-Day 6 of winter second quarter. Morning - Nefiru's POV-
These four days after establishing the alliance have been too eventful to get any sleep in my improvised resting place by some boulders on the river shore thirty meters away from Midas cave. The four high ranked wolves introduced dozens of sub-pack leaders of matching affinities and tasked them with spreading the news to the rest of the tribe while the golden she-wolf finished reinforcing my body...
Early in the morning where the sun has yet to rise over the mountain peaks, and mist pervades the land in a windless morning, I'm battling a golden wolf on the northern river bank.
"HUP!" I dodged left the barrage of a dozen stones fist -size flying at high speed from the east. *Fwak! Thud...! Kang!* A few rocks impacted my scales at a shallow angle, and others hit the gravel directly under our paws creating tear-shaped craters.
I dash to the earth user when a dirt wall starts to grow in my path at ten meters away from him... The thought of bashing through the soft obstacle now reaching over a meter tall crossed my mind, but my magic probe detected several meter-long stone spikes forming inclined behind it.
*Srssk!* I jammed my paws into the gravel and abruptly stopped when the earth user summoned another group of rocks in the air aiming at my location.
"KUK!" I kicked the ground jumping right before rushing around the wall. *Whoosh!* I accelerated noticing the ground slightly caving in.
Pitfall trap! I realized he absorbed or compressed the ground leaping over the suspicious terrain.
After confirming a foothold, I create five ice lances with compressed water and launched one of them to the wolf's head while the other four to where he might move. The golden beast dodged the first ice projectile with a slight movement of his body, but couldn't avoid the others and created a protective rock layer on his forelegs and neck.
*Crash! Kling Crack!* The ice broke to pieces on impact without causing damage and fell with the disposed rock fragments.
I keep track of my magic reserves as compressed water consumes large quantities of mana which increases while effect decreases the further away from the body. It is a versatile effect that requires more concentration and energy merely to maintain at long distances.
I can't just rush ahead, he probably has traps or magic ready to create them. I asserted dodging right once more before a hole opened where my paws were.
"WROUF!" The beast snorted with contempt.
As the field at close range became his domain, several stone lances raise from the ground to block my path while dozens of airborne rocks appear before speeding up my direction.
Ah! He's going all out! I realized dodging a pitfall trap.
I search for an opening avoiding the obstacles with the purpose to slow me down enough for stronger attacks to land. However, unbeknown to the earth user, a ball of icy water was slowly forming above him from the limit of my magic range when the fight started...
*Fwosh!* The cold water splashed the beast's head.
"HIUP!" He uttered surprised and closed his eyes while jumping back.
That simple wrong decision to dodge within my path instead of the sides riddled with earth spikes was all I needed and by the time his vision returned... our collision was imminent. As biting a target has its risks and the opponent needed to live afterwards, I chose a simple headbutt that is like a car crash.
"HEEK!" The beast cried out flying through the air. "OMPH!" He landed on his right flank after doing a quarter turn.
*Shrrrsshh!* The creature slid over the gravel for two meters while pedaling in struggles to get up.
Without a second to lose, I approached and held his four legs with my paws before biting him on the neck.
""GRR...."" We growl while feeling the vibrations produced by it but my fangs slowly sink into his coat with cracking sounds.
"WUEE!" The beast cries in pain and stops resisting.
I ceased applying pressure feeling the pulsations of his throbbing arteries and slurped the blood spilling out while still holding his neck.
"HUFF! Huff..." I calmed down before opening my mouth. "Puah! Furball..." I protested swallowing the remains and separated from the downed creature.
"It hurts...you...." Midas glares up at me complaining while his golden fur covered in my slubber continues to dye red.
...Did he just curse me? Well, I only had four sleepless days using brain boost to upgrade my wolf language, but simple conversations aren't a problem. I asserted watching the white and blue wolf rush over to treat Midas.
...This healer has decent character compared to the other two that showed up, so he can participate in class and help with any treatment. I appreciate Lightwater 6 calling to mind the other reluctant healer wolves.
"...Endure it! That was terrible....tricked by a simple water ball!" Barked his mother from a distance behind me.
"Hey. You can't always control the fight, so be flexible and stay alert of surroundings with normal senses until your magic control is good to probe. Stop making normal rocks...they must be elongated, tip hardened for penetration and spinning to travel further with higher accuracy. Also, your traps were visible and repeated abilities too much. It's hard to avoid a hidden attack, but you can also aim where a target will be or make it move there. It's difficult thinking of everything, so take it one step at a time." I pointed out mistakes while advising the recovering wolf lying on the ground.
Sighs... Teaching these old dogs new tricks isn't easy, and it doesn't help this couple still hold a grudge for eating their pack, but at least they all believed everything I said--eventually. After all, this is a world where demigods can go out to buy groceries, though at first, it created some awkward silence like a joke the audience doesn't get. I think back to tedious explanations that made my throat sore.
"I did better this time," Midas said unmoving while his neck is treated.
Hmm... Perhaps, but I'm practicing water magic since I rarely did besides rainy days when the other sources were an unbearably stinky river and water made of magic which takes time to acquire elementals. But now, I'm receiving mana crystals as payment for the lessons and snuggling with Erina to steal her mana while this river provides abundant water and lightning elementals. I appreciate the favorable conditions allowing for freely magic usage and answer the spoiled beast.
"Yes, lasted longer, but I only use water magic." I rebuked his complacency.
At low ranks, it didn't matter much but having a vast elemental source helps magic progress tremendously. It explains the preference of creatures to be near their element... But it seems magical beasts don't have the luxury to splurge mana in experiments when they need it to survive and being caught empty means death, so ultimately they rank up slowly using the same combat abilities. I conjectured.
"Son, don't get too comfortable....you are not done yet." Erina reproved the relaxing golden wolf.
I turned right to look at the golden she-wolf lying down on one of the flat stones that form a bridge across the river and accompanied by a small green wolf, then walked over to them.
Looks like Erina's taking a break from her construction project. I asserted admiring her shiny figure.
"But elder... Earth mate is still recovering." Talked back the green wolf as she rushed to Midas.
"He fights." She firmly stated.
"WUuu..." Lamented the injured wolf
"Hmph!" Scoffed Mirati passing by me.
"Little Earth can fight again." Interjected Lightwater.
"GRR..." Growled the green wolf upset.
This green wolf is quite dominant...she doesn't let another female near which makes sense considering she risks her life for him. But as expected, doesn't waste a chance to show her dislike which is annoying considering we are neighbors... I review gazing at my dwelling place.
Jesh... That golden wolf went all out with that thing! She's making this place more appealing for me to stay and it's strange...being treated better by beasts than humans. I affirmed looking at the round-ish construction dividing the river in two.
The earth user is almost done building a huge Dome of solid stone resembling an Igloo 10 meters tall by fifteen wide with the interior half-submerged in water flowing from upstream and an entrance facing west. The structure anchored to the rock bed is reinforced with Titanium bars, and it's spacious enough to fit a large dragon accounting for my future growth, then outside T-shaped boulders act as a disconnecting bridge to each shore.
"How is it?" The golden she-wolf in question asked noticing my gaze.
"It's magnificent, but I feel small inside..." I praised before comparing.
"I also want you to grow...." She replied with half-opened eyes and wagging her tail briefly.
Uh-huh... And your solution to our difference in size was a penis augmentation!!? I retorted in my mind recalling the sneaky actions. Well, the healer did an excellent job with the volume which I have yet to confirm with an erection but probing her insides confirmed that it wouldn't be enough anyway. I affirmed feeling gratitude for her actions nonetheless.
"Appreciated. But I'm still young, and the future is unpredictable." I said nodding solemnly.
Not like anything stops Erina from testing my self-control during intent transmission practice, and it's getting hard to resist the urges for pleasure. However, I can't give in when it's not mating to leave offsprings, the size difference makes me uncomfortable, and my survival is at stake, so magic training takes priority. At least I'll be taking a break from the wolf that's making me horny since it's time to head back to Shaila who's not going to be happy I've been missing so long... I surmised feeling glad that my stay ends today.
"Don't leave....I'll help you grow....plenty food and Healers...." She pleaded.
Hmm... Forcing my growth sounds appealing, but I already took a day longer than anticipated. Eleonor is not supposed to arrive for several more days, but I rather not take any chances... Though I also want to meet a dragoness soon... A shame someone else might benefit from Erina's efforts, but such is life, yet she's not one to get cuckold or NTR, so I'll have to be careful. I meditate on the proposal.
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"I don't want to leave either," I said shaking my head. "But I have responsibilities too..." I announced overlooking the landscape before wondering of the wolves progress in my absence. "Meanwhile, put my knowledge to good use and rank up with more effort!" I demanded.
"We are!" She quickly replied. "I didn't know so many elements....only the feeling to guide me....discovered a few, yet now I know where to focus....there is much to find, but rank 10 is not far," Erina explained her method to create metals which will improve their skills and help discover new things.
Yeah, it's only a flimsy feeling for every element, and trying to make metals between two like Sodium and Lithium wastes time since it doesn't exist, yet this is the only way. But I wouldn't know since my affinities only make a single thing and even they have vague sensations that explaining requires assigning numerical values or well-defined concepts. Reminds me of Cultivation where people couldn't explain comprehension to others but should be possible with an advanced language capable of describing perception and all fuzzy sensations. So, even if high rankers didn't monopolize information, they would need a lot of time to teach, but Earth's knowledge has simple concepts for complicated things as it was analyzed, passed on and improved upon over millennia. I affirmed the shortcomings of languages.
"....You must not die." She sternly spoke breathing closely.
"Then keep assisting with projects and convince tribe leader," I announced placing my head over her muzzle.
The high ranks share of crystals helped getting to rank 6.1, and they are taking risks doing so, but it's not enough. My soul awakening shouldn't be far and it could change everything! I need full access to that vein... I deduced.
"....We help. But Mother is being difficult..." The golden wolf lowered her large ears speaking apologetically.
Argh! They still haven't made the tribe leader cooperate? That stuck up bitch! I recall the wolf that won't let anyone into the chamber. Sighs... We can't collect MIP when their mother throws the crystals outside, but she's the only one who can alert of the Divine's probe with radio transmission which gave me leeway to teach. Though the wolves memorizing everything to comprehend later reduces the chances of info leaks. I affirm the help of the depressed wolf.
"Still, my time is short..." I muttered. "But for now, I'll get dust from humans and you apply it," I announced plans to reinforce my body.
"Ngh! Come back soon." The golden she-wolf brightened with ears perked and acknowledged. "Ah! Before you leave...battle them until they can't anymore. It should give them something to think about." Declared Erina pointing at the wolf pair with her muzzle.
I separate then turned around and faced the two wolves upstream while the healer approaches us after finishing treatment.
""GWRUu..."" Groaned the two wolves flopping their ears.
"Hmm... Yes, I have yet to test their magic combinations." I muttered then stared at the two. "However, this is my last warning... Apply what I've told you or I'll use Lightning." I threatened.
"Oh! Use that on me! Like what you did on Dark 9." Requested Erina.
"Not helping! It's for punishment..." I rebuked glaring back.
"I'm disobedient!" The golden wolf said with excitement.
...I need to find her a giant male wolf as soon as possible, but where would I find one outside this tribe yet still close? Although if it's just pleasure, my control with lightning is high enough to induce it artificially just like pain or any other muscle movement that I can manipulate directly and instantaneously without the signal needing to travel, or...I could just electrocute her ass like she wants. I review the improving lightning applications before accepting.
"Alright, maybe later." I consented.
"AWOO!" Erina did a triumphant howl tilting her head up.
"You bad wolf...always having things your way." I pointed out her habit.
"Will you stop that already!" Midas interjected walking closer. "Mother is one of the four pillars of our tribe, and you are treating her like--" He complained stopping six meters away.
"A bitch?" I interrupted in a derogatory way.
"...A common beast." He finished glaring intently.
"This beast is precious and my attitude disregard ranks." I declared watching the golden she-wolf that nodded with a smug expression then faced east. "Actually...I want to steal her away." I confessed.
"You can't be serious..." Said Midas disbelieving.
"Who do you think you are?" Barked Mirati showing her front teeth and hackles raised.
"Oh, I'm getting stolen?" Mused the golden she-wolf.
"Mother!" Midas spoke upset.
"Only when you have fewer responsibilities," I replied to Erina before facing her son.
"Nobody wants to steal me... A change of scenery would be nice." The healer remarked, receiving glares.
"I am helping your tribe survive, yet it doesn't count?" I questioned Midas narrowing my eyes.
"T-that's...true but our ranking....you must respect her." He stammered before reasoning.
"Hmph! Then respect my choices since I rank above you." I reproved.
"Wuu..." He whined seeking support from his mother who didn't say anything.
"This is fun..." Commented Lightwater lying on the gravel.
"Quiet you....who altered his reproductive organs." Cursed Mirati.
"What about it? I'm proud to guarantee satisfaction and abundant seed delivery for impregnation which our tribe needs." The healer reviewed his achievements. "Just ask little earth 5..." He revealed looking up at Midas.
"I've noticed, but it doesn't matter....it gets the job done all the same." Countered the rank 5 she-wolf.
"Perhaps you should swallow those grudges to focus on giving birth and magic training....even the elders value the dragon highly." Lightwater adviced glancing at Erina.
"...It's not easy." The green wolf said glaring at me before continuing. "Everything was fine until the dragons appeared...." She blamed.
"It was also a mistake taking lightly unawakened Dragons." Said the golden alpha with guilt.
Hmm... As I suspected, wolves can't see all colors but can still identify affinity markings, though light and dark users are able to understand those wavelengths. I asserted.
"Then have the dragon raise your pack." Suggested the healer.
"Oi! Lightwater...don't blurt weird ideas. I don't have that much free time." I rebuked.
"He'll gulp them alive again," Mirati said with spite.
"Guh! That was...my instincts controlling me back then and did cruel things--won't happen again unless the enemy deserves it." I spoke with my ears lowered.
"I don't see any fighting." Protested Erina before glaring at Mirati. "Blaming doesn't return the dead, nor it protects the living." The golden she-wolf advice before looking at north. "Those who get to live, prosper on sacrifice and death." She commented with a distant gaze. "He's not your enemy anymore but your teacher, so take this seriously and fight well." The earth user commanded before resting the head on her forelegs.
"Yes, Elder." The green wolf acknowledged lowering her head.
"Great, we made Earth 9 sad." I accused.
"Yes, comfort me..." The golden wolf shamelessly requested lifting the right hind leg.
"Let's get started!" Midas eagerly said turning around.
"Agreed." Said Mirati following.
"RUN!" I yelled before sprinting upstream behind the wolf pair.
"HEY....!" Complained the golden wolf on our backs. "Many beasts would fight for this!" She declared becoming distant.
*Shresh! Shresh...* As we run on the gravel, I use light magic to bend light and see behind from a block away.
...She is genuinely depressed. I affirmed watching the crestfallen beast lying down facing north again then addressed the wolves in front.
"That's far enough," I called out them to stop.
"Dragon... the Elder is right...it should be an honor to satisfy her. We just don't want to see you sully her." Mirati explained after turning around.
"You know...I can tolerate that annoying attitude, and even help your pack as Lightwater suggested, but..." I said casually before turning serious. "If you so much think of betraying our alliance, I'll make you regret it in ways wolves cannot imagine." I threatened in a deep voice enveloping Mirati with my hostility.
The green wolf started breathing heavily and trembled in a low posture with the hackles raised, then Midas walked in front of her.
"You have nothing to worry about." He declared staring into my eyes before glancing back. "Wind Mate just needs the pack back....we didn't have time to continue what you interrupted." He explained.
"HEEik..." The green beast whined lowering her ears.
"Understood," I said before retracting my magic. "Get busy after I leave and have many offsprings," I demanded.
The green she-wolf immediately fled thirty meters away outside of my magic range and regained her vigor.
"Having pups is easy...raising them is not." Spoke the golden wolf before turning around and walked away towards his mate.
After taking positions outside of my magic range, Midas stands on the right and Mirati on the left as we start our attacks...
*Shresh!* I rush straight ahead when a whirlwind as wide as a car appeared in my path raising dust. *WHOOSHRSH!...* The column of air obstructing my vision seemed to be harmless before projectiles started coming out of it.
Oh, shit! I threw my body left to avoid.
*SHIING! Shiing...! Swiss! Kiing!* The finger-size bullets made contact on a couple of parts on my body, scrapping the scales because of the angle in most places while others were cracked and dented.
Ouch! These are Titanium reinforced scales, and they bend it!? I realized after a quick inspection and peeked around the unmoving tornado. Ah! I saw Midas making bullets while Mirati accelerates them with a wind tunnel similar to a gun barrel. Oh --CRAP! I saw another incoming assault aimed at my location.
I dodged right behind the tornado to avoid being seen, but they seem to be using magic to detect my location and adjust their aim.
*Crush! SHOOH! SHUING!* The projectiles get louder as they make craters that send rocks flying nearby.
The attack ended before reaching and with my claws sunk into the ground, I dashed while they recharge.
*WhooOSH!* I moved at high speed before doing a turning left 90 degrees while creating meter-long ice lances around my neck.
Seeing my actions, they prepared a smaller tornado for defense, but the flashy magic served as distraction while I whipped my tail to send three ice projectiles with compressed water accelerating them.
The green wolf moved the wind wall to block, but there wasn't enough time to block all three icicles as one reached Midas' left hind leg and rip through the fur with a shallow angle before continuing its path.
"HEEACK!" Cried out the wounded earth user losing control of his attack.
"Misdirection," I spoke but wasted no time closing the distance while they prepare their defenses.
"GRR!" Growled Midas as a foot-long red line appeared on his fur and focused on the ground in front of me.
"HUP!" I jumped to avoid holes that opened to trip me. *THUMP!* I landed and moved right in a circular manner while throwing the five ice lances at the wolves.
They stopped a combination once more and focused on blocking my attack before obscuring my vision.
Hmph! I can play that game too... I mused sending my magic in front of them.
They noticed my actions preparing more bullets and earth spikes to interrupt any magic ability I'm about to do while holes block a direct approach. I struggled dodging the obstacles thrown at me one after the other until I managed to create white ice sheets with air bubbles inside to block their vision while preparing four ice rockets as thick as human legs which took off to the sky. The wind user sent an air bullet to blast away the icy blankets into particles sparkling in the air before firing bullets at me.
Moving around proved effective as it was extremly difficult to aim their combined ability and no bullet made contact with my body.
What goes up... I thought stopping to control the ice missiles that are about to burst while making a parabola through the air.
Midas saw that opportunity to bind my legs, and land their bullet attack, but such actions were taken into account.
"Can't control earth?" I asked with a smug expression.
It's difficult to manipulate impure materials such as earth depending on the quantity and distance, but things change when the impurity is something controlled by another magician.
"GNU!" Groaned the golden wolf as he is unable to move the frozen ground beneath my paws.
Haha... Even if I don't block his magic, my rank is higher, and I'm closer, so he ain't moving this ground! I affirmed our difference in strength extending the permafrost to avoid horizontal attacks.
The wolf gave up on ground attacks and focused on shooting his bullets since I wasn't moving anyway.
*THUCK!* A shot managed to hit me before they suddenly jumped away from each other and their combined attack fell apart.
Oww... I groaned from the impact on my neck feeling the blood seep from underneath the broken scale.
*BOOM! BOOM!* The missiles exploded on their target sending ice fragments in all directions while the others harmlessly fell apart *Crush! Crush!* The ice pieces and water fell to the ground where the wolves previously were.
The wolves block the debris with an earth wall and Mirati currently hovers in the air with her fur flattened from the pressure.
Tch! Only two exploded...lost control of the compressed water there...too much multitasking and distance too far. I determined creating a fog around Midas. I wonder if she knows how to skate... I mused aiming at the wind wolf's landing spot.
*FOSH!* I threw crystalline foot-ball size water balls below the she-wolf who saw it as a miss and continued hovering while dispelling the fog I created.
Inside the fog appeared the earth user is creating bullets with metal tips as the shine with the sunlight peeking over the mountains, then Mirati creates a barrel from the distance aiming at me while throwing vacuum balls to keep me away. They have me countered since the wind wolf would dodge my physical assault, and her air bubbles block the path to the earth user concentraring on defense as well with a thick wall erecting from the ground.
But Mirati made the mistake of landing...
I immediately froze the water under her into a smooth ice field reflecting the brightening sky.
"HUEEK!?" Cried out the surprised she-wolf as she slipped
I manipulated the water state melting the ice and soaked her fur before freezing it again along with the ground to bind her
"I didn't lose control of it." I criticized her not noticing how the water didn't drain away.
I rushed towards the earth user before he fires and froze the floating bullets before the fell down.
"Surrender?" I asked walking closer.
"No need." He said looking up.
*THUNK!* Something heavy pierced through the location of the wound made by Dark 9.
"GAAH!?" I uttered as my legs sank into the ground and solidify, trapping me.