The teams' cohesion was thrown into disarray as the earth beneath them erupted, sending a shower of dirt and rock skyward. The shockwave from the explosion knocked several of them off their feet, but James and Tea managed to maintain their balance, their eyes fixed on the white wolf.
Massive roots shot from the ground, trying to run them through. The constant shaking made it even more difficult to properly dodge. The presence of two healers was fundamental at this junction, as it allowed them to forgo what should have been a desperate defense and instead focus on taking the mini-boss down.
The creature, clearly in distress now that its ace in the hole had not worked, was surrounded by a halo of crackling energy, its fur standing on its ends as if charged. Injured and cornered, the wolf lunged forward with a newfound ferocity, lashing out with claws and teeth in a wild, desperate bid for survival.
“To me!” James yelled, even as he pushed more mana into his limbs, rushing to the monster to prevent it from doing anything more.
Despite the chaos, team 0 rallied, their training and instincts kicking in. They moved with precision and unity, each member playing their part in the dance of battle. Ezekiel and Maria focused on ranged attacks, their spells whizzing through the air, while James and Daniel engaged in close-quarters combat, using their usual tactic of the hammer and the anvil.
As the Tank did his best to capture the monster’s attention without being immediately smothered by the constantly shifting vines, James released a powerful shockwave, further injuring the beast and making it wail in pain.
Sensing its end was near, the wolf unleashed a barrage of magical attacks. Vines shot up from the ground, attempting to ensnare the fighters, and large roots burst through the clearing, forcing them to never stay still lest they get skewered.
James, at the center of the fray, fought with a blend of precision and raw power. His mana-fueled strikes landed with devastating impact, each blow weakening the wolf further, making it warier of engaging directly and forcing it to decide between his fists and Lauren’s hidden blades.
Tea, showing a strategic mind, directed her team to flank the creature, cutting off its avenues of escape and countering its magic with their own.
The battle reached its crescendo as James, with a mighty roar, unleashed a final, all-out assault. His fists glowed with intense energy, and with a series of rapid strikes, he broke through the wolf's desperate barriers of vegetation. The creature staggered, its howls turning into whimpers of pain and defeat. In a last act of defiance, it attempted to lunge at James, but the combined efforts of both teams were too much.
Tea thrust her hands forward, the very air ripping with the motion, leaving a vacuum behind. Her spell was so potent that it cut one leg clean off the wolf, making it collapse in a heap.
Before it could even try to do anything more than lay there, stunned, Lauren jumped on it, driving her knives with great force into its skull and ending the fight.
The teams gathered around, catching their breath, tending to their wounds, and exchanging looks of mutual respect and camaraderie.
As James rested, a series of notifications appeared before him, indicating that he had earned two levels from the victory. Considering how the several packs they had dispatched during the day had only earned him one, it made sense to think he had been close enough to level fifty-three that he had made the jump to fifty-four.
STATUS
WINDOW
NAME
James Summers
AGE
19
AWAKENING
1st
TALENT
Thakinesis
TITLE
LEVEL
54
MP
83/270
STR
33
VIT
19
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AGI
18
SENSE
33
MIND
18
STAT POINTS
6
James put his six free points evenly, bringing STR and SENSE to thirty-four, knowing he’d need the additional power, and finally, the remaining four were placed, one each in VIT and MIND and two in AGI, taking it up to twenty.
If the wolves all fight using earth or green magic, I’m going to need the agility. The biggest risk so far has been becoming unbalanced and overwhelmed by attacks coming from different directions.
Dismissing his Status, James noticed the others were all busy checking their spoils, so he did a lap of the ruined clearing, scanning the surroundings with Awareness lest they get attacked in a vulnerable moment.
It was true that adding to their attributes was not nearly as much of a problem as it used to be in the early days, when even two new points would render any of them insensate for several seconds. However, it was still good practice not to lower their guard, especially in such a hostile dungeon.
As James completed his sweep of the area, ensuring their safety, his mind was a whirlwind of reflections and calculations. The fight had been a testament to how far he had come since he first set foot in that first dungeon months before.
His mana pool now counted in the hundreds, allowing him to be more aggressive in battle, striking with enhanced power and frequency. He didn’t need to be as sparing as he had used to be in the early days, making his explosive punches a viable tactic, even for tough monsters like the mini-boss they had just faced.
The development of his quasi-barrier, a manifestation of his willpower’s growth, was a significant tactical advancement, offering protection and offensive capabilities simultaneously.
His role in a fight had evolved as well. James realized that he was no longer just a participant; he was a leader, a strategist whose decisions could turn the tide of any fight.
It sounds kind of cringy, but it’s true. I’m sure the others noticed as well, but I’ve been directing them more and more lately, and they trust me to do it. We’ll probably have to talk about this sometime soon, but it works for now.
His Awareness allowed him control of the battlefield in a manner unmatched by any in his rank; his ability to anticipate and counter enemy moves and his knack for rallying his team were becoming his most potent weapons.
As he considered how much he had changed, Tea approached him, her expression one of both exhaustion and relief. "That was a tough fight.” She said, glancing back at the fallen wolf. "But we did it.”
James nodded, his gaze lingering on the massive creature. "We did. And now we need to decide what to do with it."
The original plan had been for them to hunt separately and to only reconvene for the Boss fight, after all, but needs must.
Tea looked thoughtful. "The mana stone it must have will fetch a high price. We should sell it and share the profits. It's only fair, given everyone's contributions.” Considering that she had been the one to land the decisive blow, it was generous of her, but it was also true that James had kept its attention on him for a lot longer than anyone else.
He agreed, mentally reviewing how much a G-rank mana stone from a mini-boss would fetch. On the open market, they could be found at over fifty thousand bucks, but selling them would earn them less. Still, he guessed they could each expect a few thousand dollars, which was never bad.
Team 0’s equipment is taken care of by the AA, as should theirs by their Guild, but one can never have too many potions, even with dedicated healers on hand.
The discussion then turned to their immediate plans. It was still the middle of the night, and although they were too keyed up to sleep, venturing out into the darkness for more hunting seemed unwise.
"We should stay put until morning, as I don’t think anything else will attack us soon with the show we put on.” James suggested. "Rest up, keep watch in shifts, and heal. We've earned a break and need to be at our best when we move out at dawn.”
Tea concurred, even if she thought that no one would end up going to sleep, and they set about re-organizing the watch schedule. Their initial one had been disrupted by an unwelcome guest, after all.
----------------------------------------
As the night waned, the clearing where Team 0 and Tea's team had set up their makeshift camp was bathed in the faint, pre-dawn light. The Awakeners had settled into a restless routine of watches and brief periods of fitful sleep. The adrenaline from the battle against the white wolf had gradually ebbed away, replaced by deep weariness.
James found sleep elusive. His mind was still racing, analyzing the day's events, planning their next move, and trying to come up with counters to the eclectic tactics the wolves had shown so far.
It was this heightened state of alertness that saved them. Just as the first hints of dawn began to paint the sky, James felt a familiar prickling sensation at the back of his mind - a warning signal from his powerful sensory skill.
He sat up, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest. The trees, silhouetted against the lightening sky, seemed to sway slightly, although there was no wind. A subtle but unmistakable sign of approaching danger.
Wasting no time, James nudged the nearest team member awake and whispered urgently, “Another pack. Coming this way from all sides.”
Within moments, both teams were roused from their slumber, groggy but quickly snapping into readiness. They grabbed their weapons and formed a defensive circle, backs to each other, eyes scanning the treeline.
The wolves did not keep them waiting. Like phantoms, they emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting in the dim light. There were dozens of them surrounding the camp, moving with eerie coordination.
Then, the battle begun.
The wolves attacked in waves, darting in and out of the trees, trying to find weaknesses in their defenses. Their assault was made more dangerous by the constant shaking of the earth and the large rocks that came hurtling their way.
James and his teammates swung into action. He found himself at the forefront, his fists a blur as he channeled his mana into powerful shockwaves that sent the wolves reeling, disrupting the barrages of stones and even directly punching a couple, breaking them with his enhanced strength. Ezekiel and Maria provided ranged support, their spells slowing the attack and cutting through the wolves' ranks.
Tea’s teammates operated differently, hemming in the wolves coming their way and setting the conditions for the purple-haired wind mage to cut through them.
It was a more laborious tactic and required everyone to risk their lives by jumping into the fray, except for Jean the healer, but it was effective.
The battle was chaotic, a maelstrom of snarls, shouts, and the clash of magic. The wolves were cunning, using the terrain to their advantage, trying to hem them in and isolate them. But Team 0 and Tea's team were no strangers to such tactics, despite never having worked together. They moved as a cohesive unit, supporting each other, never allowing the wolves to divide them, knowing that to let them dictate the flow of battle would mean defeat.
As the fight wore on, the humans' superior skills and strategies began to take their toll on the wolves. One by one, the creatures fell, their numbers dwindling. But they were relentless, driven by a feral determination.
Finally, as the rays of the sun broke through the trees, illuminating the clearing with a golden light, the tide of the battle turned decisively in the Awakeners' favor. Realizing the fight was lost, the remaining wolves began to retreat, disappearing into the forest as quickly as they had come.
The clearing was left even more in disarray, the ground torn up by the wolves' earth magic, the air thick with the scent of sweat, blood, and magic. But Team 0 and Tea's team stood victorious, battered but unbroken. As they caught their breath, checking on each other and tending to their wounds, there was a sense of relief mixed with exhaustion. But there was no time to dwell on their victory. The sun was rising, and they had a long day ahead. With a nod to Tea, James signaled for the teams to gather their gear and prepare to move out.