Asher and Liam gazed at the commanding presence of the wolf as it circled the monolith altar. Its fiery demeanor captivated them, leaving them in silent admiration.
Observing the fiery wolves beside the less impressive ones, Asher joked, "Do you think a Fire Stone would turn the Bladeback Howler into one of those?"
Liam, intently observing the adversaries ahead, pondered the wolves' unusual behavior around the monolith altar. Typically, wolves circled like this when corralling prey. His question soon found its answer. From behind the altar, a four-legged figure lunged at one of the wolves, attempting to intimidate them. This creature, smaller than the wolves but equally robust, had sleek brown fur and a familiar stance. It was unmistakably a German Shepherd Dog.
"Ace!" Liam shouted. Without hesitation, he bolted from their hiding spot to aid the canine.
"H-Hey!" Asher, taken aback by Liam's sudden move, quickly followed him. "Is that dog familiar to you?" he asked breathlessly.
As they charged towards the wolves, Liam, with his gun poised, responded, "That's our police dog!"
Perceiving the wolves' imminent attack on the canine, Liam swiftly fired a shot at the ground between the German Shepherd and the Bladeback Howler, halting its advance. This abrupt intervention drew the attention of all six wolves, including the FlameHowler.
When Liam disturbed their feast, the six wolves immediately lunged at him. However, the familiarity and synergy between the team members shone through. Without hesitation, Liam continued his dash towards the dog, trusting his teammate implicitly. Just as the wolves were about to reach him, Asher's guardian activated his provoke skill[https://i.imgur.com/CGFXtvF.png [https://i.imgur.com/CGFXtvF.png]], drawing the wolves' attention and diverting them away from Liam's path.
As Liam darted past the pack of wolves, he swiftly looked over his shoulder, aiming his gun in the same fluid motion. With a resounding blast, he fired. The bullet detonated upon impact with the FlameHowler, simultaneously eliminating the surrounding five Bladeback Howlers.
You have participated in the elimination of 'Bladeback Howler'. Experience point earned have been divided by the amount of participants(2). You have earned 75EXP!(5) EXP (395/600)
In the midst of the chaos, Liam reached the German Shepherd named Ace. Recognizing Liam, Ace barked joyfully but soon let out a mournful howl, turning his gaze to the left. Puzzled by the dog's shift in demeanor, Liam followed Ace's gaze towards the monolith altar. As he moved closer, a figure gradually became visible from behind the altar. To his shock, a severely injured man, marred with burns and slash wounds, lay there, teetering on the brink of consciousness.
"CARL!" Liam exclaimed.
Liam immediately knelt beside him, frantically assessing the severity of Carl's injuries and praying he wasn't too late. "Carl!"
Cough, Cough
Between labored coughs, Carl weakly responded, "L-Liam...?"
Relief washed over Liam. "Thank God you're still alive! Asher!" He shouted desperately, "Carl's here! He's in bad shape. Please heal him before it's too late!"
Asher, hearing Liam's plea, quickly dashed over, his fingers already glowing with a soft light – the sign of the healing skill being prepared. As he approached, Ace, the German Shepherd, whimpered and moved closer to Carl, licking the man's face as if trying to provide some comfort.
Placing his glowing hand over Carl's wounds, Asher channeled his energy. The soft light grew brighter, enveloping Carl in a warm embrace. The visible burns and gashes on Carl's body began to slowly fade, knitting themselves together. The transformation wasn't instant or drastic, but the progression was evident.
Carl's breathing gradually steadied, and the ashen color of his face regained some of its original hue. After a few moments, Carl tried to sit up, groaning slightly from the lingering pain.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
https://i.imgur.com/7BFbEGo.png [https://i.imgur.com/7BFbEGo.png]
"Easy there," Liam said, helping prop him up. "You gave us quite a scare."
Woof
Ace barked softly, wagging his tail, clearly relieved to see his companion recovering.
Carl, though visibly weak, fixed a solemn gaze on Liam. "It's not over," he whispered, his voice carrying an urgency of the situation.
Liam and Asher turned their attention to where the FlameHowler had taken the brunt of Liam's Explosive shot. To their astonishment, amidst the settling dust, fiery remnants from the explosion seemed to spiral and get absorbed by the wolf. Instead of seeing a defeated or injured beast, the FlameHowler stood undeterred. The very flames that were meant to harm it now appeared to rejuvenate it, mending any potential damage. The two watched in disbelief as the creature seemed to harness the explosive energy, using it as a means of healing itself from the physical damage of the explosion.
The FlameHowler, instead of being weakened, seemed more formidable than ever. Its fiery fur now pulsated with an even brighter glow, and its eyes gleamed with renewed vigor. The air around it seemed to shimmer with heat, creating a mirage effect.
Liam clenched his gun, feeling the weight of their miscalculation. "Seems like fire attacks are out of the question."
The FlameHowler, let out a growl that echoed through the canyon, making the stones around them tremble. It began to advance, its steps deliberate and menacing.
Ace, sensing the impending danger, barked aggressively, positioning himself between the injured Carl and the approaching threat.
As the distance between them and the FlameHowler closed, the air grew hotter, making it hard to breathe. The creature's eyes locked onto Liam, and a low growl rumbled from its throat.
Suddenly, the FlameHowler crouched low, its muscles coiling with pent-up energy. Without warning, it erupted into a more intense blaze and launched itself forward in a rapid charge.
Liam barely had time to react. The FlameHowler's fiery form was a mere blur, leaving a streak of fire in its wake. Asher quickly yelled, "Guardian, intercept!" Just as the FlameHowler was about to collide with Liam, Asher's guardian lunged forward using its Shield Charge skill [ https://i.imgur.com/uKTDwBk.png [https://i.imgur.com/uKTDwBk.png]], trying to block the attack.
The collision was monumental. The ground trembled as the two forces met, creating a shockwave that sent dust and flames flying. Liam, using the momentary distraction, rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding being caught in the direct line of attack.
Asher's guardian, though sturdy, was pushed back by the sheer force of the fiery dash. Its shield and armor showed signs of scorch marks.
Your Guardian is now affected by the 'Burning' ailment status. It will suffer a 1% maximum health loss per second for 10 seconds.
https://i.imgur.com/o74BWe5.png [https://i.imgur.com/o74BWe5.png]
The FlameHowler, slightly disoriented from the impact, took a moment to regain its stance. Its fiery eyes darted between Liam, Asher and the guardian, calculating its next move.
Liam, recognizing the brief moment of vulnerability, didn't hesitate. He aimed his weapon at the momentarily disoriented FlameHowler and unleashed a barrage of bullets, firing relentlessly until his magazine ran dry. Each bullet whizzed through the air, finding its mark on the beast.
But the FlameHowler, sensing the incoming threat, retaliated with impeccable timing. With a deep inhalation, it unleashed a horrifying roar. A powerful wave of scorching flames burst forth from its maw, meeting the onslaught of bullets head-on. The intense heat instantly incinerated the projectiles, turning them to ash before they could make contact.
Liam and Asher eyes widened in disbelief as they watched the barrage of bullets rendered ineffective. The FlameHowler, with flames still swirling around it from the roar, fixed its gaze on them, its intent clear. The brief moment of advantage had been swiftly overturned, and the three of them were once again at a standoff.
The FlameHowler wasted no time, with a low growl, it arched its back, allowing the blade-like structure on its spine to glow brighter than ever. In a mesmerizing display, flames from the blade spread over its entire body, enveloping it. The once fierce creature now looked even more formidable, its entire form radiating with intense heat and energy. Its paws, once just deadly claws, were now sheathed in tangible, blade-like flames, making them look like lethal weapons.
Asher, realizing the increased threat, shouted, "Careful! It's using some sort of Buffing skill!"
The FlameHowler, now in its enhanced state, seemed to move with even more purpose. Each step it took left a small blaze behind, and the very air around it shimmered from the heat. It let out a roar, challenging and daring them to make a move.
Seeing their hesitation, the FlameHowler charged at them with newfound ferocity. Asher's guardian swiftly stepped forward, raising its shield in defense. However, as the wolf lunged and slashed with its fiery claws, Asher watched in shock as the molten heat effortlessly pierced through the guardian's once reliable shield, much like a hot knife through butter.
Suddenly, the very equipment that had been their steadfast ally, aiding them through countless challenges, was being obliterated before their very eyes. They stood powerless, unable to alter the grim fate unfolding.
Your Guardian's Off-Hand equipment, 'Spikeguard Shield,' has been destroyed!