Swoosh

Eidrich, with a light flick of his wrist, rid his sword of the beast’s blood before sheathing the blade, turning to evaluate us. His disheveled, light-golden hair, seems to glow under the harsh ray of the sun.

“…”

Why is he is staring at me without saying anything? Is he perhaps, expecting my declaration of loyalty or...something else?

"Oh great, benevolent master Eidrich, this humbled one volunteers one's own body to appease the great master" Yeah, as If that's going to come out of my mouth.

Well, I have to admit that this is kind of awkward. I had gone from almost dying as a hero, to a rescued damsel...

Beep!

Note from a certain Goddess “Oh my, how boring… Ahh!”

What’s with this half-witted deity?-

“Y-young master Eidrich? T-thank you for saving us” Catheline sniffles, her eyes widened in surprise at our unexpected savior. Her tiny arms still hugging me tight with her ankle twisted painfully.

To not appear too ungrateful, I follow suit.

“Thank you, master Eidrich”

I glanced down at my pitiful uniform, the fabric beyond scuffed. The shirt, once white, now browned with dirt and speckled with drops of blood. The white leggings, from my far-from-graceful movements, torn and exposing my thighs…

“Hmm”

With a simple grunt of acknowledgement, the young lord quickly averted his gaze.

Turning his back to us, Eidrich was about to dash off towards the estate’s border. When a cluster of black, dust-like particles appeared, enveloping the fallen body of the wolf-beast.

“What? it’s happening again?” Catheline, her voice full of concern.

The black misty cloud, swirls then disappear, taking with it the wolf-beast corpse. As if materialized out of thin air, appears four more wolf-beasts, alive, bigger and more ominous than the one we had killed.

Eidrich, his path now blocked by our new enemies, had no choice but to fight.

Talk about being unlucky. Catheline’s condition is as good as a sack of potatoes, meanwhile I’m barely holding on as far as strength goes.

“Ugh, what do I do?” I murmured, wracking my brain for a solution.

Eidrich, his body tense, is locked in a silent stand-off against the beasts. Perhaps, to avoid acting rashly, as he needs to defends two helpless maids from multiple enemies.

Thankfully, the beasts have their attentions on Eidrich, ignoring us for now.

With great difficulty, I slowly stood up.

“Lyrina?“

“Senior Catheline, stay behind me”

I grabbed the spear that had its sharp metal tip broken off, the end of the shaft now just a splintered mess, but the splinters are jaggy, and that could provide minimal defense against these wolf-bastards.

Grrrr, Grrawr!

One of the bigger beasts, at the back of the pack, growled, signaling the start of the battle. As if in sync, two beasts at the front, simultaneously charge at Eidrich.

With his sword drawn just in time, Eidrich met the beasts’ claws, cleaving right through with the edge of his blade. He dodges the other, as it charged at his side.

The first beast, with its paws cut, resorts to attacking with its pointy canines, attempting to bite Eidrich’s legs. The young Dawnspear, by a hair's breadth, backstepped away as the wolf-beast’s maw clamped down on nothing but air.

The second wolf-beast,having recovered from its charge, swipes at Eidrich’s torso but was parried away.

Sensing a gap, the third one, who had been standing idle, join the fight, rushing at the occupied swordman.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

The fight goes on, with Eidrich unable to gain the upper hand as the beasts attack one after another, seemingly capable of coordination. The fourth and biggest beast, remained idle from afar, calmly observing.

The beasts' attacks with nearly every part of their body, if the claws were blocked, they bites with their ferocious jaws or charges using their mass.

The young lion, clashing against the pack of wolf-beasts, is far from being invincible. Cuts and scratches soon emerge on Eidrich, some deep enough to draw blood.

This is bad, if the fight goes on, Eidrich would surely tires out. I can already feel his strikes and blocks losing their speed as he accumulates more and more damage. If he’s down, we’re all dead. I must do something, fast.

I moved a short distance away from the injured Catheline and as loud as my throat allow-

“Hey you bastard! Ganging up four to one? What a bunch of cowardly dogs!”

Ahh, that felt good, I’ve been wanting to curse at them for a while now. Why is Eidrich turning towards me? I’m berating the dogs, not you. That was close, Eidrich nearly had us all killed by being distracted.

Anyway, it seems like my tactic was a success, I now have one of the beast's full attention.

“Come at me you dog!”

The wolf-beast growls as it was degraded to a mere hound. I readied my splintered spear.

These guys, due to their wolf-like anatomy, are quite easy to predict once you’ve observed them for a while. Their first attack would either be a lunge with their sharp canines targeting the throat, or it could be a full-on charge with their claws out, intending to tear their preys apart. Either way, I’ll just impale them again.

The beast, seems to have decided its move, it’s going to lunge-?

Grr! Roooar!

The big wolf-beast who was observing the fight, roars. It didn't howl, despite having closer resemblance to wolves. The smaller beast that was about to lunge at me, stop and trembles. Their red freakish eyes, glows, their behavior changes, seemingly enraged by the roar.

Eidrich, noticing their new, fervent state, wasted no time to unleash his own aura. As he took a deep breath and readied his sword, dust-sized particles surrounded his form, causing his hair to emit a faint golden glow. Yet, unlike heroic power-ups I’ve seen on TV shows, his numerous wounds remains. Eidrich, now shining, brandish his sword once again at the enraged beasts.

The fight continues as the surrounding atmosphere became noticeably heavier, his aura moderately slowing down the beasts’ movements. Shiny Eidrich managed to break through the previous the stalemate using his superior speed against the slowed beasts, disposing of one after the other in short, quick succession.

Finally, the scale has been tipped in our favor, there’s only one wolf-beast remaining. I assumed this guy to be their boss.

Shiny Eidrich took on a defensive stance, readying himself for the wolf-beast's attacks. It looks like it’s going to claw charge-

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“!!”

It’s fast! Its speed betrays its large mass. In under a single breath, three exchanges were made. The heavy claws of the beast, clashes at Eidrich and were barely parried away due to its incredible speed. Sparks flew as claws and steel meets. Both opponents seemingly equal, at first. Eidrich is now fully occupied with defending, each successful block emits a loud heavy clang as the boss’ power presses down on his blade.

Swish!

Eidrich managed to get a slash in, injuring the beast’s side. However, his offense had left his lower body open and the intelligent beast pounces.

“Urgh!” Eidrich gritted his teeth, staggering as his right calve muscles were deeply torn by the beast's claws.

“Y-young master!” Catheline screamed.

The boss leapt back, injured, but succeeded in reducing Eidrich’s mobility. It growls at its prey, savoring the taste of fresh noble blood, before resuming its relentless attacks.

Eidrich, each move now made with great difficulty. As he defends, or tries to, against the boss’s overwhelming speed and power.

In exchange for landing a slash, Eidrich took two in return. Both fighters were soon covered in theirs and their opponent’s blood as they trade blow for blow. The beast soon loses both its paws, resorting to using its jaws. Eidrich was not much better, he was almost at his mortal limit. His body, no matter how much aura it emits, won’t last much further if the fight goes on, his form already wavering.

I discreetly sneaked forward, getting closer to their fight, my thin knuckles clutching the spear shaft so hard they've turned white. I move with caution till I’m almost behind Eidrich, using his tall frame to hide myself from the beast’s view.

Eidrich is now breathing heavily, slumping on his sword for support. I moved up to right behind his back. The situation is dire, he's dazed from the loss of blood, not even bothered with defending anymore.

The wolf-beast, on its last hind legs, drew back in preparation.

This is it; it’s going to finish him off with a charge aiming for Eidrich's throat.

The beast began building momentum as it took off, coming towards the nearly unconscious Eidrich.

It enters striking distance; its jaw opens as it prepares to pounce-

Time slowed.

With a light push, Eidrich collapsed to the side, his eyes wide open.

I emerged in his place, my splintered spear forward, ready.

The beast lowers itself, carried by its charging momentum and leapt.

I raised my spear to impale-

Cruunch!

“Heh??”

My spear, impaled…air

“Lyrina!!”

“Urgh…” A loud inexplicable groan escaped my mouth.

I glanced down, at the beast, who had never gotten off the ground. It had stayed low in its charge, redirecting its momentum to my defenseless side.

Its gleaming red eyes mocking me…as its enormous jaw clamps down on my left arm…

Crunch!

Hot searing pain explodes all over my left shoulder.

“Lyrin-!”

My vision is turning blurry, I-I can’t move. My body won’t move.

Snap!

Something snapped.

Ahh, why am I flying?

Thud!

Am I back..on the ground?

The pain was all that I could think about.

Then it was gone.

Sweet, comfortable darkness claimed my thoughts…

----------------------------------------

Ahh, it's bright again. Am I in heaven?

Blurry figures, indistinguishable. I feel ighter with every passing moment, as If...floating! Am I floating?

“Eek! Tourniquets, y-young master! She’s bleeding out!” Senior Catheline? Why are you crying? Did someone die? Who is 'she'?

Hoh, I’m so sleepy…

----------------------------------------

Woops, where am I? It's pitch black...

My body's numb all over. I can't feel a thing, yet at the same time I can feel everything. Such a weird sensation.

Hehe.

“She needs a healer, young master! We have to close the wound!” H-head maid? What are you doing here?

Who needs a 'healer'?

Oh, it’s Mr. Darkness again. How lovely…