Fierce Battle

Luke's heart pounded in his chest as he faced the ferocious beast, the Ice-Fanged Wolf. It was a formidable opponent, its icy aura sending chills down his spine. Without hesitation, he activated his [Shadow Reflection] skill, summoning his shadowy minion that mirrored his physical capabilities to fight by his side.

The Shadow Reflection leaped into action, engaging the wolf to buy time for Luke and Delia to escape. However, the beast proved to be too powerful, tearing through the shadowy minion with ease. Luke knew he couldn't escape this foe and that he had to face the Ice-Fanged Wolf head-on.

As the wolf closed in on them, its fangs glinting in the sunlight, Luke drew his short sword and activated his Sword Slash skill. He parried the wolf's initial attack, but he could feel the force behind it, almost knocking him off balance. The realization hit him hard—running was truly not an option. If he wanted to survive, he had to defeat this creature.

Glancing at his status screen, he saw that he had [50] MP remaining. He could only use each of his two skills one more time before he ran out of mana. His mind raced, devising a plan to take down the wolf before his energy ran dry.

In the midst of the battle, Delia quickly grabbed three potions from her bag and tossed them to Luke. "Use these and protect me, you idiot!" she barked, her usual rudeness showing through even in the face of danger.

Luke caught the potions and gave her a nod of acknowledgment. He studied the contents of the vials: a [Stamina Recovery Potion], a [Strength Buff Potion], and a [Speed Buff Potion]. While he wished for a mana recovery potion, he couldn't afford to waste time on regrets. He downed the potions one by one, feeling the effects coursing through his veins.

With renewed vigor, he activated his [Shadow Reflection] skill again and commanded his shadowy double to fight beside him. The fierce battle raged on, and the odds were not in Luke's favor. The Ice-Fanged Wolf was a relentless opponent, and despite his best efforts, Luke struggled to find an opening to deal a fatal blow.

However, just as he was contemplating his next move, the Shadow Reflection found an opportunity and created an opening. Luke seized the moment, activating his [Sword Slash] skill with precision. The blade cut through the air with deadly intent, landing a critical strike on the wolf's side.

A sense of relief washed over Luke as he believed he had landed the finishing blow. But as the dust settled, he saw the wolf still standing, albeit with a vexed expression. The blow had been critical, but it wasn't enough to bring the beast down. Worse yet, he was now completely out of MP.

His heart sank as the wolf unleashed a howl, activating its AOE skill—[Ice Field]. The ground beneath Luke's feet froze instantly, trapping him in place. He gritted his teeth, trying to break free, but the ice held him firm.

The Ice-Fanged Wolf saw its chance and lunged at Luke, aiming to deliver a killing blow. Luke closed his eyes, preparing for the worst, but just as the wolf was about to strike, a mysterious figure suddenly intervened.

With a swift and precise movement, the figure beheaded the wolf, its body collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap. Luke's eyes widened in shock and gratitude as he looked at his savior.

The newcomer wore a hooded cloak that concealed their identity. Their face was hidden in the shadows, and their aura exuded an air of enigmatic power. Before Luke could express his gratitude, the figure spoke in a low, commanding voice.

"You must be more careful, young one," the figure said. "Facing such a formidable foe with such recklessness could have cost you dearly."

Luke nodded, still in awe of the stranger's timely intervention. "Thank you. I... I don't know how to repay you."

The figure waved off his gratitude. "There is no need for repayment. It was probably my fault that this wolf got here, I was battling a pack of them in the middle of the forest and this one escape; However, I must warn you—rushing into battles unprepared will only lead to disaster."

As the figure spoke, Delia finally found her voice, although it was tinged with annoyance. "And who are you to lecture us? We managed to survive, didn't we?"

The figure turned to Delia, their gaze penetrating her very soul. "Surviving and thriving are two different things. You both have potential, but you must learn to harness it properly."

Delia crossed her arms, a defiant look in her eyes, but she didn't argue further. She knew that they had been saved by this mysterious stranger, and there was no point in being rude.

Luke took a deep breath, collecting himself. "You're right. We still have much to learn. Thank you for saving us.."

The figure inclined their head slightly. "Take this." the broke off one of the fangs of the ice-fang wolf and gave it to him, "it's a nice item, that short-sword you're using is not suited for your fighting style. Have a blacksmith make a dagger for you with it"

Luke accepted the fang, its icy surface still cold to the touch. He examined it closely, sensing the power within. "Thank you for this," he said, grateful for the unexpected gift. "I'll make sure to have a blacksmith craft it."

The figure nodded approvingly. "Good. A well-crafted dagger will serve you better in battle. But remember, the weapon alone won't make you stronger. You must train and hone your skills diligently."

Luke nodded, taking the advice to heart. "I won't forget."

With a final nod, the mysterious figure turned to leave, their cloak billowing behind them.

As the figure vanished into the shadows once more, Delia couldn't help but be curious. "Who was that person, and why did they help us?"

"I don't know," Luke admitted. "But they seem powerful, and their advice was valuable. We should take it to heart."

Delia scoffed, but he could tell she was thinking about it too. "Fine, whatever. Let's just get back to the city and report the completion of the quest."

Luke nodded in agreement. They made their way back to the city, the adrenaline still pumping through their veins from the intense battle. As they reached the Adventurer's Guild, Luke felt a sense of pride knowing that they had successfully completed the quest, even if it was more challenging than expected.

Stephanie was surprised to see them return, but her eyes widened as she was more surprised to see the Ice-Fanged Wolf's fang in Luke's hand. "You!! You defeated an Ice-Fanged Wolf??!"

Luke smiled, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. "Yes, we did. It was a tough battle, but we managed to pull through."

Delia chimed in, her voice less boastful than usual. "Thanks to some timely intervention," she said, giving Luke a side glance.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about the mysterious helper. "Well, whoever it was, they must have been skilled to take on an Ice-Fanged Wolf."

Luke nodded, not revealing too much about the figure's identity. "Yes, they were."

Stephanie congratulated Luke on his success and informed him that he had indeed ranked up as adventurers, now eligible to take on D and C rank quests. Luke felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of even greater challenges and opportunities to grow stronger.

As they left the guild, Delia turned to Luke with a rare hint of admiration in her eyes. "You did well back there," she admitted. "I mean, you're still annoying, but you can fight."

Luke chuckled, accepting the backhanded compliment. "Thanks. You weren't so bad yourself."

Delia rolled her eyes but didn't argue further. As they walked through the bustling streets of the city, Luke couldn't help but think about the mysterious figure who had saved them. He wondered if they would ever meet again and what other knowledge they might have to share.

Upon arriving back at his home for rest, Luke decided to check his progress on his growth and called upon the system.

[DING !]

[EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GAINED !]

[SP +10]

[AP +10]

[YOU HAVE LEVELED UP TO <<LV.3>>]

[ALL STATS HAVE RISEN BY +5 !]

[DING !]

[SKILL PROFICIENCY HAS INCREASED !]

[SWORD SLASH HAS RISEN TO <<LV.2>>]