At the last second, Cloudia twisted in the air, soaring clean over its head in a graceful arc.
A flicker of shock gleamed in the Direwolf's eyes.
Reon's eyes narrowed.
"It's time."
A strange clarity settled over him—a stillness in the storm.
The chaos around him slowed as instinct took hold, and he attuned himself to everything: the pulse of the wind, the shifting pressure in the air, the subtle tension in the Direwolf's limbs.
In that frozen moment, Reon became motion.
Drawing upon the full force of his Sword Aura—amplified by Cloudia's borrowed strength from Unleashed Fury—he surged forward in a blur of black flame and focused intent.
He closed the distance between them in an instant, darting beneath the beast's towering frame.
But the Direwolf wasn't ignorant of its own vulnerability. Sensing danger, it twisted violently, preparing another blast of Wind Energy—but Reon was already within reach.
With a furious snarl, the Direwolf lashed out, its front legs glowing with concentrated Wind Energy—each strike powerful enough to shatter stone or kill a High-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator outright.
Now, its full attention was locked onto Reon.
SWOOSH!
BOOM!
SWOOSH!
Reon weaved through them with fluid grace, guided by his Instinctual Awareness. Each strike missed him by inches, close enough to rattle his bones from the sheer force.
From behind, Cloudia seized the moment and struck—her claws slashing at its hind legs in perfect synchrony, destabilizing its footing.
The Direwolf turned—too late.
Reon leapt.
His sword shimmered, its edge cloaked in dancing shadows as he soared upward, eyes locked onto the single vulnerable point beneath the beast's jaw.
"Just die already!" he screamed, voice raw with desperation and fury.
SHING!
The blade sank deep into the exposed flesh, tearing through the Direwolf's lower jaw and carving its way toward the skull.
GROOOOWL!
A guttural scream tore from the Direwolf as its body convulsed, blood gushing from the wound and drenching Reon in crimson.
Its Wind Energy unraveled, shredding into the air like scattered petals in a gale. The chamber trembled.
But even in agony—it wasn't done.
GROOWL!
With one last burst of primal fury, the beast reared up.
Its paw rose high, glowing with the remnants of Wind Energy, and came crashing down toward Reon's chest.
A final blow.
A killing strike.
SWOOSH!
Reon's eyes widened—too drained to move, his limbs frozen, his breath caught in his throat.
"W-What...?"
He saw it coming. Time slowed.
This is it.
"If that claw lands on me... it's over," the thought flashed through Reon's mind.
The claws closed in.
Then—
CLASH!
A silver blur intercepted the attack.
Cloudia.
With a roar of her own, she threw herself into the path of the Direwolf's final strike, her claws meeting its with a thunderous impact that echoed through the cavern like thunder.
The ground cracked beneath her paws as she was hurled backward, skidding across the stone floor, but she held her ground.
And then—
Silence.
Bam!
The Direwolf collapsed, its massive form finally still. The air stilled with it, the winds vanishing like a dying breath.
Reon staggered, one hand trembling as it pressed to his chest. He could feel his heart pounding—furious, alive.
He sank to his knees, gasping.
"Hahh... hahh… That... that was too close," he whispered, voice rasping, a shaky smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
His gaze shifted to Cloudia, still crouched and panting but defiant, her silver fur streaked with blood and dust, eyes locked on his.
"Cloudia…" His voice broke slightly. "You saved me. Thank you."
She let out a low, rumbling sound—somewhere between a growl and a purr—as she moved to stand beside him.
Their eyes met. No words needed. Their bond had been forged in battle, and now, it had deepened beyond words.
Then—
Ding!
A familiar chime echoed through his mind.
[Congratulations, Host! You have reached the Pinnacle Stage of Sword Aura.]
[The Host's sword proficiency has increased. Host has advanced from Proficient Sword User to Advanced Sword User.]
[The Host has successfully completed the selected option. Host has received Celestial Heart Breathing Technique (??).]
[The reward has been stored in the System Inventory. Check your Inventory for further details.]
Reon let out a soft laugh and dropped onto his back, arms outstretched against the cold stone floor, blood dripping from his hand.
He lifted it into the air.
"It's... really satisfying."
For a moment, he simply stared at the misty ceiling above, the shock of the notifications washing over him in waves.
The Pinnacle Stage... the very peak of his current mastery, something he had only glimpsed as a distant goal until now.
Advanced Sword User.
The title lingered like a melody, and with it came an undeniable truth: he had ascended beyond the limitations of his former self.
He closed his eyes briefly, sensing a deep shift within. His Sword Aura now flowed as smoothly and steadily as a river.
The lingering imperfections he had felt during his training in the forest had vanished, smoothed into harmony after his harrowing battle with the Ironclaw Direwolf.
The control he had sought was now complete.
His Sword Aura no longer resisted him. It no longer needed taming or shaping. It was him—a seamless extension of his will, calm yet devastatingly potent.
His entire body tingled with energy, the power within him settling into a refined, sharper form.
Reon slowly sat up, feeling the weight of his own strength settle in.
Beside him, Cloudia, her silver fur glistening faintly, lifted her gaze to meet his.
Her cyan eyes were filled with quiet pride, her ears twitching as though she could sense the subtle shift in his aura.
Reon reached out, his hand finding its way to her head. He gently ruffled her fur, their bond deepening once more in the aftermath of the intense battle.
"Thank you, Cloudia," he murmured, his voice filled with gratitude.
The Celestial Heart Breathing Technique was now his to claim, waiting like a promise in his inventory.
Suddenly, Reon felt a surge of immense power radiating from behind him.
Turning, he saw that the energy was emanating from the altar, its aura growing stronger with each passing second, filling the air with a pulsing, almost ominous glow.