Leo shifted a half step too late.
⠀
The blade did not stop the jaws. It changed where they landed.
⠀
The wolf's jaws found his shoulder, biting down fiercely.
⠀
"Aughhh!" Leo's face twisted in pain. He let out a scream of agony. The jaws held immense pressure, and Leo felt as if his shoulder was tearing off.
⠀
Leo let out a hot breath, grimacing with his jaw clenched as the teeth in his shoulder scraped bone.
⠀
He sensed the loss of strength in his arm, blood soaking whatever fabric remained of his tunic.
⠀
He lost his grip, his mind and reaction time becoming slower as the pain dulled his brain.
⠀
His fingers trembled. The sword that fit so comfortably in his grip now felt heavy.
⠀
He tried to move his shoulder, but the teeth inside made it impossible to move.
⠀
'If this continues any longer, my future combat power will be severely damaged!'
⠀
Fearing his arm would be crippled if this continued, he wanted to stop and retreat.
⠀
But he couldn't stop. Using his other hand, he punched the wolf while enhancing his fist with mana.
⠀
The blow churned the wolf's internal organs, rendering all resistance on impact useless.
⠀
The wet sound of organs moving around filled Leo's ears as the shock traveled back into his arm.
⠀
The wolf's yellow eyes widened at the impact. It let out a cry before retreating.
⠀
The delayed pain now came crashing into Leo, his arm not responding immediately.
⠀
Sensing the mana circulation being disrupted in his shoulder, he forced mana through his damaged flesh.
⠀
'...I imbued my fists with too much mana.' Leo felt the blood seeping out of his shoulder.
⠀
Ignoring the blood dripping from his shoulder, Leo bent down to pick up his fallen sword.
⠀
'This damned forest.' Thinking of the multiple injuries he had suffered, Leo was sure this forest wasn't suitable for weak students.
⠀
With his hands on the hilt, he gripped tightly even as his shoulder ached.
⠀
The wolves had already retreated into the shadows, but this time it wasn't going to work.
⠀
Leo's eyes scanned the entire area around him, looking for any tracks.
⠀
Mud swallowed paw prints in mere moments. The dense trees blocked his line of sight.
⠀
The wind carried a mix of scents, making Leo unable to point out the smell of wolves.
⠀
"Heh, fool me once..." Leo's face bloomed into a grin.
⠀
He turned around. The mana of a genius was emitting from his body unconsciously.
⠀
His mana leaked unintentionally. His muscles tightened beyond control and his veins pumped endlessly.
⠀
His breath was in perfect sync with his mana, and the ground where he was standing cracked slightly.
⠀
He realized he had been holding back for far too long.
⠀
He became tinged slightly with a blue color, pulsating and enhancing his body.
⠀
With one slash, the wolves' attacks were halted. Just the shockwave was enough to blow them away.
⠀
Leo raised his sword, only to see it crumble, unable to withstand his strength.
⠀
The wolves instantly became silent, feeling the change in his heart and hesitating to move.
⠀
Leo kept staring at the fragments on the ground, his hand still tightly gripping nothing but air.
⠀
The wolves kept hesitating. The vacant look in Leo's eyes was too much.
⠀
The forest became silent, with all sounds nearby becoming quiet as not even the wind was heard shifting.
⠀
Vietra felt the pressure spike as Leo was feeling naked without his steel.
⠀
'...No, there's no way.' Leo was surprised. The once hefty weight in his hands was no more. It was suddenly gone.
⠀
⠀
"Leo, I'm giving you this sword, which I wielded in my youth." Leo's father, William, had said, his voice full of warmth as he passed down his sword.
⠀
"Know the moment this sword becomes unable to handle your strength, that you have grown." Leo remembered the calm smile on his father's face.
⠀
Leo seethed with anger, realizing he was forced to use his bare hands.
⠀
Killing intent leaked out of him.
⠀
The wolves recovered quickly, charging toward Vietra's barrier.
⠀
With their combined attacks, the barrier partially shattered, but that didn't mean they won.
⠀
Vietra was trembling at Leo's pressure and leaking mana. She knew they were no longer just matching the exam.
⠀
'This isn't a battle I can help in. Leo's power is outpacing me.' A grim thought took place in her mind.
⠀
She wanted to help, her body refusing due to her mana strain, but she knew that if she stepped in, all she would be was trouble.
⠀
She would only get in his way.
⠀
'Are they coordinating?' Leo was amused.
⠀
His amusement turned into respect, seeing the eye contact happening between them as they positioned themselves in advantageous terrain.
⠀
Leo recognized the hierarchy then. The wolf which he punched was nothing more than bait.
⠀
'Hmph, I'll see if you can handle getting baited.' Leo let out a sigh.
⠀
The wolves retreated, eyes locking onto each other. Then they moved as if they had chosen a plan.
⠀
"...That was my first sword." Leo's eyes turned murderous as he coated his fists in mana with practiced ease.
⠀
Leo walked forward slowly. Raising his fists before relaxing his body, he gave off the image of a defenseless man.
⠀
One of the wolves charged immediately. Its body soared as it jumped, getting less than a breath away from Leo.
⠀
With its snout open, saliva dropped out. Its yellow eyes glared at him, teeth flashing.
⠀
A sadistic smirk appeared on Leo's face. His relaxed posture was nothing more than a trap.
⠀
Leo compressed his mana, deciding to end it in one strike filled with absolute certainty.
⠀
The wolf recognized its mistake. With Leo's mana now fully out, it tried to escape.
⠀
But it was too far in.
⠀
"Gotcha!" Leo roared. His fist, filled with mana, caused the air to tremble as it directly hit the wolf's face.
⠀
Brain matter and blood sprayed Leo. His twisted grin was now full of blood as he was dyed crimson.
⠀
The other wolf growled at this before turning and running.
⠀
Leo let it leave, unaware he had just killed a forest king candidate.
⠀
Letting out a calm exhale through his nose, he was relieved at his win.
⠀
He was about to speak when a calm voice filled the forest.
⠀
"Due to unexpected conditions happening in the forest, all students are ordered to leave. The exam period is over." Leo recognized the voice to be the headmaster, Alpheus.