Chapter 19: Bronze 5 vs. Steel 1, Part 2
"Let us begin the second round?"
The Shadow Wolf simply stared at the human, whose aura was becoming increasingly threatening.
With a swift motion, Patrick drove his staff into the ground, and the air around him crackled with energy, like a storm gathering strength before its unleashment.
"Taste this," he murmured to himself. A surge of wind, sharper and more powerful than any prior attack, erupted from the staff like a tempest set free. The airflow roared toward the monster at a maddening speed.
Swoosh!
Sensing the incoming attack, the beast attempted to sidestep, aiming to dodge the gust, but a portion of it struck regardless. The wind was razor-sharp, tearing into the monster’s flesh in multiple places. Black blood sprayed everywhere as the creature evaded the rest of the assault.
Fortunately for the wolf, it had dodged enough to avoid grievous injury.
"What do you think of that?" Patrick asked with a questioning look. The runes on his staff pulsed rapidly, making it clear that the Mage’s attack had been amplified by his artifact.
The beast let out a roar of pain that shattered the air. It staggered but did not fall. Its eyes narrowed, its fury swelling to an overwhelming degree.
Patrick could not fight indefinitely. He was, after all, only a Bronze 5 Mage. His mana reserves did not allow him to cast such potent spells endlessly. The artifact he wielded merely enhanced his spells by one tier, making them deadlier, but the cost was evident: greater mana consumption, stamina, and focus.
With a sudden leap, the Shadow Wolf lunged forward, ignoring its wounds, its claws poised to rend the human’s body.