The howls grew louder, and soon multiple armored wolves emerged from the surrounding terrain, their eyes fixed on the group. Grimgold's face set in a fierce expression as he gazed out at the pack.
"Form a tight circle around the kids," he ordered the instructors, his voice firm and commanding. "We need to protect them at all costs."
The instructors nodded, their swords at the ready as they closed ranks around the children. Grimgold's eyes locked onto the wolves, his gaze piercing as he prepared for battle.
"Listen up, instructors," Grimgold growled, his voice low and intense. "If one of these wolves gets past us and heads for the kids, then we have no right to call ourselves warriors. We're not just fighting for our own lives, we're fighting to protect the next generation of warriors. We need to show them the 'fighting spirit' of a warrior, and that means defending them with our lives."
The armored wolves charged with ferocity, their bodies crashing into the group with a loud impact. Grimgold and the instructors stood firm, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they clashed with the pack. The sound of clashing steel echoed through the terrain, punctuated by the snarls and yelps of the wolves.
Grimgold fought with precision and skill, his sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. He struck down one wolf with a swift blow, its body crumpling to the ground as it let out a pained yelp. But the other wolves were relentless, and they pressed the attack with fierce intensity.
The instructors fought with equal skill, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they clashed with the pack. One instructor struck down a wolf with a powerful blow, its body flying backward as it let out a startled yelp. Another instructor fought off multiple wolves, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision as he protected the children.
Thorne watched in awe as the warriors fought with skill and precision. He felt a surge of excitement and fear as he realized that this was a fight to the death, and that the outcome was far from certain. He gripped his sword tightly, his heart racing with anticipation as he waited for his chance to join the fight.
The wolves were relentless, and they pressed the attack with fierce intensity. But Grimgold and the instructors stood firm, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they clashed with the pack. The fight was intense and brutal, with both sides trading blows and neither gaining the upper hand.
As the battle raged on, the terrain became increasingly chaotic. The sound of clashing steel echoed through the air, punctuated by the snarls and yelps of the wolves. The smell of blood and sweat filled the air, and the ground became slick with the wolves' blood.
Despite the chaos, Grimgold and the instructors fought with precision and skill. They worked together seamlessly, their movements a testament to their training and experience. They protected the children at all costs, their swords flashing in the sunlight as they clashed with the pack.
As the fight continued, the wolves began to tire. They were relentless, but they were also wounded and exhausted. Grimgold and the instructors sensed their weakness, and they pressed the attack with renewed intensity.
The final wolf fell to the ground, its body crumpling as it let out a pained yelp. Grimgold and the instructors stood victorious, their swords still raised as they surveyed the carnage. The children emerged from their protective circle, their faces pale and frightened.
Thorne felt a surge of excitement and relief as he realized that the fight was over. He looked at Grimgold and the instructors with newfound respect, his heart still racing with anticipation. He knew that he had witnessed something truly special, and that he would never forget this fight.
Just as the instructors were about to celebrate their victory, a loud and sharp, aggressive howl pierced the air. Grimgold's expression changed instantly, his face set in a serious and urgent expression.
"Run!" he shouted, his voice firm and commanding. "Now!"
The instructors didn't hesitate, grabbing the children and starting to run as fast as they could. Thorne's heart was racing with excitement and fear as he realized that something even more terrifying was coming their way.
"What's that?" one of the instructors asked, his voice laced with concern.
"It's a Jade wolf," Grimgold replied, his voice grim. "None of us can take it on. We need to get out of here, now!"
The group ran as fast as they could, their footsteps pounding the ground in unison. Thorne's heart was racing with fear, his mind reeling with the thought of facing an even more formidable foe. He had heard stories about Jade wolves, and he knew that they were not to be trifled with.
As they ran, the howl grew louder, and Thorne could feel the ground shaking beneath his feet. He didn't dare look back, fearing what he might see. He kept his eyes fixed on Grimgold, who was leading the group with a sense of urgency and purpose.
The group ran for what felt like an eternity, their breathing heavy and labored. Finally, Grimgold called out, "We're almost there! Keep going!"
As the group ran towards the village, they suddenly heard a loud thud behind them. They turned to see the Jade wolf landing right in front of them, its massive body blocking their path to the village. The wolf's eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and its presence seemed to fill the air with an intense, primal energy.
Grimgold's face set in a grim expression as he turned to the children. "Make a run for it, kids," he ordered, his voice firm. "We'll try to hold it off. Get to the village as fast as you can."
The instructors nodded, forming a defensive line between the children and the Jade wolf. Grimgold's eyes locked onto the wolf, his sword at the ready.
"Once you reach the village, summon the chief," Grimgold instructed the children. "Only he can take on a Jade wolf. Tell him what's happening, and he'll know what to do."
The children nodded, their faces pale with fear. Thorne felt a surge of adrenaline as he turned to run towards the village. He glanced back over his shoulder, seeing the Jade wolf's eyes fixed on him with an unnerving intensity.
The instructors stood firm, their swords at the ready. Grimgold's voice echoed through the air, "Go! Now!"
The Jade wolf charged forward, its massive body propelling itself with incredible speed and power. Grimgold and the instructors stood firm, their swords at the ready. Grimgold swung his sword with all his might, striking the wolf's flank with a loud clang. But to his surprise, the blade barely seemed to scratch the wolf's hide. The wolf's eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and its presence seemed to fill the air with an intense, primal energy.
The instructors fought bravely, their swords slicing through the air as they tried to find a weak spot in the wolf's defenses. But no matter how hard they hit, their attacks barely seemed to have any effect. The wolf's skin was like armor, deflecting their blows with ease.
One of the instructors landed a solid hit, but the wolf barely flinched. It counterattacked with lightning-fast speed, its claws ripping through the instructor's armor like paper. The instructor fell to the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp as he let out a pained cry.
Grimgold's face set in a grim expression as he fought on, his sword flashing in the sunlight. But despite his best efforts, he couldn't seem to land a blow that would make a difference. The wolf's power was unlike anything he had ever faced before.
The instructors fought on, but it was clear that they were no match for the Jade wolf. Their attacks were like pinpricks to the wolf's massive body, barely causing it any discomfort. The wolf's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, as if it was toying with its prey.
As the fight raged on, Grimgold's thoughts turned to the children. He hoped that they had reached the village safely, and that the chief would arrive soon to take on the Jade wolf. He knew that he and his crew couldn't hold out for much longer.
The wolf's claws swiped through the air, striking Grimgold's armor with incredible force. Grimgold grunted in pain, his sword slipping from his grasp. The wolf's jaws opened wide, ready to deliver the final blow.
Grimgold knew that he was running out of time. He launched himself at the wolf, his fist connecting with its jaw. But the wolf barely flinched, its eyes fixed on Grimgold with an unnerving intensity.
Just as the wolf's jaws were about to close around Grimgold, a figure burst onto the scene. Chief Korga, a towering figure with a fierce determination in his eyes, charged forward with incredible speed. With a swift motion, he unleashed a powerful Prana-covered attack, striking the wolf's claw with precision.
The wolf's claw was severed, its massive body stumbling backward as it let out a pained howl. Grimgold took advantage of the distraction to scramble to safety, his eyes fixed on the chief with gratitude.
Chief Korga stood tall, his eyes locked onto the wolf as he surveyed the battlefield. He turned to Grimgold, a hint of a smile on his face. "My friend," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "You've done well. Rest assured. I have arrived."
Grimgold nodded, relief washing over him. He knew that the chief was a formidable warrior, and that he would be able to take on the Jade wolf. He watched as Chief Korga approached the wolf, his movements calm and deliberate.
The wolf, still reeling from the loss of its claw, let out a furious growl as it charged forward. But Chief Korga was unfazed, his eyes locked onto the wolf as he prepared to deliver the final blow.
With a swift motion, Chief Korga drew his sword and charged forward, his Prana-infused blade flashing in the sunlight. The wolf met its match, and the outcome was never in doubt. The chief's sword sliced through the air, striking the wolf with precision and power.
The Jade wolf let out a final howl, its massive body crashing to the ground as it succumbed to the chief's attack. Chief Korga stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion as he surveyed the battlefield.
Grimgold approached him, a look of gratitude on his face. "Thank you, Chief," he said, his voice sincere. "We owe you one."
Chief Korga smiled, his eyes gleaming with a fierce light. "No need to thank me, Grimgold," he said. "It's all part of protecting our village." After a few seconds, his expression turned somber as he turned to Grimgold. "How many of you are left?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
Grimgold's face fell, his eyes clouding over with grief. "Only two of us are alive, Chief," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "Ester, and myself. The other two... they fell in battle."
Korga's face tightened, his jaw clenched in anger. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said, his voice filled with respect. "They were brave warriors. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten."
Grimgold nodded, his eyes dropping to the ground. He knew that the chief understood the risks of their job, but it didn't make the loss any easier to bear. Korga placed a hand on Grimgold's shoulder, his grip firm. "We'll make sure to honor their memory," he said. "But for now, let's focus on tending to the wounded and securing the village."
Grimgold nodded, his eyes meeting the chief's. "Of course, Chief," he said. "I'll make sure to get Ester medical attention right away."
The chief nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield. "I'll send some of our healers to assist you," he said. "We'll get through this together, Grimgold."
As they spoke, Ester approached them, her face pale and bruised. "Grimgold," she said, her voice weak. "I'm... I'm okay. Just a few scratches."
Grimgold's face relaxed into a relieved smile. "Good," he said. "Let's get you patched up, then."
Chief Korga nodded, his eyes filled with concern. "I'll send someone to escort you to the healers," he said. "We'll take care of you both."