27. Why?!

"Just over 1,800 Health left, and countless wolves on their way, This isn't good." Back on his feet, he runs forward, hoping to knock down more health before the pack arrives. Every ounce of his being was screaming out for him to run and save himself. With Sharna out of sight and most likely closer to the city, he had no reason to stick around and buy any more time. But to him, this was an amazing chance to take down a boss and earn a ton of experience.

"We should run Lance. We are gonna be outnumbered and she still has way too much health." Vixen was already routing a path for them to take. She wanted out of there, and fast. The experience points and loot mattered very little to her, she wanted to live.

The Beta wolf slams her paw down, just barely missing Lance. He activated Flurry and unleashed several attacks. Some of which hit her weak spot. His damage output wasn't as much as he hoped, but he wasn't letting up. After a few hits, She sends him flying off again.

Just as he slams onto the ground again, the pack rushes out of the forest. Countless wolves start to descend upon him. Just as they were all about to pile on top of him.

"Boom!"

A large fireball explodes in a group of them, burning some and sending others flying. More fireballs assaulted the pack causing them to scatter and flee. Before Lance could even try to figure out what was happening, a ring of fire surrounded Lance saving him from the wolves for a time. Just beyond the flames, a figure rushed through and threw itself at him, "You're still alive!" It was Sharna. She threw herself at him and hugged Lance tightly as tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Wha... Why are you here? I thought I told you to run?" Surprised, and also a little thankful, Lance couldn't believe she came back. He half hugs her back as he catches his breath.

"We are a team, or did you forget that?" Sharna had hidden in some bushes nearby. She didn't want to leave him, so instead, she watched and waited. She figured he had some hope of defeating the Beta wolf, but once she saw the rest of the pack coming, Sharna wasn't gonna sit and watch Lance die.

Lance lay against a tree trunk while Sharna held onto him. The wolves circled, but none dared to jump through the flames. Even the Beta wolf stood still growling for the time being. To an outsider, this would seem like a cutscene midway through a boss battle, even Lance felt like this was just a small intermission before the real battle begins. But Lance took his time, taking the much-needed break. He knew the wolves were going to attack, and it was only a matter of time. Lance had to think of a plan.

He scanned all the wolves around him, there were all between levels 8 and 12. The level 8 wolves he could probably take out in one shot. The higher ones would take more. And mama Beta wouldn't just stand there and watch either. "Shar, how many fireballs can you throw?" Lance came up with an idea, the only issue was he couldn't do it alone.

"What? why? What are you planning?" Sharna wasn't gonna risk them getting killed. She wanted to get them both out of there, and fast. This would be a needless and one-sided fight that they were gonna lose.

"I'm gonna charge out and take out as many as I can. But I'm gonna need you to keep these flames up this time. And aim your fireballs at me from time to time. Don't worry about hitting me." He laid out part of his plans. He was gonna use Sharna to keep a safe zone of sorts and back him up with flames. If Lance could take out a few wolves he might be able to gain just enough experience to level up, refill his stats, and be able to go all out.

"N-n-no, That's suicide!" Sharna started to tremble and squeezed him even tighter.

Lance lifts her off of him and gets to his feet. "Also, Throw a couple into the sky as far as you can." He grips his swords tightly and slowly walks towards the flames. "You got this!" Without looking at her once, He charges out.

"B-b-but! Ahhhhh! You're so fucking stubborn!" Sharna raises the height of the flames and shoots one high into the sky. It explodes a fair bit away from the treetops. "I hope this one fucking hits you" She lobs one in Lance's direction, Purposely aiming for him.

Lance started taking the fight to the weaker wolves. He aimed for the ones he could easily kill in one hit. 'Dash!' He rushed in and took out the ones that got burnt first. 'Flurry!' As soon as several were close to him he unleashed a barrage of slashes. He was cutting through the line of wolves in two to three well-placed strikes.

Mother Beta wasn't liking her pups falling under the human's blade. She starts pawing at the ground while growling, readying herself to pounce at him. Lance glances at the big old girl quickly, then turns to Sharna. He yells out, "Now!" Sharna prepares a fireball and throws it at him. The giant Beta starts charging at Lance, the ground shaking as she runs. He stares her down, waiting for her gaping mouth to get closer. Just as it's inches away from him, 'Dash!' he bolts behind her front paw and slices the back of her leg. While her mouth was open, the Fireball went straight in. Going deep into her throat before exploding inside her. Smoke is coming out of her mouth as the big beast flails around crying out in pain.

With the Beta occupied with the pain, Lance goes back to slaughtering the wolves. His focus is on getting just enough to refill his stamina. 'Flurry!' With each flurry he takes out 3 or 4 wolves with ease. Decapitating wolves, cutting them in two, or a simple stab right between their eyes.

'You have enough to level up!' Vixen was watching his experience climb slowly. To let him focus on fighting she leveled him up to 11, refilling his stamina and health in an instant.

With his Stamina full and feeling refreshed, Lance unleashes all his attacks. Whittling down the wolves' numbers down. 10 wolves down. Then 20. Mama Beta shook off the pain of the burn and turns to Lance growling. She rushes in and claws him, He had just enough time to block, but is sent away. As he's flying backward 'Knife throw!' he throws a knife at the eyes of the big wolf. Effectively blinding her.

Sharna is keeping the circle of fire up. The wolves dare not charge at her for fear of being scorched. Every so often she shot an explosive fireball into the air not completely understanding why she was doing it, But she was told to, so she will. Even with the canines burning, She isn't strong enough to kill them alone.

Lance was still taking out the wolves slowly. He killed so many that he lost count. The number has dwindled to less than 10. 'Hard Hit!' 'Dash!' 'Flurry!' body after body fell to the ground. The ground was dyed red with all the blood. Lance's health has dropped repeatedly from the constant attacks, and his supply of potions is running low. 'Flurry!' One more Flurry took out the remaining wolves as the big Beta regained her sight.

Trling

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Skill Mastered!

Mastery of Flurry Active Skill!

Flurry Evolved Into Hurricane!

- Hurricane (1/5) Cost 20

- Cut through the air and attack 12 to 15 times. 70% of Attack power.

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