The moment I set my foot into the Spatial Tear, with Linda and Muna flanking my right-hand side, a blast shook the air.
Then, something with a surface as hard as a hammer hit us with a gigantic force, tossing our bodies into space like broken toys.
My bones screamed, the bark of the tree I crashed into scraped my back as I fell on the cold ground with a loud thud.
The world spun, left only for the landing of my companions. For a while, everything was a blur of fog from our impact, a whistling sound ringing in my ears, and a dull pain.
As if intentionally aware of our unsafe environment, I opened my eyes not long after. That was when I saw shadows move to reveal three pairs of red eyes staring at us. Once they came into clear view, growls followed, then the forward marching stance as well.
Demon wolves.
Three wolves, each as tall as a horse, circled us with glistening teeth. Their gray fur rippled like smoke, and their low snarls made my chest tighten.
"Oh. My. God."
I tried to stand, but my knees buckled. My legs betrayed the strength within them.
Summoning my sword to appear in my hand with a faint hum, I rushed, crawling on my elbows to where Muna lay, still unconscious.
Her face had turned pale, her hair scattered across her shoulders. No physical injuries, which let calm settle into me.
But, she was still the strongest among us in this tear. So, I shook her arm hard to wake her up.
"Muna... wake up! Please," I whispered, extending my hands to her shoulder to shake harder.
But, no response.
Good thing the wolves seemed to be buying us time, unknowingly.
I dragged myself to Linda and pressed her shoulder as well. Her lashes twitched, causing a glint of hope to ignite in me, but it was shattered when she didn't wake either.
Fear clawed at me. The wolves have begun to come closer, calculating their step after steps, their hot breath mixing with the misty atmosphere of the tear.
For a moment, I wanted to lose hope.
But my instincts yelled at my weakness.
'Is this how you want to become stronger?!'
"That's right, I need those Mana Plants."
"Fine," I muttered, gripping my sword and struggling to rise to my feet. "If it's only me, then I must stand."
"I will stand against you folks!" I roared with determination.
The distance between me and the wolves gave me one chance. So, I took the advantage and swung my sword in a desperate arc.
A fierce, blue slash of energy was released from the blade, cutting through the air with a whistling sound. With speed, it slammed into the body of the wolves, hurling them back several steps, disengaging their circular formation.
Once they regained their composure, their growls turned into angry roars, causing goosebumps to appear on my skin.
But I refuse to freeze.
How can I protect my sister and Linda if I acted in fear? How can I claim my Harem? How can I live the life I wasn't able to in my former life?
I won't waste this second chance.
Raising my left hand, a strand of energy erupted in snaky dance, waiting to be unleashed. But, there was no means to unleash it.
'So, I really can't make use of this power without a wet fluid.' The truth gnawed at me.
Staring at the weapon in my hand, it pulsed faintly, as though it had a will of its own.
'The unique power,' I thought. 'Surely, it can be of help if I can unleash it; maybe it will even nurture my power further.'
But, the problem is, unleashing a power I wasn't familiar with can cause harm, won't it?
Yet, I needed to try. I either go home or die trying.
"Sys..."
One of the wolves didn't give me time to act accordingly as it sprang towards me, way faster than a normal wolf should.
I sidestepped in the last minute, rolling on my shoulder. The beast's claws scraped the dirt where I had stood, causing a low, shallow crater.
"Yeah," I retorted, knowing that I could have been the victim of that attack.
Having flanked its side, I lashed out with my sword. Carving it into its side, a gash of wound opened, causing hot blood to drool and spray against my cheek.
But my attack was powerless against it. It didn't fall. Instead, it spun back to action with bright, burning eyes. Unknowing to me.
And while I gripped my sword in both hands, facing the next wolf before me, my thoughts rolled faster. This time, not on the usage of the unique power, but on that of my main power.
It can't be useless in times of danger like this.
I tried to steady my thoughts, to form a plan — how to control my power, how to survive the next wolf — when a shadow leapt at me.
"Mobix!"
Muna's voice cut through my panic. A flash of water surged beside me, nurtured into a fierce slash, striking the wolf in the chest region mid-air.
The beast crashed to the ground, writhing. A while later, it ceased every movement. Dead.
I blinked in shock, relief rushing in. Muna was awake.
At the same time, my mind clicked. Her sword didn't just cut through; it released energy in motion while targeting the extension of her will.
I had done the same before, but with no will. If I timed my strike right, I could connect with the wolf perfectly as well.
While I steadied myself, Muna lunged at the second wolf with fierce speed, leaving streaks of blue behind.
Then again, the perfect idea crept into my mind.
If I really needed a wet fluid to act with my power, even the watery tears in the eyes of the wolves could do. I could manipulate its temperature to blind it completely, and the job will be easier that way.
But what is the current temperature of the tears in a wolf's eyes?
Uhm... I guess, since the blood earlier was hot, their body temperature should be as well.
And their eyes must not produce tears that are out of this range. Therefore, they can't be competitive when they are cold-blooded.
Linda was yet to gain consciousness.
Muna had already rendered the second wolf weak and would soon finish it off.
I need to slay the third myself; that way, the system might even give me rewards.
Producing the blue strands of my energy to snake in my left palm, I pointed my sword in my right, to the hungry wolf before me.
"Common boy, let's get this right."
That was when I noticed the screen that was hovering immediately above the head of the wolf.
« 3-Star Normal Wolf »
Following this, I got a notification as well from the system.
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