On the other hand, Val seemed to be dancing among the forest wolves, dodging their blows before launching his counterattacks. Each time he swung his cursed sword, a beast fell. Although they were renowned for having thick hide and sturdy bones, his cursed sword sliced through them as if they were nothing more than paper, causing crimson arcs to paint the air.
[Ding! Congratulation, Host! You’ve killed 5 Forest Wolves of varying levels. You get +616 EXP.]
‘My experience points have surged to 2000. Now I am only 1500 points away from leveling up,’ Val thought.
Each level up was welcomed as it granted him the opportunity to instantly increase his physical capabilities.
The blood from the bisected wolves could be seen flying in unnatural paths. They were drawn towards and absorbed by Val’s sword as if summoned by an invisible force.
[Ding! Aquarius has absorbed the blood of the fallen enemies. Its rage meter is full. The Crimson Slash Skill is now usable!]
Val’s eyes flickered at the notification, ‘Crimson Slash. This trump card has finally become available. Things are going to get easier from here.’
‘I knew that despite being on the same level, he was stronger than me since he single-handedly took down an Icefang Lynx, but isn’t this too much?’
Alfred, done dealing with his own opponent, turned his attention to the scene unfolding before him. He watched, utterly awestruck as the pack of wolves was significantly reduced in mere minutes. His eyes widened in shock, the sight before him quite unlike anything he’d ever seen. Though he prided himself on being tough to surprise, the raw power and agility that Val displayed left him stunned. Val was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, a storm that ripped apart each adversary with ruthless precision.
Alfred felt a rush of relief – he’d certainly made the right decision in asking for Val’s assistance!
Seeing their pack decimated, the three remaining forest wolves began to waver. Their bloodlust was replaced by fear as they took in the sight of their fallen brethren. A dreadful realization crept into their hearts – they were no match for the humans before them. They turned to flee when a powerful. bone-chilling grunt echoed through the forest, halting their retreat.
Another group of wolves appeared, led by a colossal beast.
It’s the Direwolf! Val and Alfred recognized.
The Direwolf was an intimidating sight as it was a monstrous beast, standing at a ridiculous height of 5 meters. Its body was colored an ominous shade of red and housed two terrifying mouths filled with long, sharp teeth that were as pointy as a knife.
AWOOOO!
The Direwolf was thoroughly enraged, seeing so many members of its pack killed at the hands of humans. Glaring at Val and Alfred, it let out a bone-chilling and extremely loud roar. The intensity of its roar was so immense that it produced visible shockwaves, scattering the surrounding foliage and causing flocks of giant birds to take flight in a panic, their cries echoing throughout the forest.
Alfred’s face paled under the impact, and his body trembled visibly as the oppressive sound waves reverberated through his very core. 𝑂𝓋𝐥xt.𝑐𝗈𝑚
The Direwolf’s roar also crashed onto Val like a tsunami of intimidation. However, he held his ground, firm and resolute, his feet planted securely on the forest floor even as he bled from his eyes, ears, and nose. The oppressive pressure from the monstrous beast rolled over him, but he stood unwavering, unaffected by its attempts to shake him.
The Direwolf’s attempt to intimidate Val had proven utterly futile, much to the shock of those present.
Val’s calm, steadfast demeanor against the Direwolf’s domineering presence left an atmosphere of electrifying tension hanging in the air.
Awoo!
The Direwolf let out another commanding roar, albeit slightly quieter than the previous one.
As if in response, several forest wolves burst forward, their bodies propelling towards Val like arrows shot from a bow.
The danger was imminent, but Val remained where he was, his demeanor unreadable. As he was a person who could not experience fear or pain, he was able to watch the predators with a kind of detached curiosity, something that was typically impossible for the untrained mind. He was observing them closely and gauging the right moment to strike. His mind remained cold and focused, his heart devoid of any emotional upheaval that might disrupt his calculations.
Seeing him stand still as the enemies closed in, Alfred’s brow furrowed in concern and confusion. What was he up to?
Several forest wolves sprang into the air, claws bared, their snarls echoing through the quiet second region of the Verdent Deepwood Forest. Val stood his ground, his gaze never wavering from the incoming threat. A ruthless glint flashed across his eyes – this was the moment he’d been waiting for!
“Rage, Aquarius,” Val intoned, his voice the embodiment of icy calm. It was a voice akin to the one heard in popular vampire dramas – full of mystery, dominance, and an undercurrent of danger.
As he spoke, he brandished his cursed sword, its blade glowing in an ominous crimson. In an instant, a terrifying arc of blood-red light burst from the sword, radiating an extreme sharpness that threatened to tear apart the fabric of reality as it charged forward. The arc was formed from highly compressed blood and it was so dense and sharp that it could easily cut through metal, much less flesh and bone. The airborne forest wolves stood no chance against the lethal attack!
As it hurtled towards the airborne wolves, they found themselves in an unfavorable situation. They were unable to dodge it!
Like a hot knife passing through butter, the blood-red arc sliced through the airborne wolves. The gruesome spectacle of their bodies being cleaved in half unfolded in the blink of an eye, their halves tumbling towards the ground amidst a spray of blood and guts. The quiet forest floor was immediately turned into a bloody battlefield.
As the bodies hit the ground with a sickening thud, a system notification chimed in Val’s mind.
[System Notification: You have killed 7 Forest Wolves. Earned 700 EXP.]
Then, another message followed.
[System Notification: Bonus EXP earned due to level difference: 300 EXP.]
Val took in this information, a grim satisfaction flitting across his usually impassive face. His EXP had soared to 3000 points. He was tantalizingly close to leveling up – he just needed 500 more.
This task to defeat the Direwolf and its pack was turning out to be a good thing after all!