Seriously, do all the troublesome things attack at once?
I was planning to retrieve the Wind Wolf and head back to the Beast Carriage, but I had a bad feeling. When I activated Dolphin Eye in the direction the Wind Wolf came from, I saw a large black wolf heading towards us.
“What in the world is that?”
“Green Fang should be green.”
Just as I thought that, I heard a howl. I’d already confirmed the black wolf howled, but could it be calling for allies? This is going to be a pain.
“Yamato!”
Suddenly, Prim called out to me in a loud voice. When I turned around, I saw a pack of Glass Wolves, Green Wolves, and Wind Wolves heading our way.
“That’s a lot. At a glance, there must be at least thirty of them.”
“That’s quite a number. Prim, more are probably coming from this direction too. And the boss isn’t a Green Fang.”
“What do you mean!?”
Apricot’s face was filled with shock, and Prim shouted. Still, she didn’t take her eyes off the pack; that was impressive.
“I looked ahead with Dolphin Eye. The one coming towards us is a ridiculously large black wolf. And Green Fang is supposed to be green, right?”
“Black? No way!”
A hint of fear crept into Prim’s voice. I had a really bad feeling about this. They’d be in sight soon, and surrounded by this many Wolf Species, there was no escaping. I had no choice but to brace myself. Ah, I can see it now. It really is a big black wolf.
“It… it really is a Black Fenrir!”
“Fenrir!?”
The black wolf that appeared was a colossal beast, easily over 5 meters in length. Its body was covered in dark fur, with sharp, black fangs and claws. Its eyes, so black they could be mistaken for polished obsidian, glared at me with fury.
“It’s got the name of the god-eating wolf from Norse mythology! It’s definitely a higher rank than Green Fang!”
“An existence above a Catastrophe Species… It has the power to easily bring down an entire city by itself!”
Above a Catastrophe Species, too. And with this many Wolf Species, I’d have to go all out, or we’d be swallowed up in no time.
Once I confirmed the Black Fenrir was within range, I generated Multi Edge and Mirror Ring. I then activated a layered barrier of the water-element A-rank area-of-effect spell Nibhelheim and the wind-element A-rank area-of-effect spell Alfheim. With a “first strike wins” mentality, I unleashed a tornado imbued with ice blades, more powerful than when I defeated the Wind Wolf earlier, towards the wolf pack.
A layered barrier is a barrier formed by two or more area-of-effect spells, also known as layered spells. I can manage to deploy them within a radius of 150 meters, so I activated it after confirming the Black Fenrir had reached that distance. However, a few still slipped through. I had anticipated some would leak out, so I adjusted it so that entering the barrier wouldn’t be too difficult. In fact, those Wolf Species had their heads severed from their bodies by the ice tornado the moment they breached the barrier.
Glancing at Prim, I saw that nearly half of the Wolf Species were being tossed around by the ice tornado created by Nibhelheim and Alfheim, and she looked visibly intimidated. Prim’s Flame Arrow landed on them, and Honest was also breathing Fire Breath.
“Thanks, Yamato! We’ll hurry and take care of our side, so you buy us some time!”
Given it’s a Catastrophe Species, beating it alone would be a tough fight. It’s a godsend that Prim is helping out. But buying time… that’s going to be the hard part. I’m the closest, so I guess that can’t be helped.
I switched Multi Edge to my left hand and held the Iron Sword I bought from Zack in my right. I activated the water-element B-rank target-interfering spell Blood Shaking on the blade of each. As if on cue, the Black Fenrir howled, and the surrounding Green Wolves attacked.
“Hnnngh!”
I easily cut down the Green Wolves with the Iron Sword and Multi Edge, which had Blood Shaking activated. However, using the opening after swinging my sword, a Wind Wolf bared its fangs. As expected of wolves, they’re skilled at coordinated attacks. Thanks to Phisicaling boosting my physical abilities, I only took one step back, but it ended up being nearly 5 meters. It’s difficult to control the power when I’m not used to it, but I managed to create distance, so I’ll take it.
The moment I landed, I lunged towards the Wind Wolf and swung my Iron Sword horizontally, slicing off its left foreleg. I know that’s not enough to be fatal, but it’s more than a mere scratch.
The Wind Wolf, with its left foreleg severed, showed a momentary flicker of rage. However, due to Blood Shaking activating in its bloodstream, its blood began to surge violently, causing it to spurt blood from its entire body and die shortly after. Before I could confirm its death, another Wind Wolf attacked. This time, I threw Multi Edge. It only managed to inflict a glancing blow, but the activation of Blood Shaking still slowed its movements. I didn’t miss the opening and swung my Iron Sword down again, this time severing its neck.
“It paid off that I used Nibhelheim and Alfheim at the start.”
Including those with Prim, the number of Wolf Species within the barrier had exceeded fifty. However, the Nibhelheim and Alfheim layered barrier had engulfed nearly thirty Wolf Species in an ice tornado, claiming their lives. Furthermore, Prim and Honest were attacking, and I caught a glimpse of Apricot providing support, so the numbers had decreased even further. And the ice tornado is still active, so the numbers are still dwindling. I’m really glad I used the Nibhelheim and Alfheim layered barrier at the start. If I had to face a coordinated attack from over fifty Wolf Species head-on, I wouldn’t have enough lives to survive.
“Whoa! That was close!”
I only took a moment to check on Prim and Apricot, but during that brief interval, the Black Fenrir attacked me with its right foreleg. I narrowly dodged it and activated Icicle Lance towards its exposed torso. However, the ice spear, fired at virtually point-blank range, struck the Black Fenrir directly but shattered and disappeared without piercing its body.
“It’s harder than I thought. It’s a relief it’s not unharmed, though!”
I retreated from the Black Fenrir and activated the water-element B-rank wide-area interference spell Mist Alchemist within a radius of 5 meters. The Black Fenrir is over 5 meters long and moves fast, so I’m not sure if this will even capture it. Therefore, I simultaneously activated the water-element D-rank support restraint spell Water Chain, entangling the Black Fenrir’s legs with chains of water to slow its movements.
The Black Fenrir, distracted by the Water Chain, quickly broke free. Or rather, it forcibly tore them apart. Tearing apart water chains, does it have no common sense? However, that split second proved fatal for the Black Fenrir. Immediately afterward, the temperature within the Mist Alchemist’s barrier dropped to minus 100 degrees Celsius.
I have an affinity for water magic, but I can’t lower the temperature all at once. I can manipulate cold up to about -200 degrees Celsius, but reaching such low temperatures takes some time. Yet, Father and Master can casually use absolute zero, almost instantaneously, mercilessly criticizing me. Especially Master, who has an affinity for fire magic. What kind of monster is that? To give an example of my classmates, they can barely manage -30 to -50 degrees Celsius, and it takes them longer than me to lower the temperature to -100 degrees Celsius, so I’m quite capable, you know? Well, if I get cocky about that, I’ll just get killed by the female teacher who is both my homeroom teacher and one of my masters, so I absolutely won’t get cocky!
Anyway, as expected from such a rapid cooling to minus 100 degrees Celsius, even the Black Fenrir has completely frozen over. If this were a cold region, there might have been a slim chance, but I made sure to freeze its blood as well, so it should be dead. However, I’ll play it safe. It’s a disadvantageous element for me, but I activated the fire-element B-rank support interference spell Fire Ring Edge on the Iron Sword and swiftly severed the Black Fenrir’s head.
That’s completely over. There’s no creature on Earth or Helios Orb that can survive with its head severed. Golems? They’re not alive to begin with. Undead? Already dead. Well, I guess I have to finish off the remaining Wolf Species, but there aren’t many left, so it shouldn’t take too long.
Side: Prim
I pierced the attacking Wolf Species one by one with Flame Arrows, Flame Lances, and a Long Spear imbued with Fire Arms. The Iron Spear I bought from Zack is good, no, it’s more than good, but it’s difficult to handle a large pack of Wolf Species with a weapon I’m not used to. And out of habit, I took out my Long Spear, which is in my storage.
Honest, the Grantpus I formed a familiar contract with after my Mother, is also breathing Fire Breath and taking down Glass Wolves and Green Wolves, but it’s tough against Wind Wolves. Mother is providing good support, so they haven’t gotten close, but from the looks of it, it’s only a matter of time.
So, while Yamato is holding off the Black Fenrir, I have to quickly take care of the Wind Wolves at least. This number is tough, but Yamato’s barrier has reduced their numbers considerably, and more importantly, quite a few of them are cowering, so I can push them back now!
“Yamato’s barrier has reduced their numbers, but I can’t just do nothing!”
So, I decided to use my trump card, my Feather Mantle Magic, Scorchwing. Feather Mantle Magic is a magic that allows Winged Tribe members to imbue their wings with magical attributes. It has the properties of Phisicaling, Manorin, and amplification of the imbued magical attribute. I excel at fire magic, so I imbue it with fire attribute magic, but I think it’s possible to use other attributes if I had the chance. I don’t have that luxury right now, though.
“Fire Arms!”
I discussed this with Yamato on our way here. Words are the best way to give form to an image. So, the Fire Arms I used are concentrated on the tip of my Long Spear, just as I imagined. Manorin enhanced the Long Spear, Scorchwing further boosted it, and then I covered it with Fire Arms, so its attack power should be significantly increased.
I pictured myself becoming a spear and used my Phisicaling-enhanced physical abilities to their fullest, charging into the pack. As expected, the Glass Wolves and Green Wolves perished instantly, engulfed in flames. Some of the Wind Wolves, which use wind magic to increase their speed, were hit and suffered fatal injuries as they couldn’t dodge. When I pursued them with Flame Lance after creating some distance, those Wind Wolves were also enveloped in flames. That’s a lot fewer of them now.
Glancing at Yamato, I was surprised to see him freezing the Black Fenrir’s body and about to sever its head. I never imagined he would defeat a Catastrophe Species alone. Catastrophe Species are considered to be above Anomalies, and even an Ancient Class is said to be unable to defeat one alone. Yet, facing a Catastrophe Species, Yamato shows no signs of injury. It’s amazing, but it’s almost baffling.
However, with the Black Fenrir, their leader, gone, the wolves should lose their will to fight and flee. “I thought so, but why are they still so determined!?” My prediction was completely wrong. To my surprise, the wolves’ formation didn’t break, and more importantly, they were clearly enraged. Isn’t something strange about this?
“Prim!”
I turned around at the sound of my Mother’s frightened voice and understood the reason. A wolf with large green fur emerged from behind the wolves I had defeated. “Green Fang! And there are two of them!” This was completely unexpected. The Black Fenrir was undoubtedly the boss, but to think it even controlled Green Fangs, which are normally the bosses of their packs, and that there were multiple of them, I’d never heard of such a thing. This is truly troublesome.
“Well, what should we do?”
“We’ll each have to take one. Fortunately, Prim took care of all the Wind Wolves, and the number of Green Wolves and Glass Wolves has also significantly decreased.” Yamato seemed to respond to my Mother’s voice. By the time I noticed, he was standing next to me. Defeating a Catastrophe Species and not even being winded, that’s just impossible. I can’t complain about that now, but that’s the only way. I’ll have to protect Mother with Honest. He was unsold because he was weak and timid despite being a Grantpus, so I can’t push him any further. The remaining problem is for me, not Yamato. Yamato, who defeated the Black Fenrir alone, can undoubtedly defeat the Green Fang. However, I believe I can win, but I don’t think I can do it without getting injured. But there’s no time for hesitation now, I have to brace myself.
