Chương 28: First Quest - 2
The Rank 2 razor hound stood still for a moment, its massive body coiled with tension. Its red eyes burned with predatory focus, a gleam of cunning intelligence flickering beneath the rage. The bristled fur along its back shimmered faintly, an unnatural glow rippling across its frame as it drew mana from the earth beneath it.
Alex steadied himself, his Wind Sense flaring as the beast's weight distorted the air. The vibrations from its movement felt heavier, sharper. This wasn't just brute strength—the razor hound's elemental affinity made it a living weapon. With earth magic, it could reshape the battlefield, and if Alex wasn't careful, it would bury him.
The hound struck first. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its claws tearing through the ground as it moved. Alex reacted instinctively, leaping sideways with a burst of wind beneath his feet that propelled him clear of the attack. He landed lightly, his hand already snapping up in a gun-like gesture.
Mana surged into his fingertips, condensing into a sharp, invisible projectile. The Wind Gun cracked as it fired, the air bullet streaking toward the hound's exposed flank. The shot hit, but the beast's bristled fur absorbed much of the impact. It growled low, shaking off the attack as it turned to face Alex again.
It's reinforcing its body with earth mana, Alex thought grimly. I'll have to go for weak points.
The hound snarled, its claws digging into the ground. The earth around it trembled, cracks spreading outward as jagged stone spikes erupted in a chaotic line toward Alex.
Alex launched himself backward, a surge of wind propelling him high into the air. The spikes ripped through the ground beneath him, but he twisted mid-air, aiming downward.
Crack! Crack! Two air bullets fired in quick succession, streaking toward the beast. One grazed its shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood, but the second missed entirely as the hound darted to the side with shocking agility.
The hound reared back, mana flaring as the ground beneath it shifted. Massive chunks of rock tore free, hovering briefly before being launched toward Alex like cannon fire.
It's throwing rocks now? Alex thought, gritting his teeth. He whipped his hand forward, releasing a controlled burst of wind that deflected the first projectile. The second clipped his shoulder, sending him skidding back. Pain flared, but he forced himself upright, his breath steady.
The hound didn't let up. It charged again, claws tearing through the loose soil as it closed the distance. Alex spun sharply, using his Wind Sense to track its movements. At the last moment, he ducked low, sliding under the beast's sweeping claws as another burst of wind carried him clear.
He twisted to his feet, mana surging as he summoned a swirling vortex of compressed air. This was one of his stronger techniques—Wind Spiral. The spiraling mass screamed as it formed, cutting into the ground with every rotation. With a sharp motion, Alex hurled it toward the hound.
The vortex collided with the beast, detonating in a violent explosion of wind and dust. The hound yelped as it was thrown backward, its bristled fur ripped and bloodied. Alex pressed forward, another Wind Gun already forming on his fingertips.
This time, he aimed for its legs. The bullet struck true, punching through the joint and forcing the beast to stagger. But instead of retreating, the hound roared, its mana flaring wildly. The ground beneath Alex's feet crumbled as an earthen shockwave rippled outward, sending him tumbling back.
He landed hard, dirt filling his lungs as he rolled to his knees. The hound advanced slowly, its movements heavy but no less menacing. Alex's mana reserves were running low, and the strain of constant dodging was catching up to him.
The hound crouched low, preparing a final attack. The air around it shimmered with raw power as chunks of earth rose into the air, rotating ominously. Alex didn't need his Wind Sense to know this was bad.
I've only got one shot left.
He steadied himself, pulling the last of his mana into his hands. The wind roared to life around him, swirling into a concentrated barrier that wrapped tightly around his body. The air grew sharper, denser, until it was almost visible—a shimmering shield of lethal currents.
The hound charged, its roar splitting the air as it hurled itself forward. Alex stepped into its path, his hand snapping forward as he unleashed his spell.
Wind Burst.
The compressed air exploded outward in a shockwave, slamming into the hound with enough force to shatter the rocks beneath it. The beast howled as it was flung backward, its massive body tumbling across the scarred field. Alex didn't stop. He fired another Wind Gun into its exposed chest, the bullet ripping through its weakened defenses.
When the dust settled, the razor hound lay still, its blood pooling beneath it. Alex staggered, his breath ragged as he surveyed the battlefield. The ground was torn and broken, a testament to the beast's power—and his struggle to overcome it.
He approached cautiously, his Wind Sense confirming no movement. Kneeling beside the fallen hound, he pried loose one of its massive fangs, the jagged trophy warm in his hands.
Straightening, Alex glanced back toward the ridge. His body ached, his mana reserves drained, but he was alive.
Alex wiped the sweat from his brow and crouched beside the massive corpse of the Rank 2 razor hound. Its stillness was absolute now, its red eyes dulled and lifeless. He didn't linger. Reaching into his satchel, he pulled out a sturdy rope and began securing the beast for transport. Its fur was rough under his hands, bristling with an unnatural sharpness, but he worked quickly, keeping his movements efficient.
The beast was too valuable to leave behind. He could almost hear the guild clerk's voice in his head: "A Rank 2 corpse? That's a gold mine." The thought alone was enough to push him through the fatigue settling in his limbs.
The walk back to the city was slow. Alex used bursts of wind magic to drag the body behind him, the rope taut as the beast's weight carved faint trails in the dirt. Occasionally, he paused to catch his breath, his eyes scanning the fields for any sign of movement. The fight had been loud—if more creatures had heard it, they might not be far.
By the time he reached the gates, the sun had dipped low, painting the horizon in shades of amber. The guards at the entrance exchanged glances, their gazes darting between Alex and the massive beast trailing behind him. One of them opened his mouth to speak, but Alex walked past without a word.
The adventurer's guild was busy when he arrived, the din of chatter and clinking mugs filling the hall. Conversations hushed as Alex entered, dragging the corpse behind him. He went straight to the counter where Verina was sorting papers.
She glanced up, her expression cool and professional. But her gaze shifted to the razor hound, and for a moment, her sharp demeanor flickered.
"Details," she said, her tone brisk as she reached for a parchment.
"Razor hounds, south of the ridge," Alex replied evenly. "Six Rank 1s. And this." He gestured to the Rank 2 beast. "It showed up after the pack."
Verina's pen paused briefly, then resumed. "You brought back the whole body," she noted, her voice neutral but laced with curiosity.
"Seemed worth it," Alex said simply.
She smirked faintly, handing him a slip of parchment. "It is. Take this to processing. They'll handle the rest."
Alex nodded, taking the slip without further comment.
'Finally some income.'
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