Chapter 11: Fighting a group is different

Cao Guang, Gao Xuan and Song Xia were all ready and waiting to set off before daybreak.

"Have you guys memorised the maps?" asked Zhan Kong making sure of it before setting off.

After a while they were a dozen kilometres away from the military base Zhan Kong came to stop. This was last spot the group of Servant class creatures were spotted. The group of creatures had yet to go further forward that they were sure of. 

On their way Zhan Kong taught them some methods of hiding themselves better. This made used of Song Xia's sound element to confuse beasts. He taught them how identify beasts better using knowledge he gained from his seniors.

'Stop' said Zhan Kong using hand signal bringing the group to a halt. As he used wind element to pick up the scent of a One-eyed Magic Wolf. 

Zhan Kong made further hand signs to them ordering them to take the beast out. Song Xia quickly cast a Sound Chord: Disturbance to mask their sound.

The group made sure the wind was blowing in the favour as they prepared their spells. 

Fenrir quickly emerged and charged at the One-eyed Magic Wolf. However the wolf was at a different level in sensitivity compared to the Ape Rat. The creature sensed them the moment magic fluctuations of Fenrir came out. 

"Earth Wave: Shift" 

Gao Xuan quickly used his strenghthened spell the same way they practiced. The ground under the One-eyed Magic Wolf quickly shifted and threw it off balance. Which caused it's strike to miss and Fenrir managed to carve two wounds on its belly where a copious amount of blood sparyed out.

The wolf quickly composed itself and charged Fenrir down, at this point Cao Guang did not hold back and unleashed his second spell.

"Fire Burst: Rupture" 

The flames made contact with the wolf and exploded upon contact knocking the wolf back and leaving a huge scorch mark around it's neck. Fire spells were generally too hot and cauterised the wounds they made and would not draw a lot blood.

The wolf was not to be outdone as it managed to land hits on Fenrir while Cao Guang's spell was on cooldown.

Gao Xuan was supposed to disorient the wolf, but the wolf was on guard and dodged at the last second. The trio certainly ha dtge upper hand as the wolf kept on bleeding from its stomach.

"On your left" shouted a desperate Song Xia as a larger One-eyed Magic Wolf made an ambush on Cao Guang.

Cao Guang was barely able to activate his Departing Nether Shield and it's retaliatory strike, before being knocked to tree nearby.

He had broken a couple of bones and spurted blood from his mouth.

Gao Xuan was horrified at the sight lost his composure and failed at casting his spell. The second One-eyed Magic Wolf was caught off guard with bone spike and injured as well. But it was in a far better shape than its partner.

"Fenrir switch targets" ordered a bleeding Cao Guang.

His teammates didn't have offensive spells and needed Fenrir to keep the second wolf busy. Fenrir quickly backed away from his limping opponent as it failed to keep him occupied.

Fenrir charged down the second wolf but he had no choice but to exchange injuries with the second one as he was slower to reach. The wolf was already charging at Song Xia, this time intending to kill in one go.

"Gao Xuan keep the first one busy and Song Xia use your equipment" shouted Cao Guang bringing them both back to reality.

The first wolf was indeed struggling to even stand up straight after taking blows from Fenrir and Cao Guang. Its ears were also bleeding and blood covered it's eyes. Gao Xuan restricted it's movement while Song Xia activated her Deathstrike equipment attacking it at the head. They had to deal with wolf and support Fenrir fast!

The first wolf still managed to avoid a fatal blow. Attacks made from equipment of this level lacked any sort of manuevaerability. The equipment only managed to cut it's right ear and a portion of its head off. 

" Gao Xuan do it"

Being in danger was always a good catalyst to improve. Cao Guang managed to activate his fire spell faster than ever and attacked the first wolf, he was only pretending to engage the second one. 

A stream of bright Red flame struck the evading wolf on its face as Gao Xuan switched targets and stopped the angry second wolf with Fenrir's support.

The flame exploded dead centre in its face as the wolf drew it's last breath. The trio would be able to focus on the other wolf now!

The wolf was obviously enraged seeing it's partner die like that and lost all reason charged unreasonably and ignoring it's wounds, causing Fenrir to be even more injured. He was already carrying injuries from the first battle.

Besides the second wolf was far less injured and Cao Guang could make any sort of offensive attack without getting too close to it. But he now struggling stand straight and only had the energy to use one more Fire spell. He used too much while helping Fenrir out. Even though he made two clean strikes.

Song Xia charged recklessly close to wolf after it dodged Fenrir's bite. The Wolf reacted but lunging at her. She responded but activating the final use of her Deathstrike equipment at it. The wolf ignored the equipment taking on the injury just to kill one of them.

Song Xia panicked and regretted her belligerence instantly. But Zhan Kong intervened with a Light Blessing:Guard around Song Xia. The wolf was knocked back as it was outclassed by an intermediate spell. It even broke a few more of its bones and gave Cao Guang enough time to launch another fire spell.

This time flames hit on the face and exploded it to a great extent but the wolf still clinged on to life and Fenrir ended it all with another claw at it. The three of them had lost all energy as soon as the adrenaline wore off and the pain and fatigue over took them completely and they simply plopped to the ground like deflated balloons.

After a short while they gathered enough energy and sat upright facing their stern commander. "Tell me what do you think your mistakes and weakness were?" asked Zhan Kong. 

" We ignored the fact the One-eyed Magic Wolves would be working as a group and let it ambush us " Cao Guang answered truthfully.

"And your weakness?"

" We don't have enough elements or energy" 

"Yes, this is why primary mages are advised not to leave the safe zone until they become intermediate mages. Even then they have to work in groups. Your group lacks many things spells for protection, offensive, and movement are all limited at your level. That's why even when army let's primary mages leave the safe zone they are always led by an intermediate mage atleast. You guys handled the Ape Rat a little too well actually" Zhan Kong chuckled 

"There is no need to be discouraged. The only reason I had to bring you guys here was because you guys performed too well against the Ape Rat. Your teamwork is impeccable and with your summoned wolf acting as a tank you guys took it out with ease. Now rest up there are a few more of these beast to eliminate." elaborated Zhan Kong as he allowed them to rest up.

Zhan Kong led them further into the mountain tracking the rest of the wolves. After three of fighting the group returned to the military base exhausted and disgusted with the wilderness. They couldn't wait and ran to their rooms and took a baths. Unfortunately the military base did not have baths for them. Useless discipline!

How could they not have this basic comfort after three days of trudging up and down mountains. They had killed three more wolves these days. Of course Zhan Kong discreetly eliminated a few dozens of them without burdening his geniuses.

In fact Cao Guang had gained four Soul Remnants in total from the trip as well. For now he did not have any use for it so he left these in the Little Tora pendant's inner world.

Zhan Kong had informed them that they would follow Sergeant Zhang to make routine patrols and occasionally him to slay a few beasts for the next month. Apparently he had a surprise planned for them. For some reason they lacked any sort of excitement at his shameless declaration and went back to their rooms to rest up.

'My Summoning Stardust is almost saturated. Should I attempt to break through as soon as possible' pondered Cao as the Little Tora pendant only had enough energy to support two tries. He was sure he could bring his fire element to the intermediate level as long his Summoning was already there.

But he had to make sure he succeeded in his attempt. It was possible to break through to intermediate level without external support. Infact it was rather common. But it had been less than two years since they awakened their elements. It took Gao Xuan and Song Xia almost nine months too control their elements and then another thirteen months to bring them up to the third-tier.

Cao Guang had developed both his elements to third tier in twenty two months. So he felt it was a bit of a stretch even if tried with the help of the Little Tora pendant. He felt if he brought his Fire element to level four he had a better chance at breaking through with it first and could then follow up with the second element. 

But long would it take to do that. He had strengthened one of his stars due to luck. The Little Tora pendant needed between 25 and fifty Soul Remnants depending on quality to condense a Soul Essence. This would take far too much unless he was in a different location.

The squad had a month of patrol and rarely confronted any beasts at all. Cao Guang only managed to gain two more Soul Remnants the entire months nor did he reach saturation in his primary elements.