Elara's heart pounded as she vaulted over the fallen tree, her hand pressed against the rough bark. The tree's height reached her hips, but she cleared it with ease, landing on her feet and continuing her frantic run through the forest.
Suddenly, the ground beneath her shifted and became slick with mud. She slid down an incline, her arms flailing as she tried to keep her balance. A large, black form leaped at her from a bush, but she managed to dodge it at the last second, rolling to the side and regaining her footing.
Without missing a beat, she turned and aimed her hand at the creature, a Void Bolt erupting from her palm. The dark energy sizzled through the air, striking the beast and causing it to let out a yelp.
But there was no time to celebrate. She could hear the rustling of leaves and the pounding of paws as more creatures gave chase. She pushed herself harder, her lungs burning as she ran towards the cliff she had been seeking.
As she neared the edge, she spun around, her back to the precipice. A massive wolf burst from the treeline, its eyes locked on her, its teeth bared in a snarl. It leaped towards her, its powerful jaws aimed at the area between her shoulder and neck.
Elara appeared to feint a step back, but it was a ruse. Instead, she activated her Umbral Shift ability; her form shimmering lightly and granting her immunity to physical attacks. The wolf, unaware of the trick, passed right through her, its momentum carrying it over the cliff's edge.
As the wolf plummeted down the cliff face, she stood at the edge, her chest heaving as she caught her breath.
You have defeated Ashen Wolf [Level 42].
You have earned 2458 Exp.
Elara kept her eyes and ears trained on the treeline, refusing to let herself get distracted by the splat sound of the wolf hitting the ground or the notification from the system. The three remaining wolves took their time encircling her, one to her left, one in front, and one to her right. She noted that the wolf on the left was closer to the edge of the cliff than the others. She took her chance.
Without hesitation, she Voidwalked to the back of the wolf. She threw her arms around its hind legs and hurled her entire body weight over the edge, dragging the wolf's back legs with her. The creature, caught off guard and unable to maintain its balance or hold on to the edge, was pulled down by her. Once the wolf was well on its way down the cliff face, Elara released her grip.
You have defeated Ashen Wolf [Level 37].
You have earned 841 Exp.
You have leveled up to Level 36
You have 5 unspent Stat points
Voidwalking to a nearby tree, she landed on its lowest branch, giving her a clear line of sight to the last two wolves. The beasts looked around, trying to sniff her out or catch a glimpse of her. Not waiting for them to locate her, she prepared two Void Bolts and fired one at each wolf, applying the wisdom and dexterity debuffs that the spell brought with it.
The wolves now noticed her presence. They are quick to encircle the tree where she perched, one on each side, growling. She turned her back to one of them, goading it to attack. The ploy worked; the wolf behind her used its powerful hind legs to lunge at her, displaying an ability no wolf from her homeland could match.
Just as she had anticipated, she exploited the wolf's mid-air vulnerability. She Voidwalked behind the airborne beast and, using her Dragon's Precision [Level: 2] together with the Solstice Shard, struck it at its weak point, the throat.
The wolf went down in a shower of blood gushing from the life-pumping artery she severed. She turned to face the last wolf, its eyes glinting with a mix of hunger and caution.
You have defeated Ashen Wolf [Level 40].
You have earned 1370 Exp.
The beast circled her, its muscles tensed, ready to pounce at any moment. Her mind raced as she analyzed the creature's movements, trying to predict where it would strike.
Suddenly, the wolf lunged forward, its jaws snapping at her throat. But she was ready. With a swift voidwalk, she appeared above the creature, her dagger poised to strike.
Time seemed to slow as she descended upon the wolf, now aware of the weak points, her blade glinting in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the forest canopy. The wolf, caught off guard by her sudden disappearance, had no time to react.
The Solstice Shard found its mark, slicing through the wolf's throat. With its lifeblood pouring out onto the forest floor, the beast let out a gurgling whimper as it collapsed to the ground.
You have defeated Ashen Wolf [Level 40].
You have earned 1370 Exp.
Silence returned to the woods, broken only by the sound of her heavy breathing. She stood over the fallen wolf, her chest heaving as the adrenaline drained from her system.
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A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she realized the fight was over. She had not expected the strategy with the cliff to work so well, but she was grateful for the advantage it had given her.
Elara sat there for a moment, catching her breath and allowing her heart rate to slow. The rush of the fight still coursed through her veins, but she knew she needed to rest and regain her strength. With a deep breath, she stood and approached the nearest tree, eyeing its branches.
It had been a while since she had climbed a tree the old-fashioned way, without relying on her abilities. But she welcomed the challenge, eager to test her physical prowess. She reached for the lowest branch, hoisting herself up with a grunt. Her muscles strained as she pulled herself higher, finding footholds and handholds in the rough bark.
Finally, she reached a sturdy branch high enough to provide a good vantage point. She settled herself against the trunk, closing her eyes and focusing on her breathing. She slipped into a meditative state, allowing her mind to clear and her body to relax.
After a few minutes, she felt satisfied with her mana regenerated and ready to continue. She climbed down from the tree, landing softly on the forest floor. Backtracking, she made her way to where the wolves had been chasing her. She remembered how she had interrupted them while they were in the middle of a meal.
She thought about the wolves she knew from home. People claimed that they rarely attacked and were less aggressive towards humans. But these wolves, she realized, were a different breed entirely. They were more vicious, more territorial.
As she approached the area where the wolves had been feeding, a grisly sight greeted her. The mauled torso of a man lay on the ground, his head missing and his chest cavity torn open. She fought back a wave of nausea at the gruesome scene. It wasn't as bad as the aftermath of her attack on the Griffins, but it was still enough to turn her stomach.
Despite her revulsion, she forced herself to examine the corpse more closely. She hoped to find some clue as to where the man had come from. The presence of a human body, even in such a state, gave her hope that there might be a settlement or other people nearby. After all, who would wander alone in the middle of nowhere?
She searched the body, looking for anything that might be useful or provide a hint as to the man's origins. As she did so, she became acutely aware of the sorry state of her own clothing. Her socks, soaked and caked with mud, had long since been stuffed into her trouser pockets. They were beyond wearing at this point.
Her mind drifted back to a week ago, when Flamebeard had dropped her off at the designated drop-off point. And a drop it was. She had expected to land on solid ground, but instead, she had plummeted straight into the middle of a lake. She had to swim to the shore, cursing the dragon's name the entire way.
"What a dick," she muttered under her breath, remembering how he had literally dropped her into the water without warning.
Since then, she had been wandering the woods, trying to find shelter and avoid becoming a meal for the local wildlife. The corpse was the first sign of civilization she had come across, and despite the gruesomeness of the find, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. She had to find people, and soon. She only had 18 days left before the effects of the last fasting pill she had taken would wear off. And with no knowledge of what plants or animals were safe to eat in this strange land, and no healing skills to rely on if she poisoned herself, time was of the essence.
She turned her focus back to the corpse. She started by searching for the legs, hoping to find some boots. Tired to run around with bare feet. She took a glance at the cloth on the torso, but deemed them worthless, given the large hole in the front. After a brief search in the surrounding area, she located the legs at two different locations, the boots still attached. She grinned and removed the shoes from the detached limbs.
The boots showed signs of weathering and wear, with scars etched into their supple dark brown leather surface. At the top, sturdy laces crisscrossed like a web of protection, ensuring a snug fit around the wearer's calves. She rejoiced at her find and threw the boots over her shoulder. As she prepared to make the trek back to the lake where she had been dropped, a thought struck her. She hadn't seen any weapons or other possessions on or around the corpse, be they items of value or personal belongings. And no head. Weird, she thought to herself.
Using the lake as a marker, she had been exploring the surrounding area in each direction. She didn’t want to walk in one direction and hope for the best. No, her plan was to first explore the immediate vicinity, and if there was nothing to be found, she would move farther out.
She reached the lake, undisturbed. With a relieved sigh, she settled by the water's edge and dipped her feet into the refreshing coolness. As the muddy water enveloped her feet, she crouched down, her resolve firm to rid them of the grime and dirt acquired during her arduous journey. Once satisfied with the cleanliness of her feet, she turned her attention to the boots.
She loosened the laces, opening them wide enough to accommodate her feet. The boots were a few sizes too big, but she was undeterred. With the help of the sturdy laces, she fastened the boots snugly against her calves, ensuring a secure fit. The leather felt sturdy and dependable, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for her newfound footwear.
She couldn't help but smile as she walked, her new boots providing a much-needed comfort to her weary feet. The sun was still high in the sky, and she was determined to make the most of the remaining daylight.
She headed east, in the direction where she had found the corpse earlier. As she walked, she kept her ears trained for any unusual sounds. The forest was alive with the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
That is until she noticed strange marks on the ground. She crouched down to examine them more closely. It looked as though something had been dragged along the forest floor, leaving a wide, smooth trail in its wake. Could it be an animal with a bushy tail? Or something else entirely?
Intrigued, she followed the trail. She moved quietly, hoping that she was following the creature's path forward and not backtracking. As she walked, she couldn't help but think about how much she relied on her skills to guide her. Whether it was fighting with her dagger or sneaking through the forest, she often let her skills take control. She wondered if everyone did the same, or if it was something she should try to break away from. But so far, it had worked out well for her. She continued letting her skills lead the way, trusting in their ability to keep her safe.
Lost in thought, she almost didn't hear a dry leaf being crushed underfoot. But her skill reacted before she could even think, sending her ducking low to the ground. A massive hammer swung above her head, slamming into a nearby tree with such force that it split the trunk in half.
She turned to face her attacker, her eyes widening in shock. Standing before her was a woman with light grey skin and a bald head. Their eyes met, brown and black, both filled with surprise.
The woman left the hammer where it lay, wedged in the broken tree. She spoke to someone Elara couldn't see, her voice calm and steady. "Stay down. It's just a girl, rogue level 36. False alarm."
Elara remained crouched, her heart pounding in her chest. She did not know who this woman was or what she wanted, but one thing was clear: she was not to be underestimated.