Flame Rhino

Calista bowed deeply to Freyr, her voice trembling slightly. "Yes, my master. Calista will strive hard and will not bring shame to your honor!"

After a brief rest, Peter gathered everyone to descend the mountain. He had a signal sent to the other teams, and soon there was a response. One team was surprisingly close, less than a mile away based on the signal's origin.

The two knights ordered the team to move out and join their companions. But halfway there, as Sir Andrew, leading the front, could already see the other team waving, a shrill roar echoed from the side. A massive figure burst out of the woods, engulfed in flames, setting the surrounding trees and grass ablaze as it ran.

"A Magical Creature?!!" Someone shouted, and the team was immediately thrown into chaos.

"Form up!!" Sir Andrew's steady voice cut through the panic. He had drawn his broadsword and shouted, "Stay calm! Form up, flank it! Don't let it escape! Archers ready! Shields up front!"

Commands flew from Andrew's mouth, and the Russell family guards quickly steadied. Peter also sprang into action, gathering the archers and ordering them to take positions in the trees.

The Magical Creature, seemingly unafraid of the humans, charged straight at them. Freyr, seeing it for the first time, was both terrified and awed. The creature was larger than he imagined, as big as an elephant, with a huge horn on its forehead. Its skin was thick and rough, its limbs were as thick as columns, and it trampled the ground as it charged, all while emitting a piercing roar and being engulfed in flames.

Such a monstrous beast, with its entire body ablaze, made it hard for the soldiers to stop it. Even with their shields, they dared not face it head-on and had to dodge aside. Arrows shot from the archers seemed to have little effect on the beast's thick hide.

Fortunately, the creature was slow due to its size. The soldiers shouted, and some took up long spears to keep it at bay from a distance.

"Don't be afraid, it's just a Flame Rhino," Calista said, seemingly relieved. She stepped slightly in front of Freyr, her voice low as if explaining only to him. "Flame Rhinos are among the lowest tier of Magical Creatures. Besides being strong and emitting some fire, they're not particularly dangerous. Moreover, they run very slowly. With a few strong bows, it becomes nothing more than a flaming target."

Andrew overheard her and immediately shouted, "Raise the spears! Block it!"

The Flame Rhino charged a few steps but found itself surrounded by humans and their raised spears. Despite its thick hide, it wasn't impervious to weapons like higher-tier Magical Creatures. After a few distressed cries, it stopped and turned to escape, but its slow speed became evident.

Soldiers quickly flanked it, blocking its path, while archers in the trees continued shooting. Though the arrows didn't cause much harm, a few managed to stick into its back.

As the Flame Rhino's movements became increasingly restricted, Freyr's wizard, Ryan, intervened. Raising his hands, his robes fluttering, Ryan unleashed several fireballs at the creature.

With a loud bang, the fireballs struck the Flame Rhino, creating a dazzling burst of flames that nearly blinded everyone. Amidst the red glow, they heard an anguished roar, and then, in front of dozens of astonished eyes, the Flame Rhino vanished!

The soldiers were stunned but soon erupted in cheers. It seemed the wizard's prowess had vanquished the beast with a single strike!

However, Ryan himself looked puzzled. The Flame Rhino had vanished entirely. He knew his fireballs could kill but not obliterate the body completely. While the soldiers didn't grasp the anomaly, Andrew and Peter, being seasoned knights, did.

As the Flame Rhino disappeared, their faces showed shock and unease. Amid the cheering, Andrew shouted, "Everyone, fall back! Be careful!"

Freyr, equally baffled, asked Calista, "Do Magical Creatures' bodies disappear when they die?"

"No!" Calista responded, her expression changing. "I've never seen this happen. This is... strange."

Just then, from the spot where the Flame Rhino had vanished, a blue flame shot up, accompanied by a piercing howl—a wolf's howl!

From the blue flames, a giant wolf leaped out. Its ice-blue fur looked crystalline, its massive body powerful, its claws like blades, and it moved with incredible speed. In an instant, soldiers screamed in pain as it attacked.

The wolf howled again, releasing a wind blade from its mouth.

"It's a Stormwind Demon Wolf! A Stormwind Demon Wolf!!" Peter exclaimed in horror. He had mentioned this creature earlier, one he had once encountered, costing the lives of several comrades to defeat.

Peter's fear wasn't just due to the demon wolf itself but the bizarre transformation. A Flame Rhino turning into a Stormwind Demon Wolf was unheard of!

There was no time to think. The demon wolf, with its crystalline fur making it resistant to weapons, and its incredible speed, tore through the soldiers. In a few swift attacks, several were wounded, and a wind blade shattered two soldiers' shields, sending them flying.

Freyr, watching from a distance, couldn't help but sigh, "What a formidable creature!"

"Calista, can Magical Creatures transform? Can a Flame Rhino turn into something else? These two look so different."

"No, master! This is not right! This Magical Creature seems to be something unknown to me. It's definitely not an ordinary Flame Rhino!" Calista said, her expression grim. She held her sword, standing protectively in front of Freyr, eyes fixed on the distant demon wolf.

Andrew let out a loud shout and charged forward, his broadsword glowing with a silver light, aimed swiftly at the demon wolf.

Calista's eyes lit up from afar, "Internal power!"

The demonic wolf seemed to sense the threat from the glow of Andrew's sword. Instead of confronting it head-on, it leapt aside and pounced towards Andrew's chest and shoulders.

Andrew let out a shout, bending his body slightly and bringing his broadsword across. A beam of light separated from the blade, thrusting fiercely towards the wolf's abdomen.