After the footsteps returning to the Town of Beginnings completely disappeared, only the soft rustling of leaves in the wind remained in the forest.
Lin Yuan continued north.
Before long, a low stone wall appeared at the edge of the grassland. Behind the wall was an abandoned orchard, with rotten wooden crates scattered among the dead trees, and several pairs of scarlet eyes moving slowly in the darkness.
Six gray wolves.
Deeper still lay a larger black wolf. It had two rows of hard bony spikes on its back, and the markings on its head were a darker color than those of ordinary gray wolves.
Lin Yuan stopped outside the stone wall.
The average player would probably avoid this area. However, he would need a more robust weapon, and more dangerous monsters usually mean better loot.
He climbed over the stone wall.
The nearest gray wolf immediately raised its head, letting out a low growl. It didn't attack immediately, but instead moved two steps to the side. Another gray wolf then circled around behind Lin Yuan.
Compared to wild boars on the grasslands, they have already learned to surround and encircle.
Lin Yuan gripped the hilt of his sword but did not draw it.
A chilling killing intent emanated from him.
It's something that naturally developed through countless battles. Real beasts tuck their tails between their legs, ordinary enemies instinctively tense their muscles, and even magical beasts change their movements when they sense death approaching.
The six gray wolves in front of them did not react at all.
They continued moving along their respective paths, without even a slight disruption to their rhythm.
Black Wolf didn't even raise his head.
Lin Yuan suppressed his killing intent.
"I see."
These creatures exhibit hunting behavior, but lack genuine fear. They are not intimidated by overwhelming force, nor do they abandon their attack simply because the enemy is powerful.
The first gray wolf pounced from the right.
Lin Yuan drew his sword to meet the attack.
The cracked blade struck the wolf's claws, and the two red lines representing the limits of its endurance dropped simultaneously. The gray wolf was knocked away, and a crisp sound rang out from the longsword in Lin Yuan's hand.
The second one followed closely behind.
Ignoring its companion's fate, it still bit Lin Yuan's shoulder from the predetermined angle.
Lin Yuan could have sent it flying with a single punch, but he only took half a step back.
The wolf's jaws grazed past his chest.
The third one appeared from behind, and the fourth blocked the left side. The intervals between their attacks were almost exactly the same; as soon as the first one forced the prey to move, the subsequent claws would land on its retreat path in turn.
Lin Yuan dodged three attacks in succession without retaliating.
When the fifth attack began, he no longer looked at each wolf individually, but only at the first one that pounced on him.
Right side, behind, left side.
The action will not change because of failure, nor will the interval be shortened.
The first gray wolf leaped up.
Lin Yuan stepped to the right, passing under its belly. The second gray wolf, which was originally responsible for blocking the right side, pounced head-on, and the two monsters collided in mid-air.
He swung his sword backhand and slashed across their necks.
Click!
Both red lines were cleared at the same time, and the standard longsword broke completely from above the hilt.
The remaining four gray wolves had already rushed close.
Lin Yuan tossed aside the broken sword, reached out and grabbed the first wolf's head, slamming it into the ground. Another claw came down on his back, but he dodged it, grabbed the wolf's leg, and swung the monster to his left.
Blue light fragments exploded one after another.
In less than ten breaths, only the last black wolf remained in the orchard.
It finally stood up.
A deep growl sounded, and the bone spikes on the black wolf's back simultaneously glowed with a dark red light. Its body lowered, its front paws pressing inch by inch into the soil, clearly preparing for an attack far more powerful than a normal bite.
Lin Yuan bent down and picked up the broken sword.
When the red light reached its brightest point, the black wolf suddenly vanished from the spot.
It's not spatial movement.
It's just fast.
The system instantly increased its speed several times over, and its body crashed into Lin Yuan along a pre-determined straight line. If an ordinary person were to see this attack for the first time, they wouldn't even have time to raise their weapon.
Lin Yuan took a step forward.
He didn't dodge.
Just as the black wolf's front paws were about to touch his chest, he turned halfway to the side, letting the claws graz his clothes. His broken sword, held high, pierced the black wolf's jaw, following the wolf's own momentum.
The blade pierced through from above.
The black wolf, still in a pouncing stance, swept across the Lin Yuan, transforming into a large patch of blue light upon landing.
In the center of the light, a black dagger without a hilt fell into the mud.
Lin Yuan picked it up and tried swinging it a couple of times.
The blade is thicker than a standard longsword, but nearly half the length. It also has a horizontal line at the top, which is at least intact for now.
This trip was worthwhile.
Lin Yuan tucked the short sword into his belt and looked back at the spot where the black wolf had disappeared.
If what happened was the way combat is conducted in this world, then what is truly worth noting is not the sudden increase in speed.
Instead, once the red light appears, the attack is left with only one unchangeable path.
There will be no fear, nor hesitation.
Naturally, the decision wouldn't be changed on the spur of the moment.
The system is not afraid.
But it also doesn't lie.