Chapter 29
Randin and Grey were deep in the forest, battling a ferocious beast when another creature emerged. Unlike the others, this one exuded an overwhelming aura and, to their astonishment, could communicate. Its immense power was evident the moment it swiped its paw, sending Randin hurtling through the air.
As Randin crashed into the ground, the beast sensed a sharp disturbance and swiftly dodged, narrowly avoiding Grey's Earth trap. However, as soon as it escaped, two fireballs roared toward it.
"Time to match power with power!" The wolf's voice boomed in Grey's mind as it opened its jaws wide. From within, two massive fireballs erupted, colliding with Grey's own, igniting the air and scorching nearby branches. Smoke billowed, shrouding the battlefield in an eerie haze.
Through the thick veil of smoke, a razor-sharp wind blade sliced toward the wolf. Reacting instantly, it unleashed a searing laser beam from its horn, shattering the attack mid-air. A sudden gust of wind then swept away the smoke, revealing Grey standing directly in front of the beast.
Without hesitation, Grey swung his sword in a powerful arc, but the wolf countered with a swift flick of its tail, knocking the blade downward. Seizing the opportunity, the beast surged forward, using the blade as a foothold to propel itself toward Grey.
Thinking on his feet, Grey conjured a burst of wind magic, launching himself backward just in time. He retaliated with a blazing fireball, but the wolf countered with two of its own, consuming Grey's attack and continuing their relentless trajectory toward him.
Grey swiftly moved his hands in intricate patterns, summoning wind that coiled around him like a vortex. With a final thrust, he sent the gathered wind crashing into the fireballs, extinguishing them completely before they could reach him.
'Impressive. He not only wields multiple affinities but also possesses remarkable combat instincts. His magic is anything but ordinary,' the wolf mused, its admiration growing. But before it could dwell on the thought, a sudden disturbance behind it caught its attention.
With lightning reflexes, the wolf leaped aside just as Randin crashed into the ground where it had stood moments ago.
'Damn! This thing is fast,' Randin cursed internally as he quickly drew a dagger and hurled it at the beast. Without missing a beat, the wolf obliterated it mid-air with a precise laser beam from its horn.
"Next time, do not underestimate me!" A voice rang from behind the wolf as the temperature around them spiked. Flames crackled in the air, and before the beast could react, a fireball hurtled toward it while its legs became encased in solid rock.
'When did he set this up?!' the wolf thought in shock as the fireball closed in.
At the last second, the wolf's body shrank, allowing the fireball to sail harmlessly over its head. Then, with a swift blast of energy, it shattered the rocks binding its legs and dashed several feet away before regaining its original size.
'Damn it! How is this beast so fast?' Grey clenched his fists, feeling frustration bubble within him. 'I'm running low on mana.'
"You are skilled—far beyond most I have encountered. But alas, you are still not strong enough to defeat me." The wolf's laughter echoed in Grey's mind.
A smirk tugged at Grey's lips. "You're right. I haven't been fighting at full strength."
"What do you mean?" the wolf asked, intrigued.
"You'll see soon enough…"
The ground trembled violently, causing Randin to instinctively step back as Grey had signaled him to do so earlier. With a powerful surge, a massive boulder erupted from the earth, its shape rapidly changing before their eyes.
'What is this mage doing?' the wolf thought, excitement flickering in its gaze.
In mere moments, the boulder transformed into a colossal, razor-sharp arrow. Flames erupted around it, roaring like an unbridled inferno.
Grey raised his hands, his smirk widening. Then, with a sharp motion, he thrust them forward.
"For the final touch—Aerius Ultra!" he roared.
A ferocious gust of wind slammed into the base of the flaming arrow, propelling it forward at a velocity impossible to dodge.
The wolf, now truly alarmed, unleashed three desperate laser beams, but they shattered upon impact. In a last-ditch effort, it fired four immense fireballs, but instead of stopping the attack, they only fueled the arrow's raging flames.
Before the wolf could react further, the fiery projectile struck with an earth-shaking explosion. A shockwave tore through the forest, uprooting trees, fracturing the ground, and sending debris flying in all directions.
As the dust and smoke settled, Grey collapsed to his knees, clutching his chest as he gasped for air.
'That took everything I had. Merging all my affinities on such a scale… Even as a Two-Star Mage, it nearly drained me completely. If I had attempted this at One-Star, my mana core would have shattered. No ordinary Two-Star Mage could pull this off… My only saving grace was my high affinity in all my elements.'
He wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart pounding. 'If that didn't finish it off… we're in deep trouble.'
As the battlefield cleared, the wolf came into view, still standing. Its fur was charred, its horn slightly cracked, and black blood dripped from its wounds, burn marks seared across its body.
Grey clicked his tongue in frustration, tightening his grip on his sword. Randin, now at his side, did the same, both prepared for another round.
"Relax. I am not here to fight anymore." The wolf's voice resonated in Grey's mind.
Grey narrowed his eyes. "Then what do you want?"
"I wish to become your companion. I want to bind myself to you."
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{A/N}
Although the word count has been reduced, I feel like sparing you all so I won't go for long talk 😅😁 enjoy the next chapter