Chapter 83
The wolf’s focus returned, the fog of primal urges lifting as reason reclaimed its seat. His gaze first found the red curtain imprisoning Fairy beside Hong Yu-ri.
“Fairy.”
Companions, friends, family—unmatched bonds that words couldn’t encapsulate. Trust forged in the cycle of saving one another; the sturdy support against a weary heart.
“Wait.”
From the moment Black Lin spoke, or rather, the instant Hong Yu-ri appeared, the wolf’s attention never wavered from Fairy. Don’t stick your nose in; his message to Black Lin was clear: rescuing Fairy was a task only he could take on.
But the situation was dire. Black Lin’s words weren’t wrong. The Great Magic loomed, ready to be unleashed, and piercing through the crimson magic wouldn’t be a walk in the park. In this one-on-one, the wolf faced a gap even with the penalty of being a Mage.
“You must be ready to die…?!”
Chapter 5—The Great Magic was manifesting in real-time, a menacing intent directed at them. They had gone too far for conversation to mend things. More importantly,
‘I won’t let that happen…!’
Reason restored didn’t mean emotions settled. With anger surging, the wolf shut his eyes and painted scenarios in his mind. Countless possibilities conjured and erased. If lacking, he’d supplement; if out of reach, he’d add more. His brain felt like it might overload. He exhausted all magic. Just scraping the bottom, he was forcefully dragging out the deeper magic.
“Flame Pillar Rising―!”
Before Hong Yu-ri’s incantation materialized, the wolf leaped high. He was all too familiar with the skill. Hong Yu-ri twisted her lips. It’s just a beast. No matter how much he squeezed his dull mind, there were limits. When those fiery crimson eyes sparkled, a pillar of flames erupted from below. There was no dodging it in mid-air—that was his third blunder.
“…?!”
The surging wall of fire—something the wolf was far too familiar with. She didn’t realize the battles he fought against unreasonable monsters draped in lava within a volcanic region.
‘A foothold?!’
Creating a magic foothold, he jumped again. The agility made it seem like the air was his playground. He manifested magic with one hand. In a heartbeat, a intense magic assault surged toward the wolf, but black flames revealing his true form swallowed it whole and blazed.
At the moment Hong Yu-ri’s pupils dilated, a ghastly cry echoed in her ears.
Chills ran down her spine as cold sweat dripped down her forehead. Breathing heavily, she gazed at the wolf’s slowly opening mouth and glistening fangs. Her heart raced as though it might burst at any moment.
The huge jaw hung open, stopping just short of her. A shield of crimson magic halted the wolf’s advance. But he wouldn’t stop. As the searing fangs pierced the scarlet barrier, Hong Yu-ri pushed off with her magic to propel herself away.
The moment she flicked her fingers, flames erupted. It marked the moment when Hong Yu-ri’s Great Magic was finally complete.
***
It was an overwhelming spectacle akin to witnessing the end of a star. Dire flames capable of igniting disasters, even incinerating celestial bodies, heralded a catastrophic moment for the glowing crimson star. Yet, the wolf surged forward without hesitation. Leaping from foothold to foothold, he dashed through the air as if running along solid ground.
A shadow stretching out darkened the sky, isolating the wolf in the gloom. The creeping shadows and black flames called forth an untimely night while dusk was still in full bloom.
‘I won’t let you get away!’
The wolf chased her faster than she could escape. Once magic was cast, it didn’t vanish. The already formed Great Magic was too much for him to stop. Therefore, he had to cling on tenaciously. As countless magics created by the Mage burned into ashes, the wolf’s vision ignited with flame.
Fueled by emotion, his heart raced. The now-black wolf smashed through everything in his path and chased after Hong Yu-ri once more. Even if the magic was complete, aiming it was another matter. Just like when he faced the awakening evil, if he couldn’t aim correctly, it would all be for nothing.
‘Moreover…!’
It wasn’t because he was too stupid to use magic. At this distance, casting magic would only ensnare himself as well. They both understood that well. So the wolf ran while Hong Yu-ri attempted to shake him off.
“Get lost!”
The moment their paths crossed, Hong Yu-ri swirled her crimson magic to push the wolf aside, causing him to abruptly stumble from the mental fatigue that had already crept in.
‘Damn it.’
His remaining magic was dwindling. But it was fine. He had successfully knocked Alpha off his game. The smug look on Hong Yu-ri’s face twisted; she thought if she could just aim, she could end the fight. She felt a throb in her head, a dull floating sensation. Glancing down, she saw countless thorns embedded in her side. Her magic dispersed, and she plummeted to the ground again. Struggling to stand on shaky legs, Hong Yu-ri felt the world spinning. No, it was her that was staggering.
But still, Alpha couldn’t kill her. Lightly assessing the situation, she knew she was still at an advantage. Though the wound at her side ached, it wasn’t as severe as she initially feared. As she tried to rekindle her magic, a sound escaped her lips.
“Huh…?”
At some point, the Fairy-type monster she had imprisoned was gone.
***
—From the very beginning, it wasn’t about targeting Hong Yu-ri. It was solely about rescuing Fairy. Winning or losing was a secondary concern. The wolf landed and devoured the red magic that had trapped Fairy. As his strained body regained some ease, Fairy slowly raised her head to look up at the wolf.
“Kyuuw…?”
In her feeble voice, the wolf gently patted Fairy’s head.
“Go back first.”
The young dragon shook her head, seemingly reluctant, but she couldn’t dismiss the concern reflected in the wolf’s eyes. A gaze brimmed with pure worry. And a resolve to see this through. Seeing that, Fairy let out a cry as if trying to convey something.
“…….”
The wolf lifted his head to stare at the sky and nodded, understanding. Finally, the young dragon could safely return to the Fantasy World. —Even after Fairy was freed, nothing changed. They merely glared at one another, a terrifying bloodlust blanketing the arena. The glowing crimson star—this Great Magic contained a flame potent enough to paint the entire island red if let loose. But the worry faded.
‘He won’t be able to use it now.’
Not out of choice, but he simply couldn’t. If he were in the air, it might be another story, but standing on the ground, if Hong Yu-ri used that magic, she would drag him down with her. They both understood that well. That’s why the wolf continued running, while Hong Yu-ri tried to break free.
“Get lost!”
At the moment they crossed paths, Hong Yu-ri whipped her crimson magic, throwing the wolf aside while staggering in mid-air—only then did the weariness from the mental exhaustion show up late for the wolf.
‘Damn.’
His dwindling magic was a small concern. But it was fine. He had succeeded in knocking Alpha from his high perch. However, the look on Hong Yu-ri’s face twisted. Feeling dizzy and light-headed, she noticed countless thorns embedded in her side again. Her magic dissipated, and she descended to the ground again, just barely managing to brace against the earth. The world around her swayed, and she staggered.
But Alpha still couldn’t finish her off. A cold calculation reminded her that she was still on her side. The ache in her side was uncomfortable, but not the end of the world. As she prepared to regain her magic, Hong Yu-ri let out a little squeal of surprise.
“Huh…?”
Suddenly, she was aware of the fairy-type monster she had kept captive earlier. It was gone.
***
It had never been about targeting Hong Yu-ri from the outset. I just had to save Fairy. Winning or losing was secondary. Now, feeling the magic surrounding Fairy’s confinement devouring itself, the wolf didn’t think twice. With the constricted body coming loose, Fairy strained to look up at the wolf.
“Kyuuw…?”
In that ghostly, meleeful voice, the wolf ran a hand over Fairy’s head again.
“Go back first.”
The young dragon hesitated, shaking her head, but the emotion in the wolf’s gaze was irresistible. It was pure concern. And an iron will to settle things. Seeing this, Fairy let out a low cry, trying to communicate something.
“……”
The wolf turned his gaze skyward, then nodded, as if he understood. The little dragon felt safe to return to the Fantasy World. —Even after Fairy was set free, nothing changed. They both stared at each other with murderous eyes, the dreadful atmosphere still hanging around. The crimson star was bound by the Great Magic that could paint the entire island red at any moment. Yet, those fears somehow dissipated.
‘He must not be able to utilize it now.’
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to. He just couldn’t. If he were airborne, it might have been a different story, but if Hong Yu-ri summoned that magic from the ground, it would mean drowning him alongside her. In the end, they both understood that. The wolf bolted, while Hong Yu-ri attempted to shake him off.
“Get! Away!”
In a clash where they crossed paths, Hong Yu-ri swung her crimson magic, flinging the wolf back while he wrestled fatigue and exhaustion to the ground—having been bereft of his magic for too long.
‘Damn it.’
His magic reserves were getting dangerously low. But it was okay. He had successfully sent Alpha off his game. The moment he glanced at Hong Yu-ri’s face, he could see the tension fade, a sense of defeat washing over her. An odd pang of satisfaction flickered in him.
“I’ll take you down once and for all!”
The wolf, with wild eyes, prepared for the next strike. He leaped forward, arms stretched wide, ready for the decisive blow, each explosive step towards freedom as he leaped up towards the bank of spells surrounding them. All his strength pooled in one tremendous thrust.
The confrontation surged onward, each strike felt like thunder. No retreat. No running. The wolf kept his eyes on Hong Yu-ri, knowing she would not back down easily. They were moving toward one another as if they had been caught in a cyclone, the final crescendo building.
