[Soul Piercing Howl Activated!]
As soon as the panel appeared above the wolf monster's head, it opened its mouth wide and unleashed a powerful howl, followed by a deafening shockwave.
Raven was startled and quickly covered his ears. But strangely, the sound didn't weaken at all.
If anything, it grew even stronger, piercing deep into his very core.
"Argh!" Raven screamed in pain. It felt as if his soul were being torn apart from within, and the agony was unbearable.
"Hear my call… Fireball!"
The incantation came from his right side. A fireball the size of a basketball formed in midair, then shot toward the monster.
The beast was flung backward and slammed into a large tree with tremendous force.
Raven dropped to one knee and took a heavy breath, his forehead and neck drenched in cold sweat.
"Raven, are you okay?" Claire asked, her voice filled with panic.
As she moved closer, Raven raised his right hand to stop her.
"I… I'm fine. Don't come any closer," he replied weakly.
He lifted his head and glared at the monster, which had already gotten back on its feet.
Above its head, its health bar appeared: 780/1000.
"Eighty damage," he muttered, narrowing his eyes. "If I can keep it busy while Claire keeps attacking… and she casts more than ten fireballs, won't it die?"
The plan seemed possible. Fireball was a low-level spell, and with Claire's extraordinary mana capacity, she should be able to cast it repeatedly.
Taking a deep breath, Raven stood up and shouted, "Claire, change of plan! Hit that monster ten times with your fireballs. Can you do it?"
"Ten times?" Claire's eyes widened in shock. "R-Raven, isn't that too much? I can't do it!"
Raven turned to her and looked straight into her eyes.
"Don't doubt yourself. I know you can do it. Believe in yourself, okay?"
Seeing the determination in his gaze, Claire froze for a moment. Then she took a deep breath, her expression turning serious, and nodded.
"I understand! Leave it to me!"
Raven gave a faint smile, then shifted his gaze back to the monster.
"Come on, you damn monster! I won't fall for the same trick again!"
He raised his sword to the side and charged toward the wolf.
The monster didn't hesitate. It dropped onto all fours and leaped straight at him.
Its sharp claws tore through the air, aiming for Raven's face.
Raven smirked and dodged easily. Then he spun his body and slashed across the monster's back.
[-30 HP]
"Awooo!"
A howl of pain burst from the wolf. Its eyes turned blood-red as it twisted around and lunged at Raven again.
Raven quickly raised his sword and blocked the attack. But the monster was heavier, and the force drove him down to the ground.
"Fireball!"
Whoosh… Boom!
The wolf was struck by the sudden blast and sent flying two meters away.
The HP above its head dropped by 90 points, leaving it at 660.
"Hahaha!" Raven burst into laughter as he pushed himself back to his feet. He wiped the dirt from his face and grinned.
"You're strong, but that's all. With Claire's help, you won't win this fight!"
Feeling provoked, the monster bared its fangs. A faint silver light then began to glow from all four of its legs.
[Shadow Movement Activated!]
Whoosh!
Its figure vanished, then reappeared right above Raven's head.
Startled, Raven dodged immediately, but the tip of its claws still grazed his right shoulder.
Fresh blood spilled from the wound, making him groan in pain.
'Damn… this Shadow Movement skill is way too strong!' he grumbled.
Even a monster like this had such a useful skill, while he only had one trash FFF-level skill.
The gods were truly bastards.
Whoosh!
The wolf vanished again, reappearing every second. It made Raven's head spin.
Luckily, he had the appraisal skill, so he could still track the monster's terrifying speed.
"Claire, what are you doing!? Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and attack!"
Claire panicked and stammered, "T-That monster is too fast! I can't hit it!"
"Tsk! This is really a hassle," Raven growled.
All he could do was dodge. The wolf was simply too fast to counterattack.
But then, after two minutes, Raven noticed the monster's movements slowing slightly.
He immediately realized the reason—the skill's duration had ended!
A smirk appeared on his face as he waited for the wolf to attack again.
And sure enough, it charged straight at him from the front.
Raven twisted his body and narrowly dodged the strike.
Then he raised his sword and drove it into the wolf's head.
Srck!
"Awoo!"
The wolf let out a piercing howl. Raven clenched his teeth and tried to ignore the sound, though it wasn't easy.
"Claire, hurry!"
Claire nodded and began casting fireballs in rapid succession.
"Fireball!"
"Fireball!"
"Fireball!"
Six or seven fireballs struck the monster, scorching its fur and burning its back.
The wolf's howl grew louder. Raven thrust his sword deeper into its head, piercing straight through its brain.
Finally, the monster's HP dropped to 0. Its body collapsed to the ground, releasing a pungent, burnt stench.
Raven let out a sigh of relief, then fell onto the ground, gasping for air.
"Finally… this damn fight is over…"
He was completely drained. If the battle had lasted any longer, he would've died for sure.
"Raven!"
Claire shouted and ran toward him.
Raven looked up and smiled. Just as he was about to speak, the dead monster suddenly twitched—then leaped straight at him.
Caught off guard, Raven's eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, he raised his arm to block it.
But the wolf clamped down on his arm with terrifying force.
"Argh!" Raven roared in pain. Yet the monster had no intention of letting go, biting down even harder.
The pressure was so strong that the sound of cracking bones echoed clearly.
Claire froze in horror. She raised her staff, ready to cast a spell—but Raven suddenly grabbed the monster by the throat with his free hand.
Then, he activated a strange and mysterious skill.
"Gluttony!"