The Void Wolf's howl reverberated through the forest, shaking the ground beneath Xuian's feet. From the surrounding shadows, ethereal figures began to form—spectral wolves, their eyes glowing with the same molten silver as the Void Wolf's.
Xuian's jaw tightened as he counted them. Six shadow wolves surrounded him, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of existence.
"So you brought friends," Xuian muttered, gripping his dagger tighter.
The Void Wolf snarled, its silver eyes locking onto Xuian with a newfound fury. The spectral wolves closed in, their movements synchronized with their master.
[System Notification]
Warning: The Void Wolf has activated its domain skill, Shadowborn Fury. New Objective: Survive the onslaught and eliminate the Void Wolf.
Xuian glanced at the system notification and let out a slow breath. "Survive, huh? Easier said than done."
He summoned his five specters, their ghostly forms reappearing at his side.
"You've got your pack, and I've got mine," Xuian said, his lips curling into a smirk. "Let's see who's stronger."
Battle in the Shadows
The first spectral wolf lunged, its translucent fangs aiming for Xuian's throat. He sidestepped, slashing with his dagger. The Spiritbane Elixir worked as intended, the blade slicing through the wolf's form and dispersing it into mist.
One down.
Two more wolves attacked simultaneously, one aiming for Xuian's legs while the other targeted his back.
"Intercept them!" Xuian barked.
Two of his specters moved to block the attacks, their claws clashing with the wolves. The impact sent ripples through the air as the ghostly entities battled.
Xuian took the opportunity to charge at the Void Wolf, his dagger poised to strike.
The Void Wolf growled and leapt back, its movements fluid and precise. It retaliated with a swipe of its claws, the force of the attack creating a gust of wind that knocked Xuian off balance.
"Tch," Xuian muttered, regaining his footing. "You're not going to make this easy, are you?"
A Change in Tactics
The battle dragged on, the air thick with tension. Xuian's specters managed to hold off most of the shadow wolves, but their numbers were dwindling. Two of his summons had already been destroyed, leaving him with only three.
[Summon Limit: 3/5]
The Void Wolf seemed to sense his struggle. It let out another howl, and the remaining shadow wolves became more aggressive, their movements faster and more coordinated.
Xuian gritted his teeth. "If I don't finish this soon, I'm done for."
He activated his Devourer of Domains ability, drawing power from the shadows around him. The mist thickened, and the energy in the air shifted in his favor.
The Void Wolf hesitated, its glowing eyes narrowing as it felt the change.
"Not so confident now, are you?" Xuian said, his voice cold.
He pointed at the Void Wolf, commanding his specters. "All of you, focus on that thing. Ignore the rest."
The specters obeyed, abandoning their battles with the shadow wolves to converge on the Void Wolf.
A Desperate Strike
With the Void Wolf distracted, Xuian coated his dagger with the last of the Spiritbane Elixir. He moved quickly, weaving through the chaos of the battlefield.
The Void Wolf fought fiercely, its claws and fangs tearing through one of Xuian's specters. But it was clearly growing weaker, its movements slowing as the battle wore on.
"This is my chance," Xuian thought, his eyes narrowing.
He leapt forward, aiming for the Void Wolf's exposed flank. The creature turned to intercept him, but Xuian was faster.
The dagger plunged into the Void Wolf's side, piercing deep into its form.
The creature let out a deafening howl, its body writhing as cracks of light spread from the wound.
Xuian twisted the blade, driving it in deeper. "Die already!"
With a final, ear-splitting roar, the Void Wolf collapsed. Its body disintegrated into black mist, the surrounding shadow wolves vanishing along with it.
Victory
The forest fell silent. Xuian stood over the spot where the Void Wolf had fallen, breathing heavily. His dagger, now dull and chipped, hung loosely in his hand.
[Congratulations! You have defeated the Void Wolf.]
[Reward: +1500 Abyssal Coins.]
[Special Reward: Void Wolf Core obtained.]
Xuian's eyes lit up as he read the notifications. "Void Wolf Core? What's that?"
[Item: Void Wolf Core]
Description: A rare core containing the essence of the Void Wolf. Can be used to strengthen your Domain or enhance your abilities.
Xuian smirked. "Looks like this trip was worth it after all."
As he prepared to leave, a faint growl caught his attention. He turned to see a small, translucent wolf pup emerging from the mist.
The pup looked at him with eyes identical to the Void Wolf's, but its aura was far less menacing.
"A leftover?" Xuian muttered, raising his dagger.
The pup didn't attack. Instead, it lowered its head and whimpered, its tiny form trembling.
Xuian hesitated. "You're not hostile?"
The system chimed.
[The Void Wolf Pup has recognized you as its master. Would you like to bind it to your Domain? Yes/No.]
Xuian stared at the pup, then sighed. "Fine. You might be useful."
[Void Wolf Pup successfully bound to Abyssal Graveyard.]
The pup trotted over to Xuian, nuzzling against his leg.
"Don't get too comfortable," Xuian muttered, sheathing his dagger. "You're still a tool."
The pup wagged its tail, seemingly unfazed.
Returning to Sector 7
As Xuian made his way back to the Abyss Exchange, he couldn't help but reflect on the battle. The Void Wolf had been a formidable opponent, but it had also taught him the importance of strategy and preparation.
With 1500 Abyssal Coins and a new addition to his Domain, Xuian felt his confidence grow.
"This is just the beginning," he said to himself, a cold determination in his eyes. "Soon, this world—and every dimension beyond it—will kneel before me."
The Void Wolf Pup trotted beside him, its small form a reminder of the power he had claimed.
End of Chapter 4