56 Chapter 56: The Alpha And His Mate
Under the brightest sun, hidden inside massive trees that completely conceal the ground. What lay within the stone and tree walls was a cave that housed two of the oldest monsters in this part of the forest. The cave's roof was covered in dry leaves that blended in with the environment. Two heads lying on the ground next to each other could be seen sticking out from the entrance.
Two enormous wolves, one with gray fur and the other with pure white fur as soft as cotton.
RACE: Inferwolf [Level: 59/60].
HP: 1040/1040
MP: 590/590
Top Speed: 118 km/h
Defense: 5
[STATS.]
Strength: 104
Agility: 59
Intelligence: 59
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Vicious Gnaw [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Augmented Fang [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Blazing Gnaw [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Infernal Eruption [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Howling Call [MP Cost: 1]
Alpha's Challenge [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Fire Field [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[Lesser] Mana Absorb.
[Lesser] Life Absorb.
[Lesser] Desperation.
The alpha male. A five-meter-tall gray wolf with powerful capabilities that could be considered catastrophic. This one was considered an apex alpha and was responsible for the large number of Diviar Wolves in Kegali. The Inferwolf had outlived many generations of many races and had won numerous battles.
After years of constant combat, the Inferwolf decided to take a break and allow its offspring to continue the task of enriching their race, which they did. The Inferwolf was now living in peace with its mate, away from battle.
RACE: Wolfhellmancer [Level: 59/60].
HP: 590/590
MP: 1040/1040
Top Speed: 118 km/h
Defense: 5
[STATS.]
Strength: 59
Agility: 59
Intelligence: 104
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Vicious Gnaw [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Fire Blast [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Flamethrower [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Hellfire [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Howling Call [MP Cost: 1]
Ghostly Leap [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Fireproof [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[Lesser] Mana Absorb.
[Lesser] Life Absorb.
[Lesser] Desperation.
The Alpha's mate... Diviar wolves' mother. Its beautiful fur swayed as the gentle wind blew.
For years, these two had been living together, protecting and caring for each other. They were never separated, and became each other's strength and weakness— and as the years passed, their bond didn't dwindle, but grew stronger and stronger.
And because there was no danger they couldn't overcome as a group, they had been living their lives to the fullest.
Sadly... It would finally come to an end.
Even the sweetest dreams would come to an end, even the tallest mountains could be destroyed, and even the strongest, seemingly unbreakable bond could be broken. A devastating snowstorm—a cold and calculated snowstorm—could not be withstood by even the warmest fire.
***
[Snowfield has been activated.]
[Ice Armor has 2400 HP.]
[Vanguard has granted you 400 damage reduction.]
Eon landed between two massive trees on the ground. His gaze darted to his designated targets a few meters away. Then he proceeded to walk forward, fully aware that his two targets were already looking at him. Eon, on the other hand, walked without hesitation. All around him, snow was falling.
Eon couldn't see the two massive wolves yet, but his nose was telling him where they were and what they were doing as he approached slowly.
Eon also witnessed the Wolfhellmancer open its mouth and fire its skill, Hellfire, at Eon. Then a 10 meter tall blazing ball of fire charged toward Eon. Eon waved his wings and flew away from the incoming ball of destruction. Eon remained in the safe zone in the sky, watching as the massive ball of fire melted everything in its path. The Hellfire traveled up to 500 meters and burned everything in its path, including trees and monsters. It even left a long and wide mark on the ground it passed through. Then it vanished into the air, along with the path of fire it had created.
Eon's gaze darted toward the two ferocious monsters staring at him. The Inferwolf and Wolfhellmancer snarled and flashed their fangs in response. It was a warning, and Eon ignored it without hesitation. Eon dove and landed on Hellfire's massive line on the ground. He stood tall and engaged in a stare-down with the two wolves in front of him.
Eon roared and raised his hand sideways. His terrifying roar reverberated throughout the area... However, it was insufficient to lower the two wolves' morale; instead, it made them want to crush Eon even more.
They saw it as a challenge...
The Inferwolf approached Eon and activated its skill, Fire Field, which reduced the damage of the user's enemies' Water, Ice, and Fire elemental attacks by 20%. However, due to his Snowfield, it had no effect on Eon. The entire ground was aflame, but the sky was dominated by snowdrops, which were also falling on the wolves' bodies.
Eon took a step forward, signaling the start of a brutal battle...
The Inferwolf raised its head and used Alpha's Challenge, a crowd control skill that blinded the target. That was their main strategy: the Inferwolf would fight Eon to protect its mate while the Wolfhellmancer hid behind and attacked Eon freely. Such a simple method, but so effective... However, two factors rendered such a strategy ineffective against Eon.
First, Eon had already encountered, survived, and defeated this battle style.
Second, the blind status effect had no effect on Eon's sense of smell...
[Barbaric Rush has been activated.]
Eon charged toward his prey, not the Inferwolf, but the Wolfhellmancer. Despite its surprise, the Inferwolf dashed toward Eon when he saw where he was going. The Wolfhellmancer used its skill Flamethrower, but Eon simply flew up and dived again. Eon couldn't be stopped, let alone slowed.
The Inferwolf charged at Eon, its mouth engulfed in flames as it used its skills, Augmented Fang and Blazing Gnaw. However, Eon was much faster than the Inferwolf's mouth. Eon simply dashed through the Inferwolf without being struck.
When the Wolfhellmancer saw Eon approaching, it activated its skill, Ghostly Leap. The Inferwolf then used its most potent ability, Infernal Eruption. There was an explosion of melting fire. It was an AOE skill that could burn non-ally units to ashes. Because of how destructive the attack was, all of the trees in the area were instantly destroyed, and even stones melted. A disastrous attack.
However...
[Infernal Eruption has dealt 1504 damage to your Ice Armor.]
Even with its damage already doubled, the Inferwolf's most powerful attack, Infernal Eruption, was insufficient to melt the Ice Armor.
[Ice Armor has been activated.]
[Ice Armor has 2400 HP.]
Eon emerged from the hellish fire that engulfed the area and resumed his charge toward the Wolfhellmancer. He swung his fist toward the Wolfhellmancer's head.
The Wolfhellmancer opened its mouth and unleashed its most powerful skill, Hellfire, while jumping again using its skill, Ghostly Leap, in its final attempt to survive. The massive ball of destruction struck Eon and imprisoned him within it, attempting to incinerate him in the process.
[Hellfire has dealt 1504 damage to your Ice Armor.]
[Ice Armor has been activated.]
[Ice Armor has 2400 HP.]
When the Wolfhellmancer landed on the ground, it was hit in the head with a devastating punch. Eon then slammed the Wolfhellmancer's head to the ground, effectively ending the chase in a single blow.
[Barbaric Rush has dealt 626.1 damage.]
Ghostly Leap reduced Barbaric Rush's damage by 25%.
The Wolfhellmancer's brief cry echoed as it fell to the ground. The Inferwolf rushed toward its mate when it heard it. The alpha male saw its mate's lifeless body lying on the ground.
[Deceitful Shapeshifter: a new form has been acquired. The Wolfhellmancer form is now available for use.]
[You have received 30 experience points.]
[You have gained a level.]
[You have gained a level.]
[You have increased your Strength stat by two.]
[You have increased your Agility stat by two.]
[You have increased your Intelligence stat by two.]
[You have been awarded four skill points.]
[Your HP and MP have been replenished.]
The Inferwolf sniffed its mate's lifeless body before remaining motionless for a few seconds. Its gaze remained fixed on Wolfhellmancer's body, growling softly.
Eon, on the other hand, simply stood there watching the Inferwolf mourn the loss of its mate. Despite knowing that it was the best time to attack, Eon didn't move or even try to attack the vulnerable alpha... He just stood there staring.
The Inferwolf then lay down next to its mate and rested its head on its shoulder. It was feeling the gentle wind like they always did. It no longer cared, and it didn't even look as Eon approached. It simply closed its eyes... The Fire Field that had surrounded them had vanished.
Eon knelt beside the two... Then he placed his hands gently on their bodies. The Inferwolf didn't even move when it felt a cold hand on its body. The Inferwolf's will to live died the moment the Wolfhellmancer died.
Eon growled softly...
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 769.26 damage.]
[Icy Touch has been activated.]
[Icy Touch has dealt 769.26 damage.]
Eon froze the two wolves, connecting them until the end. It was a painless and quick death.
The battle was over... Eon stood up and walked away from the two statues lying on the ground—the two magnificent wolves who remained linked until the end. They were never separated, even after death.
[Deceitful Shapeshifter: a new form has been acquired. The Inferwolf form is now available for use.]
[You have received 26 experience points.]
[You have gained a level.]
[You have increased your Strength stat by one.]
[You have increased your Agility stat by one.]
[You have increased your Intelligence stat by one.]
[You have been awarded two skill points.]
[Your HP and MP have been replenished.]
Eon had to complete his mission, whatever it took.
[Snowfield has received six skill points.]
[The bonus damage and range of Snowfield have increased from level 13 (13%) (32.5 meters) to level 19 (19%) (47.5 meters).]
RACE: Arcryonide Snow Barbarian [Level: 47/50] [Exp. Points: 3.6/25].
HP: 830/830
MP: 470/470
Top Speed: 94 km/h
Defense: 4
[STATS.]
Strength: 83
Agility: 47
Intelligence: 47
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Lethal Augmentation [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Icy Touch [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Barbaric Rush [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Deceitful Shapeshifter [MP Cost: 1].
Ice Armor [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Snowfield [MP Cost: 19] [Level: 19/20].
[Imitation] Vanguard [MP Cost: 40] [Level: 20/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
World Conqueror's Perception.
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[Lesser] Mana Absorb.
[Lesser] Life Absorb.
