Rise of the White Dragon

446 Chapter 446: Under the Shadow of Red Trees

The forest around was immersed in an icy silence, with the full moon pouring its silver light onto the snow, which sparkled like thousands of diamonds scattered across the ground. The shadows of the trees formed ghostly patterns.

Lenore felt a chill run through her body, from head to toe. The imminent attack of the white wolf was even colder than the last.

With a calm defiance in the face of imminent danger, Lenore whispered the incantation '[Hydro-Hematologic Shield]!' In response, a shimmering shield, a living mosaic of blood and water, grew around her, pulsing with an almost tangible energy.

"BOOM!"

As the white wolf launched a direct attack, Lenore reacted instantly. She conjured a shield of blood and water, a bright barrier that formed around her. The wolf's attack hit the shield with a bang, but to the beast's surprise, it was absorbed and neutralized, its ice claws disintegrating on contact.

Lenore's expression was a mix of relief and triumph. She had withstood the wolf's direct attack, a feat few could boast. Luan and Nora, seeing this, allowed themselves a brief smile.

But Lenore didn't stop there, already anticipating that she would be able to defend herself, she launched a counterattack.

Lenore exhaled deeply, murmured: '[Breath of the Abyss]', releasing a supernatural breath that intertwined with the water and blood, the cold air mixed with the moist heat turning into a voracious mist, creating a pungent sensory contrast. The metallic smell of blood intertwined with the moisture of the water, while the hissing sound of the attack filled the air, forming a symphony of elemental power.

Upon encountering the wolf, it corroded its white fur, revealing sinister wounds bubbling under the corrosive influence of the spell.

"HOWL!!!"

The wolf, now a beast of pure pain and rage, abandoned any semblance of caution, becoming a whirlwind of incarnate fury. Its eyes glowed with a primitive light as it advanced, driven by a brutal force.

The enraged wolf created circles of ice that spun, launching sharp shards in all directions.

"[Marine Reflection]!"

Even in the face of the wolf's fury, Lenore remained calm and focused.

Lenore moved with fluid grace, her words weaving a spectacular illusion. In an instant, multiple images of her danced around the battlefield, each as vivid as the original, plunging the wolf into a maddening visual confusion.

Although the wolf's attacks covered a wide area, there were still blind spots. Lenore skillfully exploited each one.

With an expression of confidence and a slightly arrogant look, Lenore prepares to launch her most devastating attack.

"[Blood Nature's Fury]!"

From the frozen ground, blood-red trees burst forth in frenetic growth, rising with supernatural speed. The air vibrated with sonic waves, as the trees multiplied, intertwining into an instant forest of redness and fury.

"HOWL!!"

Realizing the attack, the white wolf does not back down. It watches several trunks as thick as human thighs shooting towards it. Each trunk is quickly frozen before hitting it, but others keep emerging, one after another, at an alarming speed, leaving almost no time for reactions.

The white wolf, agile, dodges in the air, supporting itself on ice platforms it creates under its feet. It maneuvers skillfully, dodging and counter-attacking relentlessly.

However, the fight resembles a battle against weeds: the more it destroys, the more trunks emerge, each time in greater numbers.

What the white wolf doesn't realize is that time plays against it. The longer it takes, the more serpentine trees emerge from the ground. For each trunk destroyed, two new ones rise.

In a short time, the sky became obscured by trunks of the blood trees, while some were frozen and shattered by the persistent white wolf.

The battle between Lenore and the white wolf intensified. The blood trees, now in greater numbers, continued to emerge, pressing the white wolf with a relentless offensive. With each move of the wolf, more trunks were frozen and destroyed, but the tide of red trees seemed inexhaustible.

As the battle reached its climax, the white wolf, panting and worn, faltered. In a crucial moment, its reaction delayed, failing to freeze an advancing trunk at a deadly speed. Seizing the opening, Lenore intensified her attack.

"[Final Strike: Bloodstorm]!"

With agile and precise movement, she directed a massive wave of energy in the form of a red storm, engulfing the white wolf in a whirlwind of devastating force and pressure. The white wolf, already weakened by the continuous battle, tried to resist, but the force of the attack was overwhelming.

The white wolf emitted a final howl, a sound that mixed pain and resignation, before being completely consumed by the Bloodstorm. The energy of the attack disintegrated the wolf, leaving behind only a trail of dispersed energy and frozen fragments.

Lenore, panting but triumphant, looked at the empty space where the wolf had been. Her eyes reflected both the intensity of the battle and the relief of victory. She had managed to overcome a nearly frenzied magical beast of the Sixth Order.

Although the reinforcements granted by her father had slightly increased her combat power, Lenore knew that the victory was mainly achieved by her own merits.

As she turned to her parents, she tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the presumptuous glimmer in her eyes betrayed her.

Nora and Luan shared a brief look, a mix of admiration and amusement at their daughter's attitude. They knew well her confident and sometimes slightly arrogant nature.

"Congratulations, Lenore," said Nora, with a smile that mixed pride and light sarcasm. "You really showed your worth."

"Good job," agreed Luan, his voice carrying a mix of approval and caution. "But remember, each battle is a lesson. There's always room to grow."

Lenore, catching the mix of praise and advice in their words, let out a genuine smile. She knew that, despite the appearance of toughness, her parents deeply cared and always encouraged her to surpass herself.

"I know, I know," she replied, with a nod, acknowledging the wisdom in their words. "But admit it, it was impressive, wasn't it?"

Nora laughed, agreeing. "Yes, it was. You're as stubborn and determined as your father."

Luan just nodded, a slight smile appearing on his lips. He knew that, behind that facade of confidence, Lenore deeply valued their approval.

After a brief exchange of words, Luan approached the remains of the white wolf. He then employed the dismantling artifact, carefully handling what remained of the creature.

As she waited, Lenore pondered in silence: 'Now that I think about it, my confidence during the fight was amplified by the presence of my parents. If I had been alone, perhaps I would not have acted with such audacity.'

It was an undeniable reality. Alone, Lenore might not have had the same determination to face the challenge; she might have chosen to flee instead of confronting the increasingly complex situation.

Once everything was duly handled, the family of three headed to the nearest city. Their goal was to use a teleportation portal to finally reach the Southern region.

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Lruska