Level Up

The wolf in front of Lin Tian snarled, its maw dripping with a reddish mixture of blood and saliva. The more enraged it became, the more its fur bristled, ready to tear apart the intruder who had dared to enter its territory.

Lin Tian remained calm, his movements measured and deliberate as he advanced. His eyes flicked between the five wolves that began to move, encircling him in a tight formation. Although he was still on the beginner's continent, these beasts were not to be taken lightly.

In this realm, there was more to survival than just character stats. The ability to skillfully execute one's techniques was just as crucial. Anyone lacking proficiency or hesitating to unleash their abilities would struggle, even against the weakest of monsters. That was the purpose of the trials—to test not only one's skills but also their confidence before venturing into the untamed wilderness.

And for Lin Tian himself, he knew exactly what he was capable of and what awaited him. With his staff in hand, there was no trace of doubt in his expression, only unwavering determination and a complete absence of fear.

The nearest wolf, driven mad by hunger, could no longer contain its aggression. With a guttural growl, it lunged at him, its fangs bared. But Lin Tian didn't flinch. His composure remained unbroken as he adjusted his grip on the staff. With a swift turn of his body, he executed a fluid sweeping motion, striking the beast mid-leap.

"Autumn Swing!" Lin Tian shouted, and the staff in his hands erupted with an orange aura tinged with a reddish hue.

As the weapon made contact with the wolf, leaves materialized and scattered from the staff, creating a mesmerizing display. The skill's visual appeal was undeniable, but its effectiveness was another matter.

The wolf recoil as if it had been slapped, staggering back a few steps before shaking its head, frustration clear in its eyes. Despite the impressive animation, the attack had done little damage. The wolf's HP bar had dipped by 5%, and its companions, seeing their comrade attacked, rushed forward in a frenzy, eager to rend him apart.

"Even this skill barely made a dent," Lin Tian muttered, eyeing the wolf's HP bar. "What did I expect from a free wooden stick from the trials?"

Yet, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as the pack of wolves closed in, their fury palpable. With a smooth motion, he twirled his staff around his hand and assumed a low, poised stance.

"Cold Sweep!" Lin Tian called out, this time gripping the staff with both hands.

He repeated the sweeping motion, but now, there was a difference—a sharpness in his movements, a focused intensity that resonated through the staff as it sliced through the air.

This skill was unlike the one before, its range expanding to strike four of the wolves simultaneously. The animation shifted as well, with small smoke of ice appearing, chilling the beasts and slowing both their movement and attack speed. The frost-laden debuff granted Lin Tian the perfect opportunity to follow up with a combo.

"Autumn Swing!" He cast the skill again, quicker this time, and the cumulative Damage Over Time began to show its effect. With the debuff stacking up to three times, the wolves began to feel the pain of each successive hit.

But Lin Tian wasn't finished. As the wolves staggered back from the onslaught, he charged forward with a burst of speed. Leaping into the air, he raised his staff high before bringing it down with force. "Nature's Slam!" he declared.

The staff struck the ground, and a surge of green energy exploded outward, leaves swirling up like those from his Autumn Swing, but now vibrant and verdant. The wolves were caught in the blast, knocked down and immobilized for a few seconds.

Despite the barrage, it wasn't enough to finish them off—the wolves' HP bars still hadn't dropped below half.

"Their regeneration is fast, too," Lin Tian muttered, eyeing the bars hovering above the wolves. "Looks like I'll need to keep that DOT constant if I want to take them down."

The Ash Wolves rose, their rage noticeable. For Lin Tian, taking down these level 10 monsters was proving to be a time-consuming task, but as long as he could avoid taking damage, he was content. Despite his role as a tank, meant to absorb damage, the sheer level difference made each hit still devastating. He had to tread carefully.

As the wolves attacked in unison, their speed now doubled, Lin Tian felt a pang of anxiety. Their claws and fangs lashed out at him with relentless ferocity. Forced to evade and defend, he maneuvered with precision, swerving and deflecting their snarls while delivering counterattacks. But with each move, his stamina dwindled, and he knew he had to conserve it.

"I underestimated them," Lin Tian chuckled to himself as he retreated, noting that the wolves' HP had dropped below 50%. "But this ends now."

Reaching into his inventory, he grabbed the Stamina Potion he had earned as a reward from the trials. He downed the potion, feeling his energy surge back just as the wolves closed in on him. With his stamina replenished, Lin Tian took a deep breath and began spinning his staff with dazzling acrobatics.

"Summer Breeze!" he shouted, swinging the spinning staff upward from bottom to top. A powerful gust of wind, laced with searing heat, erupted from his weapon, crashing into the wolves. The intense, hot air buffeted them, forcing the pack to knock back from the force of the attack.

As the scorching wind lashed out, all five Ash Wolves were inflicted with a burning DOT. But Lin Tian didn't stop there. "Nature's Slam!" he shouted, slamming his staff into the ground. The force knocked down the beasts, creating the perfect opening for him to press his advantage.

"Autumn Swing!" he called, layering a second DOT onto the wolves. With their health rapidly depleting, he unleashed, "Cold Sweep!" The icy debuff slowed their movements further and extended the duration of the crowd control effects already plaguing them.

"Autumn Swing!" Lin Tian deployed the skill again, and now the wolves' HP bars were nearly drained. The "Burn" effect from Summer Breeze continued to chip away at their remaining health, leaving the Ash Wolves defenseless.

Within moments, the burning damage did its work, and the wolves collapsed, defeated. Lin Tian had successfully taken down five out of the ten wolves.

Breathing heavily from the intense fight, Lin Tian paused as a notification popped up before him.

[Congratulations! You have reached Level 5!

Reward:

HP: +50

Attack: +50

Defense: +50

Recover 100% HP]

He felt a wave of relief wash over him. Nine years ago, he had only managed to fight these wolves at level 7, but now, here he was, taking them down at level 1. This improvement showed that he still had it. However, just as he began to relax, he heard the sound of hooves crunching on the fallen leaves. His instincts flared, and he spun around.

A wolf had closed in on him, its mouth wide open and fangs aimed straight at him. There was no time to parry or evade. But before the beast could reach him, something struck it hard across the face, sending it flying away from Lin Tian.

"That was close," said a woman's voice. Lin Tian turned to see a familiar figure standing nearby, her gaze steady as their eyes met. "It still hurts when it strikes you."

"You are—" Lin Tian started, recognizing her immediately. She was the woman he had spoken to when he first entered the trials. Her ID was displayed as Eunhae.

"Is that your real name, Feilian?" she asked, her tone light. "I didn't expect to run into you here, but I suppose you're on the same mission as I am, right?"

She spun her nunchaku with a fluid motion, the weapon whirling through the air as she approached Lin Tian, who was still kneeling. "We have to take them down together. There are a lot more of them lurking around."

Lin Tian's eyes darted toward the dense underbrush, where more wolves began to emerge. The sight of their fallen mates had driven them into an enraged animal. Without warning, the wolves lifted their heads and let out a series of howls that echoed ominously through the forest.

"Did they just call for reinforcements?" Eunhae froze, her mind racing as she considered the implications.

"Yeah, but it's more than that," Feilian said as he rose to his feet, his voice tense but determined. "Something else is coming. We can't afford to turn back now."

Eunhae nodded, her grip tightening on her nunchaku. "Then let's show them what we are capable of!"