Amelia The GodChild (5)

Previously

"Amelia, may I ask about the locket you're wearing?" Willow asked, gesturing towards the silver trinket.

Amelia looked down at the locket, her fingers brushing against it gently. "It belonged to my mother. She gave it to me before she passed away," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Willow nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry for your loss, Amelia. It must have been difficult for you."

Amelia's response was a soft nod, her eyes downcast.

The rest of the walk was filled with small talk, mostly initiated by Willow. He tried to get to know Amelia better, but she seemed reluctant to share much about herself. Willow respected her boundaries and didn't push her to open up.

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Then, Willow turned to Amelia. "We're almost there. Do you have any plans or goals for the future, Amelia?"

Amelia's response was hesitant, as if she wasn't sure if she was allowed to have dreams anymore. "I...I don't know. I never really had the chance to think about it before."

Willow smiled reassuringly. "Well, you have a whole new life ahead of you now. You can do anything you want."

Amelia's face brightened a little at his words, but the shadows of her past were still evident in her eyes.

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As the howls of the dire wolves echoed through the forest, Willow's heart began to race. He knew that he couldn't rely on weapons in this fight. Instead, he closed his eyes and focused on his inner chi, allowing it to flow through his body and enhance his physical abilities.

The monsters that had emerged from the shadows were a sight to behold. Their fur was thick and shaggy, and their eyes glinted with a feral hunger. Each one was easily the size of a horse, with powerful muscles rippling under their fur. Long fangs protruded from their jaws, glinting menacingly in the dim light. They moved with a fluid grace, circling the small group of travelers, eyes fixed hungrily on Amelia.

Willow was surprised to see Dire Wolves in this area. They were known to inhabit the northern parts of the forest, far away from any villages or towns. It was strange for them to be so close to civilization, and it made him wonder what could have driven them this way. He knew that Dire Wolves were highly aggressive and territorial creatures, so encountering them was never a good sign.

"Stay behind me, Amelia," he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite his fear. "I won't let anything happen to you."

Amelia nodded, her eyes wide with terror as the wolves emerged from the shadows. Willow braced himself as they charged forward, teeth bared and claws slashing. He moved with lightning speed, dodging and weaving through their attacks as he landed powerful blows with his fists and feet.

But then, something felt off so he awakened his eyes to check Amelia, and it was as he thought. Willow quickly assessed the situation and realized that the Dire Wolves were targeting Amelia, most likely because of the potent mana that she possessed. He knew that he had to act quickly to protect her.

Without hesitation, Willow leaped forward and used his enhanced speed and agility to dodge the wolves' attacks. He then delivered a powerful punch to the nearest wolf, sending it flying back. The other wolves hesitated for a moment before launching another attack, but Willow was ready for them. He used his enhanced strength to grab one of the wolves by the scruff of its neck and throw it into the other wolves, knocking them all down.

The wolves were strong and fast. The pack of Dire Wolves lunged forward in unison, their movements so coordinated that they almost seemed like a single entity. Willow had to focus all of his chi-enhanced physical abilities to avoid being overwhelmed. He dodged and weaved through their attacks, blocking their air bullet projectiles with his arms as he tried to close the distance between him and the wolves.

Despite their synchronization and skill, the wolves were no match for Willow's mastery of chi. His attacks were precise and devastating, striking at vital points on their bodies with lethal accuracy. With each blow, the wolves howled in pain, but they refused to back down and with each strike, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins, and he knew that he could keep going for as long as he needed to.

As the battle raged on, Willow's movements became more fluid, more confident. His experience in combat was paying off, and he was beginning to gain the upper hand. He landed a powerful punch on one of the wolves, sending it flying backwards and crashing into a tree.

But even as the wolves began to falter, their attacks remained deadly. Willow had to be careful not to let his guard down, or he could end up with a fatal injury. The wolves' air bullet projectiles penetrated through the air with deadly accuracy, and he had to move quickly to avoid them.

As Amelia watched the fight unfold, she felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and helplessness. Here was this stranger, Willow, risking his life to protect her, while she was just standing there, unable to do anything to help. She felt tears welling up in her eyes as she thought about how much she wished she could be stronger, how much she wished she could protect herself and those around her. She felt helpless and useless, just standing there and watching him fight.

But then, a memory came flooding back to her. She remembered her mother, who had always told her that strength came in many forms, not just physical strength. Her mother had been a healer, and she had always taught Amelia that healing and caring for others was just as important as fighting.

Amelia took a deep breath and focused her thoughts. She realized that she did have a power of her own, a power that could help in this situation. She closed her eyes and tapped into her mana, feeling it surge through her body. She could feel the air around her humming with energy as she drew upon her magic.

Suddenly, she heard a growl, and her eyes snapped open. She saw a Dire Wolf lurking in the shadows, preparing to take aim at Willow. Without thinking, she lifted her hands and sent a blast of air towards the wolf. The blast was larger and stronger than any she had ever produced before, and it hit the wolf square in the chest, knocking it back several feet.

As the wolf stumbled, Willow saw his chance and struck, delivering a devastating blow that sent the creature tumbling to the ground. The other wolves, sensing that the tide of the battle had turned, began to retreat.