The Fenrir's howl echoed in the forest, sending a chill down Alaric's spine. The surge of power he'd just experienced had saved his life, but it was far from enough. Blood trickled from his wounds as he faced the beast, whose eyes now glowed with a mix of fury and hunger.
Alaric tightened his grip on his staff, his mind racing. This creature is a Rank A monster. A true predator. If I'm not careful, this will be the end of me.
The Unyielding Fenrir
The Fenrir leapt at him again, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Alaric sidestepped, conjuring a burst of wind to propel himself out of reach. The beast landed gracefully, turning to face him, its muscles coiled and ready for another attack.
Alaric raised his hand, summoning a wave of fire that surged toward the Fenrir. The flames licked its silver fur but barely slowed it down. With a snarl, the beast charged through the fire, its jaws snapping dangerously close to Alaric's arm.
"This thing is relentless!" Alaric muttered, panting.
He launched an orb of water toward the Fenrir, following it with a burst of earth shards. The combination managed to push the beast back, but it didn't stop for long.
A Battle of Wits
As the fight wore on, Alaric began to notice patterns in the Fenrir's movements. It favored its left side when attacking, leaving brief openings on its right. Gathering his courage, he formed a plan.
He feigned a stumble, allowing the Fenrir to lunge toward him. At the last moment, he rolled to the side and unleashed a volley of air and fire, creating a fiery cyclone that engulfed the beast. The Fenrir roared in pain, its silver fur scorched, but it still refused to fall.
The beast's resilience was staggering. Alaric felt his mana reserves dwindling, his body trembling with exhaustion. He needed to end this quickly.
Tapping Into True Power
As the Fenrir prepared another charge, Alaric closed his eyes and reached deep within himself. He felt the six elements swirling inside him—fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness. This time, he didn't just call on one or two; he reached for all of them, letting their power flow together.
His hands glowed as he formed a massive sphere of energy, its colors shifting between brilliant white and deep black. The Fenrir hesitated, sensing the raw power emanating from the boy.
"Let's see if you can handle this," Alaric said through gritted teeth.
He hurled the sphere toward the beast. The explosion lit up the forest, shaking the ground and tearing through trees. When the dust settled, the Fenrir lay motionless, its body charred and still.
Alaric fell to his knees, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. "A Rank A monster... No wonder they're so feared," he murmured, glancing at the remains of the creature.
A Warning
Just as he began to relax, a faint growl caught his attention. Alaric's heart sank as he turned to see two glowing eyes watching him from the shadows. Another Fenrir? Or something worse?
He didn't wait to find out. With what little strength he had left, Alaric collected the proof of his kill—a tuft of the Fenrir's fur—and staggered out of the forest, his mind racing with questions.
The forest had taught him a harsh lesson: the world of adventuring was far more dangerous than he had imagined.