The wolf's howl once again tore through the sky. The battle was about to begin.
Maya's gaze locked on the giant wolf, and she no longer trembled as before. She took a breath, gripped the hilt of her sword, and stepped forward.
—"Ren, forgive me for showing you such a shameful side of myself," she said. "Let's finish off this flea bag once and for all!"
—"Yes," I replied with a smile.
—"Maya, Ren!" Zara shouted to us, already with a lightning bolt charged. "Noko is preparing a trap; if we lure it in, we can catch it and strike."
—"Alright!"
—"Yes!"
The wolf saw us, lowered its muzzle, and with a growl, suddenly shifted the direction of the wind. It was beginning to follow us.
Once we reached the spot Zara had indicated, the wolf planted itself before us, ready to attack.
—"Come here, you mangy mutt!" Maya yelled, taunting it.
The wolf lunged toward us with its claws extended. Maya and I braced ourselves to withstand the blow.
—"Now, Noko!" Zara shouted.
—"Ready-nya!"
From beneath our feet, giant branches and roots began to surge up from the water. Maya and I quickly leapt to another platform as the roots coiled around the wolf, restraining and immobilizing it.
The wolf thrashed violently, trying to break free. Then a thunderclap resounded in the clouds, and a powerful lightning strike hit it.
—"Whoa…" I murmured.
I turned and saw that lightning had been Zara's doing. She and Noko were supporting us from behind with their abilities.
—"Ren," Maya said, "buy me some time."
—"Eh?"
—"I'm going to finish that thing with a single strike," she said in a very serious tone.
The wolf finally tore free from the bindings Noko had invoked with the help of the spirits.
—"Damn it!" I cursed.
I glanced at Maya: she was focusing on her sword. Then I understood that I needed to stall for her to prepare her attack.
—"Noko!" I shouted. "Let's switch positions!"
—"Oki-nya!"
Noko moved to the front and I shifted to the rear alongside Zara.
—"What are you planning?" she asked.
—"Maya asked for time. I thought you could cast a paralyzing lightning spell and I'd replicate it with my ability."
—"Good thinking, Ren!" she answered. "Get ready to replicate it at full power; that wolf is tough."
—"Alright!"
I looked toward Noko, who had reached Maya.
—"Noko, let's distract the wolf! Maya needs time!"
—"Got it-nya!"
Maya's sword began to shine brightly. Without a doubt, she was preparing a devastating attack, but the wolf had noticed and charged at her.
—"Ren, now!" Zara exclaimed.
She unleashed a paralyzing bolt of lightning that struck the wolf, stunning it. I immediately cast my replica, reinforcing the effect.
The wolf howled in fury, still managing to move a little.
—"Take this-nya!"
Noko fired a rain of electric arrows, empowered by the spirits of nature.
Noko's arrows, combined with Zara's lightning and my own, were working: the wolf staggered back, its eyes blazing with rage.
—"Maya! Release your attack now!" I shouted.
Maya's sword ignited with a flame so powerful that not even the torrential rain could extinguish it.
—"Thank you for buying me time! This ends now!" she exclaimed.
Maya raised both arms along with her sword. The flame was so intense it parted the clouds above her. With a firm motion, she swung the blade forward, cleaving the sky and striking the wolf.
—"HYAAAAA!"
A blast of scorching wind swept across the valley, followed by a cloud of steam as the water beneath the storm evaporated.
When the roar subsided and the steam cleared, we finally saw it: the wolf lay on the ground, weakened.
—"That was… incredible…" I murmured.
Maya was breathing hard from the strain of her attack.
—"It's over," she said. "You won't cause trouble for anyone else again."
The wolf looked at her. And instead of rage, its eyes seemed to show acceptance.
Then it howled, and little by little, it faded along with the clouds that had covered the valley. The waters began to drain, and everything returned to normal.