The forest remained deathly silent for a moment, as if comprehending what truly had happened in the span of literal seconds.
Awoooo Awoooo
Then, two screeching howls filled utter rage and raw killing ferociousness bellowed through the proximity so loud that Raymond felt his chest tightening.
Yet, his mind remained calm. This was something he had already anticipated. He already knew that the wolves would go berserk the moment one of their kin is killed.
And berserk they did.
The two wolves immediately lunged at him like bullets shot from a gun. Their eyes were filled with unending madness and anger.
Raymond could tell that they had already lost their sense of security, now focusing only on killing him in any way possible.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
A calm wolf was dangerous while an enraged wolf was predictable.
The first beast reached him in an instant, its jaws opening wide enough to crush his whole skull. Its body stretched taut through the air, sharp claws extended toward his throat.
Raymond didn't flinch, stepping forward he thrusted his sword straight towards the beast's face. Instinctively, the beast brought its front claws to protect its head.
The blade and the claws met but it was a big mistake, one that the wolf would regret its whole life…it survived from Raymond today.
Before, the beast could do anything Raymond's other hand shot forward from his hand. Mana ran through his limbs smoothly as frost materialized in front of his palm instantly however this time instead of a spike, something else formed in front of him.
It was way thinner than the spike but longer…it was a crude needle.
Thus four similar translucent frozen needles glinted beneath the moonlight as they materialized in front of his palm, swiftly with a flick of his wrist he hurled them towards the wolf's eyes.
It was something Raymond had discovered while training his magic today, he could turn his spike into small needles which were easier to control even without any prior training.
The distance between them was close, closing the dodge option. The needles found their mark..
Shulk
The thin icy needle nestled straight into the wolf's eyes while the other three stuck into the wolf face.
"Gruk... awwooo-!"
The wolf's entire body convulsed violently as if raw electricity had been pumped directly through its veins. Its limbs spasmed uncontrollably while a strange, shrill howl escaped from its throat.
The pain was overwhelming.
So overwhelming that the beast had completely lost control of its own body. The bony spikes protruding from its back reacted instinctively.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Several spikes shot out in random directions like arrows released from a broken bow.
Trees were pierced.
Bushes were shredded.
The ground cracking where the spikes landed.
And fortunately for Raymond, one of them found a much better target.
Pshk!
A sharp spike buried itself deep into the stomach of the second wolf.
"Awoooo!"
The beast released a pained cry as its charge abruptly halted. Its body stumbled sideways, blood instantly beginning to pour from the wound.
For a moment, the wolf simply stared at the spike protruding from its abdomen. Then it looked toward its companion.
Or rather… What remained of it.
The blinded wolf continued thrashing wildly, completely unaware of what it had just done. Raymond blinked. Then slowly raised an eyebrow.
"...Well."
That was certainly convenient.The second wolf didn't seem to share his amusement. Pain and confusion flashed through its eyes as it backed away slightly. The injury wasn't fatal, but it was serious enough to hinder its movements.
Its breathing became ragged. Blood stained its white fur crimson. Meanwhile, the first wolf continued to convulse on the ground, blindly firing small spikes that appeared continuously whenever another wave of agony struck it.
At this point, it had become more dangerous to its allies than to Raymond. The young man calmly adjusted his grip on his sword. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Thank you for the kill." Dashing straight towards the wolf he spoke, a small volley of spikes came towards him however it wasn't dangerous.
Dodging easily, he appeared in front of the wolf. The blade flashed with a mix of silver and crimson.
Then, slowly, a head rolled across the forest floor.
Blood followed behind it, painting a crimson trail over the grass before the severed head finally came to a stop against a tree root.
A moment later, the body collapsed.
Thud.
The forest fell silent once more. Now only one remained.
The final wolf staggered slightly through the clearing, its movements erratic and uncoordinated. Blood streamed from its ruined stomach while its breathing came out in ragged, pained gasps.
But Raymond didn't care about it one bit.
He immediately ran toward the beast. Seeing his charge, the wolf rapidly fired its spikes toward him. Bone projectiles tore through the air with deadly force, whistling as they flew.
However, Raymond was just as swift.
With slippery grace, he weaved through the barrage, dodging the fatal spikes while knocking aside the less dangerous ones with his blade.
Clang! Clang!
Sparks flew as steel met spike. The distance between them vanished rapidly. In a blink, he was upon the beast.
His sword swept diagonally, aiming to sever its legs. At the last moment, the wolf reacted. Its claw shot downward.
Clang!
The attack was blocked.
At the same time, the beast's jaws snapped open, lunging toward his head. Raymond ducked beneath the bite. He felt the rush of air pass over his scalp as rows of sharp teeth snapped shut above him.
Spinning on his heel, he slashed once more.
The wolf hastily raised both front paws and pushed itself backward. The blade sliced through empty air.
But that had never been the real attack. The moment the opening appeared, Raymond thrust his free hand forward.
Mana surged and cold gathered.
A sharp spike of frost materialized instantly before his palm. The wolf landed on the ground.
However, before it could react..
Fwish!
The spike shot forward.
Crack!
The projectile struck directly against the beast's face. The force snapped its head backward. Frost exploded across its muzzle, rapidly spreading over its fur and skin.
"Awooo!"
The wolf staggered. More importantly… its vision blurred. The sudden impact had dazed it.
Raymond didn't hesitate. His boots dug into the earth as he launched himself forward. The wolf desperately attempted to raise its claws.
But it was too slow. Far too slow.
The blade flashed beneath the moonlight.
Slash.
A deep wound opened across the beast's chest. Blood sprayed across the clearing.
The wolf howled in pain and stumbled backward.
Raymond pressed the advantage. Bending his knees slightly, he jumped straight into the air.
A long shadow appeared on the wolf's face, with its blurry gaze all its gaze all it saw was a black shadow upon his head.
Slash.
A slicing sound rang through the proximity. Then with a wet thud, a heavy body fell on the ground.
"Haa haa."
A familiar crisp, chime rang in Raymond's head.
[You have killed….]