-Wolf territory. Midday. 3RD POV-

Past the first afternoon Quarter on the Marshlands in Wolf territory, the tilted sunshine rays pierced the darkened clouds, adorning the sky and bathing the grassland in golden hues. The cool wind blew from the south with periodic gusts that rustled the sea of grass all around the two groups of four and five wolves converged at the charred insects' corpses. After exchanging greetings and information, they inspected the aftermath of the unknown battle in the sky for a few minutes before noticing the moving figures over half a mile to the West. Unsure of what was happening, they decided to send three of their fastest members, wind wolves, to scout and assist if needed before reporting back. The rest behind on standby as they continued to analyze the site.

Meanwhile, on the southern part of the Marshlands where the wind blew on the muddled waters and drove sparkling waves to the northwest under sunlight, a purple-blue Dragon splashed his way through towards the white-haired girl less than half a block away. *Thruash! Thu-ruash!* His unsteady footsteps and recovering wounds reeked of desperation and weakness. His Spirit was but a tiny fraction of the former and Magic reserves were barely enough to assist his speech. But he was still a Dragon. And he had to help his partner somehow.

Around 15-meters from the shore, a white-haired human girl stood on the foot-deep chilly waters holding a crystal dagger in hand and confronting a Wolf much bigger than herself. She was uncomfortable with all the bruises on her legs and exposed to the cold without using magic for warm and practically in undergarments. She was tense, shuddering nervously from time to time, wondering how to keep the other two Beasts Safe and defeat the mindless one. But she didn't have the strength nor the right Magic arts.

"GRRRNN!!" The 4-meter tall Wolf on the north snarled with a lower posture, muzzle scrunched, and hackles on end. His fur dyed with dried blood while fresh blood dribbled from dozens of wounds and the burst left eye. He was wary of the powerful scents coming from the two creatures that appeared and became more agitated as the Dragon got closer. All the while, considering the genderless Wolf crouching on his left side as helpless prey.

As a shadow of a large cloud loomed over them, the tension rose. The Blue wolf growled louder while throwing threatening snaps, trying to intimidate the girl. The Dragon felt relieved watching the small colorful Wolf safe and sound next to the Alpha and praised. "Good Job!"

The girl smiled, and also felt relieved for a moment but quickly recalled his condition and became frantic. Without taking her eyes off the menacing Wolf, the girl bent the light to see behind and noticed the scaly Beast 15 meters away already. Any closer and he would enter the magic range of the Alpha! She moved immediately her right arm and made a stop motion at the back before commanding. "STAY BACK!"

The purple-blue Beast flinched and started slowing down, coming to a stop 10 meters away from the small figure in front. A behavior that was seen as obedience by the other Beasts. He looked at the girl and noticed her extended arm, tremble. She retracted her extended arm and clenched her little firsts, taking a combat stance, while holding the crystal dagger in reverse with the left hand. Hm? She's trying hard, huh? Nefiru determined and nodded proudly.

The genderless Beast also became agitated at the sight of the scaly Beast and whimpered. "Wuoh!!? A Wyvern now...?!"

"Huh? Who's a Wyvern!?" Nefiru barked back angrily from behind the girl.

"!!... It talks too?" Why do these creatures speak our language?

"We allies!" Shaila explained for the beast behind her, making their allegiance known. She then pointed her right arm at the larger canine and ordered in growls. "Get away! He dangerous!"

"What?! No! You hurt Father! He is just angry... Leave us alone! Grrrr..."

"Tsk!" Shaila clicked her tongue and twisted the corner of her lips annoyed.

On contrast, the Dragon felt wronged and started losing his patience. "Grrrr-- This ungrateful fool! We are--!" He snarled angrily before the girl interrupted.

"It's alright, Nefi." She assured in Stilus. "I'll just lure the Alpha away. You do something about the rainbow Wolf."

"...Alright..." Erm, being protected by a little girl looks weird... Feels weird... Nefiru retorted before glancing over her. The feral canine was observing them cautiously with his single eye. His gaze squinted in anger and desire to kill, also appeared to have some intelligence. Huh? Why isn't he attacking? The Dragon realized and advised in Stilus. "Careful, Shaila! He doesn't look as mindless as we thought."

"Uhn..." The girl answered absentmindedly as she was troubled with her task. How should I wound him? Should I blind him or trick him?

"Keep your cool. Think things through if you have the time..."

"Uhn..." Can I evade long enough to tire him? Can it use Magic? ...

"If it gets too dangerous, just go for the kill, okay?"

"..." The girl's lips twitched annoyed and rebuked angrily. "I can do this, Nefi!"

The Dragon was taken aback and reflected. Ouch... Did I lecture too much? "...Alright..."

The girl prepared her Magic and continued pondering under the gaze of the feral Beast. A wolf can only move in certain ways... Remember, remember... I'm small and nimble now. I can dodge a big and slow Wolf...

Meanwhile, the feral Wolf was gradually feeling less threatened. He had judged the furless creature to be their leader, but it was small and feeble-looking. His memories were a hazy mess, but he remembered eating bigger things. Rather, the pain in his eye was becoming unbearable and shook his head until the crystal dagger dislodged. *Plop!*

The Dragon was gonna going to say something when he noticed the wolf change behavior and stopped with his mouth partially open.

"Hyuu..." The blue Wolf whimpered in pain while wobbling his head around. It stopped a second later, blinked a few times, and locked his sight on the furless creature. It may be small, but its Rank was higher than his, and it had already injured him with an ambush. It was a threat, and it had to be eliminated. "GRRNN" The Water Beast snarled menacingly once again. Anger welled from the depths of his mind as muddled thoughts urged him to retaliate. How dare these weak creatures invade his turf and ambush him?

Nefiru saw the hesitant girl and warned sternly. "...Shailaaaa!"

"Uhn?!" The girl flinched and looked around, stopping on the large eye glaring at her sharply. "I know..." She muttered in a serious tone and tightened her grip.

The scaly Beast relaxed and remained on the spot while the colorful Wolf didn't want to intervene and stood in place, observing, and waiting...

The enraged Wolf willed the Magic outside of his body to burst forth, pushing the higher Rank's back slightly.

"Gnn!" The girl resisted, but she was losing in quantity.

*Whoosh!* The clash made the air and water surface tremble while the air stagnated slightly.

But the Beast wasn't done. The pain, the indignation, the rage--he wanted to let it all out! He took a firm posture, followed by opening his maw while inhaling air along a portion of his Magic, then held it in for a moment before opening again. "WUAAAAWRR!" He roared thunderous, instinctively sending his Magic energy transmitting his hostile intent embedded in it.

The girl received the brunt of the ferocious Spiritual force and grimaced. "Guh!" She uttered, staggering half a step back and looking down for a moment. Uaagh!!? An Spiritual attack?

The smaller Wolf flinched and looked at the Alpha wearily before taking a few steps back, slowly. But the Blue Wolf just felt the urges to eliminate the threat and resume feasting.

So noisy... Nefiru dismissed the dramatic warning as he was outside of the magic range of the Magical Wolf, and advised the girl, instead. "Impose your Will, Shaila!"

"Ye-yes.." She stuttered and tightened her grip, empowering herself, before shouting back. "HAA!"

"WRUAH!" The blue wolf snarled one more time and charged at the girl *WHOOSH!* The large Beast approached with his long muzzle slightly turned to his left. He could only rely on the left eye's field of vision to hunt now.

The girl faced the rushing Beast with an unblinking gaze. Gradually, as it approached, she became frightened. Her heart rate began rising, and the adrenaline rushing once again. But she was rooted in place wondering where to dodge. To the left, she could avoid the large jaws easier, but she would remain in the wolf's vision. To the right, she might get hit and stay in the Wolf's blind spot, but he would find her with his Magic anyway. In those instances of indecision, the Beast reached the girl and lashed at her while opening his maw.

The Dragon couldn't take seeing her inaction anymore and yelled. "DOOODGE!"

Watching nervously the jaws large enough to swallow her whole and the glinting row of fangs that would end her with a bite, she kicked her ground and jumped left with all her might. However, her feet sunk into the semisolid mud and lost the force to move out of the way in time. "Ah!?" Her face hardened in utter panic. Her heart was thumping in her chest and the perspiration gleamed on her face. She could only brace for impact now. *Wham!* "Hya--!" The Wolf's frame arrived at her chest and pushed her right arm onto her body before sending her flying. "AAahhh!" *Pwuassh!* "Umph!" She landed 3 meters away to the southwest and continued tumbling on the shallow waters. *Pwuash!* "Gyahk! Urgh--" *Pwuash!* The girl groaned before coming to a stop, partially submerged, facing down while bubbles surfaced as she swallowed water.

Watching that, the Dragon felt a cold jolt run through his body and made an expression filled with worry. "SHAILAAA!" He roared exasperatedly and rushed to help immediately.

"Wuoh?" The blue wolf realized that he missed and opened his only eye to search for the prey.

The girl dragged her arms in, tightened the grip on her fists and pushed up, getting on all fours. "Koff! Kough! Puah!" She coughed out the muddy water as more drips from her soaked hair, making her unable to open her eyes. C-cold... It hurts... She shivered, soaked in the chilly waters and got on a knee as the mud beneath gave in to her weight slightly. I need to get to solid ground! She determined while stabilizing her body, then wiped her eyes, and gripped the crystal dagger tightly before getting up.

The colored wolf, feeling remorseful for its early cowardice, didn't hesitate very long before deciding to help its Father. Not this time! The genderless creature resolved itself and moved closer to block the Dragon. After all, it couldn't feel any magic from him. But it still wasn't confident enough to fight off the scaly creature. Instead, it would try persuasion. "GO AWAY! GRRR!" It demanded in the most menacing posture it could muster while snarling.

The Dragon glared at the small canine for an instant before doing a sharp turn to the left, going around it before looking at the north. The girl had begun running further north while the blue Beast finish turning towards her and dashed, splashing water all around. Nefiru panicked once again and gritted his fangs in frustration. Even if he reached the Beast, he could only hinder it momentarily. "DOOOGE!" He shouted in an admonishing tone while catching up.

The girl heard the warning and expanded her Magic behind right away.

The genderless Beast followed on the side. It noticed the lizard wasn't attacking and attempted to block him again.

The blue wolf reached the human in but a few steps and snapped open his maw. "GRRUAWRR!" He snarled, lashing out at the retreating small figure. "Ah?!" The girl sensed the incoming muzzle and pushed the ground while tilting her body to the right. However, in her desperation, she still put too much force, and her feet sunk into the mud while sliding to the left. The furry jaws reached the girl and began closing over her legs. She could almost feel her legs being ripped apart in the next instant. But in that split second, she was also retracting her legs and curling up into a ball, trying to avoid such fate from becoming a reality. *WHAP!* The large maw closed on the girl's spot, diving into the mud and carved the bottom of the pond as it continued forward with the momentum. *WHAM!* The furry wolf muzzle grazed the girl on the side. "Hyah!" Shaila let out a shriek before rolling on the muddy waters towards the north. *Puwuash!*

She stopped two meters away and got on all fours. "Haa! Haa...!" She panted facing down and feeling a throbbing pain in her waist. "Augh!" She let out a moan and winced. But narrowingly escaping death, the adrenaline was rushing in her veins. The cold was but forgotten now. I can't be afraid of a little pain... She determined, clenched her teeth, and started crawling away.

The Dragon stopped and breathed a sigh of relief. "Huuu~" He then looked at the girl again with a frown and scolded loudly. "Don't get knocked doownnnnn!! Lower your posture! Balance your body better!"

The Light user crawling away heard and scrunched her face mildly upset. "Ugggh!" She arched her body, squeezed the mud beneath her feet, and leaped into a sprint.

Nefiru then switched his attention to the Small Wolf blocking his way and threw it a sharp glare before announcing. "You...are making me angry!"

Hearing that, the colorful canine lowered its ears for a moment, then gathering a bit of courage, it barked back. "You attacked us!"

"NO! We saved you! Twice! Now, MOVE! My partner needs me."

"NO!" I won't fail Father again...

"You fool! We are trying to help you. Your Alpha lost his Mind. He's Feral now--"

"LIES!"

"Listen to me, damn it!"

"I won't trust a Wyverns that eat us!"

The two Beasts argued and ended up snarling at each other up close. ""GRR! HRRRNN!""

"GRUuuu..." The feral Beast pulled out his head, leaving behind a hole in the lake, and dripping muddy water from his mouth. It looked around and quickly found the girl.

"Hah! Hah!..." As Shaila ran away desperately, she realized that Wolf was relying on his sight, at least for now, and reflected her image on the side. This confused the wolf, but only for a moment as she could not hide the splashing of muddy water around.

The Dragon was waiting for an opening, but the genderless Wolf continued blocking the way. He was growing frustrated with the situation. Daaamn! If we kill that crazy Wolf, this idiot will hold a grudge for sure... What to do, what to do--Ah! The Cables! We can tangle his legs. But...my Magic is useless now... Nefiru determined in short moments and stopped forcing his way through. He started using his forepaws to dislodge the metal wides on his Collar and uncoil them as the colorful canine watched, confused. Though it didn't feel threatened. The scaly Beast looked over the small wolf to the north as his paws trembled nervously handling the wires. "HOLD ON, SHAILA! Just a little more..."

Although the girl running to the north through the water didn't hear everything, she thought that he had a solution. However, she didn't get very far before the Wolf found her location again and rushed. *WHOSH!* The furry Beast accelerated towards the small figure while opening his mouth. Just a little more and he would finally get the elusive prey. The rows of large fangs.closed in around the frame of the girl, trapping her possible escapes.

Shaila could feel danger closing in and feared that she would slip on the mud again if she turned. But she had to risk it. *Wruooshh!* The white-haired girl did a sharp turn to the right, running awkwardly towards the shore as her feet slide on the muddy bottom.

*WHAP!* The Wolf bit down where the prey should be. But his mouth was empty. "Wuoh!!?" He uttered in confusion and opened his eye while slamming his front paws. *KRCHHH!* He had not expected the timely dodge. However, as the feral Alpha slid on the Marsh, his right foreleg still rammed the girl on the side. *Wham!* "GYA--!?" Shaila let out a shriek as her body was flung for two meters to the north while doing half a turn in the air. *Pwuash!* "Umph!" She landed face down and stopped moving for a moment. Bubbles began rising from the turbulent waters over her face.

Shit! Shit! Shit! Nefiru cursed in his mind as he waited for the girl to get up nervously. "Get uuuUUP!"

*Krrchh~swuash!* The Beast came to a stop and backtracked while looking for the girl again.

The girl's body flinched and got on all fours as fast as she could, splashing water away as she rose from the pond.

"Don't lose sight of the enemy! Shorten your moves..." He lectured loudly, hoping to get the Wolf's attention.

She glanced back from the corner of her left eye. The large Wolf was turning his muzzle from left to right, throwing a bite from the side, just above the water surface. The girl dived into the water and sank her body in the bottom. *Woosh!* The jaws passed above the girl safely and closed on the other side of her body. She got up immediately and crawled away while getting up before dashing northwest as fast as she could through the mud.

The Dragon felt relieved and continued his business. The small wolf didn't care what was happening behind. An Alpha wouldn't lose to some feeble creature.

The large Wolf was surprised his mouth was empty again and glanced around. He found her faster this time and gave chase right away. In but two steps, he reached the girl and lashed out. "GRAAWR!" She sensed the incoming maw breathing onto her body and timely leaned forward, evading the bite. *WHAP!* However, the wolf still continued ahead, faster than the girl, and his snout still rammed her body. *Bam!* "HYAaa..." Shaila screamed, her body bent into a curved shape with the hands behind while flying through the air for two meters. *PwuASH!* She landed in the shallow waters and slid over the mud, partially submerged. Shaila rose from the water, with pain all over her body, her dirty face contorted and dyed red in anger. She lifted her right arm, trembling from anger, and brought it down while yelling. "AAAArrghh!" The girl smashed down on the marsh in frustration. *Pash!* Her fist remained buried in the mud and her body unmoving.

However, the Beast wasn't going to pause the hunt.

The Dragon often glanced through the blue wolf's legs, and this time, he saw the furry head loom over the immobile girl. His heart skipped a beat. "Wa--!!?" Nefiru uttered in disbelief and confusion, jaw-dropping and releasing the Cables into the water. He then roared in wolf language. "GRUOOON! (STOOOP!)" If the feral could Wolf listen to reason, this was the time. But the large Wolf did not react. Only the colorful canine flinched and leaned back a little, freezing with the left paw suspended. The scaly beast noticed as he dashed ahead, closing the distance in a heartbeat and swung his right foreleg from left to right with all his might. *PWUAM!* The upside of the scaly limb connected with the pink fur on the Wolf's neck, lifting his frontal body slightly, and then, sent him tumbling on the water. "KRAWR!"

Fucking idiot... Nefiru thought as he lashed at the blue tail of the big wolf. *WHAP!!* Both Beasts bit down simultaneously. The blue Wolf crunched the Human figure while the Dragon latched onto the furry tail, slammed his paws, and yanked back his head. "HYAP!" The large canine yelped and turned back as his body was dragged back slightly. "GRRRR...." It growled menacingly and instinctively commanded his Water Elementals to gather under the scaly beast.

"SHWUUYLAAAA!" The Dragon cried out through a half-growl and speech coming from his throat with the use of magic. But there was no response. "WUUu..." He whined sadly, enduring a rush of negative emotions for now.

"Grrnn." The genderless beast got up, looked to the north, and badmouthed. "Woof! Serves you right! Huff! Huff! You hurt us and made Father angry..."

Nefiru's snout twitched. He looked to the right and threw a sharp glare at the small Beast. "GRRRROUAWUO..." He snarled in a deep, guttural tone, transmitting his fury. The colorful creature was taken aback and flattened his ears, ashamed. Understanding the enemy was troublesome, he thought in that instant.

"GRRRNNNGH!" The Dragon continued yanking the Wolf's tail when he noticed the water under his body splashing unnaturally. *Fwuash~! Furuash!* Huh...? Oh, crap--! He realized magic was being used and released the furry tail immediately. The Wolf whipped his tail closer to his own body while the scaly beast looked down. A heavy mass of water was accumulating around his legs and rising half a meter already. "Grrr..." He growled annoyed and backtracked, feeling his steps heavy. *Swo~WOSH!* "Gnn!" With some difficulty, he walked halfway out of the entrapment when peaks formed in the Bloob. *Shuash!! Shuash!* Seven conical ice spikes sprung from the Marsh in succession and grew rapidly, reaching the Dragon's forelegs and chest. *KRIASH!! Kriash!* The ice spikes impacted the scales and their tips shattered, but the contact left behind a chill that spread on the surface while penetrating under the scales. "GruoOOH!!??" Oooww...! Nefiru groaned in pain and feeling his flesh go numb in five spots. The rest of the foot-thick pillars remained lodged in the frozen ground, hindering his movement. The Dragon shook his body and forced his way through. *Kla-rash! Kling! Plash!*

"Huff! Huff!" Nefiru panted, taking some distance from the mass of dirty water already reaching a meter high over the marsh's surface. He thought the attack would end just there and relaxed, but the water continued accumulating on the spot.

"GRRR!" The Wolf snarled, baring his fangs and willed the water to wash away the annoying Beast instinctively.

*ShrooOOSH~!* The mass of water rose over a meter as it rushed towards the Dragon with frightening speed. Oh, shiiiit--! Without many options, he panicked and turned right before dashing for solid ground. However, the wall of water rose nearly two meters and widened over eight meters, enough to reach his left flank before he went very far. *BWUASH! Shrieeeg! Chi~chi~chii! Whooosh~!* The dirty liquid froze in seconds, trapping the scaly Beast's four legs and tail and creating a mist that blew outwards over the water before dispersing away. "FUUUUCK! UNNF! GNNH!" Nefiru cursed as he struggled to break free. *Crack! Kriiak!* The ice cracked in some places and his legs got a little loose, but it was a solid mass reaching up to three feet thick and weighing several tons. "..." Realizing he wasn't getting out any time soon, the frozen Beast stopped struggling and turned left to glare daggers at the Wolf.

"HUNF!" The Wolf snorted, then looked around for the human girl again.

Up North, within a field redirecting the visible Light around her body, a girl moved towards the shore slowly. She took a periodic glance to the south and saw the Dragon trapped in ice. She stopped, and her relaxed face transformed into a fearful expression. "NEFiiii!" The girl called out worriedly, almost interrupting the cloaking process.

""WUOH!!!? HUH?"" The three beasts perked their ears and turned to the source of the voice. They could smell the source of her scent and the wolves sensed a second thick mass of her Magic where the Marshland was slightly blurred. She had been pushing back their magic probes as her Rank was higher. The small wolf stared, flabbergasted, while the Blue Wolf looked back and forth in confusion. What did he just bit?

Realizing her position was revealed, she held her breath, glanced at the wolf to her right and changed direction immediately, moving south at a faster pace.

The Dragon couldn't see but felt relieved to hear her voice. "SHAILA! You okay...??"

The girl sent her magic towards the Dragon and shone light at his right eye, making a small reversed sign.

"HUuu~ Thank goodness..." Nefiru muttered with a sigh and then snapped. "Don't scare me like that!"

The light user ignored the complaint and changed her message.

Urgh! This is so embarrassing... Nefiru groaned to himself and replied. "I'm alright!" For now... "It's gonna take me some time to get out." He assured and looked down at his legs. My Magic is kinda useless now though... He inferred, then started replenishing Magic resources as fast as possible before they get swallowed again. Shit, I gotta hurry. My legs are getting colder...

He must be really frustrated... The girl assumed, then came to a precarious realization. But I'm on my own now... She asserted, making a solemn expression. Feeling uncertainty, the girl asked with another light message.

The Dragon turned to the colorful wolf and spoke in deep growls slowly. "Don't hold back anymore. GUORONUM! (KILL HIM!)"

...Eh? The girl, not expecting the growls, was confused for a moment and wrote again for confirmation

"Kill the Alpha, slowly..." He specified in growls again and winked.

"...What?!" The genderless Beast flickered his ears uncomfortably and glanced to its right for a moment.

The Dragon then continued in Stilus. "Get to land and lure them away while I get out and recover. Then hide me when I come to you."

"..." Shaila nodded in silenced as she changed her message to a symbol of approval. She then retracted her magic in silence while gathering and compacting a mass of Magic on her right palm.

Meanwhile, the Blue Wolf identified a source of smell from a piece of cloth in the water and smashed it away along with the Mass of Magic in front of him. *PwUAash!* He turned towards the blur near the shore where the stronger scent was and sped up. *Whoosh!* "Wrooof!"

The girl sensed the charging canine at her from the East. She felt like she could narrowly evade him, but she'd rather not have the Beast go behind her and block her escape again. The light user canceled the cloaking field immediately, revealing herself without undergarment and her wet bottom glistening in the sunlight.

The trapped Beast looked to the left and opened his eyes wide. !! Hoooly--she's butt-naked! Nefiru retorted while making a wide smirk.

"Wuohhh!!?" The genderless Beast uttered in shock. "...In-invisible? How??" It wondered as it tilted its head curiously.

The girl brought her right arm up and pointed her palm out. She commanded the elementals to release the same wavelength of light from a series of layers. *Pziummm!* The transparent finger-thick yellow beam instantly carved an irregular line on the thick fur across the chest and the left foreleg, causing intense pain. "HYAAAP!!??" The feral beast yelped and slammed his paws, sliding on the muddy waters and coming to a stop six meters from the girl.

"Father!" The small wolf barked worriedly. What happened?? It wondered, eyed widened and ears perked. It had never seen nor heard of such an attack.

The feral beast looked around for a short moment, trying to discern the cause of the pain but it did not recognize the source of the attack and looked down at his body. Blood leaked from the centimeter-deep wound and dyed his dirty fur further before trickling down on the water dying red. But the wound was of no concern to him. Just that he felt a strange urge to protect his body from damage.

The white-haired girl used the distraction to move closer to land, but by the third step, the Wolf snapped his attention back to her and lowered his body in preparations to lash out. Noticing this, she had no choice but to fire another laser, and to deter him from coming closer, aimed at a foreleg. *PziumMM!* A stronger yellow beam vaporized the Hide on the left foreleg and lacerated over an inch deep into the flesh around the joint area. "YIEEP!!??" The feral beast yelped once again and stopped on his tracks, lifting the foreleg to lick at it. However, this time, he had realized that the attacker was the creature in front. "GRRRR..." He snarled wearily, wanting to attack from a distance when images from his vague memories offered guidance. He had already become aware of his Spiritual senses and was able to send his Magic underwater just as he had done many times in the past.

The Small wolf was also confused. Wuu??! Was that Light? How can Light hurt like that...?? It wondered, rooted in place, and overwhelmed by curiosity.

The girl knew moving again would invite an attack, so she just stood firmly on the spot, gripping a dagger in one hand and preparing another compact mass of Magic on the other. But without her knowing, the Wolf's Magic crept closer underwater and surrounded her. Although this time, it was taking the feral beast longer to control the water as he wanted. The clashes with foreign Magic and conflicting thoughts in his head were confusing him. But he was learning.

The Dragon noticed the water surface shaking abnormally, and warned. "THE WATER!"

"Huh!?" The girl uttered in puzzlement and looked down at the water. She saw the incoming attack, then looked back in a hurry, only to see the same thing. Oh, no! How could I let it surround me! Shaila lamented her mistake nervously as she struggled to push back the Wolf's Magic. But Water wasn't her element. She was losing Mana struggling Spiritually underwater. She wanted to run through, but the thought of getting frozen like the Dragon made her shiver. Ugh! She groaned feeling ashamed. She had been cornered, by a lower Rank no less. "Gnn!" Shaila clenched her teeth, gripped the dagger on her left hang strongly, and looked to the front with a determined look.

The Dragon's expression had turned heavy. So vulnerable... She's risking her life for a stupid Wolf... He affirmed with guilt and regret, thinking of the worst outcome. But things don't always go according to plan. He had forgotten the approaching group of wolves.

"WhuoOroooo~!" A short, encouraging howl came from one of the three green wolves rushing from the East. The intent was to stop the fight.

""...!!"" The Beasts on the marsh perked the ears and turn to the sound.

The Dragon's pupils widened, his vision zoomed into the distance and focused on the three canine scouts. Their ferocious expressions worried him. "...Shhhiiiit!" Those mutts don't look like they know me either... This is bad... He surmised with dread and turned to the girl. "Shaila! You need to subdue these wolves--NOW!"

The small girl, preparing to brace for the water attack, frowned. "That's unreasonable..." She retorted with a helpless expression, then began gathering most of her magic in both hands.

The blue wolf saw no threat in the vicinity and turned to the girl, preparing to lash out while controlling the water.