The predicament they found themselves in was undeniably complex and perilous. The WaterHowler exhibited a level of strategy that was markedly superior to that of its counterpart, the FlameHowler. Enclosed by the barrier of water, the group was effectively trapped, unable to escape the wolf's advantageous domain.
The WaterHowler possessed a myriad of abilities that made it an exceptionally challenging adversary. It could traverse water puddles with unparalleled ease, moving seamlessly and without any constraints. Moreover, it had the capability to create clones of itself using the surrounding water, adding a layer of complexity to the battle. Additionally, it could forge the very element around them into lethal weapons out of water.
What made the WaterHowler particularly daunting was its balanced combination of agility, strength, and intelligence. It was not just a brute force adversary; it was a thoughtful and calculated opponent, making it all the more difficult to overcome. The team needed to muster all their resources effectively if they hoped to outsmart and defeat this formidable foe.
Recognizing the gravity of their situation, Liam, Asher, and Carl quickly convened to formulate a new plan of attack. They understood that conventional strategies were futile against an opponent as versatile and unpredictable as the WaterHowler. They needed to think outside the box and come up with a creative solution.
"We can't keep reacting to its moves. We need to take the initiative and force it to react to us." Liam asserted, his eyes scanning the area for any potential advantage.
"Right. Let's use its strength against it." Carl agreed, nodding determinedly. "If it can create clones, let's find a way to identify the real one and target it directly."
Engulfed in contemplation, a moment of clarity struck Asher as he pieced together a critical insight. "There must be a limit; it can't possibly use its powers so liberally without facing some form of consequence." he realized. Drawing from his extensive knowledge and experience in gaming, Asher was well aware that the utilization of such a diverse and powerful set of abilities would undoubtedly demand a substantial expenditure of mana. With this in mind, he voiced a strategic suggestion to his allies, "We just need to hang in there and stay strong. We don’t have to use up all our energy trying to hit it. Our main goal is to last long enough for the wolf to use up all its mana. It’s been using its powers non-stop since it first saw us, and it can’t keep that up forever. We just need to wait for it to run out of juice, and then we can go in and strike!"
"Hmm, that quite the theory. That sounds quite plausible. It might be our best bet." said Liam.
Carl nodded in agreement, “Right, let's conserve our energy and focus on avoiding its attacks."
Asher's guardian stood at the forefront, his shield raised high and ready to intercept the wolf's attacks. The creature, sensing the group's strategy, unleashed a barrage of blade-like projectiles, aiming to break through their defenses. The guardian swung his shield, blocking the projectiles with precision. However, the water blades were sharper and more powerful than he anticipated. They sliced through the shield, leaving deep gouges in its surface. Despite the damage, the shield held, providing the much-needed protection for the group.
The beast was relentless, its movements swift and its attacks precise. They could feel the pressure mounting, but they held on, determined to outlast the creature's onslaught.
As the minutes ticked by, the team maintained their resilience, skillfully dodging and defending against the wolf's onslaught. Gradually, they began to discern a pattern in its attacks, allowing them to anticipate and counter some of its moves. The momentum of the battle subtly shifted, turning to the group's advantage. The WaterHowler, previously bursting with energy and aggressiveness, now displayed signs of weariness. Its actions became sluggish, and it attacked less often. The team recognized that their plan was taking effect; the wolf was deliberately rationing its energy, reducing the frequency of its abilities to conserve mana.
Asher, observing the wolf's behavior, could see the change in its tactics. "It's getting weaker. It's trying to save its energy. We just need to keep up the pressure and not give it any chance to recover."
With its energy reserves dwindling, the WaterHowler knew it had to make a decisive move. In a final act of desperation, it summoned all the remaining water in the vicinity, channeling its last bits of mana into a formidable display of power. The air became heavy with moisture as the water coalesced, forming an array of weapon shapes—spears, swords, daggers, and more—all hovering menacingly in the air around the wolf.
"W-What on earth is it planning?" Liam gasped, his eyes widening at the staggering array of water-formed weapons.
"It must have caught on that time is not on its side. It's probably burning through every last bit of its remaining mana for a quick, decisive strike!" Asher analyzed, quickly grasping the gravity of the situation.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The air in the cavern grew tense as the water wolf gathered its remaining energy, causing the water-formed weapons to swirl around it, creating a menacing vortex. The group could feel the pressure and the power emanating from the wolf, and they knew they had to act fast.
"Brace yourselves!" Carl shouted, "This is going to be its final attack!"
"Brace ourselves? There's no way we can dodge all those flying weapons; they're practically covering the entire space!" Liam protested, his voice laced with panic.
"Liam, now's the time to use your 'Explosive Shot'! The blast radius could knock out a bunch of those projectiles and give us some breathing room!" Asher quickly instructed, maintaining a calm yet urgent tone.
Liam, heeding Asher's advice, quickly steadied his weapon and focused his aim, releasing a powerful explosive shot. The blast echoed through the pathway, creating a shockwave that rippled across the space where the bullet hit one of the forged weapons. A few of the water-formed projectiles were obliterated in the explosion, but due to the small area of effect of the skill and the widespread distribution of the weapons, the impact was minimal.
As the dust settled from the explosion's aftermath, the wolf, seizing the moment, propelled the myriad of water weapons towards the group with ferocious speed. The projectiles, now even harder to see through the lingering dust, whizzed through the air, their sharp edges glinting ominously.
The group, realizing the gravity of the situation, braced themselves for the impending onslaught. Asher's guardian raised his now battered shield, ready to protect as best as he could, while the others prepared to dodge and deflect the weapons to the best of their abilities.
As the barrage of water-formed weapons hurtled towards them at breakneck speed, the guardian, with a steadfast resolve, positioned himself squarely in front of the group. His shield, although somewhat damaged from previous clashes, was held high and firm, ready to bear the brunt of the attack.
The rest of the group, recognizing the guardian's intent, quickly rallied behind him, seeking refuge under the protective expanse of his shield. They pressed close together, aware that even the slightest gap or misstep could result in dire consequences.
With bated breath and hearts pounding, they braced themselves as the onslaught of weapons made contact. The sound of impact was deafening, as blades and spears hammered against the shield. The guardian stood unwavering, his strength and determination evident in the way he absorbed each hit, allowing no harm to come to those he was protecting.
Amidst the relentless barrage of weaponized water, some of the sharper and more forceful projectiles managed to penetrate the guardian's shield, leaving visible marks and causing the guardian to stagger slightly under the impact. Despite the pain and the strain, the guardian held strong, determined to protect the group until the very end of the attack.
https://i.imgur.com/cKOikl6.png [https://i.imgur.com/cKOikl6.png]
https://i.imgur.com/CYplk8K.png [https://i.imgur.com/CYplk8K.png]
https://i.imgur.com/8aZ5Jif.png [https://i.imgur.com/8aZ5Jif.png]
As the final projectiles slammed into the shield, the guardian, battered but not broken, maintained its form, providing the group with the much-needed cover. Seizing this critical moment, Asher, with a commanding tone, instructed the guardian to launch a shield charge at the now-weakened water wolf.
Simultaneously, he turned to the rest of the group, his eyes burning with determination, "Now's our chance! Attack with everything you've got!" he shouted.
As the guardian made contact with the water wolf, its shield, already compromised from the previous onslaught, shattered upon impact. The fragments of the once sturdy shield scattered in all directions, creating a brief, glittering spectacle in the moon lit environment.
Your Guardian's Off-Hand equipment, 'Anti-Riot Shield,' has been destroyed!
Despite the loss of its shield, the guardian's charge had successfully destabilized the wolf, knocking it back, leaving it vulnerable to the group's coordinated attack. The wolf, now completely drained of mana and unable to defend itself, was at the mercy of the group.
The group, recognizing the significance of this moment, wasted no time. They struck with precision and determination, their hits finding their mark on the weakened wolf. Each member of the group put forth their utmost effort, channeling their strength into their final attacks.
With a series of well-placed strikes and coordinated blows, the group overwhelmed the wolf, their attacks breaking through its body. The wolf, now diminished and weakened, emitted a final, muted howl as it transformed into particles of a luminous blue hue. These particles gracefully navigated through the air, converging at the altar of the monolith. Upon reaching their destination, they illuminated one of the wolf engravings in a vibrant blue light, signifying their second victory.
You have participated in the elimination of 'Bladeback WaterHowler'. Experience points earned have been divided by the number of participants(4). You have earned 155 EXP! EXP (705/600)
Congratulations for reaching Lv.7! You have acquired 5 Attribute points.
As the luminous blue light gradually faded away, it revealed a gemstone resting gracefully on the ground, nestled within a shallow puddle of water—the very spot where the WaterHowler had stood moments before. The gemstone, glistening with an inner light, appeared to be intricately connected to the essence of the WaterHowler, embodying the power and grace that the creature once possessed. It lay there, a tangible remnant of the battle, waiting to be claimed by the victorious group.
https://i.imgur.com/2J6oK7g.png [https://i.imgur.com/2J6oK7g.png]