novelraw Chapter 63: Leon’s First Battle
Chapter 63: Leon’s First Battle
The wind howled softly across the plains. Tall grass bent and swayed under the faint pressure emitted by two powerful beasts facing each other.
Leon stood proudly at the front, his massive crimson-scaled body glimmering faintly under the early sunlight. His wings were half-spread, casting long shadows across the earth. Faint wisps of heat distorted the air around him, the natural aura of a dragon not yet fully accustomed to controlling his own power.
Ahead of him was the 4th Rank Dire Wolf.
Its fur was dark gray with streaks of silver running along its spine. Its body was about two and a half meters tall at the shoulder, muscles coiled tightly beneath thick hide. Its grey pupils narrowed as it stared at Leon.
Low growls rumbled from its throat.
Dozens of meters behind Leon, Ash and the others stood on a slightly elevated ground. They had already dismounted earlier, giving Leon the battlefield entirely to himself.
Mira crossed her arms anxiously and asked. "Are you sure he’ll be fine?"
Ash replied calmly. "Don’t worry, he’ll be fine."
The tension thickened as the seconds passed by. Then, the Dire Wolf exploded into motion. The ground beneath its paws shattered as it dashed forward in a blur.
Leon’s pupils contracted. He barely had time to brace before the wolf was already upon him.
Slash!
The wolf’s claws struck downward, silver energy coating its talons.
Clang!
Leon raised his foreleg instinctively to block the incoming attack. Sparks erupted as the claws met scale.
The impact forced Leon to slide backward several meters, claws carving deep trenches into the soil.
He roared angrily. As he could tell that they actually had around the same strength, but he hadn’t yet adjusted to coordinating that power with his new body.
The wolf didn’t relent as it circled immediately, paws barely touching the ground as it sought Leon’s blind spot.
Leon tried to dodge but it was too late.
The wolf’s claws raked across Leon’s flank. His scales resisted the cut, but the force pushed him off balance.
Leon stumbled, wings flaring wildly as he attempted to steady himself.
From the slope, Mira asked with a worried expression. "Are you sure he’s going to be okay?"
Ash narrowed his eyes, but didn’t respond. He knew that Leon just still hadn’t adjusted his strength yet, plus this was his first battle.
The wolf activated its first skill. Silver energy surged along its forelegs.
Energy claws stretched nearly a meter beyond its natural claws. The wolf lunged again, zigzagging erratically, leaving faint afterimages.
Leon’s senses screamed warnings from multiple angles. Then he swung wildly, but missed.
The wolf slipped past his guard and delivered two rapid slashes across his chest.
Boom!
Leon was sent crashing sideways, rolling across flattened grass before slamming into a patch of dirt.
For a brief moment, there was only silence as the Dire Wolf stood tall with a steady breath.
Leon slowly pushed himself up. Two visible scratches marked his chest scales. They were not deep enough to seriously injure him, but enough to sting and hurt his pride.
The wolf then exhaled slowly and this time, he did not rush as he advanced cautiously, sensing the shift.
Leon lowered his body and adjusted his footing. His wings folded tighter and no longer flaring erratically.
When the wolf lunged again, Leon stepped forward and swung his claw instead of back.
Clang!
The impact sent a shockwave outward, flattening grass in a wide circle.
The wolf’s eyes flickered with surprise as Leon pushed harder. His muscles now responded more smoothly than before.
They exchanged blows at close range. Each collision produced bursts of energy and sparks.
The wolf tried to circle again, but this time Leon anticipated it.
Leon anticipated it as he pivoted with a powerful sweep of his tail. The wolf leapt backward, narrowly avoiding being struck.
A faint grin appeared in Ash’s eyes. "He’s finally adapting."
The wolf snarled and activated its skill again, silver claws extending brilliantly.
Leon’s crimson pupils glowed faintly. Flames ignited along his forelegs as this time he finally used his (Crimson Fire Claw) skill. Deep red fire enveloped his claws, radiating oppressive heat.
The two beasts charged simultaneously.
BOOM!
When silver energy collided with crimson flame, the explosion shook the plains. This time, the wolf’s energy projection flickered violently under the intense heat.
Leon roared and pressed forward. The crimson flames began crawling along the wolf’s extended claws, creating the scent of burning fur in the air.
The Dire Wolf pulled back sharply, shaking its forelegs as patches of fur blackened.
It growled furiously. Then its body glowed faintly with pale light as it used its (Lunar Dash) skill.
In an instant, it vanished from Leon’s direct line of sight.
Leon reacted instinctively. The wolf appeared mid-air, descending with extended energy claws aimed at Leon’s neck.
Leon inhaled deeply as mana surged through his body. A sphere of crimson fire condensed within his jaws as he used his (Crimson Fire Ball) skill.
He released it upward.
BOOOOM!
The fireball collided with the wolf mid-descent. A violent explosion of crimson flame engulfed its upper body.
The wolf was blasted sideways, crashing across the plains and carving a long trench through dirt and grass before finally stopping.
Smoke rose from its charred shoulder and anyone could see that the foreleg trembled visibly.
The wolf slowly got up, its right shoulder badly burned. Flesh cracked and smoked but still, it refused to yield.
Silver energy surged around its body one last time and with a howl, it charged.
Leon didn’t hesitate as he charged forward as well.
They met in a violent clash. Claws locked against each other.
The wolf tried to twist around Leon’s side, but Leon’s tail whipped around, striking its hind leg and disrupting its footing.
The wolf faltered and at this moment, Leon seized the opportunity as he slashed across the already injured shoulder.
Crimson flames erupted from the wound.
The wolf howled in agony and before it could retreat, Leon stepped in close.
His massive claw rose high above his head, crimson fire concentrating along the edges.
With a final roar, He brought it down with a single decisive arc. The claw sliced cleanly through flesh and bone, decapitating the wolf cleanly.
Blood sprayed across the grass as the body collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.