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Only a dozen or so seconds had passed since the fight began, but Raphael had already used the Wolf Fang Art to punch three holes in the Zombie.
None had inflicted a fatal wound, but they had damaged his muscles and bones, drawing dark red, foul-smelling blood.
The footwork of the Nine Wolf Shadow Steps was utterly unfamiliar to the Beyonders of this world of mysteries. This Zombie, for instance, only knew that his strength lay in close combat. To him, the most practical tactic was to close the distance quickly and attack with his immense strength and agility.
His formidable defenses and vitality also allowed him to trade injuries with his enemies without restraint.
But against the Nine Wolf Shadow Steps, that tactic was like punching cotton, leaving him with a sense of helplessness.
Every step the Werewolf before him took seemed to defy his expectations. The Zombie was certainly fast too, but he always fell just short of catching his opponent.
What the Zombie did not know was that the Nine Wolf Shadow Steps included footwork specifically designed for sustained close combat against Beyonders at the early Deification Realm-in other words, at the level of Sequence 6.
After landing several successful attacks, Raphael grew increasingly composed. He employed his footwork without haste or impatience, looking for openings to strike.
During the intense battle, Raphael also gained new insights into the subtleties of the Wolf Fang Art.
For example, every target specified by the Wolf Fang Art had a purpose. In sustained close combat, its primary targets were the area between the back of the enemy's neck and shoulders, the back, the lower back, and the backs of the knees.
Although none of these were vital spots, their muscles were needed for virtually every movement.
Gradually, even the Zombie, whose body was like steel, began to struggle. Although none of the Werewolf's attacks were fatal, each movement felt as if it were tearing open several wounds at once, despite his usual indifference to pain.
The tremendous strength and speed needed in combat had caused him to tear several of his wounds even wider.
The increasingly intense pain and his weakening body gradually brought a measure of reason back to the frenzied Zombie.
Under normal circumstances, the Zombie would not have been reduced to such a sorry state. Tonight, his strength had been weakened by roughly a quarter, and his mind was in such turmoil that he was fighting almost entirely on instinct.
Realizing that he might not be able to defeat this Werewolf alone, the Zombie threw back his head and let out a shriek. He forced himself to keep fighting Raphael for a while longer, but none of his companions answered his cry, and he simply could not catch the Werewolf.
The Zombie turned and ran. Raphael tried to pursue him, but a Zombie was faster than a Werewolf. Once his opponent committed to fleeing, he soon broke free of Raphael's relentless harassment.
Panting heavily, Raphael watched the Zombie leave and flashed an arrogant grin.
With a little more time spent cultivating the Demon Source Scripture, his Wolf Fang Claw would become even more powerful.
By then, the technique's strongest strike would be capable of damaging a Zombie's internal organs. With careful preparation, he might truly have a chance of killing one.
After a short rest, Raphael was about to search for the Werewolf named Jonathan when his spirituality suddenly stirred. Turning his head, he saw the Werewolf wearing a silver necklace approaching from deep within the woods.
Jonathan watched Raphael warily, then glanced in the direction the Zombie had fled.
The necklace around his neck was glowing faintly, looking like a string of fireflies.
Raphael guessed that it was a Sealed Artifact that allowed him to retain a degree of rationality.
He tried to communicate with him. "Come with me."
The Werewolf wearing the silver necklace bared his teeth and let out a low, bestial growl at Raphael.
Raphael scratched his head. Apparently, the Sealed Artifact's effects were quite limited. Otherwise, Jonathan would not have left the Sickly Lady's side because of that earlier howl.
Since words would not work, he would have to use a rougher approach.
Raphael bared his own wolf fangs at Jonathan, then suddenly charged at him.
Jonathan, in his Werewolf form, seemed to know that he was no match for Raphael. After a bluffing roar, he turned and fled.
Things became simple after that. Raphael kept chasing him, and whenever Jonathan veered off course, he rushed forward and swiped him with his claws.
Amid Jonathan's pained howls, they would head in the right direction again.
After more than half an hour of this chase, they finally reunited with the Sickly Lady.
The distant gunshots in the woods had also stopped over ten minutes earlier. Raphael did not know whether the Machinery Hivemind had killed the Wraith and the Devil or whether the two had escaped.
Raphael guessed they had escaped. Beyonders of those two Sequences were both difficult to kill.
After running all that way, the Werewolf Jonathan was covered in wounds. Somewhat fearfully, he hid behind the tree where the Sickly Lady was waiting.
The Sickly Lady let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness. We finally got him back."
Raphael held out a hand. "My reward."
The Sickly Lady took a small wooden box from inside her coat and tossed it to Raphael.
Raphael caught it and opened it for a look. Inside was a green ring.
He pinched the ring between his thumb and forefinger and infused it with spirituality. Sure enough, he instantly became proficient in medicine, feeling as though he could pick up a scalpel and perform surgery.
All things considered, the Sickly Lady's payment was rather unremarkable. But Raphael had never cared much about this deal in the first place. He had only herded Jonathan back because he happened to run into him.
Raphael closed the wooden box, waved to the Sickly Lady, and turned to leave.
The Sickly Lady spoke up. "This forest is still very dangerous. Why don't we travel together?"
Raphael shook his head. "It's more dangerous with you two weighing me down."
With that, he quickly left without looking back.
A flicker of disappointment crossed the Sickly Lady's eyes. She had wanted to persuade him to join the Temperance Faction, or at least establish a reliable connection with him.
She then glanced at her subordinate Jonathan. Seeing that he had only superficial wounds, she said, "Let's go."
Although the Sickly Lady was somewhat weak, she could still run faster than an ordinary person. Meanwhile, the Sealed Artifact around Jonathan's neck allowed him to recognize his elder sister even on the night of a full moon, and he would obey her instructions most of the time.
Soon, their figures also disappeared into the depths of the woods.
The next morning, aboard a train bound for Backlund.
Sitting in a freight car, Raphael yawned. His face was pale, and he looked drained, as though he had gone several days without rest.
Although he had been able to maintain his Werewolf form all night without feeling tired, the following morning he felt so exhausted that he might fall apart. His spirituality also showed signs of depletion. In this state, Raphael did not even dare to transform.
After parting with the Sickly Lady the previous night, he had retrieved the backpack he had left in the valley and run toward a railway. Once dawn broke, he had ended his transformation, put on his clothes, and jumped aboard a train back to Backlund.
He had no intention of doing anything today. He would simply go home and sleep all day.
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