chapter 16 The Howl of the Demon Wolf

"Howling," the voice of a wolf echoes through the air. "This demon is a wolf. Get ready. In this fight, you must first stay away from its speed," Karv advises.

"Okay," Veer nods in agreement and begins heading towards the source of the voice.

"Is it okay to let him go alone? He's a new warrior, only ranked 1. Will he be able to take on a rank 1 demon wolf by himself?" Jack asks, his concern evident.

Upon noticing Jack's increasing worry for Veer, Aisa speaks up reassuringly, "Who said we were going to let him go alone? We'll simply protect him from a distance."

Karv, wearing a smile, nods in agreement and adds, "Jack, Aisa is right. It's time for us to join Veer."

While the team from the Fire of Magic guild discusses their next steps, Veer arrives at an open area, following the beckoning voice of the demon wolf.

As Veer sets foot in the location, he discovers a grassy field that reaches up to his knees. In this place, he hears a voice.

"Aauuuuu..."

Veer's gaze fixates on a wolf standing 10 meters away, measuring 4 meters in length and 2-3 meter in height. The creature's red eyes lock with Veer's, indicating that it has been awaiting his arrival. Veer realizes that the wolf is aware of his pursuit.

In response to this realization, Veer swiftly draws his blade from its sheath at his waist.

"Phusss," the sound of the blade being unsheathed resonates in the air.

The atmosphere becomes charged with tension as the wolf catches sight of Veer brandishing his weapon. Reacting swiftly, the wolf darts towards Veer with remarkable speed. In a split second, Veer recognizes the danger and begins his own sprint towards the approaching predator.

Just as the demon wolf leaps, jaws wide open, aiming for a strike merely 1 meter away from Veer, the agile warrior reacts with lightning reflexes. Veer swiftly bends his knees, propelling himself into a graceful slide, all while raising his blade with precision. The blade tears through the wolf's stomach in a swift, decisive motion.

As the wolf collapses, a resounding rumble fills the air, and Veer's blade emits faint crackling sounds, hinting at a trace of electrical energy infused within it.

"To slay this wolf, I channeled the element of thunder from my magic into my blade," Veer thinks to himself, contemplating the exceptional power he had to muster. "I had to combine both internal energy and external magic within my body to survive. This wolf is far more formidable than a mere rank 1 demon."

In the midst of Veer's thoughts, a voice suddenly breaks the silence. "Wow, you've slain the demon wolf! You truly possess something extraordinary."

As Veer turns his gaze towards the source of the voice, he finds Jack, Aisa, and Karv standing before him. In that moment, a sudden recollection strikes Veer's mind—he realizes that he had just tapped into his mana reserves. Had he witnessed this power before? Veer ponders within his thoughts.

Observing Veer's apprehension, he tightens his grip on his blade, feeling a hint of nervousness as his comrades approach. However, Karv, wearing a smile, comprehends that Veer may still be in his heightened hunter state. With a reassuring tone, Karv addresses Veer, "Veer, you have single-handedly defeated a rank 1 demon wolf that had reached the pinnacle of its rank. I am genuinely astonished by what I have witnessed."

Veer's tension eases as he hears Karv's words. "I exerted considerable power to defeat it. I believe it would be wise for me to take some time to rest," Veer expresses to the group.

While Veer acknowledges the need for rest, the urgency to leave the vicinity takes precedence. "We should make our way out of here promptly. The commotion caused by our battle may have attracted other monsters," Veer suggests to the group.

Agreeing with Veer's proposition, everyone prepares to depart. However, just as they are about to leave, Veer's attention is drawn to the demon wolf lying nearby, its breath growing faint.

Veer approaches the wolf, offering his final words, "May your soul find peace." With those words, the wolf gently closes its eyes.

Understanding that the wolf has passed away, Veer proceeds to make a deliberate incision in its stomach with his blade, revealing the area he had previously wounded. Placing his hand inside the cavity, Veer retrieves a silver-colored source stone.

He gazes at the stone momentarily before securing it within his bag, which is attached to his battle suit.

Without wasting any time, Veer swiftly rejoins his companions, and together, they hasten their departure from the area. As they put distance between themselves and the site, relief floods over them.

"Finally, we've vacated the area, five kilometers away. Ah, it's a relief to have escaped without further incident," Curve exclaims, expressing the shared sentiment.

As Veer and the team of the Fire of Magic guild make their hasty retreat, a chilling howl resonates through the air, freezing their steps. Turning their gazes back to the location where the fallen wolf once lay, their hearts sink at the sight that awaits them.

A horde of at least 60 demon wolves emerges from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malevolence. These creatures, with ranks comparable to the formidable wolf they had previously encountered, surround the area, their presence foreboding and their intentions clear. Veer and his companions find themselves confronted by an overwhelming onslaught, outnumbered and facing an unparalleled threat.

Fear intertwines with determination in their eyes as they exchange glances, realizing the daunting challenge ahead.

"Don't be alarmed, but we must make our escape swiftly," Curve warned, his voice filled with urgency. "Facing this army of 60 demon wolves is beyond the capabilities of both a rank 3 warrior and a magician like us. It's wiser for all of us to retreat rather than engage in battle."

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