Chapter 42: 8.4 Combat System?

Curse this game's balancing strategy! "Keep it busy!"

"Got it, Stranger!"

Even if I wanted to have a bit of a word with Guidance, it had to wait for later after we've made sure that we're still alive. Returning to my active stance, I trained both of my guns right at the fast-moving wolf. It was a massive target, making it easy to riddle with bullets so long as I kept my aim decent.

[*RRROOAAARR!!!!*]

[*BANG! BANG!*]

[HP: 94/105]

Two shots rang out. My [HP] dropped down to around 94 as my [Manifest] drew blood from my veins. Thankfully, the shots landed right on the wolf's broadside, red staining its fur as my bullets pierced through its hide.

[*RRRRIIAAOORR!!!*]

Another massive shockwave echoed from beneath the wolf's feet, a deafening roar forcing Shizu to back off. To my utter surprise, an orange circle appeared on the ground around the wolf's location.

"What is that?!" Shizu yelled out. "Should we get out?!"

Looking underneath, I noticed that I was still within its radius as what I could only recognize as a cast bar appeared above the wolf's head.

[DEAFENING HOWL: 59%]

My eyes widened. The bar was rising fast! "Move!"

Screaming aloud, I ran the hell out of the orange circle with Shizu following suit.

[*AAWWWOOOO!!!!*]

[*BOOM!*]

Just as we managed to get out, a massive explosion encompassed the entire radius that the circle had covered. Dirt and rock flew all over the clearing, the wolf now covered with a cloud of dust as its form disappeared into the darkness.

"This is great!" Shizu yelled out loud, her earlier apprehension now replaced with a crazed adrenaline-fueled frenzy as she stood up. "So this is what I've been missing out on?!"

I let out a hollow chuckle as I forced myself back up. Shaking my head, I checked my current status to see if I could still afford to fire some shots.

[Moriya: Level 2]

[EXP TO NEXT LEVEL: 250/300]

[HP: 94/105]

[MP: 105/105]

[0 STAT POINTS AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION]

Okay? My health was relatively untouched. I guess so long as we stayed away from the attack's range, then it wouldn't do anything to my stats. Then again, that didn't mean that it wouldn't do anything else to affect the battle.

"Shizu! Any ideas on how to beat this thing?!" I asked, already priming my body to hit and run.

"Pummeling it into the ground should work!" Shizu laughed, her loose kimono flaying against the wind as she danced on her feet. "Don't worry about me! Keep shooting it with your [Manifest]!"

"Wait!-"

Before I could even stop her, Shizu was back at it again with her fists. Her blows thundered across the clearing, the wolf's howls constantly keeping her in check as she swerved in and out of battle.

"Dammit..."

Clicking my tongue, I aimed my sights at the massive wolf and opened fire. I had some semblance of a passive regeneration, at least, but if I wanted to riddle something with bullets, I really needed to be able to regen at least three points of health per second or something. This was just pitiful for me!

[*BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!*]

Shots rang forth, my legs pulling me closer to the battle as I tried to at least help Shizu dance with the massive animal. There seemed to be some superficial damage that could affect the way the monster moved, but until we could somehow cut a leg or tail off, this thing would still-

"Look out!"

Oh shi-

[*SLAM!*]

[HP: 52/105]

I winced as I watched my bar go down from the nineties all the way down to a measly fifty. Rolling across the dirt, I forced myself upright as I quickly broke off into a sprint. For some reason, I've got aggro now, and I really didn't want to eat another one of this thing's mechanics!

[*BANG! BANG!*]

Letting off a few more bullets, I couldn't even tell if we were doing enough damage as this wolf now employed its massive tail into its attacks. It was the thing that slammed on top of me earlier too, depriving me of much-needed health to even try and kill this thing.

"Lead it to me!" Shizu yelled.

"Okay!"

Nodding at her, I spun on a dime as I rounded around the Wolf King's massive burrow. Turning my path towards Shizu, I kept raining bullets down on the wolf as I ran, hoping that it'll soften it up for whatever it was that the princess was planning.

[*R-RROAARRR!!!*]

"Get down!"

Hearing her, I slid down underneath her as she jumped over me. I could barely see a hint of a glow as she moved, her left fist brimming with power as she charged ahead.

"[CODE WATCHER]! [HEAT ACTION]!"

[*THUD!*]

Another shockwave came to pass, this one stronger than usual as I kept my profile low on the ground. Looking back, Shizu had somehow delivered a massive uppercut right on the wolf's chin, sending the monster flying before landing on its own burrow with a sickening crash.

"T-there...."

Gathering my bearings, I quickly made my way to Shizu as she panted on her feet. Her eyes were pitch black, and her left fist was bleeding from the force of her own attack.

"You okay?"

"T-that was the most... fun I've ever had...." she breathed out, her irises coming back as she wiped a bit of blood off her nose. "This... this is what it meant... to be an adventurer...."

Her knees wobbled as she finally collapsed. Catching her, the stress that her body endured was highly contrasted by the manic smile still present on Shizu's face as she lay unconscious in my arms. Well, she deserved the rest, seeing as she was the one that killed the damn thing.

"Let's get you to safety-"

[*RRROOOAAAAAGHHH!!!!!*]

My body froze. Behind me, a desperate roar smothered any and all other sounds as the force of its call almost made me fall forward. My heart pounded in fear. This thing was still alive?!