CRACK!
The Bloodclaw Panther's neck snapped under Ironfang's crushing jaws. The massive wolf-beast, fur bristling with steel-gray aura, tossed the lifeless body aside like a rag doll. Black blood splattered across the scorched soil.
Despite being a 2nd Star Peak Stage predator with devastating claw strength and killer instinct, the panther's downfall was its brittle defense, an easy kill for Ironfang, whose power surged through the Blessing of Symbiotic Empowerment.
No time to rest.
RUSTLE
The underbrush quivered.
From the tangled weeds burst a swarm of Mandrakes small, twisted plant creatures standing two feet tall. Golden petals glowed faintly from their heads, while fiery sap pulsed visibly through their sinewy root-like limbs. Their sunflower eyes burned with eerie intensity.
Ten of them.
Moving as one.
They sprinted toward Jack, James, and Ironfang in a tight circle, their synchronized advance a hypnotic blur of motion. Each step left behind scorch marks, and their glowing eyes emitted disorienting pulses of light.
Jack narrowed his eyes. "They're trying to blind and surround us."
Before they could act
FWOOOOOM!
A swirling fireball infused with wind mana exploded from the sky, slamming into the center of the Mandrake group.
BOOM!
A shockwave of heat and wind roared outward. Petals scattered. Roots splintered. The swarm shrieked in unnatural, high-pitched wails as flames engulfed their twisted bodies.
Jack and James turned.
"Mom?!" Jack blinked.
There she stood Emma Wilson, Her light battle robes billowed from the residual gust. A floating staff, a relic of magical craftsmanship hovered beside her, glowing with elemental fury.
"No time to slack off!" Emma called. "These aren't garden weeds!"
"IRONFANG GO!" James roared.
GRAAAWR!
The beast lunged forward, claws tearing through soil, fangs gleaming with primal bloodlust.
Jack's grip on his dagger tightened as he focused. Elemental mana surged from his core.
"Fusion Pyro, Hydro, Anemo Slash"
WHOOSH
A brilliant crescent of swirling red, blue, and green mana screamed from his dagger like a blade of raw destruction. The attack ripped through the charred air.
BOOM!
The mana slash cleaved through the remaining Mandrakes like butter.
THUD!
Ironfang collided into their flank a heartbeat later, tearing through whatever remained. At the same time
CRACK!
CRACK!
Molten spikes erupted beneath the Mandrakes, summoned by Emma's Fire-Earth combo spell. The battlefield flashed molten red, and then.
BOOOOM!
All that was left were ashes and shattered root limbs.
"Nice teamwork," Emma said, lips curling into a proud smirk.
But Jack's eyes flicked to the ash pile and widened.
Something moved.
Flick.
A 3-foot-long lizard slithered forth its charcoal-black scales glinting with ember-spots. Its tongue snapped in and out, crackling with heat.
"Another one," Jack muttered, activating Eye of Truth.
DING!
[ Ashbloom Salamander
Stage: 2nd Star Low
Element: Pyro
Skills: Ember Spit, Ash Burrow
Resistance: Heat
Weakness: Ice ]
Jack's eyes gleamed. "Perfect."
He infused his dagger with Ice Mana frost mist coiling around the blade.
"Silent Dash!"
WHOOSH
In a blink, he appeared beside the Salamander.
"Ice Pressure Point Strike!"
CRACK!
The dagger pierced deep, targeting a joint beneath its hardened scales. A burst of icy mist exploded from within, freezing its core.
THUD.
The creature collapsed instantly, frost spreading across its charred hide.
"Another one down," Jack said coolly, steam rising from his blade.
James nodded, arms crossed. "You're improving fast."
Emma gave an approving smile. "That fusion slash... you're already weaving elements like a 3rd Star Ascendant."
Jack grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Just wait till I hit 3rd Star it will be more powerful."
The trio pushed forward, deeper into the wilderness, where stronger enemies waited in the shadows.
---
The air thickened again.
Ash and mana clung to their skin. The scent of scorched roots and sulfur lingered. Jack sheathed his dagger, the residual glow of tri-elemental energy still flickering faintly from the blade.
"That's three," Jack muttered, eyes scanning the horizon.
Ironfang snarled low, hackles raised.
James's gaze sharpened as his connection with Ironfang pulsed. "No time to rest."
Emma's staff glowed as her eyes turned serious. "I sense multiple mana signatures closing in fast."
The next wave was coming.
And this one... would be worse.
Rustle... crackle... rustle...
The sound of shifting brush and trampled foliage grew louder, like the heartbeat of the wildlands itself.
Two beasts emerged from the trees sleek, vicious, and brimming with malice.
[ Emberclaw Jackal: 2nd Star Mid-Stage Beast]
Affinity: Pyro
Traits: Highly aggressive. Fast. Ignites the ground with claw strikes.
Weakness: Susceptible to water-element spells. Briefly vulnerable after fiery tackle.]
Their glowing ember-claws scraped the earth, leaving trails of fire in their wake. Their burning eyes locked onto the trio prey, in their eyes.
"They hunting in pairs," Jack muttered, his Eye of Truth casting glowing glyphs across his vision. "Strike right after they pounce. That's their opening."
WHOOSH!
One of the jackals lunged with a fiery roar, slashing downward. The ground beneath its claws exploded into flames.
BOOOM!
James vanished into the shadows mid-flame arc, moving with eerie smoothness.
SHHHK
He reappeared behind the jackal like a phantom.
"Ironfang now!"
GRAAAWR!!
Ironfang surged forward, muscles coiling. Activating Beast Enhancement and Agile Reflexes, the beast launched into the air..
THUD!
And collided with the jackal mid-leap, pinning it in a feral clash of claws and fangs.
Meanwhile, the second jackal circled fast
But it didn't get far.
Emma's staff glowed sky-blue and brown. She slammed it into the earth.
CRACK!
"Aqua Bind: Mud Trap!"
A geyser of magical mud surged from beneath the jackal, locking its limbs with crushing force. It howled in frustration.
"Mine," Jack said coldly.
He flicked his dagger, coating it in pale green venom. His feet blurred
WHOOSH!
As he dashed forward.
"Poisoned Pressure Point blade Strike!"
SHLNK!
The dagger sank just behind the beast's jaw. A sharp
CRACK!
And the jackal collapsed in a twitching heap.
The first jackal, bloodied and weakened by Ironfang, turned to flee
"Not so fast," James muttered.
A radiant glow bloomed in his palm.
"Light Piercer."
ZEEEEEEEEE….CRACK!
A blinding beam of Phoebus light tore through the jackal's chest. It collapsed in a burning heap, twitching once before going still.
FIZZLE...
The flames that had scorched the field hissed away as Emma calmly pulsed Hydro magic through the air.
"We need to move," she said, sharp-eyed. "This much noise will attract"
BZZZZZ!
A strange, sucking sound followed as Jack kneeled by the fallen jackal. His hand pulsed with inky black mana.
"Abyssal Regeneration."
The corpse of the Emberclaw Jackal shuddered then dissolved into dark mist and vanished into Jack's palm.
DING!
His body radiated as health, stamina, and mana instantly surged to full.
Emma raised a brow. James grunted. "Is It Your Blessings."
Jack's nodded and expression hardened. "Incoming."
RUSTLE!
Four distinct beastly presences crashed through the tree line:
—A fox, silver-furred and moonlight-reflective, eyes glowing pale blue.
—A snake, its crimson scales gleaming, dripping venom from needle-like fangs.
—A drake, wingless but massive, its molten red scales steaming with heat.
—And a lizard, armored in jagged ice, frost clinging to every breath.
Jack's Eye of Truth activated instantly:
---
[ Moonshade Fox – 2nd Star Low Stage]
Stealthy and elusive. Emits lunar flashes to disorient and steal mana-rich objects.
Weakness: Fragile; can't endure sustained pressure. ]
[ Bloodthorn Viper – 2nd Star Mid Stage]
Lashes from undergrowth, venom drains vitality.
Weakness: Avoids direct confrontation; coils when striking. ]
[ Blazefang Drake – 2nd Star Peak Stage]
Breathes molten fire, tackles with explosive force.
Weakness: Heavy and slow to turn mid-charge. ]
[ Frostgaze Basilisk – 2nd Star Peak Stage]
Immobilizes prey with a chilling gaze before biting.
Weakness: Weak to blinding light and fast assaults.]
---
"Fox fragile but tricky. Viper drains vitality. Drake's heavy hitter, watch its charges. Basilisk paralyzes don't meet its gaze!" Jack relayed rapidly.
James didn't hesitate.
His eyes flashed.
RIIIP!
A surge of divine resonance rippled through him as he activated his Blessing of Symbiotic Empowerment.
CRACK!
Beastly energy surged through his body. Fur spread across his arms, his eyes sharpened into slits. Beast ears sprouted from his head; a tail flicked behind him. His aura grew wild, raw.primal.
Jack froze, jaw slack.
"Wh…Father…?"
This was the first time Jack saw his father's fused form with Ironfang.human and beast in harmony.
Emma chuckled softly, smug pride in her eyes. "You didn't think your old man was all tactics and tricks, did you?"
Her staff glowed brighter runes pulsing with immense energy. The Staff of the Archmage ability, empowered by her Blessing.
ZIIIIING!
The staff shimmered with enchantment:
—Floating Control: It spun above user palm, awaiting command.
—Arcane Absorption: Mana from the air was pulled into the core.
—Self-repair: A crack in the shaft closed on its own.
Jack gritted his teeth.
His shadow pulsed beneath his feet as he activated the Blessing of Shadow's Vigilance.
WHOOSH!
His body flickered and melded into shadow.
Eyes glowed violet. He moved silently between patches of darkness, nearly invisible.
The trio stood firm warrior, mage, assassin.
Ready.
The beasts roared as they charged.
The real battle had just begun.
--------
To Be Continued..!!