Power pulsed through Kim Ji-hoon's heart like a warm flame threatening to burst free at any moment. The large wolves around him took cautious steps back as his scent reached their nostrils, their predatory eyes faltering, as if they sensed something the others could not.
"I'll take the lead in this battle!" a large man barked, a massive double-bladed axe resting in his muscular arms. His bald head reflected the crimson walls surrounding them. "Ha!" he roared at the wolves, drawing their attention to himself.
In the air before him floated a screen only he could see, displaying the class name [Destroyer], a brutal mix of vanguard and attacker. His eyes gleamed at the thought of battle.
The other players reacted as well, each clutching their newly summoned weapons tightly. The woman who had called out to the high schooler earlier slowly moved closer to Kim Ji-hoon and the boy. In her hand, she held what appeared to be a judge's hammer, her expression grim. Deep in her heart, she believed the class she had received was useless, but she remained calm under pressure, weighing her options.
"Any plans on how to survive another day?" Her eyes never left the wolves as she brushed shoulders with Ji-hoon.
"They look like wolves, which means they're ferocious and agile. We can't let them gang up on that man, or he'll likely die in a single attack." Ji-hoon carefully observed the battlefield.
"So what do you suggest?" Something told her she could rely on him, a strange hunch rising from the depths of her soul.
"I'll attack from the rear. No matter how much damage I can do, I'm confident in my aim. The old man over there seems to have a long-range class as well, so I'll try to get closer to him if I can. As for the girl with the spear, she needs to get to the front lines if possible. That spear is perfect for delivering a quick, fatal strike." Ji-hoon's right eye shone like the sun, its golden brilliance carefully scanning the battlefield.
"Big sister, you... no, you're not a close-range fighter... am I right? That hammer looks like it belongs in a courtroom. Do you have some kind of control-type ability?"
Her eyes widened. She could not believe that someone who had never even tried to use his own abilities, nor seen her use any of hers, could have guessed it so perfectly.
"You're right." She smiled bitterly. "I can slow them down slightly, or at least that's what my skill says. I'm completely useless in this battle..."
"Not quite." This time, the boy next to Kim Ji-hoon spoke, his saber vibrating gently in his trembling hand. "I'll take the front too. You can stay within the range of your abilities and slow them down. That will protect the backline and help the front hold them in place so the wolves can't just leap away."
Ji-hoon nodded. "That's right. Your ability might be the most useful one in this battle. Without it, we might not survive—"
His hand suddenly shoved the woman to the side, while his own body leapt away as well. A streak of black fur dashed between them. The high schooler barely had time to dodge. One second later, and he would have been mauled to death.
At that moment, the three of them understood they could not stand there talking forever. Time was ticking, and the wolves were growing more and more eager to kill.
Kim Ji-hoon steadied himself quickly, clutching his bow firmly as his fingers pulled at the air. A strange tingling sensation pulsed through his fingertips. His chest burned hot, as if set ablaze. Even so, he refused to fear it, allowing the energy to travel through his arm. A golden flame, similar to the one that burned upon the main golden tree, flared into existence in the air, soon shaping itself into a burning arrow.
His eyes reflected the power twisting through the air around that small arrow. "Here goes nothing..." Rolling his shoulders, Ji-hoon pulled at the invisible golden bowstring, bending the bow with all the strength he could muster. "Please work..." While the wolf was still adjusting after landing, the arrow left the bow with a soft hum, yet the speed at which it flew left everyone in shock.
It happened almost in an instant. Golden flame burst from the wolf's skull, exploding with a sickening sound as flesh and blood scattered in all directions.
Ji-hoon's eyes gleamed brightly, as if he himself could not believe he had done it.
Seeing the power behind his attack, the others also felt a surge of heat rise in their hearts. That strike, and the successful kill, brought with it hope and desire.
Black light spilled outward as the double-bladed axe struck the ground, splitting it apart and sending rocks and dirt collapsing in all directions, making the three remaining wolves lose their balance and drop to the ground.
"Now, go for the kill!" the bald man roared, not wasting even a second himself as he stepped forward. His axe lit up in black once more as he swung at the wolf closest to him.
Green light burst around the high schooler as he charged at the nearest wolf with all his speed. His saber screamed through the air as he closed the distance.
The old man shone with a violet light, the book in his hand sending a glowing violet orb into his right palm. He did not hesitate for even a second before hurling it at the last remaining wolf.
Three wolves were attacked at once. But not everyone moved. Ji-hoon was still drawing a new arrow, just in case one of them failed to land a killing blow. The woman with the judge's hammer carefully tracked the wolves, her weapon shining with a white light, ready to slow their movements if any of them tried to escape.
The only one who did not move was the young woman with the crimson spear. Her figure remained hidden behind the old man, trembling like a leaf in a storm.
The three attacks crashed into the wolves. The black axe cleaved one of them in half despite the creature's desperate retaliation, its jaws snapping at the blade only to die where it stood.
The green saber showed even greater power, slashing the fallen wolf apart while it lay on its side. For his age, the boy was merciless and decisive, killing the creature before it could even strike back.
But the violet attack was too slow. It slammed into the empty ground with a violent explosion, sending dust and wind in every direction. The wolf farthest from the shattered earth dodged in a streak of black light, its frame vanishing from sight.
In the very next moment, everyone's expressions sank.
The wolf had already closed the distance to the old man and the young woman, aiming to kill them both.