Teamwork

Rin made a mistake in this battle. Actually, two mistakes, one led up to the other. Rin failed to assess the strength of the wolves, which led him to increase his weight, going for power instead of agility.

Rin assessed the wolves to be just about as strong as the ones he encountered yesterday. He thought he could make a quick counter with more power, increasing his body weight.

However, his assessment of their strength was wrong. The transforming wolves were about twice as strong as the ones Rin battled last time.

This failed assessment cost him his leg. Thankfully, he had one try left on the healing ring. It seemed the cooldown only counts when he was playing.

That was how real battles were fought. One wrong assessment could change the shape of the fight. You might think skill and power were everything and the stronger man always wins, but that wasn't nearly the truth.

An average sword fight between two masters lasts for ten to fifteen seconds. Perhaps a little longer, but thirty seconds at best. There weren't that many things one could achieve at that time.

Assess the opponent's move and counter, or assess the opponent's weakness and attack.

You can hear all kinds of bullshit from all the second-rate pro gamers, but the essence of battle was only that in simpler words. It takes years to master it, and even then a master can make a mistake.

[You have defeated a Feral Wolf (Common)]

That was one of the huge ones in the pack. It took effort from both of them to claim its life, though the last blow was Rins.

Shifting his bodyweight hadn't made Rin's situation completely different though. Just by getting higher agility and mobility, Rin couldn't just overpower the savage wolves. But as far as a battle against several opponents went, Rin was holding his ground.

Using his high mobility, Rin was able to dodge or block most of the wolves' attacks, while returning one or two blows to a few of them. However, he paid the price for high mobility with his strength.

A person's body weight affects more areas than you could imagine. Rin was still nauseated using this wields but cool power.

Rin lunged himself up in the air, a couple of metres easily, dodging the pounce of a wolf. His athletic build helped landed with a backflip.

Rin barely managed to get his balance back when a claw lurched at him, almost drawing three parallel marks in his chest. Rin's good shirt was already torn into rags of a bloody mess. Some of it came from his own body, though he drew most of it from the feral wolves.

Withdrawing a step, Rin rammed his sword at the incoming claw, plunging the blade right through the ravening paw. The wolf howled in agony as a long grin spread on Rin's face.

Gasps of pants escaped from his lips as Rin twisted his sword, screwing the paw well. But that wasn't the end of it. Getting the chance of one on one for a quick moment, how could Rin let it go?

Rin launched himself at the wolf, slicking his sword at the side of its neck. But it was merely a shallow cut, lacking in power.

But to the wolf's surprise, another silhouette lunged from behind, sticking one of his long daggers into its eye. Before the wolf could howl, the stranger rammed his other one into his neck, claiming its life.

The wolf's lifeless corpse fell to the ground as a familiar notification flashed on the corner of his eye.

[You have played a part in defeating a Feral Wolf (Common)]

Rin ignored it and crept back under the cover of the other fellow. The stranger was also an agility-based fighter, though his stamina and endurance seemed on par or better than these wolves. The dude must have played the game all day.

After involving Rin in the mix, the stranger managed a little freedom in his fight, managing to kill one more than Rin did. Of course, it was only possible because they were working together.

Alone, they were as good as dead.

"Brother," the stranger said, covering for Rin, "just a little more."

Rin obviously didn't reply. Even when the stranger was covering for him, Rin wasn't completely free. One wolf was onto him.

Getting his breather, he engaged in the battle again.

'Gosh! It would have been so much easier if I got an automatic level up after killing the wolves,' Gale mused as he worked, dodging attacks from two wolves. For a battle like this, even a single level could change the shape of how he fought.

But no, he had to touch every one of his kills and [Loot] their corpses. Even that wasn't all, as he had to absorb the gems coming out of the corpse, which would take another ten seconds.

Rin couldn't even collect them in peace before the wolves would bite his head off. Wait, that reminded him, Rin had 4 agility evolution gems. Of course, he didn't have Agility as an awakened attribute, but what about the stranger?

He clearly seemed agiler than Rin, and probably has Agility as his attribute.

Well, Rin could simply ask him. But first, he had to deal with this annoying one.

Thankfully, the undead transformation did a number on their mind, unable to even work properly to his attack only going on with their instinct.

The wolf's claw lurched at Rin again, but Rin was ready this time around. He thrust his sword into its path, penetrating the wolf's palm inside out.

The wolf howled, and Rin made a jab with his other arm, elbow digging into its neck. Rin had to force a lot of mana to make it happen, but in the end, it worked out.

Rin felt the stinking breath of the wolf on his face—this was as far as he came close to any beast's face.

Rin drew the sword back, proceeding to kill it for good. He could've killed it if only there was no other wolf to lunge at him from the sides.

Again!

"Oi, bloke, cover me," Rin screamed

Rin jabbed the sword, nonetheless; still in a reverse grip. He found it a lot more difficult, making it through the ribcage with barely any mana empowering his sword. And then there was the other wolf.

Rin shifted his body weight and empowered himself. Now he was getting there.

He manoeuvred his lower body and thrust his knee in between its legs. He didn't know if he made it to the balls, but the wolf weakened enough for him to think about the other one bothering him.

Rin drilled his sword into its neck first, ignoring the wolf lunging at him.

Blood sputtered out as the notification came, but threw no delight on Rin's face. He was exhausted and almost out of mana. Let's hope the stranger has a solution for that. Even a couple of physical enhancement gems would work.

[You have defeated a Feral Wolf (Common)]

Thankfully, the other person covered for him, or Rin would be done for now. For all his fault, this guy was reliable in the fight.

Rin wheezed. The pain had grown numb in his mind as he brought the few gems out of his pocket.

"Hey, bloke," he called, "Do you need any gems for your Agility?"

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How are the fight scenes? Not even close to the most interesting fight I ever wrote about, but we'll get there. The first arc has a lot of fight scenes.