Zaelen read the message again. Nope, he hadn’t misread.

  Battle initiated. Rules set. You may not use outer interference. [System Interference] and [Space Pocket] blocked.

  My salttttttttt! Not my salt! Nooooo! Zaelen glanced at Nyx, whose muzzle had curled into a sneer. “Not so brave now, are you?” he smirked. Seriously, the wolf sounded like a villain straight out of a book.

  “You know, you might want to fix your temper issues,” suggested Zaelen.

  Nyx’s face darkened for a split second before he lunged.

  Zaelen scrambled out of the way – he valued his life after all – shouting, “Hey! It was just a friendly suggestion!”

  Sadly, Nyx did not think the same. Zaelen felt teeth sink into his tail and swung around, slamming his tail into the ground. While he couldn’t feel pain, the feeling of teeth sinking into your flesh wasn’t exactly comfortable. But when he turned around, the wolf who’d bitten his tail was already gone, and all that was left was a few dented scales and a bruised tail from where he’d slammed it into the ground. Seriously, he was doing more damage to himself than to the wolves.

  He looked forward again in time to see a snarling Aurora in his face. Thankfully, he managed to send a burst of [Dragon Breath] straight into the wolf’s face. She shrieked, managing to slice open a thin gash on Zaelen’s muzzle. However, it didn’t matter that much – she'd taken the brunt of the damage with a scorched face and all. It rather satisfyingly reminded Zaelen of himself destroying Lyceris’s face.

  Before he could finish the wolf, however, she leapt away – quite quickly for somebody who’d just had their face burnt off. He noticed that her face was starting to slowly regenerate itself though the healing process was soon nullified by the flames still flickering on her face. That would take a while, but the flames wouldn’t last forever. Zaelen soon realized this was going to be a very long battle. Come on! Would it kill you to give me some salt, at least?!

  Zaelen yelped as something cold and painful smashed into his flank followed by several more. He soon realized that they were sharp, glittering icicles. Also very deadly, if enough of them hit you. Frostbite was already spreading near the places where the icicles had hit. He looked around and soon found who he was looking for – Lunaire, who was conveniently preparing to fire even more icicles. Oh, thank you Lunaire, for firing possibly lethal icicles at me! I’m SO grateful!

  Before he could stop the icicle-firing wolf, a white bundle of fur crashed into him, bringing both himself and it to the ground. Considering that Aurora was still healing and Lunaire was playing the role of the sniper, he guessed that it was Nyx. Not that it mattered – they would all die in the end.

  He tussled with Nyx on the ground, both trying to claw and snap at one another. At least Lunaire couldn’t fire icicles like this – she risked hitting Nyx as well. Zaelen opened his jaws, activating [Dragon Breath]. While the flames barely hurt him with his maxed-out fire resistance, it was a different story for Nyx, who howled in pain as flames ate away at his flesh. While the progress was slowed down by the healing regeneration that all slimes apparently had, it gave Zaelen a chance to grab Nyx by the scruff and send him flying across the clearing. The spectating slime wolves – it seemed they couldn’t interfere with the battle – quickly scattered as Nyx crashed into the wall.

  The wolf slid down to the ground, leaving a slight indent in the solid rock behind him. Nyx braved the pain and staggered upright, eyes blazing with fury and indignation. Dang, he still stands up after leaving a dent in a freaking solid wall of rock. He’s got guts, I’ll give him that.

  Zaelen glanced around, searching for Aurora. He soon found his answer into the form of Aurora slashing a gash down Zaelen’s flank. Seriously, are my scales SUPPOSED to be this easy to cut?!

  Skill [HP Regen] activated

  HP: 127/160

  That would be a good thing IF my HP wasn’t going down faster than it heals! Mind upping the regeneration rate, anyone?! Aurora and Nyx were now both darting around him, sliding under and above his attacks before getting in more of their own. Zaelen hissed and sent a stream of [Dragon Breath] at Aurora, but the wolf was more wary of the flames this time; only got a patch of singed fur that soon disappeared thanks to their regeneration skills. In return, Zaelen got another gash along his muzzle. Just great,

  Finally, Zaelen decided to use [Shadow Tentacles]. He seriously hoped it was what he intended it to be. And for once, luck was on his side. Shadowy tentacles – just like their namesake – erupted from the ground, wrapping around Nyx and Aurora. They writhed in the grip of the tentacles, but they were effectively immobilized. Using the skill took down his MP alarmingly fast though, so he could only hold it for a few seconds more. Zaelen darted forward, releasing the skill at the same time. As Aurora dropped to the ground, he crashed into her like a bull. Sure, the move wasn’t graceful or anything, but what did that matter? His life was on the line here!

  Aurora was sent reeling from the force of the impact, shock slowing down her movements. Zaelen used those few precious moments to smash his claws into her, sending her staggering back. He smacked a burst of [Dragon Breath] in her face for good measure.

  MP: 47/120

  Yeah yeah, I know, system. My MP is not doing so good right now. Blame it on the fact that I don’t have my salt, not me! A lucky strike sending Nyx crashing into the ground. However, they wouldn’t stay down forever.

  Change of plans! Zaelen streaked into the brambles, clawing his way through. He sent a [Lightning Strike] at Lunaire to deter any icicles coming his way. Soon, he emerged on the other side... with bleeding scratches all over from the brambles.

  He looked over to a steep wall of rock, which likely led to the overhang over the camp. I mean, it’s not TOO tall to climb. Clearly, Zaelen had never estimated distances before. And so, painstakingly, Zaelen clawed his way up. By the time he reached the top, he was a panting mess. At least he hadn’t slid a ways down too many times.

  He took the chance to let his HP and MP recover some.

  Learned new skill: [MP Regen Lv1]

  [HP Regen Lv1] -> [HP Regen Lv2]

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  That’s going to come in handy. Zaelen crept forward on the ledge of rock. It’s not going to break and fall... is it?

  He crept forward some more, scanning the camp below. He saw Nyx, Lunaire, and Aurora pacing around the camp, noses to the ground. They seriously act like dogs more than slimes. Zaelen smirked as he looked down at Lunaire. Guess this is what it’s like to get a ‘taste of your own medicine’.

  His MP had healed a good amount, now at 94/120. Pinpointing Lunaire, he shot several [Wind Slash]es down. Most of them hit their mark; it’d been a good idea to ambush them. Lunaire howled in pain as deep rakes appeared in her fur. The wolf staggered before falling to the ground.

  “Coward! Cheater!” howled Nyx as he furiously glanced around. “Get down here and fight us!”

  Zaelen had quite a few retorts that said otherwise in return to him being a coward and cheater, but he wasn’t going to give up his position just yet. Also, who would go down there with Nyx looking like he was about to kill somebody? And Zaelen had no doubts that Nyx would kill somebody. Especially a certain golden drake which totally wasn’t crouching on a cliff above them. If he could just finish Lunaire while she was immobile... he did it! Zaelen almost leaped up and began jumping around in joy, but he was reminded that this was an overhang quite a few feet above the ground. He did not want it to crack and send him falling below.

  While the attacks had taken up much of his MP, it was worth it to finish off one of the wolves once and for all.

  Aurora, who had realized Zaelen’s plan much too late, howled in grief. “No!” The wolf collapsed over Lunaire’s dead body – AKA a puddle of slime – pawing franticly at it.

  Zaelen wondered if he could snipe Aurora as well. But no, it was not to be. Aurora’s grief had turned to anger, and she soon discovered where the attacks had come from.

  “Nyx! The cliff!”

  Nyx’s eyes sparked with understanding. Time to skedaddle! Zaelen poked his head over the ledge – almost risking getting his head impaled with an icicle but managing to move in time – and yelled, “Nice seeing you!” down to the wolves before following his own advice; disappearing to skid down the cliff.

  It turned out that going down was much faster than going up, and he was soon at the bottom. Then he heard it – the thumping of two sets of paws. Two sets of paws from two very angry alphas. Two very angry alphas who would without hesitation kill him if they could. They appeared from the bramble entrance then, eyes scanning the forest around them. Zaelen was somewhat covered by an overgrowth of bushes, but if the alphas looked directly at him, they would no doubt notice.

  Zaelen slowly – ever so slowly – backed away into the thicker darkness of the forest next to him. Even with his golden scales, the darkness would cover them up nicely and he would just fade right in. But of course, his luck just had to kick in and he stepped on a twig. A miniscule, tiny twig. A miniscule, tiny twig that made a sharp crack sound when he stepped on it. A miniscule, tiny twig that alerted the two very angry alphas to his position. A miniscule, tiny twig that might’ve just doomed him.

  The two wolves’ heads jerked up, eyes locking on Zaelen’s. They stood there like that for a moment, no one moving a muscle. Then they all burst into action, springing at each other.

  “You bastard! You’ll pay for Lunaire’s death!” snarled Aurora as she threw himself at Zaelen.

  “Hey - this is to the death! You should’ve - I don’t know, been prepared?!”

  Aurora did not take kindly to this remark. “But it’s true!” howled Zaelen – rather like a wolf, if he said so himself – as he dodged a vicious swipe from Aurora.

  He opened his jaws, casting a [Dragon Breath] more to get some space between him and the two alphas that were assaulting him then to cause actual damage.

  [Dragon Breath Lv1] -> [Dragon Breath Lv2]

  That’s what I’m talking about, old man! Oh, wait, can it even hear me? Zaelen’s [Dragon Breath] did what it was intended to do, both Aurora and Nyx leaping away. He looked around, searching for an escape exit. He soon realized that the forest was still his best chance. If he could find a river or something to mask his scent in, he could rest and form a plan to get rid of the wolves.

  Zaelen suddenly felt something digging into his back, snapping and raking off the scales to get at the vulnerable flesh beneath. He curved his neck to see Aurora, anger burning in her eyes. He rolled, crushing Aurora under him. Nyx took the chance to try to leap on top of him, but Zaelen smashed his tail into the wolf, sending him flying.

  Their anger was making the two wolves reckless, and while that meant they did more damage, Zaelen could also do more in return. He curved his neck, blasting a [Dragon Breath] at the grass around him. Aurora was still writhing underneath him, and Zaelen rolled off. He blasted another [Dragon Breath] for good measure, trapping the wolf in a ring of flames. He glanced toward Nyx, who was already on his feet. However, the flames were somewhat blocking his view of Zaelen, who took the chance to slip away into the forest.

  ??^?/-\?^??

  The drake slunk quietly into the wolves’ camp. It was dark – the shadowy blankness above showing no sign of light. Everything was quiet. This unnerved Zaelen somewhat; shouldn’t there at least be an owl or something? And I have NO idea if the wolves are nocturnal. Like, they’re wolves, but they’re also slimes. And they didn’t SEEM to be sleeping during the day. They have to sleep sometime...

  Zaelen suddenly saw a flash of white and used [High Leap] to give himself the chance to twist in midair and slam his claws down on Nyx, who’d have landed on his back if he’d stayed still. The wolf gave a yip of pain and writhed out of his grasp, leaving clumps of fur and blood behind.

  The wolf’s white pelt seemed to glow in contrast to the darkness around it. Zaelen glanced around – where was Aurora? Zaelen didn’t take the two for blind fools, they would’ve definitely made a plan. He glanced up at the overhang just in case Aurora was planning to snipe him with icicles or some other deadly ‘weapon’.

  He didn’t find Aurora, but he saw that the pack of slime wolves had moved to occupy the space on the overhang. Curious heads were poking out from the edges to look at the commotion below. Nyx and Aurora obviously didn’t want Zaelen going up there anytime soon.

  In a sense, both sides were stretching the rules as much as possible to their benefit. While the pack of slime wolves couldn’t manipulate in the fight directly, he supposed that the system didn’t consider this outside interference.

  Zaelen’s attention snapped back to Nyx, who’d broken his circling in favor of a sudden lunge that took Zaelen by surprise. He yelped, trying to bat away the terrifying form of an angry alpha with his jaws wide open. He failed and Nyx latched onto his arm, his teeth penetrating Zaelen’s scales and sinking deep into his flesh. He could almost feel the pain just by looking.

  However, this proved to be useful since Nyx couldn’t move with his jaws clamped tightly around Zaelen’s arm. Zaelen didn’t know what Nyx was thinking – perhaps he thought Zaelen would be immobilized by the pain – but he wasn’t going to let this chance just fly away.

  Zaelen snapped his jaws around Nyx’s neck. He immediately regretted it – after the fur, the ‘flesh’ inside didn’t feel like actual flesh, more like a mix between slime and water. It also tasted... bitter? However, the texture of it was more than enough to almost make Zaelen puke; he would’ve if he hadn’t needed to kill Nyx first. The wolf struggled under his jaws, snarling and trying to wriggle free. Zaelen activated [Dragon Breath], making Nyx give out a howl of pain. Flames blazed brightly around Zaelen’s head, and he squinted. While his fire resistance protected him from the actual damage of the fire, it certainly didn’t protect him from the glare when flames were inches from your eyes.

  Finally, Nyx went limp in his grasp. Zaelen let the wolf’s body drop to the ground and watched with satisfaction as it melted into a puddle of slime. Now where is Aurora? Zaelen whipped his head around, but no Aurora was to be seen. Zaelen was about to leave and try again another day – after all, he’d already killed Nyx – when a piecing screech split the air.

  “Kraaaaaael!”

  Lower Duplicate Frostael Aetheric summoned