Huang Shi exploded forward, closing the distance to the Alpha Grayscale Wolf closest to him in a blur of motion. He threw his arm back, his fist igniting with the intense, roaring heat of Sunfyre before he delivered a full-power punch aimed directly at the center of its skull.
The massive wolf was clearly surprised that this tiny human had dared to rush straight toward it. It faltered for a fraction of a second, its attempt to raise a heavy front claw coming just a bit too late.
This hesitation gave Huang Shi all the time he needed to land a clean blow.
BOOM!
The impact sounded like a hammer hitting an anvil. Unfortunately for him, these creatures were Nascent Profound beasts for a reason. Their bodies were reinforced by powerful spiritual energy, making them far tougher than their subordinates.
His full-powered punch only succeeded in pushing the beast back a few steps, leaving nothing more than a thin trickle of blood at the corner of its lips. It was a visible hit, but clearly not a heavy injury.
Shit.
The second Alpha Grayscale Wolf launched a retaliation that was both immediate and brutal. It didn't hesitate for a single second, instantly pouncing on the brief opening created when Huang Shi's punch landed and pushed its companion back.
With a low, guttural snarl, the second beast swept its jagged claw through the air, slashing it straight toward his chest with lethal intent.
It was fast—so fast that he was barely able to track the movement with his eyes. The only thing he could do was cross his arms in front of his chest to brace for the impact before the blow connected.
The force was like being hit by a runaway carriage. He was smashed backward into the dirt, his body sliding until his back hit a thick tree with a heavy, bone-jarring thud.
BOOM!
That fucking hurts.
Huang Shi felt a warm bit of blood pour out of the corner of his mouth. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand, his muscles screaming in protest. He knew that in this forest, any moment of weakness or hesitation would be exploited by these hungry beasts.
I need to move. I need time. My Sunfyre burns their spiritual energy; let's turn this into a battle of attrition.
Huang Shi quickly decided on a new strategy. He stayed low and dashed to his left, narrowly dodging the first massive wolf that was already charging his position. The beast was so powerful that it ripped through the tree Huang Shi had just hit, shattering the thick trunk as if it were a piece of paper.
Huang Shi wouldn't miss any chance he could get to deal damage. The moment the tree broke apart, he spun around, raised his palm, and fired a powerful burst of Sunfyre straight at the wolf's exposed back.
WHOOSH!
The golden Sunfyre flames splashed against the beast, burning their intended target, but the damage seemed limited. It appeared the thick, stone-gray scales covering these wolves were not merely for show.
The other wolf had fully recovered from being taken off guard and was now clearly enraged. Its eyes glowed with a predatory light as it rushed straight toward his back.
It opened its giant mouth, aiming to take a huge chunk out of his shoulder and torso. In fact, looking at the size of the beast's maw, he was sure that if he gave it enough time, it could probably eat him whole in two bites.
Once again, Huang Shi's honed reflexes came into play. The moment he felt the heat of the wolf's breath and the shadow of its jaws about to hit his back, he quickly ducked his entire body low to the ground.
He felt a powerful, cold gust of air rush past his head as the wolf's jaws snapped shut with a loud crack just inches above him.
Finding a brief moment of respite while the wolf was still overextended, Huang Shi spun his body with fluid speed. He channeled his momentum into a powerful kick, smashing his legs straight into the softest part of the beast's underbelly—the stomach.
The impact was devastating. Powerful Sunfyre flames erupted on contact, singeing through the fur and searing the flesh of the Alpha Grayscale Wolf. The beast let out a high-pitched howl of agony as dark blood began to drip from the fresh burn. Unlike his previous strikes against its armored back, this blow had clearly bypassed its defenses and hurt the monster quite badly.
However, he immediately had to pay a price for the damage he dealt. The second wolf, which had been momentarily confused by his quick movements, recovered instantly. It lunged at him from the side, raising its heavy claws and raking them straight across his left arm in a vicious blur.
RAK!
The sound of tearing fabric and flesh echoed through the clearing. A gush of hot blood spurted from his left arm, staining his sleeve crimson. Huang Shi gritted his teeth, his face contorting in pain; that strike was so powerful it had finally surpassed the defensive capabilities of his Cinderveil Robes.
But even with blood flowing down his arm, Huang Shi did not take the hit lying down. His eyes flashed with a wild, golden ferocity. Ignoring the stinging pain, he wrapped his right arm in a thick layer of concentrated Sunfyre.
He reached out and grabbed the wolf's raised paw with a grip of iron. With a roar of effort, he pulled with all his might, using his entire body weight to force the massive, two-meter beast to lose its balance and tumble onto the dirt.
He didn't give it a chance to recover. Without a second of hesitation, Huang Shi raised his right fist high. The flames around his knuckles turned a blinding white-gold as he aimed straight for the wolf's exposed throat, putting every ounce of his remaining strength into this single, decisive attack.
[Sunfyre Blaze Fist]
BOOM!