Capítulo 34: Treveling and Fighting
The journey to the chasm would have taken an hour at a full sprint, but neither Silas nor Amelia pushed themselves to such extremes. Instead, they jogged with measured precision, their steps quiet but deliberate, always alert to the forest around them.
As they advanced, the air seemed heavier, more alive with energy. Silas began to notice subtle differences in their surroundings. The beasts prowling the area were no longer the small, weak creatures he'd encountered before. Instead, larger, stronger predators roamed here, their movements confident, their presence more threatening.
"The closer we get to the main pagoda, the higher the spiritual energy concentration," Amelia said, her voice steady as they moved through the increasingly dense forest. "It draws beasts like a magnet, and stronger ones at that. Makes this area a prime hunting ground—for them and us."
Silas scanned the trees, his eyes catching glimpses of movement in the underbrush. Branches swayed faintly in places where there was no wind, betraying the presence of hidden watchers. "Annoying," he muttered under his breath.
He exhaled sharply and released his killing intent. It spread out around him like a wave, the oppressive aura blanketing the area. Nearby, faint rustles stopped abruptly. Creatures that had been inching closer froze in place, some turning tail and fleeing back into the shadows.
Amelia's head turned slightly, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. One eyebrow arched, but she said nothing.
For the first half hour, she kept quiet, only occasionally glancing his way. Silas continued to let his killing intent radiate outward, satisfied with the distance it created between them and the weaker beasts. But eventually, Amelia's glances grew more frequent, her expression shifting from mild curiosity to something closer to concern.
Finally, she broke the silence. "Don't wear yourself out, kid, constantly releasing your intent like that," she said, her tone casual but firm.
Silas blinked, his pace faltering slightly as he processed her words. "Huh? Intent?"
"Your killing intent," she clarified, her eyes briefly darting to his before returning to the path ahead. "Aren't you getting tired holding it out like that?"
Silas frowned, his brow furrowing. "No, not really. Why would I?"
Amelia hesitated, her gaze flicking toward him again, this time as though she were trying to gauge whether he was serious. "Well, I don't know about you, but keeping mine active too long leaves me mentally drained. When I first started doing it, I had to pay merits to the system just to figure out why. Turns out, most people can't keep it up for long without burning themselves out."
Silas shrugged, his tone dismissive. "Doesn't bother me. It keeps the weak beasts away. Less hassle."
Amelia opened her mouth, clearly ready to respond, but before she could, a low growl rumbled through the forest. The sound was deep and resonant, rolling through the trees like distant thunder.
Both Silas and Amelia stopped, their steps freezing mid-motion as their attention snapped to the source of the sound. Ahead, branches cracked and leaves rustled as something massive moved through the underbrush.
Their eyes locked briefly before they turned, their senses sharpening as they prepared for whatever was coming next.
The forest erupted into chaos as the massive alpha wolf emerged from the shadows. Towering over the forest floor, it was easily four times the size of a normal wolf, its silver-streaked fur rippling with power. Its golden eyes burned with intelligence and malice, locking onto Silas. It had felt his killing intent, a challenge it couldn't ignore. Behind it, five smaller wolves, each twice the size of a regular wolf, slinked forward, their lean bodies taut with aggression.
The pack didn't hesitate. The smaller wolves charged Amelia, their claws tearing into the earth as they fanned out, aiming to overwhelm her. Silas barely registered their movements; his focus was entirely on the alpha wolf as it lunged toward him, snarling. Over its head, faintly glowing, hovered the words that made his grin widen: King Beast.
Merits.
The thought snapped through his mind, sharpening his focus as he adjusted his stance. The wolf's massive bulk tore through the underbrush with shocking speed, its claws carving deep gouges into the earth. Silas stood his ground, his staff spinning in precise arcs, waiting for the exact moment to strike.
The wolf lunged, its jaws snapping toward him. Silas moved with practiced ease, twisting his staff and stepping into the attack. Instead of meeting the force head-on, he deflected the wolf's momentum, guiding its bulk past him. The wolf skidded to a halt, shaking its massive head in frustration, and snarled as it turned to face him again.
The flow of the fight began to emerge in Silas's mind. Each motion of the wolf, each shift of its weight, became part of a rhythm he could almost feel in his bones. The wolf attacked again, a massive paw swiping toward his chest. Silas angled his staff, the wood flexing under the pressure as he redirected the blow harmlessly to the side. The wolf stumbled briefly, its own power working against it.
Nearby, Amelia faced the smaller wolves with brutal efficiency. One wolf lunged at her, its jaws snapping for her throat. She twisted out of the way, her dagger flashing as it severed the beast's spine. Blood sprayed, but she didn't hesitate, already spinning to meet the next attacker. Her movements were sharp and calculated, her daggers slicing into vital points with lethal precision.
Silas kept his attention on the alpha, his grip on the staff tightening as the wolf lunged again. This time, Silas stepped forward into the strike, catching the momentum of its claws with the flex of his staff. He twisted sharply, sending the force of the attack spiraling away. The wolf staggered, its balance disrupted, and Silas struck.
The end of his staff came down hard on the wolf's ribs, the enhanced blow eliciting a pained yelp. The alpha recovered quickly, though, its golden eyes blazing as it lunged again. Silas spun his staff, his movements smoother now, the flow of the fight guiding his actions. Each strike of the wolf's claws was met with a precise redirection, the energy of its attacks turning back on itself.
Amelia, meanwhile, had dispatched two more of the smaller wolves. She moved with the grace of a dancer, her daggers cutting through flesh and bone like extensions of her will. The wolves' blood stained the forest floor as she turned to face the remaining two, her expression cold and focused.
The alpha wolf lunged at Silas once more, its massive jaws snapping toward his shoulder. Silas pivoted, spinning his staff in a wide arc that deflected the bite and left the wolf open. He stepped into the momentum of his spin, bringing the staff down on the back of the wolf's neck with a powerful, enhanced strike. The crack of bone echoed through the clearing, and the alpha collapsed with a heavy thud.
Two of the smaller wolves, sensing their leader's distress, broke away from Amelia and charged Silas. Amelia didn't miss a beat. She intercepted the first wolf mid-leap, her dagger driving deep into its side before she twisted the blade and ripped it free. The beast fell in a heap, lifeless. She whirled on the second, her movements a blur as she drove her blade through its throat with practiced ease.
The final wolf lunged at Silas, its claws swiping for his legs. Silas spun his staff, catching the momentum of the strike and redirecting it upward. The wolf's own force left it vulnerable, and Silas followed through with a crushing blow to its head. The beast dropped instantly, its body twitching briefly before going still.
The clearing fell silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing and the faint rustle of leaves. Silas stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady as he surveyed the scene. A satisfied grin spread across his face as he looked down at the fallen alpha.
Amelia wiped her blades clean on a nearby bush, her expression sharp and serious as she glared at him. "Next time," she said curtly, "I get the King Beast."
Silas smirked, storing the massive wolf's body in his ring without a word. Amelia absorbed the smaller wolves into her earrings, the faint shimmer of energy catching Silas's eye. He blinked, briefly wondering what other surprises she might be hiding, but decided not to ask.
They exchanged no further words as they resumed their jog, the blood-soaked clearing fading into the distance behind them.
Estado de energía semanal
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