The Wolf’s Resolve at Dawn part 2

Spears of fire, strikes of lightning, arrows of ice, and countless other spells rained down like a raging storm.

Sirius dodged with great difficulty. His eyes never stopped moving even for a heartbeat as he searched for empty spaces amid the relentless attacks. Before he could plant his feet properly, he was forced to leap toward any gap he could reach.

The wicked laughter of the orange haired man echoed across the entire field.
"Take that! Take it, ugly monster! Feel the despair of those victims you have devoured all this time!"

"Victims, huh?" Sirius growled through the chaos.

They were not victims. From the beginning they were the true perpetrators. It was simply human nature to flee from their own sins. There was no opinion that mattered except their own.

That was also why they were so selfish.

"He is losing balance. Keep the pressure. Make him stumble and collapse. Avenge your fallen comrades."

Losing balance. That much was true.

Unlike magic, his roar was a vibration in the air that used empty space as its medium. The biggest problem was that he could still be affected by his own roar.

The powerful vibration could destroy anything. In some cases, it could make internal organs shift or disrupt the flow of blood. The effect multiplied because the sound bounced endlessly within the barrier.

That was why his body felt numb and unbearably heavy. Even so, he could still avoid their attacks. Besides, his regeneration would soon heal his damaged insides.

In the ongoing storm of magic, his eyes continued to scan every corner. Not only to find a place to evade but also to locate the weak point of the magical wall.

However, no matter how long he searched, he found nothing.

Roaring again was not the right choice. He did not want to injure himself any further. And he did not yet know what secret trump card they might still be hiding.

Being gravely wounded was not an option.

Like a calm wave in the heart of a furious tempest, Sirius grinned as a wild idea filled his mind.

Time to experiment. But I need to wait for the right moment. Soon. His gaze fixed forward, sharp and focused like a hunter.

Then, when the barrage eased just slightly, a path appeared in his line of sight. He bolted ahead. In less than a blink, the wolf was already in front of the wall with his claws raised.

Swing

Crash

As he expected, the wall repelled his strike. Yet something was different. A clear gash had formed where he slashed the magical barrier.

His grin widened. I see now.

A sharp screech sounded above him. Without looking, he already knew the source.

He glanced down. A giant shadow loomed, blotting out the sun. Without turning back, Sirius leapt with all his strength.

Brak!

As expected, a massive boulder nearly twice his size crashed down. Right afterward, another wave of spells was launched at him.

This time they were not firing random magic without aim. They cast a chain of precise spells that chased him like hunters pursuing prey.

One by one the spells slammed into the ground beneath him with tremendous force, creating large craters that tore the terrain apart.

Are they stupid. Magic like this is easier to evade. What is in their heads?

Sirius ran along the inner edge of the barrier while the chasing magic continued to rain from above. As he ran, he glanced at the gash he had left on one side of the wall.

The mark was still there.

Although strong and made of mana itself, the mysterious wall somehow could not heal on its own. Perhaps it required support mages to repair it. Or perhaps it was merely a gimmick intended to deceive him.

Sirius narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Front

Suddenly, his instincts screamed. He swerved sharply as a spear of fire struck right where his face would have been. He almost suffered a severe blow had he not dodged in time.

He vowed not to lose focus a second time.

After turning sharply, he found himself facing the same wall with the previous gash directly ahead. Without hesitation, he ran straight toward it.

He slashed again with precise timing.

Clang

His claws bounced harshly, throwing him backward and breaking his balance. The wall, however, restored itself instantly. Even the gash healed completely.

As expected, it was merely a gimmick. This barrier is even stronger than before.

Sirius growled in frustration. But he had no time to waste. More spells still targeted his every step. He leapt lightly and continued to run around, preparing his next strike on the same point.

"Now" the orange haired man suddenly shouted.

The moment Sirius reached the center of the field, chains of shadow burst from the broken ground. They were clearly made of magic.

The chains whipped toward him with frightening speed. Even Sirius struggled to avoid them. He was forced to use the aerodynamic ability he inherited from the squirrel, jumping into the air.

His massive body twisted through the air like a dancer pursued by serpents. But even the most agile squirrel eventually falls.

Sret. Sret.

Two chains wrapped tightly around his hind ankles. They yanked him down with brutal force. More chains emerged, binding his entire body.

Sirius clenched his jaws.

Damn it! These chains....

The massive wolf struggled desperately but the bindings pinned him mercilessly to the ground. Not only were they strong, they drained his strength and weakened his muscles.

The chains clearly carried a debuff enchantment cast by shamans.

Now he understood. The precise spells earlier were not meant to hit him. They were laying the pattern required for the shamans to activate their magic.

Shaman magic often required specific conditions or rituals to function. Though some could be activated directly without any special requirement.

Once he could no longer move, the sky filled with hundreds of magic circles like dark clouds smothering the sun. Then everything descended upon him mercilessly.

"Raaaawr!"

His body burned. The scent of roasted flesh filled the air. His hoarse roar pierced the ears of anyone who heard it.

Through unbearable pain, he inhaled deeply then poured every remaining ounce of strength into his roar.

The shockwave repelled every spell that touched him, turning them into a wild barrage that attacked everything around him. A desperate repetition of his earlier tactic.

Unfortunately the chains had weakened him greatly. His roar only lasted a moment. He barely managed to crack the barrier before his strength was completely drained.

Another flood of spells struck him without mercy. No matter how hard he fought to break the chains, the bindings only tightened further.

"A little more. Do not stop!"

The loud command of the orange haired man ignited the spirits of those vile soldiers. They continued chanting endlessly, attacking him with everything they had.

Sirius still struggled with every bit of strength, hoping to shatter the chains with pure physical power.

Suddenly the magical bombardment paused for a breath, giving him a moment to inhale. But then he looked up and froze.

A massive magic circle filled the sky, siphoning mana from countless mages beneath it. Some collapsed as if being drained to the bone.

He needed no explanation. He knew it was a spell meant to erase him entirely.

"What is that. They intend to obliterate me completely."

He had only two impossible options. Break free from the chains and flee or harden his body and endure the impact.

Sirius smirked bitterly. More than a smirk it curved into a far more defiant smile. He had another plan forming.

"Fire now!"

The command spread across the battlefield followed by a massive meteor falling from the sky. Sirius gritted his teeth. Then he channeled every last fragment of power to harden his entire body.

Sadly the meteor was far stronger. His body did not melt instantly, yet the inferno and colossal impact inflicted far worse damage.

The chains melted slowly. His internal organs were crushed. His bones shattered. Flesh and muscle were torn apart. His blood evaporated before it could reach the ground.

"Raaaaaawr!"

His roar was hoarse and filled with agony, like the dying scream of a nightmare beast born from the deepest void.

Even in that ruined state he tried to stand once more. But in the end the wolf was forced to accept reality. His massive body collapsed upon the earth. His vision faded slowly until only complete darkness remained.

The last thing he heard was the resounding cheer of victory from those who had surrounded him. A heartbeat later, the great wolf finally released his ragged breath.