Encouraged by the wound Roy had likely inflicted, Ren felt a flicker of composure return to his heart, enough to finally steady his breathing.
Should I be glad it’s injured, or terrified that it caught up so easily even with a wound?
Regardless, an injury was an advantage he couldn't ignore. A bead of sweat traced a path down his cheek as his expression tightened.
It’s not going to let me run!
He knew that if he turned his back now, his life would be snuffed out in an instant. Understanding the stakes, Ren swung the Wooden Magic Sword, commanding roots to erupt from the earth beneath the Thief Wolfen’s paws. He didn't stop there, lashing out at the surrounding trees to weave a complex web of vines.
"Gaaaaah!" the Thief Wolfen howled.
Though the distance between them remained the same, the beast was clearly agitated by the sudden interference. Despite favoring its front leg, the wolf leaped with staggering speed. It shredded Ren’s vines with blades of Wind Magic as it closed the gap.
"Grua!"
The monster raised a powerful arm tipped with razor-sharp claws and brought it down.
"Damn it! Give me a second to think!" Ren shouted, sprouting a thick root to serve as a shield just before the claws connected.
A dry crack echoed through the clearing as the root shattered under the force of the strike. He had expected it to break, but the sensation of cold death passing inches from his throat made his skin crawl.
My only weapon is the Wooden Magic Sword! How am I supposed to fight this thing?
Ren used his roots and vines to keep his distance, but he was reaching his limit. He couldn't play for time much longer; his mana would give out, and he would lose consciousness.
Wait—that’s it!
He remembered the Elf he had fought in The Legend of the Seven Heroes I. That battle had also taken place in a forest. During his playthrough, he had been pushed to the brink by the environment and the Elf’s relentless Nature Magic.
If the game character could do it, so could he.
However, Ren only had Nature Magic (Small) at his disposal, limiting him to simple roots and vines.
"But still... I can’t give up!"
The opening came in a heartbeat. As the Thief Wolfen’s limbs were momentarily snared by the growth, Ren lunged forward. Seizing the only window he had, he swung the Wooden Magic Sword in a desperate arc, aiming directly for the crown of the beast's head.
"Ugh—how hard is this thing?!"
Ren’s hands went numb from the impact. The Thief Wolfen let out a pained shriek, but its six eyes burned with undiminished killing intent. If anything, the blow had only fueled its rage.
He moved to strike again, but the Wooden Magic Sword shattered from the hilt up, the fragments dissolving before they hit the ground.
"What...?"
Simultaneously, the roots and vines vanished. Even for a magic sword, it was still made of wood; it had failed to withstand the violent shock of the impact.
Calm down! I can re-summon it!
He focused his mind, calling upon the skill again. The sword reappeared in his hand instantly, but a sharp, localized headache spiked through his skull.
Is it because I summoned it right after it broke?
The mana consumption was significantly higher than usual. It was a vital lesson, but he didn't have the luxury of reflecting on it. The Thief Wolfen was already launching its counterattack.
"Gwoooooooooooo!"
Fortunately, the blow to its head had left the beast slightly sluggish. The wolf tore through its remaining restraints with Wind Magic and lunged with its jaws agape.
"Kuh..."
Ren dove sideways, rolling across the damp earth. The taste of soil in his mouth was foul, but he scrambled to his feet, spitting out the dirt and leveling his re-summoned sword.
If I can just repeat that a few more times...
If he could wait for an opening and strike the head repeatedly, he might be able to deal enough damage to kill it—or at least escape. But a grim realization set in.
No. I’ll collapse first.
Maintaining the vines was already draining his mana; treating the Wooden Magic Sword as a disposable tool was a recipe for disaster. Even as the thought crossed his mind, the wolf’s Wind Magic forced him to move, confirming his fears.
"Ga! Gaaau!"
"Damn it!"
"Gru—Gaaaaah!"
The Thief Wolfen charged, driven by pure fury. Ren spent the next several minutes in a desperate defensive struggle, using every trick he had to stay alive.
Eventually, exhaustion claimed his coordination. His foot caught on a stray root, and his fatigued muscles failed to compensate.
"Gruoooooo!"
With the speed of a gale, the Thief Wolfen lunged, sinking its fangs deep into Ren’s unprotected flank.
"Gwah... ah...!"
The fangs pierced his leather armor as if it were parchment, sinking into his flesh. Utilizing his Physical Ability Boost (Small), Ren managed to twist mid-air, preventing the beast from tearing a chunk out of him, but the wound was deep.
Ren spun around to face the wolf, which had slammed into a tree behind him. He clutched his side, his palm instantly slick with blood.
Use the herbs—no, I can’t!
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the agony. He didn't know if he had enough Rondo Grass for both his father and himself, and Roy came first. He needed a finishing move, but his vision was already starting to swim.
"Gru... ga..."
Ren grit his teeth, staring down the monster. He looked at his bracelet, searching for any possible advantage. That’s when his eyes locked onto a string of floating text.
- Wooden Magic Sword (Level 1: 97/100)
He remembered these numbers from his check earlier that evening. Then, his eyes dropped to the next line.
- Iron Magic Sword (Unlock Requirements: Magic Sword Summoning Arts Level 2, Wooden Magic Sword Level 2)
He was so close. He just needed to defeat three more monsters and let the bracelet absorb their mana.
If there were Little Boars nearby—wait, there are!
He remembered the three Little Boars he had killed near Sword Rock just minutes before the wolf appeared. He hadn't had the chance to absorb their Mana Stones yet.
"To go back to Sword Rock from here—!"
"Gaaaaaaaa!"
"This is no time to hesitate!"
Ren cast aside his doubt. Wringing out the last of his mana, he commanded a thicket of vines to sprout around the Thief Wolfen, then turned and bolted toward the lake.
Sweat and blood blurred his vision. He ignored the throbbing heat in his side, focusing entirely on the path ahead while the sounds of the pursuing wolf echoed behind him.
"Hah... hah... Stay back!"
He repeatedly hindered the wolf’s progress with Nature Magic, though his movements grew more sluggish with every step. Finally, the lake came into view, with the silhouette of Sword Rock at its center.
"There!"
He spotted the carcasses of the three Little Boars.
"Gau! Gruaaaaaa!"
Ren’s vines were becoming thinner and weaker. Conversely, the Thief Wolfen was closing in, despite the wounds Roy and Ren had inflicted. The sound of its heavy breathing was right on his heels.
Ren felt a sharp sting as a blade of wind grazed his cheek. He didn't look back. If he did, those fangs would find his throat.
"I won't lose!"
He burst from the treeline onto the grassy shore. Without stopping, he threw his Wooden Magic Sword behind him, commanding it to sprout a final, massive cluster of vines.
He reached the first boar. He extended his hand, the bracelet glowing in anticipation.
"Reach it!" he roared.
One. Two. Three. As the power of the third Mana Stone was absorbed, the crystal ball on the bracelet flared with light. New text appeared before his eyes:
- Iron Magic Sword (Level 1: 0/1000)
The description noted its sharpness increased with its level. Ren prayed it was enough.
"Gwooooo..."
The wolf was there. He could feel its heat. As Ren spun around, he discarded his wooden blade—
"Thief Wolfen!"
The beast dodged the flying wooden sword, which landed harmlessly behind it.
"Gaaaaaaaa!"
The wolf leaped, its six eyes locked onto Ren’s throat. Its claws shimmered in the starlight. But as it lunged, the discarded Wooden Magic Sword behind it erupted into a final, desperate tangle of vines, binding the beast’s hindquarters and upper body mid-air.
It wasn't enough to stop the wolf, but it was enough to create a window. Ren stared into the monster's eyes, his own burning with a fierce light.
"This is my...!"
The Wooden Magic Sword vanished, and a rift opened in the air beside Ren’s hand. He reached in and drew a blade of solid, pitch-black iron.
"What!?"
As the vines dissolved, the wolf felt a momentary surge of freedom, but it was too late. Ren dropped into a low stance and thrust the Iron Magic Sword upward with everything he had left.
"Last of my strength—go!"
He didn't flinch. The blade met the roof of the wolf’s open maw, punching through the sturdy skull and emerging from the top of its head. Blood sprayed into the night air.
"Ga... ah..."
The white wolf let out a faint, rattling whimper. The light died in its six eyes, and its massive body went limp, sliding off the blade to hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Ren felt the power of the wolf’s Mana Stone flow into his bracelet.
"I did it..."
Exhaustion finally claimed him, and Ren sank to the ground. His vision began to darken, the edges of the world turning to soot.
"Guh... Father... the herbs..."
He tried to use the Iron Magic Sword to prop himself up, but his limbs wouldn't obey. The magic sword and the bracelet both vanished as his consciousness slipped away.
"Father... Mother... I'm sorry..." he whispered, his eyes finally closing.
Minutes later, the thunder of hoofbeats shattered the silence of Sword Rock.
"That roar came from this direction—Captain!"
"Report!"
"There, by the shore! I see the target... and a boy?"
The knights of the House of Baron Clausel arrived at a gallop. They dismounted in a flash, rushing toward the fallen boy and the monster lying beside him.
The Captain knelt and gathered Ren into his arms, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Did you do this? Did you kill the Thief Wolfen...?"
"Incredible..." one of the knights whispered.
"A child shouldn't be capable of this! But his condition—!"
The Captain cut through the chatter. He saw the blood soaking Ren’s side and knew they were out of time.
"Don't you dare die on me, kid." He pulled a vial of medicine from his coat, poured it over the wound, then slung the boy over his shoulder and mounted his horse. As he moved, several herbs fell from Ren’s pocket.
"Wait. Is this Rondo Grass?"
"Captain... that means..."
"Yeah. This must be the Ashton boy. He probably came into this forest alone to find medicine for his father."
"Then it was truly a blessing that we arrived ahead of schedule."
"Indeed. Someone secure the Thief Wolfen’s carcass! The rest of you, with me! We’re heading to the Ashton manor!"
The village, usually silent at this hour, echoed with the frantic beat of hooves. The knights raced through the forest, across the bridge, and past the fields until the manor came into view.
"Hang in there, kid. We're here."
The Captain pulled his horse to a halt in front of the house.
"We are knights of Clausel! Someone, open up!"
Mireille burst out of the house, her face pale with terror. "Who are you—Ren?!"
"No time for pleasantries! Show us to his room, now!"
"Y-yes! This way!"
The knights carried Ren to his room and immediately began more intensive treatment using their field medic training. Mireille was ushered into the hallway, where she stood trembling until the Captain approached her.
"How did Ren... when did he leave..." she stammered.
"Forgive me, but did something happen to Lord Ashton?" the Captain asked gently.
"Yes... his condition worsened suddenly..."
The Captain nodded, his suspicions confirmed. He reached into his pocket and handed her the Rondo Grass.
"Take this. Your son risked his life to get it."
"Wh-why do you have Rondo Grass?!"
"We found him collapsed by the lake. He was clutching this herb as if it were the most important thing in the world. The Thief Wolfen lay dead at his feet."
Mireille sank to her knees, sobbing as the weight of it hit her.
"Madam," the Captain said firmly. "Don't let your son’s sacrifice be for nothing."
Mireille looked at the door to Ren’s room, then wiped her eyes and bit her lip. She stood up, her resolve hardening.
"Ren, Mommy will be right back."
With the Rondo Grass held tightly in her hand, she turned and ran toward Roy's room.