Julian waited patiently, observing the lair from his concealed position. After a while, he noticed movement within. He heard howling, and soon, four out of the six shadow wolves emerged from the cave with sluggish steps, evidently affected by the poisonous fumes he had set up.
Smirking, Julian taunted them, "How did you like my gift?"
The leader of the pack, a large shadow wolf with a menacing horn, glared at him with fierce eyes, ready to devour him on the spot. It growled lowly to its underlings and then charged towards Julian, launching a blast of wind from its horn.
Realizing his taunt had worked, Julian ran in the opposite direction, ensuring the wolves followed him. He zigzagged through the forest, making their pursuit more difficult. As planned, two painful cries echoed behind him. Julian had dug numerous holes filled with long, poisoned thorns, designed to kill anything that fell into them instantly.
By the time the leader turned back, Julian had already vanished from sight, blending into the environment with the help of a leaf paste he had prepared. He waited for the leader to focus on the surroundings and carefully avoid the traps. Seizing the opportunity, Julian shot a fast flame bullet towards the head of the remaining underling, successfully killing it.
The leader, now completely enraged, lost all semblance of sanity and charged towards the direction of the projectile. Julian sprinted towards a nearby rocky area, preparing for a difficult fight. He knew this wolf was stronger than the others and even more formidable than the flaming leopard he had previously faced.
The shadow wolf formed claws of wind and slashed towards Julian with blinding speed. Realizing the potential damage of a direct hit, Julian created an explosion to block its vision, propelling himself into the air and shooting a flame laser toward the wolf's head. The wolf countered with another wind blast from its horn, but Julian increased his power output, successfully hitting its head and causing an explosion.
When the smoke cleared, Julian saw the wolf bleeding from its head but still standing firmly. The wolf absorbed mana from the surroundings and reinforced its body, making its defense much stronger. Julian knew he had to rely on physical attacks to break through.
He sped towards the wolf, creating a mini explosion from his feet, and formed flame claws to slash at it. The wolf did the same, and their claws collided, creating shockwaves. The battle was intense, with injuries accumulating on the wolf's body. Julian inhaled deeply and unleashed a fire breath on its face, momentarily stunning it.
Taking advantage of the opening, Julian delivered an uppercut kick, throwing the wolf into the air. He instantly flew over it and delivered a mana-reinforced punch to its skull. The wolf cried out in pain and hit the ground, creating a mini crater. Julian landed near it and saw it struggling to stand. The wolf's horn grew in height, releasing shockwaves of wind.
Julian punched the air in front of him, sending a wave of flames towards the wolf, but a wind blast extinguished the flames. The battle continued for several minutes, and Julian finally managed to sever the wolf's horn, greatly reducing its power. Blood flowed from the wolf's head as it gave a loud howl, signaling its final struggle.
Julian prepared his strongest claw attack while the wolf dropped its body defense and created an air slash. Their attacks collided, creating an explosion that scorched the area around them. Julian was thrown back but managed to regain his balance. When his vision cleared, he saw that his attack had prevailed, splitting the wolf in two. He approached the wolf and used devouring flames. A black halo exited from the wolf and entered Julian's palm, filling him with energy.
During the fight, Julian's bones remained intact thanks to his high body points and mana reinforcement. He flew to a distance and sat near a large rock, healing the cuts he had suffered. He waited for Sister Theresa's return, knowing she was keeping an eye on him through her flame summons.
After an hour, Sister Theresa appeared. "You did quite a hit with that last attack," she said, grinning.
"Why did you use the attack that you used against me? It would have ended the fight quicker?"
"I made up that spell on the spot so I didn't have enough experience with it to use in battle moreover it took a lot of time to charge. "
Satisfied with the explanation Sister gave Julian a new set of clothes.
"Were you around me all the time?" Julian asked.
"Why would I follow you? I was keeping an eye on your kills through my summons and only approached you as it was the last day. I have figured out what you lack and where you excel. I'm satisfied with your performance. Now, let's depart."
Julian stood up and went to find a strong branch for flying, but she interrupted him. "You will fly without the support of anything."
Julian gave her a horrified look, but she smacked him lightly, saying, "If you disobey my orders, I won't let you take a break in between."
He had no other choice but to comply. Sister Theresa flew on her broom, while Julian used Jet Flames, draining every bit of his stamina. She always sped up whenever she saw him adjusting to her pace.
The journey, which would usually take a few days at normal speed, was completed in a few days thanks to Sister Theresa's relentless pace. She allowed regular breaks, preventing his muscles from straining too much. By the time they reached the city, it was already midnight Tt but the capital city was full of lights, even at that hour.
They entered the church, where Sister Theresa handed Julian new clothes and showed him his bed. He took a bath, got dressed, and immediately fell asleep on his new bed, too tired to do anything else, forgetting even about dinner.
**************
The next day, Julian awoke feeling more refreshed but hungry. The events of the past days weighed on his mind, and he realized he had made significant progress. His body and mana points had increased, and he had developed new spells and techniques. He had faced formidable beasts and survived, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Reflecting on his experiences, Julian knew he still had much to learn and many challenges ahead. His time in the grand magic zone had tested him, pushing his limits and forcing him to grow stronger. He was determined to continue improving, mastering his abilities, and preparing for whatever the future held.
As he looked out the window at the bustling city, Julian felt a renewed sense of purpose. The journey was far from over, and he was ready to face whatever came next with the skills and knowledge he had gained.