Right as it slipped toward the edge of my range, I activated Reverberent Release!
The phantom thrust echoed out, striking the left hind leg of the stag. The vortex of windblades that accompanied it marred cuts across the hide and severed tendons.
I didn't give the collapsed beast any moment of respite, immediately charging forward with my spear in a two handed hold, not retrieving my shield to press the attack.
The stag, with no way to flee now, slightly turned its body to face me with a frightened look. This was its last stand.
With its grotesque, enormous antlers, it began chaotically flailing them at me.
I had to tread with caution.
While the assault was reckless with many points to exploit, it was also very unpredictable.
My Foresight wasn't of much help due to how disorderly the situation was.
I could glimpse where the stag's antlers would move next, but processing that information and forming a plan to take advantage of it, while reacting to what was currently happening was extraordinarily difficult.
This ability was powerful, but I needed much more practice and experience to make use of it to its full potential.
Currently, I could only rely on it to foresee swift strikes or surprise attacks and dodge.
So, I just acted safely, keeping my distance and using the full range of my spear to poke and find openings.
At moments, I channeled essence into its engraved runes to launch windblades aimed at the stag's eyes and front legs.
Only a few landed on the legs, and while they didn't inflict much damage individually, they added up. Every second, the monster's mobility was worsening.
I could see a hitch in its movement, one front leg buckling under it while the other dragged, carving shallow furrows through the forest floor dyed red from spilled blood.
Eventually, in its desperation with the final strength left in its front legs, the stag pounced forward.
It appeared to have aimed for my crotch, which made me shudder.
But as I already foresaw it, I put forth an idea I thought of beforehand.
Quickly turning around, I 'faced' the incoming beast with the mirror on my back to reflect the attack and activate Reverberent Release to launch another echoed strike.
However, things didn't go exactly as planned.
While the attack landed squarely, or rather circularly as it's cone-shaped at the stag's head, instantly killing it; it didn't completely kill the momentum of its body.
The body continued barreling towards me at a moderate speed, its antlers piercing parts of my arms before I had enough time to process and react.
Pain exploded up my limb as they gouged into the flesh above the forearm, ripping muscle and numbing my hand for a split second before the burn set in and blood flowed.
I gritted my teeth and sucked my tongue.
As it was out of sight of any reflections, I could not have foresaw it.
I guess even for me, turning my back on an enemy was a fatal mistake… Well actually, fatal is a pretty massive overexaggeration.
Both of my arms were injured, but they weren't too severe.
I estimate that with a low grade healing potion and my vampiric healing, I'll be back in good condition after a brief rest in my mirror dimension.
Letting out a breath, I was about to reach into my storage ring to grab a potion when I saw myself in something's reflection that was rapidly approaching!
It was the wolf's eyes!
That fucking snake!
Turns out, it had never fled. It only went to hide behind a tree, observing from a distance, waiting for an opportunity to reveal itself, and it did.
It even approached when I was distracted and from my blindspot where no reflections covered… Was that out of intelligence or luck?
The idea scared me; I believed that monsters were supposed to be instinct driven, but I quickly brushed the thought aside. The beast was approaching.
I was almost at a loss of what to do before realization struck, making me feel like an idiot.
Using my Foresight, I glimpsed the trajectory of the wolf's incoming lunge as I prepared to take out something from my storage ring.
After a rough roll to avoid the pounce of the wolf and buy myself the maximum amount of time, the botched gothic mirror took shape in my hands. During the process, my mirror backpack broke, its frame snapping.
Placing the gothic mirror on the ground, I made sure my entire reflection was shown within the mirror and activated Manifest Self: Man as Before!
I had assumed a past form of myself I stored before beginning my trek. I had conjectured this use of my ability the moment knowledge of it hit me.
The sting of pain I felt in my arm from the roll and movements to take out the mirror promptly disappeared along with the injuries.
My stamina and essence also completely replenished—not like I needed it though. I had barely even used a fifth of my essence the entire fight.
The wolf froze in its advance, stiffened at my instant full recovery.
Leaving my mirror on the floor for now, I picked up my spear and summoned another mirror-shield from my storage ring.
I hadn't retrieved the one I used previously because I had focused my attention on the approaching wolf.
It didn't matter though, the mirror-shields only consumed around one twenty-fifth of my essence to create, so I made plenty beforehand just in case.
Adjusting my stance, I began approaching the wolf who looked unsure of whether to engage in battle or flee for real this time.
Unfortunately, if it wanted to escape, there was nothing I could do this time.
I didn't have an attack stored in this mirror-shield, and even if I threw one of my pocket mirrors, I believed the wolf would be agile enough to dodge it unlike the stag.
Not to mention, I also lost the advantage of surprise with the attack as the wolf witnessed how the phantom strike emerged from the mirror.
But thankfully, it seemed like the wolf was still unwilling to back down. This was its territory after all.
As it cautiously approached me letting out a low growl, I smiled, reminded of the thought I had before.
When I first came across these three musketeers, I wished to take them on separately. But when they coordinated to swarm in on me, I believed the dream was dead.
Yet, look at how things ended up turning out.
It seemed like the world answered my wishes… Wait nah. This shit was all me.