NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Close Call!
The first of the two wolves leaped high in the air as wind coalesced around its claws, striking the deer calf with great ferocity. In response, the deer used a weird ability of its own. Its white fur took on a similar consistency and color as its horns, shielding it from taking any significant damage.
Following that up, he headbutted the wolf before quickly turning around to locate the other. The moment it did, it let out a cry and caused crystals to rise from the ground in a failed attempt to skewer it.
Unfortunately, it couldn't end the wolf right there. The calf began to run, and once the wolves began chasing it, it knocked over a tree with a single ram, causing it to fall onto the wolves.
The wolves simultaneously slashed through the tree with little issue, but the deer appeared next to them at that moment, headbutting the first with its mighty antlers once again. They tried to do the same to the second, but the second met them head-on, sending them both a distance back.
Panting, the crystal coating began to recede from the deer. Whatever that ability was, it wasn't easy to maintain for long.
Before they could regain their bearings properly, the first wolf returned and bit into the deer's leg. For an instant, the deer turned its body to crystal again and kicked the wolf off.
The damage to her leg was already done, allowing the second wolf to have an easy opening and sending another torrent of wind at the deer from its roar, causing the deer to get sent through another tree.
This poor forest…
The onslaught continued, and both wolves, despite their injuries, kept attacking relentlessly. Their timing and teamwork were impeccable despite how slowly they were dealing damage, and only several minutes later, the calf was on the ground, beginning to bleed out.
As the wolves approached to finish the battle, the calf sent one more wave of crystal spikes toward them, causing them to jump back.
However, a voice shouted at that moment, "BLITZ IT!" Five large insect creatures came from the trees in all directions, pushing their stingers and injecting their Neurotoxin into one.
When the other realized what had happened, the same young woman who shouted with a crazed look came swinging, slamming her fist into the wolf and sending it straight to the ground.
"Focus on dealing with that wolf. The deer ca-" Alchemy attempted to command, only for the wolf, which her units attacked, shooting a gale of wind at her. The force behind the hit sent her small body flying several meters up.
As she hit the ground, she ended up coughing furiously as the Thornskirmishers came to her.
{Mother!}
"I'm…" She coughed. "Fine. Focus on the battle."
As she spoke, the wolf did much the same as her insects, checking on their partner.
The first wolf instantly felt strength leaving its body. It wasn't enough to halt its movement, but even Alchemy, who was getting back to her feet, could tell its movement was starting tp worsen.
'I know the Neurotoxin is weak, but come on. Five doses simultaneously should be enough to paralyze a level 10, right?'
{Mother, retreat! We will cover you.}
"What a funny joke. I'm getting those rewards. This much is nothing." Alchemy scoffed.
Although she talked big, she couldn't feel her arm. When the gust of wind came, she blocked it somewhat with her right arm. She imagined that this sensation probably wasn't all that different from the poisoned wolf.
She was sure that if her body weren't strengthened from becoming a [Prospect] and leveling up, every bone in her body would be shattered.
This needed to end here.
"Attack from the sides while dodging their ranged attacks. I'll grab their attention for as long as I can."
{But mother! That's far too dangero-}
"DON'T DISOBEY MY ORDERS, CHILD." She scolded, cracking her neck while ensuring she still had a full range of motion.
'Wait… What?' She questioned inwardly, realizing what she just said to her soldiers.
Whatever that was… Alchemy didn't have time to ponder her words as the wolves were back on the move, the poisoned one running straight at her while the other ran off to the side, attempting to escape her vision but failing.
The one running at her head-on had simplistic enough movements to avoid the attack and slam her fist into its hip. Her attack didn't do much as he leaped at her from close range and swiped at her, only for one of the Thornskirmishers to slam into it and send it off course slightly while also injecting more toxins into it.
The second wolf was trying to get to Alchemy, but three of the remaining thorn skirmishers were being pests and flying around it. Although they failed to get a single sting in, the wolf struggled to do anything meaningful to them, thanks to their nimble flight.
"This thing has to be falling soon, right?"
After saying that, the second wolf finally managed to land an attack on the flying insects, sending two barreling toward the ground.
Alchemy scoffed and slammed her entire body into it as it readied an attack. Considering her little mass, it did a surprising amount, but it was enough to save her subordinates.
Naturally, the poisoned wolf wasn't the happiest fellow, being ignored, lunging at Alchemy and sending her straight to the ground in an attempt to pin her.
Having a terrifying sense of deja vu, Alchemy began screaming, "No! NO! NO!" As she tried her best to punch the wolf.
Surprisingly, she knocked at several teeth with each punch, but the wolf didn't seem to care, attempting to bite her head clean off but ended up head-butting her due to misjudging the distance due to the poison running through its body.
"Somebody stab him! He's open!" Alchemy panicked a little as she struggled to keep that snout away.
If she lost in a contest of strength against the child, she didn't even bother trying to hold off the adult, opting to dodge while a Thornskirmisher came in and stabbed the wolf right in the eye.
|
|
|
|
Ignoring the system notifications, Alchemy tried to push the dead weight off of her and get up. Still, before she or the Thronskirmisher could react, that wolf let out a loud growl, sending the latter flying before launching himself into the air, ready to tear Alchemy's face off.
At this distance, the Thornskirmishers were kept from reaching Alchemy in time. As she watched the beast grow closer to her, she could only close her eyes in fear.
'I screwed up! Surely, it's not going to end like this, right? Someone, one of the Thorns, make it! Please!' She cried inwardly.
Seconds passed with each feeling like an eternity, until… Nothing happened. Or at least, it didn't feel like anything happened. Perhaps she died so quickly that it felt painless?
Then Alchemy heard the ding of the system. An annoying sound that she never thought she'd be happy hearing.
|
Opening her eyes, behind the system notifications, the wolf hung above her, skewered by an ornate crystal. One that almost looked like a tree made of gemstones.