Adolae was clashing with the wolf, already having rough breathing but somehow managing not to get hit.
His main goal was that he, by any means would not let this wolf go to Souchu.
Souchu's arms trembled as he dodged another snapping bite. He hadn't come here to win with brute strength — his goal was clear. He needed to force out that fireball. That was the entire reason he had taken this reckless gamble.
He raised his hand again, trying to gather the faint warmth in his chest.
Nothing.
The wolf lunged. He stumbled back, barely avoiding its fangs.
On the other side, Adolae parried another attack, steel scraping against claws. The impact numbed his arms, but he held firm. He stepped back, breathing hard, then glanced at Souchu—
And froze for a split second.
Souchu's clothes were torn in several places. Bruises covered his arms, and blood trickled down from a gash near his shoulder. Yet he was still trying, still raising his trembling hand again and again.
"My lord…" Adolae muttered under his breath, shock tightening his chest.
Souchu ignored the pain. He focused inward, searching desperately for that faint spark.
It flickered… then faded again.
His expression darkened. The attack of the wolf was becoming harder and harder to dodge, bruises were gaining in number blood tickling all over his body.
Looks like… I should retreat.
He exhaled slowly, stepping back. If he couldn't form a fireball even under this much pressure, he likely wouldn't succeed now. Staying longer would only make things worse.
But the wolf in front of him didn't give him the chance.
It growled and lunged again, cutting off his retreat.
Souchu clicked his tongue, forced to dodge once more.
Adolae noticed and gritted his teeth. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, intercepting the second wolf.
"I'll handle them—fall back, my lord!"
He forced himself between both wolves.
The beasts circled him, growling fiercely. Adolae tightened his grip on the sword. Fighting one had already pushed him to his limits — fighting two was madness.
The wolves attacked together.
Adolae parried one strike, then twisted to avoid the other. His movements grew frantic, desperate. Claws grazed his side, tearing through cloth and skin. He staggered but forced himself to stand.
The wolves grew more aggressive, sensing weakness.
They lunged again.
Adolae blocked one, but the second wolf slammed into him, knocking him off balance. He stumbled, barely managing to stay upright. Blood dripped from his arm now, his breathing ragged.
"S-stay back…" he muttered, forcing himself to raise his sword again.
The wolves didn't stop.
They rushed him together once more, faster, and more ferociously.
Adolae's movements slowed. His arms trembled.
Then—
The alpha wolf leaped.
Its jaws opened wide, aiming straight for his throat.
Adolae's eyes widened. He tried to raise his sword—
But he was too slow. Something is off, these wolves don't seem to be Mountain beasts, contaminated by Mana. But they are slowly getting stronger and faster.
"Souchu… run…" he whispered, voice staggered.
He was losing more and more blood. He blocked the first wolf mouth by sword, still it claws grazed his arm.
From the left side he sees the second wolf lashing at him mouth wide open completely aiming for his neck. Adolae already imagined what will happen next, he cannot block this attack. But before mouth reached his neck he grabbed his throat with his hand as a shield.
He fell to the ground by impact and the wolf wanted to dig his teeth into his throat and wanted to tear it.
"Nooo!!! Adolae!!!" Souchu on the other side far from Adolae let out a shriek. A burning intensified in his chest from fear of losing a child hood friend as well as a his caretaker. He wanted to run and help him but somehow he felt that his feet were numb. Something was flowing in the veins of his legs.
Another Wolf took the opportunity and wanted to grab Adolae's thigh but just as he reached the Adolae's thigh.
Something burning from the flame slammed on its mouth like hot red iron rod making its mark, throwing it in air away by impact.
Wolf let out a shriek as it slammed on huge rock, destroying many trees that came in its way.
Souchu's eyes were wide open burning with flame as well as hatred towards wolf.
He was standing in wolfs' place. His foot were on fire burning away his shoes. He saw the wolf that grabbing Adolae throat. He raised his hand a fire circling, slowly were materializing.
Adolae showed his quick wit by grabbing his own throat before wolfs' fangs reached deep inside it, but it was still grazed. His right hand flanked and plunged a sword into wolfs' throat that was grabbing his throat. Before Souchu can kill that wolf.
The wolf whimpered, small cries breaking from its throat as it trembled and finally stilled before its body caught fire thrown by Souchu.
"Koff ~ koff ~'' Adolae's throat were bleeding, he let out cough. Thank God, wolfs' teeth didn't reach too deep but his left palm was seriously injured.
Souchu hurried tore his already tattered sleeve and tried to mend Adolae 's wound on throat.
"Adolae, how could it be..." He didn't finish his sentence knowing that injuries on the throat are serious and life threatening.
"Young lord, do not worry unnecessarily it's just a shallow wound that just happened to be on my throat." Adolae was having a hard time breathing, his face was becoming whiter and whiter. Having a hard time forming many thoughts. But his heart was glad.
Souchu covered Adolae's throat. Picking him up on back "this time I was arrogant, to think that you have to pay for my recklessness."
Souchu started to sprint towards town, as he started to rush his foot caught fire and in an instant his speed doubled than tripled or maybe even more. In just a moment Souchu became a speedster. Wherever his foot touched ground caught fire
"Young ..... This... T-This....you have awakened po..."
"DON'T SPEAK !!!"
Before Adolae can express how surprised he is? Souchu interrupted in the middle.
"Don't strain and give your blood a reason to flow out of wounds. PLEASE!"
Scolded by Souchu Adolae felt warmth inside his heart. His always aloof lord was actually concerned for him so it turned out that he is not emotionally numb but he simply doesn't finds any reasons to do so. Ahh.. what a feeling.