Chương 13: The Wolves

Well, I'll be the first to admit that I'm no INT wizard, and my mana pool's about as deep as a puddle after a rainstorm. Casting a simple [Basic Fireball] drains me faster than a kid demolishing a plate of cookies. But hey, no complaints here. It might be a pitiful fireball, but it still gets the job done, albeit in a somewhat pathetic way.

I chuck the thing at a snarling wolf, and it smacks right into its furry hide. The wolf's yelp and the smell of singed fur tell me I'm at least doing something right. Now, this wolf's having second thoughts about charging into battle with its buddies. It's hanging back like a kid who got a taste of his own medicine on the playground.

But you know what? I'm not one to let a wolf off the hook that easily.

"[Shocking Lightning!]"

Zap!

-112

That wolf doesn't know whether it's coming or going. It got a fireball to the face and a shocking surprise. Electric bolts are dancing around it like a bunch of hyperactive fireflies, and it's shaking like a leaf in a hurricane. Yep, I managed to fry its circuits with some Paralysis thanks to my trusty [Shocking Lightning]. Sometimes, luck's on my side, and it's got a wicked sense of humor, too.

As the paralysis gripped my enemy, I couldn't help but wonder if it was like hitting the snooze button on a Monday morning – it was never long enough! Depending on the wolf, it lasted for about 10 seconds, give or take. With the rest of the pack hot on my tail, it was time to get creative.

"[Ice Prison!]"

I conjured up a giant ice cube faster than a kid at an ice cream truck. It trapped some of the wolves and turned others into accidental porcupines thanks to the icy spikes. Talk about a cold reception! The best part? No need to grind their HP to zero; those impales took care of business.

Now, don't think I've got some wolf anatomy textbook. Attacking vital parts wasn't a guarantee of instant wolf-kebabs – it was like a game of chance with RNG involved. Sometimes it went critical, and other times, they just started [Bleeding] like a leaky faucet.

The wolf gang got a front-row seat to their friends turning into wolf-sicles. They were all hesitant like someone trying to decide between tacos or pizza. But they weren't running away; instead, they decided to play ring-around-the-rosy, just waiting for the right moment to strike.

Seeing their hesitation, I decided to go on the offensive, blazing into action like a ninja with a Black Friday deal.

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[Silent Sprint]

1st Tier

Cooldown: 5 minutes

Mana Cost: 30 MP

Info: Ever wish you could sprint like a ninja and not break a sweat? Well, we've got you covered! With this skill, you can sprint for a full 2 minutes without draining your precious stamina. Plus, we throw in a bonus – your footsteps magically go on mute mode, so you can sneak around like a true ninja without alerting any unwanted company.

Note: This skill is so ninja, that even your grandma won't hear you raiding the fridge at midnight. Just remember, running with your hands behind your back is optional, but it adds that extra ninja flair to your stealthy sprint!

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[Breathless Breathing]

1st Tier

Cooldown: 7 minutes

Mana Cost: 70 MP

Info: Ever wanted to be the marathon champ without breaking a sweat? With this spell, you can keep going and going without gasping for air. It's like having an endless energy drink for your lungs. Plus, it works just as swimmingly (pun intended). Enjoy boundless stamina for a glorious 5 minutes!

Note: This spell is a ninja's secret weapon for covert underwater operations and sneaky escapes. But be warned, some less noble ninjas might misuse it to sneak a peek at unsuspecting bathers in hot springs or pools. If you see a blur dashing away, you know who to blame!

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These two skills are like a dynamic duo in my arsenal. You've got the [Silent Sprint] and the [Breathless Breathing] Together, they make a killer combo. See, [Silent Sprint] lets me dash around without making a peep, and [Breathless Breathing] takes away the whole stamina issue. So basically, I can sprint like a ninja on Red Bull without breaking a sweat.

Now, I'm no Usain Bolt, but when it comes to speed, I've got a little something up my sleeve. I hightailed it over to where these wolves were chilling, thinking they were all that. Little did they know, I was about to crash their party.

"[Triple Slash!]"I yelled, and those numbers started popping up like a casino jackpot:

-231

-219

-220.

The lead wolf's HP took a nosedive, but it was still standing tall with 4,118 HP. Not exactly a walk in the park, but hey, I've seen worse.

My MP was flirting with disaster at this point. I'd been spamming skills left and right, and I didn't have any fancy-schmancy passive skills to speed up my MP recovery. That's where the Mana Potion swooped in to save the day. Now, let me tell you, that stuff tastes like a witch's brew mixed with troll sweat. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I chugged it down, and my MP bar went from "Empty" to "Full."

Turns out, I'd scored a few of those tiny MP potion bottles from some of the puny monsters I'd smacked around earlier. They're like the pocket change of potions, perfect for broke adventurers like yours truly. Gotta keep grinding those levels when you're broke, right?

"ROAR!"

The paralyzed wolf wasn't ready to roll over and play dead just yet. Nope, it had some fight left in it, and it was back on its paws, ready to dish out some more trouble. These game mobs may be pixels, but they've got a surprisingly realistic bite to them. If you've got wolf wisdom in your back pocket, you're in luck. Me? Well, I've got basic wolf knowledge 101, and that translates to one thing: beat 'em up until their health bar hits zero.

Now, you might think these wolves are sneaky, but honestly, they're as predictable as Monday mornings. Once you've cracked their wolfish code, it's open season for counterattacks.

So, there I was, facing down Mr. Attacker Wolf, who had no clue what hit him. His guard was down, and he was in full-on attack mode. Bad news for him, though, because I skewered that sword right through his chest, striking a heart-stopping blow.

But hey, I'm not all about half-hearted efforts. I yanked that sword out and pulled it upward, turning that wolf's head into a two-piece special.

Instant Kill!

-Gray Wolf was successfully killed.

-Gray Fur Acquired

-Wolf Fang Acquired

-Wolf Fang Dagger Acquired

-Got 1000 EXP (Additional 500 EXP for performing Instant Kill)(Additional 300 EXP for killing a higher leveled enemy)(Title Effects activated, 1800 bonus EXP acquired.)

-Got 10 Magician SP, 10 Swordsman SP

The principle of earning experience points based on the level of the monster you're up against is a standard feature in MMORPGs. It's a simple and widely accepted concept.

In the aftermath of their comrades falling in battle, the surviving wolves have entered a state of desperation. They're not taking their losses lightly, and now they're determined to avenge their fallen pack members. In some cases, their aggression even escalates to the point of entering a berserk state, significantly boosting their attack power.

Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl echoes through the area. The sheer force of the howl takes me by surprise, causing a shiver to run down my spine. It's evident that none of the wolves around me produced this deafening sound. Normal wolves don't possess the intimidating presence carried by this howl. If my instincts are correct, the source of this piercing howl belongs to none other than an Elite wolf.

This commanding howl appears to have rekindled the wolves' spirits, spurring them into a coordinated attack against me. While it may be a bit bothersome, it works in my favor by consolidating their aggression towards me. I respond by striking precisely at their vital points, ensuring a swift and efficient elimination with a final, decisive blow to the head.

-Congratulations! You leveled up from 2 to 3.

-Got 10 AP(Title effect activated, 3 Bonus AP acquired.

-Got 10 SP

-Got...

My interface suddenly started blowing up with notifications, like my phone on a Black Friday sale. But, there's no time to play "Where's the Notification?" because a gang of baddies is itching to pick a fight with me. Swinging my weapon here, slicing there, killing this one, annihilating that one – I was like a deadly dance instructor giving impromptu lessons in precise and fatal moves.

I was getting all up in their business, aiming for those sweet vital spots. Sure, some of them croaked instantly, but most stubbornly clung to life. No worries, though – I had a special move up my sleeve. I call it the "Weapon-Stuck-in-Their-Bodies-and-They-Can't-Do-Anything-About-It" finishing move.

Slash!

With the last Gray Wolf on my hit list taking a permanent nap, I glanced ahead to find not one, not two, but four wolves rolling up with their furry friend, the White Wolf. Elite status and all.

Now, I didn't exactly plan to throw a party for this Elite monster, especially not with my low-level status, but hey, when life serves you Elite monsters, you gotta take a swing at it, right?

So there it stood, looking all pristine and fluffy:

[Pure White Wolf] Elite Monster

Level 5

HP: 10,000/10,000

Attribute: Beast

I couldn't help but notice that it didn't seem too thrilled about the mess I'd made. But hey, who can blame it? It's not every day someone turns their turf into a battlefield.