a loose formation. A few were drinking from the stream, while others lay in the shade, their ears twitching lazily.
And all the wolves were level 5 or level 6.
Ethan surveyed the scene, formulating a quick plan. He held up his hand, signaling Tweety to stay perched in the trees for a higher vantage point. "Tweety, stay alert and let us know if anything else approaches."
The bird chirped softly in acknowledgment, its keen eyes scanning the surroundings.
Ethan turned back to the wolves, his hand already beginning to glow as he channeled his mana. The energy gathered in his palm, forming a crackling orb of blue light. He took aim at the largest wolf which was resting in the shade but now starting to stir as if sensing their presence.
With a deep breath, Ethan released the Mana Bolt. The spell streaked through the air with a sharp hiss, slamming into the wolf's flank. The wolf let out a snarling yelp, leaping to its feet as the other wolves snapped to attention, their growls filling the air.
"Here they come!" Ethan said, immediately summoning his goblins. Lia had already healed all of them overnight so all the five goblins were ready to go as a unit. Grug and Snarl were at levels 7 and 8 while the others were still stuck at level 2.
But for these level 5 wolves they were more than enough.
Snarl, the largest of the group, let out a guttural growl, stepping forward with his crude club raised, his hulking frame radiating intimidation. Grug, ever eager and restless, bared his sharp teeth, eagerly flanking Snarl as the pack of wolves began to converge.
The wolves hesitated for only a moment before charging as a unit, their growls and snarls blending into a menacing cacophony. The bigger wolf, alpha, still reeling from the Mana Bolt, growled orders to its pack, shaking off the blow and charging alongside its comrades.
"Grug, hold the line with Snarl!" Ethan commanded, his voice steady. "The rest of you, focus on separating the pack."
The three smaller goblins split off, their crude weapons glinting as they darted to the sides, forcing the wolves to split their attention.
Meanwhile, Snarl planted his feet firmly, swinging his club with a powerful downward arc that connected with one of the charging wolves, sending it sprawling with a yelp.
With both Grug and Snarl in the thick of it, the goblins easily kept the wolf occupied. While they were fighting, Ethan did not waste time. He began channeling mana again, his palm crackling with blue energy as he prepared another Mana Bolt.
He aimed at a wolf lunging toward one of the smaller goblins. The Mana Bolt flew true, striking the creature in the side and knocking it off course.
The wolf tumbled to the ground, yelping in pain, and the goblin seized the opportunity to jab its spear into the wolf's exposed flank. Blood sprayed as the wolf let out a final whimper and fell still.
"Ah shit!" Ethan cursed his stupidity for not asking his minion to hold back. It was okay for him to steal the kills but not the other way around. But a notification popped up nevertheless.
[Ding! The entity Forest Wolf has been added to your Summoning List]
Ethan raised a brow in surprise. Apparently, it did not matter if he finished the fight or not. He just needed to get a single attack in? This was major. He needed to explore this more asap!
As long as he participated in the battle and inflicted damage, any defeated enemy could potentially be added to his summoning list. He didn't have to micromanage every fight, nor did he need to deliver the final blow personally—a game-changer for his strategy moving forward.
He immediately started channeling mana bolts one after another. Within a couple of minutes all the wolves received at least one hit, albeit a small one.
Now Ethan eagerly waited for the results to come in.