Col couldn't understand Stella at all. He couldn't understand how she was so carefree in this dangerous forest filled with nothing but creatures which saw a meal out of her.
'Hey System. Is there anything nearby that can pose a threat to us?' Col asked.
'DING! .....'
And of course he got no answer. He couldn't even pull up his status to check what the equipment he had gained was. The system was adamant about not providing him with anything till he became an elementalist. Whatever that meant. Was he supposed to fight the Fire Nation?!
Stella suddenly stopped walking. They were already close to the plunge pool where Col had been spit out in this hell-world. Col was scared of the pool, but he reasoned that since he could swim out of it there wasn't really much of a threat to him in the pool.
"There's something there." She said, her voice was totally flat and her face deadpan. It was as if she didn't know what face to show and how to speak in this situation. It was inhuman. It was honestly eerie, a naked child, covered in green blood and grime pointing at empty air and saying that there was a presence there. Col shuddered.
"Is it dangerous?" He asked. Her instincts were better than his after all. She was a force of nature itself.
"Not to me. To Elder Brother." She was still as deadpan as before.
Col deflated, he had been completely seen through by a newborn. He sighed. He had to catch up.
"Can I fight it? I need to test my new weapon. Jump in and help if it seems dire. Otherwise just keep watch 'kay?"
"Sure Elder! I can't wait to see your impressive feats" Stella immediately beamed. Col shivered again. He was seriously getting some psychological damage from his teammate before the fight even began. That was seriously creepy...
"Uh sure. Watch closely I guess." Col started walking forward toward the direction Stella had pointed towards. Now that he was focusing, his sixth sense could pick up a vague presence in that direction. He did not know he could do that.
"What did you say I'm fighting again?" He asked Stella
"Big Dog!" Stella beamed back. Col cursed and focused his eyes.
There, concealed within the dense undergrowth next to the animal trail they were following, a glimmer caught Col's attention. As he concentrated, he realized that he was staring into the abyss of the wolf's pitch-black eyes. The sheer size of the creature was awe-inspiring.
Its stature stood nearly 1.5 meters tall, a towering presence that commanded respect. Its fur, a deep shade of green, seemed to harmonize with the forest's mysterious ambiance. It was a creature of the wild, seamlessly blending into its surroundings.
But something was different about this wolf. Its very being exuded an otherworldly essence, as if it were connected to the mystical forces that governed the forest. Col couldn't shake the feeling that even its blood ran with an unnatural hue of green, a testament to the extraordinary nature of this world.
Yet, Col's thoughts were quickly overshadowed by the realization that making eye contact had triggered quite a response from the wolf. lightning crackled around the creature and Col's eyes widened as he made a connection.
The wolf snarled, its lips curled back, revealing razor-sharp teeth glistening with a menacing edge. Its entire face seemed to come alive with malice and hunger, drooling from the buffet placed before it. The sound was deep. The lightning suddenly flared up as the beast's muscles tensed.
"Shit!" Col cursed as he swiftly dodged, his heart pounding in his chest. The massive wolf was far swifter than the apes Col had encountered before. Its tusk-like teeth grazed past him, ripping a piece of his once-glamorous designer outfit. The Gucci clothing certainly didn't deserve such treatment.
In that split second, Col didn't have time to contemplate how close he had come to becoming a juicy meal. He had always considered himself quite the catch, but that was meant for the ladies, not as a snack for a wolf. Wait, the wolf wasn't a female, was it? His head would ache if he continued having stupid thought, right before he lost it....
Danger surrounded him, and Col knew better than to underestimate this bastard-child of the original Spot, hellspawn that it was. Focusing his energy, he channeled it into his legs, utilizing the advantage of not needing mana veins. With nimble agility, he leaped backward, zigzagging to keep his opponent at bay.
However, the wolf was his match in nimbleness, closing the distance with each passing second. Col pushed his body to its limits, using his energy to keep up, but he had only regained a quarter of his usual reserves, and even less for Stella. he couldn't keep this up forever.
Not that it mattered much, as Stella, the little monster, could almost definitely handle the wolf with her physical attributes alone.
This beastly wolf surpassed the primitive apes in every way. Its strength and speed were matched by its agility in wielding lightning. It was a superior mage, evident in its ability to sustain the lightning charge throughout the battle. It had clearly devoted diligent hours of study to achieve such control. The image of a ferocious wolf diligently studying brought a smile on Col's face, and caused him to almost slip and lose his precious face...
As the battle raged on, the wolf seemed to grow faster, as if it were adapting to the lightning. It was as if the wolf was warming up, gathering more power, accumulating charge. The spell's weakness as a glass cannon was being nullified, transforming the wolf into a terrifying opponent.
Col began to sweat profusely. His energy would eventually dwindle, and he hadn't even unsheathed his sword. The problem was, he didn't want to get anywhere near that creature, let alone engage in close combat. He couldn't believe he hadn't noticed before, but the wolf exuded an aura that instilled the fear of the gods in him.
The wolf, not only strong but cunning, had successfully maneuvered Col into a corner. Chased off the trail and pushed into the depths of the forest, he found himself approaching a dense cluster of trees that would limit his maneuverability. Stella was nowhere to be seen. What the hell was she doing!??!
Col needed to think fast. Then, his gaze landed ona particularly robust tree. About 5 to 6 meters above, there was a sturdy-looking branch. He decided to attempt something utterly insane. He had the ability, so why not? Might as well fulfil some fantasies before the wolf fulfilled its own.
With his back against the tree, Col slowed down and sacrificed some distance. The wolf's swipe narrowly missed him, instead tearing into one of the trees. Its claws sliced through the trunk effortlessly, sending chills down Col's spine. He had to rely on his little trump card if this plan failed.
Backing up against the trunk, Col gathered energy in his legs. He hadn't expended much during the chase. Though it had felt like an eternity, it had only lasted a minute, during which Col had nearly lost his life on multiple occasions.
Col slowed down and stood still, causing the cautious wolf to hesitate for a mere second before continuing its approach. Tricks held no weight in the presence of absolute power.
Col leaped, running up the tree and executing a flip in mid-air. His goal was to land his feet firmly on the base of the branch while facing the beast. The beast stopped, confused at what the hairless ape was doing.
With his hand on his sword, he emulated a move he had seen in an anime and found cool. His blood pumped, he was going to do it! He took a deep breath as a tribute. And steeled his heart. How could a real man resist the chance to eliminate the monster before him?
Moreover, with some experience in kendo, Iai-jutsu was not unfamiliar to him. The moment his feet made contact with the branch, he grinned and poured all his energy into the sword.
The Tachi transformed into a black hole, draining Col's energy. Yet, he felt an intense surge run through him, and suddenly, the world around him slowed in his mind. Thoughts raced at an incredible speed, the whispering voices he had been hearing amplified into loud shouts, but he ignored them.
The once-swift wolf now moved sluggishly, even as it leaped toward him. Its jaws, open wide to consume its meal, were dripping with saliva, the snarl amplified in slow motion, sending shivers down Col's spine.
Col felt in sync with the world. A crackling light of green-golden lightning enveloped him. It was the same spell the wolf employed, but Col's version felt more potent. And then, with all the force he could muster, he kicked off the branch, simultaneously drawing his sword in the style of iai-jutsu.
Iai-jutsu, a lightning-fast draw technique akin to a flash of lightning. Brian became that flash of lightning, descending from the sky with divine form, ready to deliver judgment.
All the wolf heard was a deafening thunderclap, and then its world turned sideways.