The wolf had thrown another set of its bone needles except unlike the ones from before these ones seemed different. They gave off a faint glow. As they got closer and closer, I was prepared to deflect them.
However before I could make contact with my sword. My instincts screamed. It was only for a second but that was enough time for my increased perception to notice the odd orange glow of the bone needles that seemed to get brighter and brighter. Almost as though they were charging up.
That's when it hit me
"Shit"
I acted in overdrive as I sunk into my shadow below me.
BOOM!
A chain of explosions rang out covering the entire area in flames and smoke. It was so intense that the forest floor was obliterated to such a high degree that a crater the size a children's playground was created around the area. The trees and plants weren't spared either.
The destructive power from that attack was devastating to say the least.
And the dust cloud that resulted from it made it all the more difficult for me to see through.
From within the Shadow space of
My eyes flashed with a calculative light.
'Which means it can't see me either'
But I could feel it out with my perception after all what was perception if not a higher form of the five senses. Sight, sound, smell, touch and taste.
Right now, with the 20% boost in my perception and intelligence that
I joined my fore and middle fingers and stretched them out in the direction of the wolf.
I was still within the cover of the smoke and dust. Then I entered a state of total concentration and begun to gather my mana. My mana surged before it collected and condensed. It gathered and compressed at the tips of my outstretched fingers.
A smile formed at the corner of my lips.
'This is easier than last time'
Sweat fell down my face. Keeping up this state of focus wasn't easy at all and I could feel the mana at my fingertips trying to explode outwards. It wasn't stable and with the amount that I kept adding to it, it wouldn't be wise to lose focus. Because if I did then all this concentrated energy would probably blow up in my face.
Energy continued to gather and I could now feel the tips of my fingers start to be eaten away. I was approaching the limits of what my body could currently handle.
I just hoped this would be enough.
[Magic Cannon]
A beam of pure highly concentrated mana shot forward with the speed of a bullet. It tore through the dust and headed into the direction of the tiger.
It couldn't even react before its tail was torn off
I watched as the beast fell off the tree and onto the forest floor and it fell hard. As soon as it did though I acted.
My murderous intent doused the immediate surroundings making it feel as though the temperature had dropped by several dozens of degrees while the air felt almost static.
The wolf was already in a state of weakness after its tail was blown off so
I capitalized on it and raced to close the distance as fast as possible my sword was already swinging above my head and shadows were already converging around its dark blade.
Once I was within range my blade fell. My body had moved on its own and my brain gave the command while my 'Shadow Art' stat dropped by 90%.
"
From the tip of my sword a sharp, large and destructive arc of darkness shot forward. It blazed through the darkness cutting through everything in its path and heading right for the wolf.
The wolf made an attempt to dodge but it was futile. It tried to jump to the side however attack passed through its side separating everything below its stomach from the rest of its body.
Blood and organs spilled to the forest floor as the remains of the wolf fell to the ground in a lifeless pool of blood.
The stench of iron filled the air.
I panted. Breathing heavily as I tried to get over the feeling of weakness that was threatening to take over.
I had used up of my Shadow Art and stamina in this brief but deadly confrontation and the blood loss as well as the wounds did nothing to help with that at all.
[You acquired the soul essence of a Second Star Order Level 24 'Dire Wolf'.
You have have received Agility +30, Stamina +19, Health +21, Mana +14]
[You have leveled up to level 16…
[You have leveled up to level 17. You have received 2 stat points to distribute freely]
I heaved a sigh as I made my way to the wolf's corpse. Ignoring the irritating stench I made my way over to what was left of the wolf particularly the head.
The [beginner's Manual] had stated that the probability of a creature having a Soul Stone was greatly increased the higher up the order they went.
Stepping in the pool of blood I used Black Salamander to cut open part of its skull before steeling my shaking nerves.
"This is gonna be disgusting" I muttered under my breath as I reached in with my left hand.
The flesh and blood felt sticky and wet and the feel of brain matter was not particularly pleasant. However I pushed on.
Reaching deeper and deeper until I felt something hard in my hands.
'Aha'
I grabbed it and pulled it out. Once my hand was out I shook off the blood as best as I could and soon a glowing blue crystal shimmered lightly in the night.
The Spirit Record flashed in my retina bringing up the information that I just needed.
[Second Star Order Soul Stone]
I smiled as the thought went through my head.
'Time to finally complete
Just when I had that thought the hairs on my skin rose and my senses screamed louder than they ever had.
The feeling of dread and overwhelming fear that gripped me almost made me lose my mind. I could feel sweat fall down my chin as well as the rapid beating of my heart.
My brain worked so fast that it could only come to one conclusion.
'Run'
I didn't waste a second. I picked up four objects from the ground and without hesitation I bolted.
Something was coming. And whatever it was…
I wasn't anywhere near strong enough to defeat it yet.
…
A few minutes passed in the now still forest. And around a certain clearing that was wrought with destruction and the heavy scent of blood, trees shifted in the distance.
Something big was moving through the forest. And then finally the tree parted to give way to a menacing looking spider that stood at three meters in height. It had sixteen green eyes scanned the surroundings with the cunning that almost resembled that of a detective.
When it finally landed upon the body of a wolf that was cut in half on the floor an intelligible light flashed through all sixteen of its eyes for a moment before it backed off and disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
No animals dared to get too close to it for two reasons.
The oppressive and heavy aura that radiated off the creature as well as the immense soul pressure that was coming from it.
And it wasn't just any soul pressure for that matter. The soul pressure that was being emitted was one that would put even the Dire Wolf that Huey just fought to shame
…
I didn't look back. I didn't dare to do so as it would undoubtably lead to me slowing down something that it didn't want to do in the slightest.
My mana was in overdrive. I didn't hold back. Almost all of my mana was being used to strengthen my body to push it to its utmost limits.
I ignored the fatigue. I ignored the feeling of weakness as well as the dizziness that threatened to tip me over due to the drain in mana. However I pushed on
It was the only thing my mind had on.
I ran over loose veins, weaved past trees so fast that every thing just seemed to pass by me in a blur I could barely feel the air in my lungs. It was as if my sole purpose in that moment was to move, keep moving and keep moving faster and faster.
After what felt like an eternity the overwhelming feeling that had driven my senses in overdrive was gone.
Finally I could take a moment to breath. It was only then that I realized just how much I had been starving my lungs for the needed air.
I fought to hold down the urge to reflexively let out a cough as I took cover in a thin gap between two short buildings.
I leaned back against a wall before lowering myself to sit. The whole while I was breathing heavily.
It took me seven minutes before I could finally let my nerves and my breathing calm.
'That feeling that I felt…that was not something that could have been missed no matter which level someone is at' I thought to myself. 'Did Mayor Bennet lie…or…?'
I didn't let my mind finish. I already new the answer to that. If the mayor had encountered it then there was no way he would hide it and there would have certainly been talks amongst the guards. Now don't get me wrong its not that I trust the guy.
No its actually the complete opposite.
One look and it was clear that the man really wants what's best for the camp and as a leader keeping something as dangerous as that a secret would be very detrimental.
So the chances of him doing so were low extremely so.
On the other hand if the creature had risen to power just recently then it was safe to say then it was a variable…
A major variable that could not be ignored.