Black Onyx - Forgotten Magic

Gerald took a careful aim at the Silverback's neck. The beast was currently gorging itself on the flesh of the giant elk.

Thang!

The sound of crossbow firing sounded out, and soon after there was an angry roar of an enraged beast. The bolt did hit the target, however, the beast's hide was tough and the bolt remained lodged in the neck.

The Silverback was bleeding, but it didn't look like the wound was fatal. Gerald suddenly felt dozens of eyes look at him. Especially the Silverback's eyes stared directly into his eyes. He could see the rage and bloodlust in them.

With a loud howl, the Silverback ordered all other wolves to charge straight at Gerald. It was a terrifying sight to see.

Not waiting for the bloodthirsty beasts to arrive, Gerald quickly took out the Swiftness and Greater Mana Potion and drank them both. Then he quickly took out his sword and prepared for the impact.

"Unmoving Boulder!"

Rawr!

The first wolf was already before him and with a strong jump, he went straight at Gerald's neck.

Having the wild beast jump from the front, Gerald had no difficulties defending himself. He quickly swung his sword downwards, to meet the incoming gaping maw.

The wolf had no chance to dodge. The sharp blade fell straight on his forehead, breaking the skull and slicing the brain. Although the blade got stuck in the middle of the head, it was already enough to kill the wolf.

Before Gerald had time to extract his sword, the next wolf already jumped from the left side and went for his shoulder. Quickly pulling the knife from the sheath, Gerald swung it, stabbing it right on the underside of the beast's skull.

The wolf whined and released the shoulder, blood flowing out of its mouth.

Without even having time to take a breath, more and more wolves jumped at Gerald. Their teeth and claws couldn't break through his skin, but that didn't stop them from trying to tear him apart.

They started to bite and pull at his pants and armor, trying to immobilize him and then bury him under their weight.

Gerald realized what the beasts were trying to do. He quickly gathered Mana and punched out with his left hand, shouting, "Fist of Wind!"

A pressure blast originating around his arm expanded outwards as it swept the wolves back.

Some flew up and some even tumbled backward. It gave him just enough time to jump backward and load another bolt on his crossbow.

Thang!

The Broad Bolt left the crossbow at a high speed and bore through the eye of a wolf that was trying to flank Gerald. The beast, blinded and in pain, roared and whined, running in madness.

With the last remaining eye, it locked on Gerald, determined to devour him. Gerald however, was not worried at all. For now, he was protected by his leather armor and the Unmoving Boulder Combat Art. He had plenty of time since the fight was quick-paced and chaotic.

He spun around and kicked toward the incoming blinded wolf. It just so happened that his foot landed on the shaft of the bolt, pushing it further in and completely obliterating what was left of the animal's gray matter.

The wolf fell to the ground and entered into a full-body spasm, before dying completely.

By now, the wolves were thoroughly enraged. All of those that were capable of fighting, gathered in a single line and charged at Gerald like a wave. Gerald did not wait for even a second and with a loud battle cry, he ran forward.

"Fist of Wind!" he deployed another two Fists of Wind and once again blasted the wolves back. Making use of this opportunity to recover his sword, he took a fighting stance to meet his enemies head-on.

"Ha!" Gerald launched a barrage of attacks. He could be as reckless as he wanted. The most damage the wolves could do was just a scratch.

Blood and flesh flew in all directions. Every once in a while there would be a knife flying from the spot where Sera was hiding in the trees. Her accuracy from that angle was not the best, but it still helped take some pressure off of Gerald.

"Damn human!" A roar that suddenly came shook Gerald to the core. The fighting suddenly stopped and he turned around to where the voice sounded from. It came from the enraged Silverback.

"You- You can speak?" Gerald asked in surprise. His eyes were wide open as he couldn't believe he wasn't dreaming.

The Silverback was equally surprised, "You can understand me?"

Gerald angrily pointed the sword at him and said, "You spoke to me first! How could I not understand?"

"What nonsense! I'm not speaking in human language, you are speaking in mine!"

"Oh." Gerald immediately understood what was going on. When he gained the ability to understand every language, it appeared that it included animals. At least it seemed that way.

Gerald then asked, "Well, now what? I assume we can't just go our separate ways now that it has come to this?"

"No, no we cannot," the Silverback answered through his gritted teeth. "You killed my children and my kin for no reason at all!"

Gerald felt a headache coming on. "Oh, come on, man. Now I'm going to feel guilty for killing wolves. This is so messed up!" he complained in a low voice.

Sera was on the tree, dumbfounded, watching a man and a beast growl and howl at each other. It looked like the Silverback was extremely angry and Gerald was apologizing to it.

"You attacked us first! You humans always do! Now my pack is gone because of you!" The Silverback was raging and it spilled out all its grievances.

"I'm sorry but I thought you were merely beasts. I was just doing my job," Gerald tried to speak with the enraged Silverback. Unfortunately, his words did more harm than good.

"Merely beasts!?" Silverback was now really losing his mind.

Gerald tried to use his last card and said, "I was wrong! Is there anything I can do to make up for my blunder?"

The wolf leader stopped and a sinister luster came to his eyes as it said, "Yes… Yes, there actually is something you could do for me…"

"Oh? Like what?"

"Stay still and become my meal! Rawr!"