Chapter 28
On their way to eliminate the Goblin Lord, Grey and Randin encountered a formidable Level 2 beast—a Jaguar, known for its terrifying speed. The battle was far from easy, and they found themselves struggling against its relentless agility.
Determined not to waste time, Grey swiftly cast an Earth Trap, ensnaring the beast's movements and nullifying its greatest advantage—its speed. As the creature thrashed against its rocky confines, Grey prepared to unleash a fire spell to finish it off.
"Fire Bullet!" he chanted, sending a thin jet of flames hurtling toward the beast's head.
Just then, a sharp sizzling sound rang out from behind him. His instincts flared, and he turned just in time to evade what seemed to be a searing laser beam. It whizzed past, grazing his hair and slicing off a few strands before striking the Jaguar directly in the eye. The beast let out a gurgled cry and collapsed—dead in an instant.
A voice echoed around them. "Well, well, well… if it isn't a mage."
Grey and Randin tensed, scanning their surroundings. The Jaguar had been a powerful foe, yet something had taken it down with a single shot. This unseen entity was dangerous.
"Who's there?" Grey demanded, his eyes darting around cautiously.
"Over here." The voice spoke again.
His gaze landed on a peculiar sight—a small wolf, no larger than a puppy, with a single horn protruding from its forehead. Its fur burned with a vibrant crimson hue, almost like living fire.
Grey furrowed his brows. "Huh?"
"What is a mage doing on a dwarf planet?" the creature asked.
"Hold on… You're a beast—and you can talk?" Grey blurted in confusion.
The wolf scoffed. "Do I look like a mere beast to you?"
That's when Grey realized something odd. The wolf's jaws weren't moving, yet he could hear its voice crystal clear. No… it wasn't speaking. It was communicating directly into his mind.
"If you're not a beast, then what are you?" Grey asked cautiously.
"Are you crazy, Grey?" Randin interjected. "Why are you talking to it like it's a person?"
"Wait, you don't hear its voice?" Grey asked.
Randin shook his head. "I heard something earlier, but now… nothing."
Grey narrowed his eyes. "That means it's communicating only with me… but why?"
"I told you—I'm not some lowly beast! Stop insulting me!" the wolf snapped.
Grey's fingers twitched, fire still flickering at his fingertips. This thing was dangerous—it could hear his thoughts.
"Then what exactly are you?" Grey asked again.
The wolf smirked. "Me? I am something far superior… a magical beast."
Grey arched a brow. "Isn't that just a fancy way of saying you're still a beast?"
The wolf growled. "I am leagues above those mindless animals you fight. Do not compare me to such filth."
"Then why are you speaking to me? And how do you know what I am?" Grey questioned.
"Enough with the questions. All you need to know is that I was drawn to the overwhelming mana radiating from your body. I circled you to confirm the source—and it was you. But what baffles me is how someone with such potent mana can be so… weak."
'So it was the thing that kept running around my feet making me freak out. And who the hell is it calling weak?' Grey thought as he clenched his fists in frustration.
"Grey, what's going on?" Randin pressed, watching the bizarre exchange unfold. He could see Grey's lips moving, but no words came out. Meanwhile, the wolf stood there, occasionally smirking as though mocking them.
Grey gritted his teeth. "Who are you calling weak? I could take you down easily."
The wolf chuckled—a deep, almost human-like sound. "An arrogant mage, I see. Very well. Care to test that claim?"
"You're just a tiny wolf with a laser trick. I can handle that." Flames roared to life along Grey's left arm.
The wolf's eyes gleamed with amusement. "You shouldn't be so confident in your assumptions. You never know what surprises await."
Suddenly, the small wolf began to shift. Its body expanded, growing rapidly from its puppy-like stature into a towering beast. Its form swelled until it was the size of a small house, its fur bristling like crackling embers, and its glowing crimson eyes now level with Grey's head.
Grey's eyes widened. "What the hell?!"
Randin instinctively drew his sword.
"Now… what were you saying?" The wolf's voice rumbled, filled with dark amusement.
A deadly light flickered at the tip of its horn.
"Move!" Grey yelled, pushing himself and Randin back with a sudden burst of wind magic.
A laser beam scorched the ground where they'd stood just moments before, leaving behind a smoldering crater.
"Not bad," the wolf mused. "I need to test you more. Tell your friend to stand down, or I'll kill him."
Grey exhaled sharply. "Randin, step back. I'll handle this."
"No way! You saved my life twice. I'm not letting you die here!" Randin shouted, charging at the beast. He reached into his belt, pulled out a dagger, and hurled it toward the wolf.
Without even blinking, the wolf fired a laser beam, knocking the dagger aside. But by then, Randin was already upon it, swinging his sword with deadly precision.
"Foolish dwarf!" the wolf sneered.
In a flash, it vanished from sight. Before Randin could react, a massive paw slammed into him from behind, sending him crashing through the trees.
Grey's eyes flickered with determination. 'Fast… but predictable.'
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air, heading straight for the wolf's head.
Sensing the incoming attack, the wolf twisted and dodged. But as it tried to move, its legs refused to budge.
Looking down, it saw its limbs ensnared in stone.
"Clever," the wolf murmured, firing twin laser beams to obliterate the rock trap. As the rubble crumbled away, it lifted its gaze—only to find two fireballs screaming toward it.
'This mage… he's skilled. More than I thought. I like it. Let's see what else he can do.'
A smirk formed on the wolf's face. "Time to match power with power!"
It opened its jaws wide, and from the depths of its maw, two massive fireballs erupted—hurtling toward Grey's attack in a blazing clash of magic and might.