The group trekked the desolate streets encountering the occasional monster or struggling survivor. They were heading to the outskirts of the city where the abandoned industrial complex was located.
"What do you know about the monster, Echo?" John communicated telepathically with Echo.
"The monster is a huge Dire Wolf. It has strong claws and teeth. It can shoot lightning from its mouth and summon powerful gusts of wind. Be careful, John."
John’s lips curled. It was going to be a tough battle.
The group entered the industrial complex, the air thick with the scent of rotting meat. John stopped and scanned the area, his senses alert and his body tense. He turned right and saw Dalia with a tense expression. Her hands were trembling and her breath was ragged.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
"Dalia, are you okay?" John asked, his voice soft and soothing.
She glanced at him and nodded, her eyes wide and her face pale.
"I’m fine," she lied.
John’s brows furrowed, and he approached her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Don’t worry, Dalia. Just do as we practised and stand behind me. Keep yourself away from the monster and provide cover from a distance. You too, Maria."
They nodded and followed him, their footsteps echoing through the darkness. The group headed deeper into the industrial complex, the scent of death growing stronger with each passing moment.
Debris was strewn about the ground, and the walls were covered with deep gouges and claw marks. John’s eyes narrowed, tightening the grip on his Venomlash. He could sense something, something dark and powerful.
The group turned a corner and saw a massive creature, its body covered in dark grey fur and its eyes burning with crimson light. Its claws were long and sharp, and its teeth were curved and jagged. It had a long snout, a narrow head, and a powerful, muscular body.
John’s heart pounded in his chest, his muscles tensing and his hands trembling. He could sense this monster was almost as powerful as the Draconian, but unlike before, there were far fewer of them to strike down the Dire Wolf.
The monster howled, the sound echoing through the ruined buildings, and lunged towards them.
Dalia’s eyes widened, and she froze, her body rigid and her breathing ragged.
John’s body tensed, his muscles rippling and his skin burning with energy.
"Everyone, take cover!" he shouted.
The others ran for the nearest hiding place.
John lunged forward, his Venomlash raised and his body brimming with power. The Dire Wolf charged towards him, its claws extended and its teeth bared.
"Now, Dalia!" John shouted, his voice booming.
John moved aside and a fireball shot out from behind him, aimed directly at the monster.
The Dire Wolf leapt to the side, dodging the attack.
"Shit," Dalia cursed, her brows furrowed and her fists clenched.
Maria raised her hands and two balls of energy crackled in the air.
Maria’s energy balls looked like they were made of pure electricity. They were crackling and humming, sending out waves of heat and light. As they grew bigger, they shot at lightning speed towards the monster. A long, blurred line streaked between her hands and the Dire Wolf.
A thunderous explosion echoed throughout the ruins, sending chunks of concrete and shrapnel flying in every direction. The shockwave caused the ground beneath John’s feet to shake, and a wave of heat washed over him, causing the hairs on his arms to stand on end.
As the smoke cleared, John saw that the monster had survived, almost unscathed. His eyes went wide as he observed Maria already gathering more energy. The power of her skill was incredible and he couldn’t wait to "borrow" that skill from her.
"Octavia, Stephanie, we will circle the Dire Wolf. You two try to get its attention and I will try to restrain it. The rest of you, be prepared to attack when I succeed."
They nodded and took off.
The Dire Wolf growled and rushed towards them. Its speed was unbelievable and it quickly reached the two girls.
"Muscle strengthening!"
Stephanie and Octavia activated their skills and dodged the beast’s deadly claws.
John rushed forward and lashed at the monster’s hind legs.
"Shockwave!"
His Venomlash sang and a powerful blast of wind erupted from the blade, striking the Dire Wolf’s back. The monster’s body was sent flying across the battlefield, crashing into a concrete wall and leaving a massive dent.
John used his Haze Veil and Quiet Steps to gain speed and rushed towards the monster. He leapt and stood on the roof of the building above the Dire Wolf. A long black claw emerged from John’s side and hovered it above the Dire Wolf.
He his claw to pin the Dire Wolf against the wall and shouted, "Dalia, Maria, now!"
"Fireball!"
"Artillery!"
Two streams of blazing fire and a stream of crackling lightning shot towards the pinned Dire Wolf.
The monster trashed and tried to escape from John’s Shadow Claw, but John stomped the ground and struggled to keep it in place. The support fire connected and exploded, sending a wave of heat and debris flying in every direction.
John grimaced as the force of the impact knocked him back, and his shadow claw vanished. The monster had been heavily injured, but it was still standing.
"Shit, it’s not dead yet?" Dalia cried.
"Don’t worry, we’ll wear it down," Stephanie shouted, her voice confident.
"Just hang in there, we’ll kill it soon," Octavia added, her eyes narrowed and focused.
The Dire Wolf staggered to its feet, its body covered in burns and wounds. Its fur was singed, and its flesh was charred, but it was still breathing.
"It’s tough," Dalia muttered, her eyes wide and her breath ragged.
The Dire Wold howled and a bolt of lightning left its mouth before anyone could react. Anyone except Julia. The bolt was aimed at Dalia, but Julia had used her Strength Buff to lift a heavy block of concrete and protect Dalia. As the bolt made contact with Julia’s makeshift shield, it exploded into a shower of sparks, sending a wave of heat and energy washing over the group.
Julia grunted and staggered back, her body trembling and her face twisted with pain.
"Julia, are you okay?" Stephanie called out, her voice thick with worry.
"Yeah, I’m fine," she replied, her voice hoarse and strained, but as she tried to move her arms, a sharp pain shot through her shoulders and a shriek escaped her lips.
"Oh god, it’s broken," she gasped, her voice heavy with agony.
"Rest for now, Julia. We’ll handle this," John said as he came down from the roof. Jolene rushed to tend to Julia’s wounds and John focused on the Dire Wolf. Things might be more difficult than he thought, but he would not give up.
He raised his Venomlash and charged at the monster, his mind clear and his heart calm. He was determined to defeat this beast, no matter what.