Chapter 16: The Ash Wolf Atack

Chapter 16: The Ash Wolf Atack

Jack stripped off his singed, blood-stained clothes and pulled on a fresh canvas smock, immediately spending an Enhancement Point to reinforce it alongside other equipment.

[Cotton Cloth Robe +1]

[Grade: Trash]

[Category: Armor]

[Attributes: Defense +10, HP +50]

[Special Effect: Berserk Guard — Taking damage hardens the fabric into weave-guard armor. For every 10 HP lost in combat, Defense increases by +1. Effect expires upon battle completion.]

---

[Volcanic Battle Boots +1]

[Grade: Trash]

[Attributes: Movement Speed +5, HP +100]

[Special Effect: Combat Sprint — Movement speed increases by 50% while in active combat.]

With his new gear equipped, Jack felt light on his feet, practically flying across the blistering terrain. While low-tier wild beasts lurked behind the glowing magma vents, he paid them no mind. His priority wasn't mindless grinding—he needed to locate hidden caves or high-tier boss monsters guarding hidden treasure chests before the safe zone's newbie protection timer expired.

However, the volcanic hellscape rarely granted uninterrupted safe travel.

A flash of pale, silver-grey fur darted out from behind an obsidian boulder, blocking his path with a low, menacing growl. Jack dug his boots into the black sand, attempting to pivot around the beast, but its agility rivaled his own.

[Ash Wolf]

[Grade: Bronze]

[Level: 2]

[HP: 330]

[Attack: 45]

[Defense: 20]

[Skill: Fire Breath (Launches a dense fireball, dealing 60 damage to all targets within a 1-meter radius. Cooldown: 30 seconds.)]

[Description: A pack-oriented beast. Excels at high-speed ambush tactics and coordinated group hunting.]

Before Jack's eyes could fully process the threat, the wolf inhaled sharply, its jaws glowing with molten light. A searing fireball burst from its mouth!

Reacting on pure gamer instinct, Jack veered sharply to the right. The hostility immediately registered with the system, triggering his boots' [Combat Sprint] effect and propelling him forward in a sudden burst of speed. The blast slammed into the ground behind him, scattering hot cinders against his back.

Yet, escaping the fireball was precisely what the beast intended.

While Jack dodged the ranged attack, a second silhouette leaped from the dark ash above his head. Sharp, soot-covered claws raked viciously across the back of his neck!

CRASH!

[-47]

A bright crimson damage indicator flashed directly over Jack's head. The sting of tore flesh sent a jolt of pain through his nerves, but his enhanced robe reacted instantaneously.

[HP: 203 / 250]

[Defense: 15 + 4 (Special Effect Triggered: Berserk Guard)]

With his defense boosting to 19, Jack didn't hesitate. Spinning on his heel, he swung his enhanced blade in a heavy, ruthless arc.

SLASH!

The edge bit deep into the second wolf's flank, triggering the familiar purple mist of his sword's passive trait.

[System Notice: The special Deadly Corrosion Poison effect has been activated!]

The first wolf let out an enraged howl and charged at him. Keeping his composure, Jack began circling the poisoned beast in wide, calculated arcs, keeping the dying wolf between himself and the attacker while knowing the wolf’s fire breath skill was still on its long cooldown and couldn't be used anytime soon.

BOOM!

The corrosive venom completely dissolved the second wolf's vitals, and its limp body collapsed heavily onto the volcanic rocks.

"Rise!" Jack barked, extending his palm toward the corpse.

Dark green necrotic energy surged from the volcanic ground. The dead wolf shuddered, its flesh burning away to reveal an obsidian skeletal frame wrapped in glowing green flames.

The remaining Ash Wolf halted its charge, backing up several paces as its ears flattened in instinctual terror.

"Attack!" Jack commanded, lunging forward alongside his reanimated beast.

Seeing two predatory threats closing in, the Ash Wolf lost its resolve, turned tail, and sprinted frantically toward the basalt ridges. But the reanimated skeleton possessed relentless speed. The skeletal wolf leaped forward, tackling the wild beast onto the jagged, heat-cracked ground.

As the two beasts thrashed in the dark sand, Jack caught up and drove his blade into the monster's throat twice in rapid succession.

[-100] [-100]

The purple corrosion flared, and the wolf gave one final shudder before limpness overtook it. Reaching out once more, Jack invoked his talent to convert the second carcass into another loyal skeletal unit.

With the threat resolved, Jack wiped a streak of dark soot from his forehead and looked down at the blade in his palm.

"Seriously... a sword might be a man's romance, but it's really not my ideal fighting style," Jack muttered, rolling his shoulder to ease the stiffness. "Close-range melee leaves way too much room for dirty ambushes. I'll just keep the sword as a backup weapon for emergencies."

He glanced back at his two newly reanimated wolves standing silently in the ash.

"I need to find a bow, or pull more undead magic skill books," Jack thought aloud, a sharp glint in his eyes. "My main class isn't meant for frontline brawling—I'm a Necromancer".

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