The Scun wolf’s crimson eyes landed on us. Sizing us like prey.

Its towering figure overshadowed the small light that remained.

Breath of ice, fangs of ice.

My fist was clenched, my stance lowered.

The wolf growled, showing its fangs further. Ready to pounce.

Quinette drew closer to me, eventually positioning herself between me and the wolf. In a protective stance, her blade raised.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Making sure we defeat this thing. You aren’t strong enough — I’ll attack it first; when it’s damaged, you can sweep in to attack."

"You’re clearly underestimating me. Step aside."

I tried to pass her. Not needing her protection. She spread her wings, blocking my path.

"Don’t."

A single word. Her voice more tense.

For a second I didn’t react, hands over her wings, about to move them out of my way.

Why is she protecting me? I muttered to myself.

I know when people are rude or arrogant. Though she is complicated to read, I could see it — she genuinely wanted to protect me.

It took me back to the cliff. When she tried to go after Amiko.

At first I thought she was just being stupid, but... she wanted to risk her life to save me.

Still, either way that’s stupid. I’m someone she barely knows. And isn’t under the queen’s command to protect with her life.

My guess was, being a Baroness and commander of the dragon border warriors, it wouldn’t be any surprise she had gotten used to her underlings taking shelter under her wings.

Expecting me to do the same.

No way I would agree to such. I don’t need your protection, Quinette. I can protect myself just fine.

She looked over her shoulder.

Her face twisted in annoyance. "That’s what ’You’ believe. We can’t—"

Before she could finish her words, my eyes widened as the beast lunged at us.

Its claws were raised in the air.

Its large figure surged forward.

Jaw wide open.

With a roar.

Its shadow swallowed us. Crimson eyes burning deep.

Time seemed to slow as death seemed imminent.

My reaction suddenly seemed slow compared to the beast’s strike.

Before Quinette could even look back, she already saw its shadow, but was too distracted to react.

Its paws descended on us.

Each inch it drew closer, I could already feel its force before it landed.

Instinctively, mana flooded to my legs, concentrated. My muscles tensed; I kicked back, reached, grabbing Quinette by her armor at the edge. My fingers brushed it, not grabbing her fully.

Shit.

I jumped away, leaving her behind. At the mercy of the beast’s paw.

Crash. The beast’s paw smashed into the ground.

Snow burst out; its force pushed me further from my jump. I rolled in the snow.

I had escaped the attack, but —

Quinette. I quickly pushed off the snow, crunching steps as I snapped to where she had been standing.

The snow still billowed in the air. I hoped Quinette had escaped the attack.

I would have been crushed like a mere insect.

That beast is so fast. Our argument had left us unprepared for the attack.

Tsk. I tightened my jaw. "How are you not dead..."

When the view finally became clear, I saw the Scun wolf’s huge paw cracked into the ground. I watched, focused, for it to lift its paw.

When it did so.

There was none. The snow was white. No stain, no spill of blood.

Just a huge crater of dark soil, so deep it pierced past the thick layer of snow.

My eyes darted around, searching for her.

My chest dropped when I spotted her at the edge of the treeline — she had managed to wrench out of the way before it got her.

Our eyes met. "Attack together," keeping my voice above the howling wind.

She hesitated, shifting her eyes to the Scun.

After a nod.

Her figure streaked, blade catching the light.

The Scun wolf’s eyes landed on Quinette, following her movement — despite that, I moved to shake it off.

I watched, but wasn’t planning to stay behind forever.

She had suggested I attack after she had caused damage.

I had a different plan. Better to strike together.

My fist clenched.

No blade — my disadvantage.

I knew only basic fist fighting. I scanned the beast’s body, the thick layer of fur around it, its spikes — all of it dulled my blows.

I flattened my palm, focusing mana to the edge of my palm.

The focused mana gave the edge of my palm a blade’s feel.

With it I can cause a little damage.

It was much easier for me, since [Adapt] didn’t just work on attacks directed at me.

But the mana widened me. Could adapt to what I imagined.

Making my mana control peak.

I cut through the air swiftly with my hands, testing it.

The cold air filled my lungs as I took a deep breath.

Ready. I dashed to the Scun wolf, treading the ice.

Wind washed past me; the glow of my mana left trails of light.

Quinette was already on the wolf. It followed her every move. She cleaved, aiming at its leg. But it avoided her attack — too easily for a huge beast.

While it was focused on her, it had its back to me.

I raised my hand, dashed past one of its four legs.

My hand carved through the flesh.

Painting the edge of my palm in hot blood, splashed on the white snow.

It was deep — compared to the beast’s size it was almost like a scratch.

It let out a sharp breathe.

I didn’t stop dashing; using my momentum I ran to another leg.

This time it was smarter. Its huge leg lifted off the ground, it skidded backwards.

Leaving me to slice at thin air.

I skidded to a stop in a lower stance, my feet dragged through the snow leaving trails, till my force slowed to a stop.

When I raised my head, its eyes fixed on me with deadly intent.

Focused on me this time. It was left vulnerable to Quinette, standing at its blind spot.

She launched herself into the air, wings shot wide open, flapping hard. With her blade she dove down, pointed at the wolf’s neck.

Her mana flared. Quinette expelled hundreds of cutting slashes that filled the air, raining down.

Dark sickles with crimson highlights painted the sky blood.

The sky cracked with thunder.

The wolf snapped up, swung its tail — its tail collided with the attacks; some slipped through, meeting the wolf, but doing no damage, bouncing off. Some ended with a cut at its fur.

Swoosh.

Quinette burst through the hundreds of attacks she had sent.

I could feel it.

The amount of mana expelled from her. This was an all-out attack.

Which would leave her vulnerable after the strike.

It was up to me. The finishing blow had to land.