Lin Lei, originally sitting cross-legged on the ground, snapped his eyes open and looked directly south. But all that lay to the south was a chaotic thicket of thorns, the very spot he'd chosen to rest. Among the tangled grass and brambles, even most magical beasts wouldn't spot him if they got close.
"Two magical beasts are approaching, about forty meters away from me now." Lin Lei determined their proximity from the fluctuations of the wind elements.
He moved soundlessly to the edge of the thorn thicket. Through the tangled branches, he could see two powerful Wind Wolves with glowing green eyes stealthily making their way forward some thirty meters away. Their path was leading directly toward his position. Lin Lei felt a slight weight on his shoulder as the little Shadow Mouse, 'Bei Bei', landed there.
"Boss, aren't those Wind Wolves? We've seen them a few times back at the Ernst Academy," Bei Bei said through their mental link, completely unconcerned.
Lin Lei's eyes were fixed intently on the two wolves. "Yes, Wind Wolves. Magical beast wolf packs are primarily divided into three great groups: Tooth Wolves, Wind Wolves, and Snow Wolves. Of these, the Snow Wolves are the strongest overall, while the Tooth Wolves are the weakest. Wind Wolves fall in the middle. Even the most ordinary Wind Wolf is a fourth-tier beast, with elites reaching the fifth or sixth tier. I've heard the very peak of the Wind Wolves can reach the eighth tier."
Even the most ordinary ones were fourth-tier beasts, far beyond what a solitary wild boar could match.
"My warrior strength is only fourth-tier. Relying solely on warrior power, I couldn't possibly defeat these two Wind Wolves." A flicker of excitement finally stirred in Lin Lei's heart. "But that's what makes this a challenge."
As the two Wind Wolves crept closer, Lin Lei's lips began to move, silently chanting a magical incantation. His gaze grew even colder.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*...
A series of deep, resonant sounds echoed through the dark night. A dozen massive boulders, each about a meter tall and glowing with a dull yellow-earth light, hurtled at extreme speed toward the two Wind Wolves. The wolves, ever alert, jerked their heads up and immediately began dodging with incredible agility.
Low thuds sounded out.
In the brief moment it took the earth-yellow stones to strike, the Wind Wolves' reaction and evasion were startlingly fast. One wolf's hind leg was clipped by a stone, while the other managed to dodge entirely, barely scraping by.
"As expected of Wind Wolves. Their speed is terrifying," Lin Lei thought.
He continued chanting the spell and cast the wind-attribute support magic, 'Rapid'. Clutching his 'Flat Knife' used for carving, Lin Lei burst from the thorn thicket, charging at blistering speed toward the wolf with the injured hind leg.
A fourth-tier warrior buffed with 'Rapid' achieved a speed nearly matching that of the uninjured wolf. The injured one, of course, was now far slower than Lin Lei. The wolf with the hurt hind leg tried desperately to flee in panic, baring its fangs and snarling.
*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*...
A series of wind blades materialized from thin air, slashing toward Lin Lei.
"Wolves are known for their copper heads, iron tails, and tofu waists," Lin Lei recalled.
His body moved with agile grace. He tapped the ground two or three times in quick succession, dodging the wind blades and closing in on the injured wolf. His right leg whipped around like a whirlwind, striking the wolf's waist with the force of an iron whip.
*Thump!* The wolf was sent flying through the air, letting out a pained howl.
Lin Lei pushed off the ground again, pursuing the airborne wolf. His Flat Knife flashed with a streak of cold, beautiful light, slicing across the wolf's belly. Lin Lei felt as though his blade was cutting through tough, leathery hide, and it required immense effort to carve open the wound. Blood sprayed into the night sky.
"This wolf's waist isn't tough enough, but its fur and hide certainly are. Or rather, maybe this Flat Knife just isn't sharp enough. It's fine for carving ordinary stone, but slicing through the hide of a fourth-tier beast is proving difficult," Lin Lei mused to himself, even as he kept his wary eyes on the second wolf.