Chapter 132: Slaughter (2)
The two Wind Wolves that remained didn't come one after the other this time. Unlike the rest, the wolves charged towards Kyle at the same time.
The first wolf lunged at Kyle, its jaws snapping with razor-sharp teeth. Kyle sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack, and retaliated with a wide slash. The katana's ice enchantment sent a sharp chill through the air, forcing the wolf to retreat.
The second wolf took advantage of the opening, striking from behind. Kyle spun, activating [Lightning Dash] to narrowly avoid the ambush. He appeared several feet away, and summoned a spell.
"Lightning Bolt!"
The bolt of electricity crackled through the air, aimed directly at the first wolf. The beast attempted to dodge, but the spell struck its hind leg, sending it sprawling to the ground with a pained yelp.
Kyle didn't waste a second. He closed the distance with [Lightning Dash], his katana slashing downward in a decisive arc. The blade pierced the wolf's chest, freezing its heart in an instant.
[You have slain a Tier 1 mana beast: Wind Wolf]
[Reward: 1* Tier 1 Mana Core obtained.]
The remaining wolf howled, showing its anger by a sudden manifestation of a fierce wind that lashed at Kyle.
The wolf charged through its own storm, its eyes glowing with feral rage. Kyle held his ground, waiting for the precise moment to strike.
As the wolf leapt, jaws wide open, Kyle activated [Lightning Dash], appearing just behind it.
The wolf landed and skidded to a halt, confused by Kyle's sudden disappearance. Before it could turn, Kyle thrust his katana forward, the blade plunging deep into its side.
The wolf howled in agony, its body trembling as frost spread from the wound. Kyle twisted the blade, ending the fight with a final burst of icy energy.
[You have slain a Tier 1 mana beast: Wind Wolf]
[Reward: 1 Tier 1 Mana Core obtained]
Kyle stepped back, his katana dripping with blood and ice as he surveyed the battlefield. The Tier 1 beasts lay defeated around him, their massive forms now lifeless.
'Wow!' Kyle exclaimed internally. "I really did it... I killed them all!"
He turned to see the rest of his team still locked in combat with the common beasts. Though the potions had rejuvenated them, the sheer number of enemies was taking its toll.
"I'll put the celevration on hold," Kyle decided, sheating his katana for a moment. "Time to even the odds."
He took a deep breath and activated [Lightning Dash], vanishing in a flash of light. When he reappeared, he was in the thick of the chaos.
Beasts surrounded his teammates, who were visibly worn out despite the high-grade potions he'd provided.
Kyle's arrival caught everyone's attention. "Kyle?!" Lina shouted with a voice that was a mixture of shock and relief, "You took care of them?!"
"Yeah," Kyle said with a calm voice. "I've got some mana to spare. Let's end this."
Without waiting for a response, Kyle thrust his hand forward, summoning an exceptionally powerful [Lightning Bolt]. The spell crackled with intensity as it surged through the clustered beasts, obliterating several in one strike.
The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, staggering the remaining beasts and giving his teammates a much-needed reprieve.
"Did you see that?!" Lina's voice rang out, her fiery demeanor flaring to life. "That's Kyle for you! We can't let him show us up like this! Keep fighting, you slackers!"
Her words rekindled their spirits, and Kyle smirked. 'A morale boost, huh? I'll give them something to really cheer about.'
Drawing runes from his inventory, Kyle began activating them in rapid succession. A Thunderstorm Rune sent arcs of electricity cascading through the air, frying anything within its radius.
A Frostwave Rune blanketed the ground in icy shards, immobilizing several beasts. The runes worked in tandem with his spells, creating a symphony of destruction that left the beasts no chance to regroup.
Kyle's actions were calculated but flashy, showcasing a level of control that belied the exhaustion his teammates expected him to feel. 'I didn't use too much mana during my previous fight,' he thought, 'Thanks to that, I can afford to show off a little.'
Finn stared in disbelief as another pack of beasts was incinerated by Kyle's combined runes and spells.
"He's been fighting Tier 1s this whole time and still has that much mana left? How is that even possible?"
"I don't care how he's doing it!" Lina bellowed as she launched another fireball. "He's making us look pathetic! Step it up, Finn!"
Kyle grinned at the exchange but didn't slow his onslaught. He transitioned seamlessly between using [Lightning Dash] to close gaps and [Lightning Bolt] to clear clusters of beasts.
When a particularly bold beast lunged at him, Kyle unsheathed Frozen Claw in a blur and dispatched it with a single, icy strike.
The tide of the battle shifted dramatically. Inspired by Kyle's relentless assault, the team found a second wind. Lina's flames grew fiercer, Finn's earth constructs sturdier, and Celine's water attacks more precise. Even Zara, who had nearly collapsed earlier, managed to contribute with her healing spells.
"Don't let him do all the work!" Lina shouted, hurling a fiery explosion into a dense group of beasts. "We've got this!"
Together, they began pushing back the remaining horde. Kyle led the charge, carving through the beasts with ease, while his teammates worked in unison to mop up the stragglers. The battle was brutal but swift, and before long, the last of the common beasts fell.
Kyle stood amidst the carnage, breathing heavily—not from exertion, but to maintain the illusion of fatigue. His teammates had collapsed to the ground around him and their faces were smeared with dirt and sweat but filled with triumph.
"That was… insane," Finn said between gasps for air. "You took down ten Tier 1s and helped us finish this mess? Kyle, you're not human."
"You're right," Lina chimed in. "He's a god of destruction sent to shame us all."
Kyle chuckled, waving off their exaggerated praise. "You all did great too. This wouldn't have been possible without you."
"You turned the tide of this fight, Kyle," Celine decided to say. "We were struggling, and then… you just appeared. I've never seen anything like it."
"Thank you, Kyle. We wouldn't have made it without you," Zara concluded with a smile.
Kyle scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "It's a team effort, right? You kept everyone alive, Zara. That's just as important."
The group fell into a comfortable silence, catching their breath and tending to minor injuries.
There were no longer any beasts coming, but they decided not stay comfortable until sun set. Finally, after a short while, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the battlefield in a warm twilight glow.
The absence of snarls and growls confirmed what they all hoped: the beast tide had ended.
"We did it," Lina said, her voice filled with awe and satisfaction. "We actually survived."
Finn let out a weary laugh. "Barely. But yeah, we did."
Kyle glanced at the sky, his gaze softening. The weight of the battle lifted, replaced by a quiet pride. "Good job, everyone. You earned this victory."
Lina grinned, throwing an arm around Kyle's shoulders. "And you earned about a million bragging rights. Just wait till everyone hears about how you took on ten Tier 1s by yourself." Chapter Experience:
Kyle laughed, brushing her off. "Let's remember that there's still the next day. It might be worse than this one."
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