BATTLE FORMATIONS

In an open field surrounded by thick trees, a pack of what they call volcanic wolves was seen slumbering. These wolves had dark red fur with yellow claws coming out from their paws. The most striking feature about them is their tail which was shockingly made out of lava.

Amid those volcanic wolves, a particular wolf was radiating energy more intense than the rest while being more bigger as its tails were surprisingly 3 meters long.

While enjoying its peaceful sleep, its instincts suddenly sensed an incoming danger which made the wolf extend his mental power while opening his crimson-red eyes. But before he could complete any of those things, an oppressing force suddenly landed on him.

<DIVINE HALO>

'Middle phase of Rank B' Dave thought when he activated one of his spells which resulted in the plain field being covered by a blinding light. That sudden attack awakened the 20 volcanic wolves along with their leader. But right before they could know what was going on, 6 of the volcanic wolves suddenly turned into ashes from the light enveloping them.

When their leader saw that, he quickly roared with anger as its aura exploded in the blinding light. Although the blinding light quickly began to suppress that aura, it finally gained a foothold all around the surviving underlings.

"Couldn't you let us test our skills with these beasts?" Jake helplessly said when he and his teammates caught up with Dave.

"That isn't why we are in this forest" Dave quickly replied expressionlessly as he stared at the struggling volcanic wolves.

But his expression quickly changed when he saw what the volcanic wolves began to do. Although his squad members were confused as to why he had that expression, disbelief quickly took over their faces while Muzi shouted as they also looked at the volcanic wolves.

"How!?"

The beasts began to create patterns among them if you look at them from above. Among the leaders' underlings, three were in the peak phase of Rank C while the other three were in the middle phase of the same Rank.

Two of the peak phases of Rank C stood as the vanguard of the pack while the remaining one stood between them and the middle phase beasts. The middle phase beasts made a curved line among themselves as their leader stood behind them while fighting against Dave's spell.

'Am actually seeing a pack of beasts executing a nigh-perfect battle formation right in front of my eyes' Dave thought as his incredulous expression intensified. But he quickly came back to normal when he felt his halo losing ground.

Although his squad members were awaiting his orders on how they should proceed with these strange wolves, Dave simply ignored them as he suddenly dashed toward the pack of wolves.

'Looks like our previous plan is no longer feasible' Jake thought with a sigh escaping from his mouth while charging toward the beasts with his teammates.

<DARK SLASH>

When Dave got into his attack range, he immediately activated one of his spells. The result of that made dark lines appear in the light halo as it dashed toward the volcanic wolves.

When the wolves saw the incoming spell, the vanguard suddenly excreted lava from their skins which immediately solidify when it covered their entire skins.

'So this is their innate ability' Dave thought as his eyes sharpened. But what the wolves did next made him think otherwise.

After surviving the clash from Dave's spell, the remaining peak phase Rank C beast along with the middle phase beasts began to shoot out fireballs from their tails. But right when these fireballs entered Dave's divine halo, their leader empowered them with his aura.

'Not good' Dave thought while solemnly looking at the barrage of fireballs coming toward him.

<DIVINE FLASH>

But before the fireballs could reach him, Dave quickly activated his movement spell as he began to dodge the fireballs.

"Dave watch out!" Muzi shouted when he saw the leader suddenly disappearing as he began to clash with its underlings along with his teammates.

"For what!?" Dave shouted back after successfully evading the fireballs. But before he could catch a glimpse of the clash between him and the volcanic wolves, he suddenly disappeared.

"What just happened?" Dave asked with a confused expression while looking at the infinite blackness all around him, but before he could get what was going on, he felt a huge force crashing on him from behind.

<DARK SUBSTITUTION>

But before the force could crush him, he quickly his teleportation spell which made him appear behind that huge force.

"So you were the one who brought me here," Dave said as he looked at the volcanic wolves leader who was preparing himself to pounce on Dave again.

'Since no one is here, I can test out my new powers' Dave thought with a cold smile appearing on his face.

Finally, the wolf pounced on him with his claws that were bringing out lava from its tip. But before the wolf could get to Dave, his body shockingly divided into two.

<DIVINE MOVE: ELEMENTAL SLASH>

(To be continued...)