Is this really a Game?!

The combined attack struck with such intensity that the ground shook and started splitting apart while the howl of the giant wolf echoed through the entire forest. Greenie's destructive hammer blow had destroyed most of the shadows unexpectedly, giving birth to a great opening that the others couldn't waste.

As the spear of flames reached the wolf, hitting it squarely in the chest, the frost below it quickly moved upwards, the remnants of the two skills quickly combining before growing unstable and exploding in the wolf's face.

The explosion from above had pushed the head of the wolf down, thus allowing for such a thing to happen. Right after that, the beam of light and darkness that Reign had launched cut through the air like a blade before crashing into the wolf.

For a moment, silence was all that existed in the region, and then the light and darkness collapsed on one another, forming an explosion of such magnitude that nothing around the wolf was able to escape unharmed.

For a moment, it looked as if their coordinated onslaught had finally done some real damage.

A guttural roar filled the clearing as the energy impacted, resonating with pain and fury. But when the smoke cleared, the group's hearts sank. The monstrous wolf, though battered, still stood tall. Its obsidian armor of shadows had fissures, revealing patches of scorched fur and wounded flesh beneath, yet it still radiated that same murderous intensity.

"Dammit," Reign muttered, sweat pouring down his face. "Even that wasn't enough?"

The wolf's crimson eyes blazed with renewed fury, and it snarled, shadows swirling thicker around it like a dense, living fog. The cracks in its armor quickly sealed, shadows surging to reinforce its weakened areas. Then, in a terrifying show of power, it released a pulse of darkness that sent everyone flying backward. Its sheer force ripped through the clearing, uprooting trees and scattering debris. Reign barely managed to shield himself with his swords, though the impact left his arms numb.

"The tree, the tree in the middle is giving it more power!" Beast suddenly roared out, drawing everybody's attention.

"We have to get rid of that tree, it is acting as a conduit, allowing the bastard to draw in more power than it could usually possess."

"Tch, it definitely won't allow for something like that to happen easily." Reign said with a click of his tongue as he observed the Wolf before glancing to the side.

"Tank, Wolf, and Beast, you guys go and take care of the tree, the rest of us will hold this thing off, we won't let it go after you."

"Roger that."

The three nodded, steeling themselves as they pivoted toward the ancient, twisted tree that pulsed ominously in the center of the clearing. Its roots slithered through the earth-like veins, pulsating with a dark energy that seemed to flow directly into the massive wolf. They knew this was their chance; severing the creature from its power source could be the key to finally weakening it enough for a fatal blow.

"Get ready," Reign called to the others, his voice barely masking his exhaustion. "Let's keep it busy and away from the tree!"

Tank led the way, shield raised and posture steady, while Wolf summoned a fresh blaze of flames around his sword, his draconic aura blazing through the exhaustion that weighed on him. Beast took a final breath, his gaze sharpening as he nocked a powerful arrow infused with his remaining wind energy. He glanced back at Reign and the others who would buy them time, silently grateful as he and the two others sprinted toward the tree.

The massive wolf instantly sensed their intent. A fierce, earth-shaking snarl erupted from its chest, and it lunged forward, attempting to cut them off. Reign moved quickly, positioning himself between the wolf and the tree, blocking its path with his swords flashing with light and darkness.

"Not so fast!" he shouted, slashing at the beast's face, forcing it to stop and redirect its attention to him.

Shadow materialized behind the wolf, his daggers infused with dark energy. With a quick swipe, he struck at the creature's hind leg, temporarily slowing it down. Aelrinder followed suit, his spear glinting with starlight as he drove it into one of the cracks in the beast's obsidian armor, creating a surge of light that caused the shadows to recede slightly. The monstrous wolf reared back, snapping and thrashing as it tried to shake them off.

"Go! Now!" Reign shouted at Tank, Wolf, and Beast.

The three dashed forward, each feeling the immense pressure emanating from the tree. As they neared it, they could feel a powerful, ancient energy pulsating from its core, resonating with a dark life force that seemed to fuel the wolf's wrath and resilience.

"Tank, we'll need you to break through those roots first!" Wolf instructed as he pointed to the thick, black roots snaking around the base of the tree.

Tank didn't hesitate, slamming his shield against the largest root with a forceful blow. His shield's abyssal energy radiated outward, sending cracks spider-webbing through the dense root. But as it cracked, the tree shuddered, and a dark energy erupted from the base, forming a protective barrier.

"Of course, it wouldn't be that easy," Beast muttered, frustration flickering in his eyes.

Wolf gritted his teeth, summoning his draconic flames once more. "I'll burn through it; we don't have a choice!"

Meanwhile, back at the main battlefield, the monstrous wolf sensed the assault on its power source and let out an enraged, guttural growl. Shadows poured from its body, condensing into dense, whip-like tendrils that lashed out at Reign and the others. Shadow dodged just in time, his movements swift and precise as he maneuvered to distract the wolf.

"Keep hitting it with everything you have!" Aelrinder shouted, his starlit spear creating an aura of light that clashed against the encroaching shadows. "We have to keep its attention here!"

The wolf roared, breaking through Aelrinder's defenses with a swipe of its massive claw. The force sent Aelrinder skidding back, but he managed to keep his footing, breathing heavily as he raised his spear once more. Laura stepped forward, conjuring more of her chaotic dark flames, which she hurled at the wolf, targeting the cracks in its shadow armor.

The flames struck, searing through the beast's defenses and sending waves of chaotic energy rippling through its form. The wolf's roars grew more frenzied, and for a brief moment, it faltered. Taking advantage of the opening, Reign leaped forward, bringing his dual swords down in a vicious arc, slashing through the exposed gaps in its armor.

"I'll start casting a stronger spell, just buy me a couple of seconds!" Laura shouted while Reign nodded his head and exhaled deeply before staring at the wolf with a nasty grin.

"It seems the effect is already showing, with the tree being forced to defend itself, it can't give you as much power as it previously did, huh?" Reign joked as he stared at the wolf, his face seemingly relaxed, not disturbed in the slightest.

Inside, however, he was definitely feeling a bit nervous. It was true that the strength of the wolf had decreased, and it was currently not nearly as strong as it previously was, but that didn't mean it could be looked down on.

Stay connected through empire

The monster was still immensely powerful, and he still had no idea whether he could deal with it in his transformed state and with the help of the others.

Meanwhile, at the tree, flames were roaring around the tree while Wolf was gathering more of his flames into a condensed, pulsing sphere. His face was strained, the exhaustion evident, but he pushed through, summoning every last ounce of mana he could muster. Tank continued to bash the roots, while Beast, seeing the protective barrier weakening, let loose a barrage of arrows aimed at the core of the tree. The arrows struck true, and the barrier flickered, slowly dissipating.

"This is it!" Wolf shouted, launching his condensed flames at the tree's base. The fireball exploded on impact, creating a blaze that engulfed the roots in searing heat. The tree trembled violently, dark energy seeping from the cracks that began forming along its twisted bark. With one final swing, Tank shattered the largest root, and a surge of energy burst from the tree, destabilizing it.

The monstrous wolf let out a deafening, enraged howl, its strength waning as the connection to the tree was severed. Shadows still clung to it, but they flickered weakly, and the cracks in its armor became larger and more apparent.

Reign's eyes lit up with determination as he saw the wolf's armor beginning to crumble. "Now! Hit it with everything you've got left!"

Aelrinder summoned the last vestiges of his starlight energy, his spear glowing brighter than ever as he aimed for the wolf's heart. Shadow and Laura coordinated their attacks, with Shadow's dark-infused daggers slicing through the wolf's weakened armor while Laura's spell was finally finished.

A powerful sword made out of demonic and dark energy suddenly manifested itself above the wolf, crashing down onto it.