Steel and fangs clashed in mid-air—
*Clang!*
Zhang Wei swung his blade down, aiming straight at the wolf's glowing yellow eyes. His muscles burned from the quick movement, sweat dripping down his forehead.
He didn't expect this single slash to end the fight. All he wanted was to force the wolf to defend itself instead of attacking. He hoped the beast would value its eyesight more than a quick meal.
*Surely it won't risk going blind for a few pounds of human flesh,* Zhang Wei thought, gritting his teeth.
As expected, the wolf saw the incoming blade and quickly pulled back its snapping jaws. It raised its head and caught the sword between its sharp fangs.
*This thing is incredibly strong!*
The impact sent shock waves through Zhang Wei's arms. His hands went numb, and he almost dropped his sword. His fingers cramped as he gripped the handle tighter, fighting to keep hold of his only weapon.
At least the wolf had stopped its attack and switched to defense. Zhang Wei let out a shaky breath. If this beast had been ruthless enough to trade injuries, he would have died right here with nowhere to dodge while hanging in the air.
Using the force from their clash, Zhang Wei pushed himself backward and landed hard on the soft grass. His back hit the ground first, and he slid several feet, leaving a long trail in the dirt. Grass stains covered his clothes, and small rocks dug into his skin.
"Agh!"
His back burned like fire. Zhang Wei rolled to his feet and threw himself sideways just as a massive wolf paw slammed down where his head had been a second before.
*Thud!*
The ground shook under the powerful blow. Small pebbles bounced around Zhang Wei's feet. His eyes twitched as he stared at the deep claw marks in the earth.
*Was stopping to fight really the smart choice?*
Doubt crept into his mind like poison. Maybe he should have kept running. Maybe this fight would be his last mistake.
*Can I really last long enough to break through to azure wind magic?*
He stared at the angry beast in front of him. Thick saliva dripped from its bloody fangs. Its eyes glowed with hunger and rage.
*Am I really cut out for this kind of life?*
The answer came to him quickly.
Not right now.
Maybe not today.
But he was close to something. He could almost feel the wind patterns around him, like they were trying to tell him something important.
*Just a little more time...*
His eyes suddenly went wide.
*Whoosh!*
The wolf's jaws snapped at the air where his head had been. Zhang Wei ducked low and rolled to the side, his knees scraping against rough stones.
Then he saw it.
The wolf had lunged too far forward. Its thick neck was completely exposed, stretched out and unprotected.
"There's my chance!"
Zhang Wei planted both feet firmly on the ground. His left foot stepped back while his right moved forward. He felt power flow from his legs up through his core, then into his shoulders. Every muscle in his body tightened like a coiled spring ready to explode.
He remembered the memory from "his" past life - the way "he" had cut clean through that massive tree trunk when sword skills reached the intermediate level.
*Stay calm. Be accurate. Move fast.*
Zhang Wei took a deep breath. His muscles relaxed for just a moment before he unleashed every ounce of strength in his body.
He swung his sword upward in a perfect arc. The blade met strong resistance as it bit into tough hide and muscle. Without waiting to see the damage, Zhang Wei immediately jumped backward.
*Puff!*
Bright red blood sprayed from a clean cut across the wolf's neck. Unfortunately, the wound wasn't deep enough to be fatal. The beast had reacted in an instant and pulled its neck back.
But Zhang Wei's blade had done more damage than expected. One of the wolf's front claws had been completely severed at the base.
"AROOOOO!"
The wolf let out a cry of pure agony. It instinctively swung its injured paw at Zhang Wei, trying to knock away whatever had caused such pain.
The beast bared its teeth and took several steps backward. It licked at its bleeding stump, thick drops of blood falling to stain the grass below.
Now it looked at Zhang Wei with completely different eyes. This was no longer easy prey.
The wolf had heard the death howl of its pack mate from far away and had rushed here following the scent of death that clung to this human. It came for both revenge and food.
But now it hesitated to attack.
*This meat has grown sharp thorns. It won't be easy to chew anymore.*
"So you can feel pain too, huh?" Zhang Wei grinned from several meters away, breathing heavily.
He felt surprised and a bit disappointed. He had hoped that one perfect strike would end this dangerous fight. Unfortunately, this beast's reflexes were lightning fast, and it had managed to escape the worst of his attack.
But it didn't matter.
Looking at the blood flowing from both the wolf's neck and severed claw, Zhang Wei felt new confidence growing in his chest.
*I can do this. Magical beasts aren't impossible to beat.*
Suddenly, he felt something strange in the air around him.
"Huh?"
Confused, Zhang Wei looked down at his hands. He saw nothing unusual except the fine hairs on his forearms swaying gently back and forth.
*Nothing there?*
He felt a stab of disappointment. For a moment, he thought he had finally sensed something magical.
But then...
*Wait a minute...*
Zhang Wei stood completely still, ignoring the wounded wolf that was still licking its injuries several meters away. He closed his eyes and focused on that strange feeling.
There it was again. Something was definitely moving around him, flowing past his skin like invisible water.
He lifted his hand slowly. The tiny hairs on his arm danced in a pattern, bending and swaying in perfect rhythm. His clothes rustled softly even though he wasn't moving.
*The wind...*
The word came to him like a whisper.
Zhang Wei's eyes snapped open wide. His heart started beating faster as pieces of understanding began clicking together in his mind.
*All this time, I've been such an idiot!*
He had spent hours trying to see the wind with his eyes, looking for some kind of visible sign or magical glow in the air. He had stared at leaves and grass, hoping to catch a glimpse of wind patterns.
But wind wasn't something you see - it was something you feel.
*How many times have I felt a cool breeze on my face? How many times has wind blown through my hair? I've been sensing it my entire life!*
Zhang Wei took a deep breath and let his mind go quiet. He stopped trying to force anything and just... felt.
The grassland wind was all around him. It touched his skin, moved his clothes, and filled his lungs. It had pressure and direction and strength.
*This is it. This is what I've been missing.*
Slowly, carefully, Zhang Wei reached out with his senses. Instead of trying to see the wind, he tried to feel it more deeply.
The sensation grew stronger.
He could sense the wind flowing from his left side, carrying the scent of distant flowers. Another current moved from behind him, warmer and drier. They mixed and swirled around his body in patterns he had never noticed before.
*It's like... like invisible rivers in the air.*
Zhang Wei's breathing became deeper and more steady. With each breath, he felt more connected to the moving air around him.
Then something incredible happened.
The wind around him began to respond.
It was subtle at first - just a slight shift in direction, a small change in pressure. But as Zhang Wei focused harder, the response grew stronger.
A gentle breeze that had been blowing past him suddenly curved around his outstretched hand. Another current of air seemed to slow down and circle around his feet.
*I'm doing it. I'm actually controlling the wind.*
Zhang Wei's eyes filled with tears of joy and relief. After all those weeks of frustration and failure, he had finally taken his first step into the world of magic.
He told himself he could do it. He had already awakened, and with his talent, he didn't need to worry. Yet, at times, he found himself staring into the sky, afraid of the worst.
What if… even after awakening my magic, I still can't learn?
It was an irrational thought, and he reminded himself that he could still grow stronger without magic. But how could it not weigh on him at all?
But with this..
*Azure Wind Magic... I can feel it starting.*
The wind currents around him grew more active, responding to his emotions and intentions. They swirled faster, creating small whirlwinds of dust and grass at his feet.
This was just the beginning. He could sense vast possibilities ahead of him - techniques for moving faster, attacks that could cut through steel, defenses that could turn away any weapon.
*I'm not helpless anymore.*