The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long twisting shadows through the dense canopy. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air, mixing with the faint, lingering musk of unseen wildlife. Birds chirped in bursts, canceling the silence.
"I'm bored!" Wu Xiao whined, the youngest of the group of four traveling through a dirt road in the middle of the forest. As the girl started dragging her feet finally fed up with the constant walking.
"Wu Xiao! Stop being such a brat!" Wu Ying snapped, finally snapped at Wu Xiao's constant shouting. They have been walking for over a day and Wu Xiao has not made the trip easier.
"No!" Wu Xiao huffed, crossing her arms. "We've been walking forever and all I see is trees, trees and more trees!" Wu Xiao continues her tantrum before throwing herself to the ground and starts rolling around in frustration.
"Well what did you expect? We still haven't left the forest." Wu Lan says trying to pacify her while Issei catches the struggling Wu Xiao to stop her rolling, lifting her off the ground.
"I don't know. I thought going on this trip would be more exciting and dangerous since Wu Xiao made us cultivate. Maybe a fight to the death with some giant wild beast that lives in these woods that would constantly pursue us on our journey." Wu Xiao says in the arms of the only male in the group.
"Why would you want that?" Wu Ying asked, staring in shock at Wu Xiao's imagination.
"Why don't you go play with Ddraig while we continue walking?" Issei chuckled, using the giant red dragon as a girl's toy. While noticing the shiver that the older sisters release at mentioning the name of Ddraig.
(I am not a pet!) Ddraig growled in annoyance.
"Hmmm." Wu Xiao says while tapping her chin, thinking if spending time with the grumpy old dragon was worth her attention. "Okay."
(Partner, I swear if you do this I will find a way to make you pay!)
Ignoring Ddraig's protest. Issei summoned the Boosted Gear and in a flash of red light, Wu Xiao disappeared into it.
(You Suck!) Ddraig's voice echoed in Issei's mind.
"Well let's keep going." Issei says with a grin beginning to walk down the road.
Behind him, Wu Ying and Wu Lan hesitated, exchanging worried glances.
As they continued to walk in silence the sisters continued to worry for their younger sister being alone with the red dragon.
Soon her worry was too much for Wu Lan. "Issei… are you sure it was okay to leave Wu Xiao alone with that Dragon?"
"Of course it is." Issei replied. "Ddraig will keep her occupied while we continue traveling." Issei says casually while ignoring the annoyed grumbles of Ddraig.
"It's just. I know the red dragon won't hurt her on purpose. But he is very big and might accidentally step on her." Wu Lan says feeling uncomfortable talking about the red dragon.
"I mean.. He wouldn't do that.. probably." Issei with uncertainty as he scratched his head. While Ddraig wasn't a malevolent, he can clearly picture Wu Xiao annoying Ddraig to the point of him stopping her out of spite.
Wu Ying clenched her fists. "How are you so sure?"
Issei finally turns around and looks at the two sisters. After staring at their expressions, he finally realizes what was going on. They were scared.
"Wait. Are you two still afraid of him? I know that what he did was scary but he was just messing around. He wouldn't really eat you"
Wu Yings jaw tightened. "How do you know that?" She snapped. "We just met him and you're already trusting him too much. For all we know, he could just be waiting for us to let our guard down to kill us." Wu Ying argues.
Issei blinked. "Why would he? He's a huge fire breathing lizard. If he wanted to eat us, I don't think he would wait for the chance."
"That's not the point!" Wu Yings voice rose in frustration. "You saw what he did! WE were completely helpless against him! And the worst part? He wasn't even trying!" Wu Ying's glare was sharp enough to cut, while Wu Lan stood behind her, clearly uncomfortable but not disagreeing.
Wu Lun hugged herself, glancing away. " Even if he doesn't mean harm, He looked at us like we were nothing." She says with a shiver.
Issei frowned. He had never really thought about Ddraig from their perspective. To him, Ddraig was a grumpy but a loyal partner. Powerful, sure, but not someone so feared. But Wu Ying and Wu Lun, who had never encountered something so far beyond them, the experience must have been terrifying.
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I get it. He's overwhelming. But Ddraig is not your enemy. If he really wanted to kill you."
Wu Ying scoffed. "That's easy for you to say! You've been living with the thing in your arm! We saw a mountain-sized dragon calling us food! Excuse me if I don't trust your overgrown pet."
(Pet? I am a proud Heavenly Dragon, damn it! Show some respect, girl!) Ddraig's voice was heard from Issei's arm, as a green glow was shown. Surprising the girls, they did not know he was listening.
"Not helping, Ddraig," Issei muttered before sighing again. "Listen, Wu Xiao isn't afraid of him anymore, right? And honestly, if he was gonna eat us, he could've done it at any time."
"That doesn't make me feel better." Wu Ying crossed her arms.
Wu Lan hesitated before speaking up. "I… I just want to make sure Wu Xiao is safe."
"Fair enough," Issei admitted. "But she's fine, really. She's probably annoying him to death as we speak."
As if on cue, Wu Xiao's voice rang out from the Boosted Gear. Completely surprising Issei since when was this an option.
"Hey, grumpy dragon! Let me ride you! Fly around! Do something cool!"
(I refuse.)
"Come ooooon! What's the point of having a giant dragon if he just lies around doing nothing?"
(The point is that I do not exist for your entertainment, child.)
"Then why are you so big? If I were a dragon, I'd be flying everywhere, scaring people, eating bad guys—"
(Then it is a good thing you are not a dragon.)
There was a pause. Then Wu Xiao declared, "I'm climbing on your back."
(You will do no such thing—WAIT—HEY!)
Issei grinned. "See? She's having the time of her life."
Wu Ying's eye twitched. "That's not reassuring."
Wu Lan sighed, pressing her fingers to her forehead. "We'll talk about this later. Let's just keep walking before it gets dark."
They resumed their journey, falling into a tense silence. The sun was starting to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows between the trees. Birds chirped above, and the occasional rustling in the underbrush reminded them that they weren't alone.
Wu Xiao's voice kept drifting out of the Boosted Gear, making occasional demands like, "Hey, breathe fire!" or "Why don't you have wings? Are you a lame dragon?" followed by Ddraig's increasingly irritated replies.
The sisters eventually relaxed a little—until a distant howl cut through the air.
Wu Ying immediately reached for her weapon. "What was that?"
Issei narrowed his eyes. "Wolf, I think."
Wu Lan swallowed. "Please tell me it's not traveling in a pack."
Another howl joined the first. Then another. And another.
"...Yeah, about that," Issei muttered. Summoning the Boosted Gear.
Wu Xiao's voice popped up again. "Ooooh! Are we finally getting attacked? Time for an epic battle! Sis Ying, do a cool move! Big Bro, let me out, I want to see!"
(You are far too excited about this.)
Wu Ying glared at Issei. "This is your fault she's like this."
"How is this my fault?!" Issei shouts as the sound of footsteps got closer. "Wu Lan get behind me."
The howls grew louder, weaving through the trees like ghostly echoes. The once lively forest fell into silence, the rustling of leaves fading away.
Wu Ying's grip tightened on her knife, her eyes scanning the shadows. "Tch. Figures. Wu Xiao had to jinx us."
"Hopefully, it's a small pack." Issei muttered, rolling his shoulders. The Boosted Gear gleamed on his arm, the emerald gem pulsing faintly.
Wu Lan swallowed, stepping closer to him. "How many do you think there are?"
As if in answer, pairs of glowing yellow eyes appeared from the underbrush. Then another. And another.
Ten wolves slinked into view, their fur sleek and dark like the night itself. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural hunger, their bodies low to the ground as they circled the group.
One of the wolves let out a guttural growl, stepping forward, its lips curled back to reveal razor-sharp fangs.
Then, one of the wolves lunged straight for Issei
Before it could reach the brunette, Wu Ying reacted instantly, meeting the beast head-on. Her knife flashed in the light as she sidestepped its charge, slashing at its flank in one motion. The wolf yelped before collapsing, blood pooling beneath it.
Another wolf charged from the right.
Issei pivoted, raising the Boosted Gear and soon the sound of Boost could be heard.
The red gauntlet shined green, Issei soon swung his fist and punched the wolf's head like a hammer. The impact sent the beast flying backwards, crashing into a tree with a sickening crack.
Wu Lan gasped. "You two are defeating them so easily then before."
"What did you expect? We're much stronger than before. They are just normal animals." Wu Ying says as she effortlessly cuts two more wolves.
"Yeah, but they're not stopping!" Issei shouted as two more wolves darted forward, their movements unnaturally fast.
With his gauntlet, he rushed forward, slamming a wolf with enough force to send it rolling to another wolf across the ground.
Wu Ying followed up, leaping onto one that was mid-lunge. She drove her knife deep into its throat, rolling off just as another lunged for her.
The three wolves left, hesitated, realizing they weren't dealing with normal prey. But before they could retreat—
Suddenly.
A deeper growl rumbled through the trees. Something big was coming. The wolves that planned on retreating soon stopped and faced their prey.
The pack leader stepped forward.
This one was different.
Larger than two grown adults, its fur streaked with silver, its piercing yellow eyes brimming with intelligence. Scars marked its body, proof of countless battles.
It wasn't just an ordinary wolf.
It was a Silver Wolf.
Issei groaned. "Oh, come on!"
Wu Ying paled, her grip tightened. "This… is bad. That's a Low-Ranked Beast"
"Eh? A Low-Ranked Beast." Hearing Wu Lan call it that, Issei instantly recalled the old man calling the Iron Snake with that title. "You mean this wolf is in the same league as the overgrown snake I killed."
"Maybe it's weaker than it? Not all Low-Ranked Beast are the same." Wu Lan says, hopeful while terrified.
The Silver Wolf raised its head and a howl echoed through the forest, rattling through Issei's bones. The surrounding wolves, which had hesitated moments before, now stood their ground, emboldened by their leader's presence.
Boost
Issei cracked his knuckles, feeling the Boosted Gear hum him with energy. "Alright, big guy, you want to go first?"
The Silver Wolf's piercing yellow eyes locked onto him, not with the mindless hunger of a beast, but with a predator's cold calculation. It wasn't charging in recklessly.
It was watching them.
Then, it moved.
One second, it was standing still. The next-
It vanished.
Fast!
Issei barely had time to react before the beast reappeared, a silver blur closing the distance.
BOOM!
The force of its lunge sent dirt and leaves flying as it slammed into Issei with terrifying speed. Even with his enhanced strength, the impact drove him backward, luckily he had reacted quickly to block the tackle as his feet skidded against the forest floor as he barely kept his footing.
"Shit, it's fast!" Issei grunted, digging in his heels. It was faster than the snake but not as strong.
The Silver Wolf didn't let up. It twisted midair, slashing with its claws—a strike so fast Issei only saw the gleam of silver before he raised his gauntlet to block.
SCRRRAK!
The claws raked against the Boosted Gear, sending sparks flying.
Issei winced. That blow could have torn through him if he was in the First-Stage like paper.
"Not bad," he muttered, flexing his fingers as the wolf landed gracefully, its muscles coiled like a spring.
Wu Ying, dagger in hand, lunged from the side, aiming for the wolf's flank.
But before her blade could land—
The Silver Wolf spun around and kicked off the ground, twisting midair to evade her strike. It landed a few feet away, its eyes now locked onto Wu Ying.
It's not just strong—it's smart.
The wolf snarled, baring its fangs.
Then it charged Wu Ying.
"Watch out!" Wu Lan screamed.
Wu Ying gritted her teeth, bracing herself—
THWACK!
A gauntleted fist slammed into the wolf's side, sending it tumbling mid-charge.
Issei stepped in front of Wu Ying, shaking out his fist.
"Sorry, but if you wanna fight her." He rolled his shoulders, Boosted Gear ready"You gotta get through me first."
The Silver Wolf skidded to a stop, shaking itself off. It didn't look injured.
If anything, its snarl turned into a grin.
Wu Ying took a step back. "That thing just smirked at you."
"Yeah, I noticed," Issei muttered.
Then, the Silver Wolf howled again—but this time, it wasn't a rallying cry.
It was a signal.
CRACK!
The ground beneath Issei exploded.
A second Silver Wolf—smaller but just as fast—had burrowed underground and launched itself from below, fangs aimed right for his throat.
His eyes widened. Shit!
But before it could reach him.
"NO!" Wu Lan appeared using all her weight pushing the second Silver Wolf to the side alongside it. Successfully saving Issei's neck, while making her and the smaller Silver Wolf tumbling to the ground.
Wu Lan's breath hitched as she hit the ground, her body skidding back from the force of her dive. She had saved Issei but now has left herself defenseless.
With the second smaller White Wolf letting out a growl. Its yellow eyes locked onto her, sharp fangs bared as it crouched, ready to pounce.
"Shit!" Wu Ying was already moving, distracting herself from the bigger threat, knife flashing in hand. "Wu Lan move!"
But before she could reach her. The tail of the larger White Wolf smacked her across, sending her farther away from Wu Lan. The three wolves from before soon pounced at her, seeing her defenseless. Luckily she got her bearings in order as she killed all three with the knife.
While with Wu Lan. The small White Wolf lunged. A shadow fell over Wu Lan, filling her with fear.
But before it could reach her. A red gauntlet intercept the attack.
Issei slammed his Boosted Gear into the Silver Wolf's side, sending it to the ground causing it to yelp and whimper, completely knocking it out of the fight.
Luckily this Silerwolf was weaker than its larger member. About the same strength as a First-Stage Fighter. With Issei's 2nd Boost his strength was enough to knock it down. But being a Low-Ranked Beast, Issei was not able to absolutely crush it like the rest of common wolves.
Seeing the Silver Wolf unconscious, Issei was about to ask Wu Lan if she was alright. But soon he noticed Wu Ying fighting the three wolves with the Sliver Wolf heading straight for her. He quickly took off.
Wu Lan continued to watch Issei. Seeing him again risking his life for her and her sisters wellbeing. Causing her heart to continue beating.
Issei's POV
Faster, faster, faster. Please, I have to catch up. It's getting closer to Wu Ying.
Soon before I could think. I punched the big wolf barely stopping it from biting WuYing but unlike the smaller one it did not go flying off. I was just able to move it before it landed on the ground with its legs. With both me and it staring into each other waiting for one of us to make the first move.
The ground cracked beneath the wolf's powerful leap, closing the distance in an instant.
I quickly sidestepped just in time, feeling the rush of wind as the wolf's claws narrowly missed my chest.
Seeing an opening I quickly bring my fist down toward its back.
But it twisted midair, dodging my strike and landing on the ground. Just how graceful was this dog?
Wu Ying soon joined the fight, launching herself forward with the knife aimed for the wolf's exposed side.
The blade struck. But instead of cutting flesh, it instantly broke on contact.
"Are you kidding me?!" Wu Ying snarled. I agree what will it take to bring it down?
The wolf smirked. Then it counterattacked. It lashed out with a back kick, catching Wu Ying midair and sending her crashing down a tree.
Wu Lan screamed seeing her sister hurt. As the wolf was about to finish her with a bite.
Without thinking I quickly intercepted. My fist met the jaw of the wolf. Slamming it to the side.
The wolf slided back but landed on his feet and soon bared its fangs.
'How was I even able to defeat the giant snake in the first place?'
(Did you forget what the old man gave you?)
Soon it hit me. 'Right, the sword I couldn't give back. But where did I leave it?'
(It's in here on the ground.)
'What? I don't have time to go in and bring it out.'
(Idiot. Did you forget what I told you? The Boosted Gear response to your desires and the world marble is now a part of it. Just use that desire to make it appear by your side.)
'Right. I really hope this works.' With my mind made up I quickly start to focus on what I want.
Normal POV
The Silver Wolf's yellow eyes gleamed with anticipation as it crouched low, waiting for an opening. The air was thick with tension.
Issei, standing tall, suddenly relaxed his stance.
Wu Ying, with the help of Wu Lan, stood up with difficulty still recovering from her fall, widened her eyes as she saw what the boy was doing. "Issei, what are you doing?! Stay on guard!"
But Issei wasn't ignoring the threat. He was waiting for the perfect moment. Focusing and waiting for the Silver Wolf to take the bait.
The Silver Wolf seeing its prey leaving himself open. It was confused at first but didn't think much of it. The prey most probably submitted itself to his fate. Without hesitation the wolf lunged.
Faster than before, a streak of silver and white closing the gap in the blink of an eye. It's mouth opened wide, ready to take a bite of the prey's head.
SHING!
SWORD
A silver sword materialized from the Boosted Gear, wreathed in a faint silver aura.
Wu Ying and Wu Lan's breath caught in their throats.
The sword the old man had given him… the one he couldn't return.
Wu Lan gasped. "That sword."
'That is so freaking cool!' Was Wu Ying's thoughts of seeing the sword that was connected to the Boosted Gear.
This time, Issei didn't dodge. He stepped into the attack.
With all his strength he used the sword to stab the beast head-on.
SPALT
The sword stabbed through its head.
Passing right through its skull and killing the Silver Wolf.
The fight was over.
Issei exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that was intense."
Soon Wu Lan, went straight towards Issei placing a hand over her heart, still calming herself. "You saved me."
Issei grinned. "Yeah, well you did save me first. Try not to jump in front of wolves next time, alright?"
Wu Ying sheathed her broken knife. "We should keep moving before anything else shows up."
Soon all three heard the sound of whimpering. When they turned their heads they noticed it was the smaller Silver Wolf. The one Issei knocked out and injured.
The smaller Silver Wolf lay injured on the forest floor, its fur matted with blood and dirt.
The three soon surrounded it. Weapons still ready, though the fight was already over.
When it woke up. It let out a low growl, baring its fangs at the group, but it didn't move. It couldn't as it saw the corpse of the greater wolf along with all the regular size ones.
"What do you think we should do with it?" Issei says as he no longer saw it as a threat.
"Obviously, we should just kill it," Wu Ying said, crossing her arms. "It tried to kill us, and if we let it go, it might come back with more."
Wu Lan hesitated, her gaze softening. "But… it's defenseless now. It can't fight anymore. Why not just let it go?" Wu Lan, ever kind and considerate, simply wanted to leave it alone.
Wu Ying turned on her sister angrily. "Are you serious, Wu Lan? It tried to kill you. It would have happened if Issei didn't stop it!"
Wu Lan clenched her fists, biting her lip. "I know that. But… killing something that can't fight back just feels wrong."
Issei nodded thinking of a solution, the sword entered back into his Boosted Gear.
He crouched, looking the wolf in the eye.
It still had the look of a predator, proud, unyielding.
Even in defeat, it refused to cower.
Issei sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man, I swear I'm just looking for trouble."
Wu Ying raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Issei stood up and grinned. "This wolf's coming with us."
Both sisters stared at him like he'd gone insane.
"What?!" Wu Ying exploded. "No! Absolutely not!"
Wu Lan blinked. "You want to… keep it?"
Issei shrugged. "Why not? It's tough, fast, and if we train it, it could be useful." He looked down at the Silver Wolf. "And let's be honest. It's kinda badass."
"And how will you even tame it? If you haven't noticed, it completely hates us. Not to mention it would kill us in our sleep." Wu Ying says, looking at him as if he was a dumbass."
Issei soon looks at them with a mischievous grin. "Easy. Watch." Issei says as he opens the portal to the World Marble. Taking the Silver Wolf into it, completely surprising it.
World Marble
The Silver Wolf soon was astonished as the forest in front of it was gone. Replaced by an open field. It quickly tried to find where its original home was.
In one direction it soon saw a little twelve year old girl. When it made eye contact the little girl frowned and raised both arms making the impression of claws.
"Rooaar." The little girl growled absolutely cutely trying to intermediate it.
It soon made a decision that enough was enough and was about to kill the girl for it's imprisonment. Until suddenly a giant shadow was upon it causing it great fear. When it finally looked up it came face to face with a dragon.
RROOOAAAARR
All color quickly left its fur turning it as pale as ash and it quickly laid on the ground completely submitting itself to the great divine one above it.
(Great. First, I'm forced to be a glorified babysitter. Now I'm training a mangy pup.) Were Ddraig's thoughts.
Outside the Marble
"Issei, what did you do?" Wu Ying accusingly says.
"Oh. Just gave the wolf a heart to heart talk with Ddraig. He should be able to sort it out for the wolf to learn to behave." Issei says with mirth.
"Issei, that's completely cruel!" Wu Lan says, scolding Issei for doing this.
It finally occurred to Wu Ying what Issei did. "What! Wu Ying is in there." She says angrily.
"Relax. Ddraig scarier than anything that wolf can do." Issei soon went in the direction of the wolves' corpses. "Now come on, let's collect these and go on our way."
"Haah." With a sigh Wu Ying went to help. "The sooner we leave the better. All these dead animals could attract others."
The three started putting all the dead wolves in a pile while separating the Silver Wolf. And with a thought Issei transferred them to the marble.
The trio quickly walked away from the scene trying to create some distance between them and all the blood.
By the time they reached a clearing, the sky had turned dark. The trees opened up just enough to reveal the stars above. The forest was opening up to give room for them to camp.
Wu Ying sighed in relief. "Guess here is a good place to stop." Wu Ying says tiredly.
"Alright, guess we're camping here." Issei says, looking around. "I could use a break."
"Actually, can we go and sleep inside the marble?" Wu Lan says with a yawn.
Issei blinked. "What about Ddraig?"
"Fuck Ddraig. We just want to sleep without worrying about being attacked in the middle of the night." Wu Ying cursed, totally uncaring of her previous fears.
Apparently all of the day's events drained the fear they had for the dragon. Probably too exhausted to care anymore.
"Well if your sure"
With a thought, he opened the portal again. The three of them stepped inside, leaving the forest behind.
World Marble
When they looked around for their younger sister. They finally saw her riding on the smaller Silver Wolf.
"Wheeee! Faster, faster!" She commanded, having the day of her life.
"Bark"
The wolf barked excitedly, like a dog. Absolutely listening to every command Wu Xiao gave. It was like watching a child ride a pony. Except the pony had once tried to eat them.
Wu Ying stared blankly.
WuLan sighed.
Issei grinned. "See. Told you Ddraig could straighten it out."
"Oh! Who Fucking Cares! I Just Want to Go to Sleep!" Wu Ying shouts, being absolutely done for the day.
That's the end. Sorry for taking so long. Life and work has been getting in the way of this. But I finally have some free time to write. I now have a account. If you want to support me just get on there at pat reon com orengeflame. That's if you can but don't worry most of my work will continue to be free here and at other sites. Hopefully I don't take another 6 years. Please comment, and follow.