Thanks to Randy, we’ve gotten much closer. He was really happy when I praised his impressive sense of distance—every archer needs that kind of skill.

  I can now appreciate just how intimidating they look up close. The nerves are slowly creeping in. I’m not exactly afraid of dying since I know Randy will be ready to save me at any moment, but the nerves are definitely there. I activate the new skill I just acquired and feel the tension start to fade.

  "I can do this." Those words were just for me.

  I activate my pseudo-domain, sword reinforcement, and one compressed sphere. As I try to form a second one, my head starts pounding violently. I can feel my Cold Mind skill kicking in hard to dull the pain and clear my focus. I stop forming the second sphere and decide to go with just one—this discomfort won't let me fight properly.

  Without warning, I throw the sphere at the group of four wolves, hoping to at least injure one of them. What happens next shocks me.

  One of the wolves is killed instantly, pierced by the sphere, while another is wounded when the explosion goes off. The ice packed inside the sphere not only makes it denser and more powerful, but when it explodes, it releases a small icy shockwave outward. It's not enough to kill a wolf outright, but it’s definitely enough to injure one.

  I'm still stunned by what just happened. I didn’t expect a 15 cm concentrated sphere to do that much damage. It pierced through the wolf’s body like nothing. The speed and power felt like a gunshot.

  Randy and the other boy are staring at me with their mouths open behind me. I can sense their expressions thanks to the pseudo-domain. It’s hard to read the wolves’ expressions, but if I had to guess, they’re somewhere between pissed I killed one of them and surprised.

  I try to act casual and keep walking forward like this was all part of the plan. When I’m about 15 meters away, I use Lightning Step and appear next to the wounded wolf. I’m going to give it everything I’ve got to finish it with one blow.

  Just as I’m about to slash down vertically and take its head off, I’m interrupted. A wolf charges at me from the right. Their reaction speed is fast.

  This one’s a bit bigger than the others—about five centimeters taller. Is he the leader of this small pack?

  I start swinging my sword to counter him. He dodges each strike with small movements and tries to bite or slash me whenever he gets the chance. After about ten seconds, I manage to pin him down. Just when I think I’ve got him, the other healthy wolf jumps in, while the third, still wounded, starts recovering little by little.

  “This is getting complicated...” I start moving from side to side, trying to land a hit on either wolf while dodging their attacks in sequence.

  After a few minutes, I manage to land some cuts on both wolves. Their hides are a bit tougher than the foxes’. At this rate, I won’t be able to land a critical hit on either of them. I don’t want to get dragged into a war of attrition.

  I start forming two ice spheres. This time, I won’t concentrate mana into them so I don’t overload my brain. Although it’s easier to control two mana-less spheres, it’s still difficult. Losing focus could get me seriously hurt.

  The wolves eye the spheres cautiously. Now that the third one’s recovered enough to fight, things are even harder. They begin to circle me, watching my every move.

  I use Lightning Step to appear in front of the wounded wolf. As soon as the other two wolves realize what I’ve done, they charge at me from behind.

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  I toss a sphere at each one to stall them and swing my sword at the wolf in front of me. It’s still injured, and its movements are sluggish. Although it manages to dodge my first horizontal slash aimed at its back, the second one lands cleanly on its front left leg, throwing off its balance. That delay in response gives me enough time to land two strikes to its neck. Both swords dig deep into its throat. The wolf collapses, still breathing slightly. It’s not dead yet, but it will be soon. One down.

  The other two wolves are already back on me. Those two seconds of delay were all they needed. The larger one leaps at me, jaws open. Because of the strong swing I used in my last attack, I can’t dodge by jumping—I have to block with my swords.

  “Heavy...” I feel the weight of its body trying to bite me, its front paws scratching at me. I manage to step back a little, but then the other wolf jumps at me from the left, aiming for my chest.

  I throw all my strength into shifting left and use Lightning Step just before I’m bitten. Because I used it in such an awkward position, I don’t land well. I lose my balance and start rolling.

  It hurts—I’ve scraped the entire right side of my body. I manage to get back on my feet after the second roll.

  It hurts like hell, like when you fall off a bike and scrape just one side. Both wolves are charging at me again. I need to calm my mind and the pain. Cold Mind is still working at 100 km/h, and right now, it’s doing overtime to dull the pain from the fall.

  I step to my left and charge at the smaller wolf. Both wolves have minor cuts, and the bleeding’s already slowing down.

  We repeat the same pattern from earlier—small cuts while dodging their attacks with sidesteps or blocking with my swords.

  After a few more minutes, I can feel the wolves’ and my own stamina draining. Cold Mind has almost completely dulled the pain from my fall and the bruises from blocking their attacks.

  Time for a new sphere! I start creating one. The process is quick—it takes less than two seconds. I push mana into it, which takes another three. During this time, I can’t attack, just move around to dodge.

  Once the sphere is ready, both wolves lock their eyes on me and start circling, like they’re saying, “Once you kill one of us, the other will jump you from behind.”

  I leap toward the bigger wolf without hesitation. I need to create an opening where I can’t miss. We start trading attacks—his claws aiming for my stomach and legs. The other wolf notices the fierce exchange and tries to pounce from behind.

  Bingo! If he’s mid-air, he can’t dodge, or he’ll land off balance. I jump from where I am and time the sphere’s throw for the exact moment the wolf lands.

  The sphere pierces only his leg. The explosion causes minor damage to his stomach—just enough to put him out of the fight. Without a leg, he’s no threat anymore.

  I was so confident in my victory, I forgot about the alpha for a second. When I come to, he’s already close, pushing me back with every strike. His entire fighting style has changed—he’s now purely focused on tearing me apart. His fury over losing his pack has blinded him. He no longer dodges my cuts; it’s all offense now.

  After another minute, he’s covered in deep gashes, blood pouring out. It’s a shame it had to end this way. His rage blinded him and made him stop being a real threat. We trade a few more blows, and I see the opening to drive both my swords into his chest during his desperate leap.

  Both blades pierce his chest cleanly, sinking halfway in. Still, in his final act of desperation, he claws my left shoulder.

  I drop to my knees and grab my shoulder. It hurts like hell. It’s not a deep wound, but the pain is intense. It pulses hard, and my head screams. Cold Mind is still working hard to calm me down and reduce the pain.

  I can feel Randy behind me. He’s just standing there, watching me. He hasn’t said a word. Is he waiting for my reaction? After a minute of struggling with the pain, I manage to get control back and move again.

  I grab one sword with my good arm and walk over to the last injured wolf. Its eyes are already lifeless—it’s only a matter of time. I wrap my sword in Imra and plunge it into its throat. That’s how my fight against this group of four wolves ended—well, three in the end.

  I’m tired. My body hurts all over. My mind is exhausted. My Imra is shaky if I try to use it again. Mana’s the only thing I haven’t fully burned through yet.

  “Young Lord Maki, I have your other sword,” Randy says, staring at me seriously. His words are the same as always, but the tone and look in his eyes are different—more serious now.

  “Thanks, Randy.” I look at both swords. I can see how battered they are. I need to replace them soon.

  Cold Mind is still working non-stop. Without it, everything would’ve been a lot harder. It was a blessing to gain it during that fight with the foxes.

  “Randy, let’s go back to the village. I’m tired and my mind is throbbing.”