Chapter 80 – The Last Eruption
The Wolf at Death's Door
The battlefield had grown eerily silent. Dust and smoke choked the air, the setting sun smeared crimson across the blood-soaked earth. Tens of thousands of soldiers watched, breath held, as two figures clashed in the very center.
Fenrir Eisenwald—the Crimson Wolf—stood drenched in blood, his thigh ripped open, his shoulder fractured, his sword trembling in his grip. His aura flickered like molten embers on the verge of extinction.
Facing him was Count Valgaard von Eisenmark, towering, armored, his greatsword dripping with blood. He was wounded—ribs torn, knee slashed—but his aura still radiated power, dark blue and crushing like a stormy ocean.
"You've cut me," Valgaard growled, voice thick with disdain, "but look at yourself—you're already finished."
Fenrir spat blood, lips curving into a faint, defiant grin. "If I fall… I'll drag you down with me."
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Valgaard struck first, his greatsword howling through the air like a thunderclap.
Fenrir raised his battered blade with both trembling hands.
CLAAANG!
The impact rattled through his arms, nearly shattering bone. He staggered back, blood spilling anew from his shoulder wound.
But he steadied himself. His red eyes never left the Count.
Valgaard pressed forward, slashing sideways. Fenrir ducked low, the blade grazing his helm, tearing flesh from his brow. He countered with a desperate thrust toward Valgaard's ribs.
SLAAAASH!
Blood spurted. Valgaard snarled, twisting, and slammed an elbow into Fenrir's face, snapping his head back.
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Fenrir nearly collapsed. Darkness gnawed at the edges of his vision. Yet voices rose from deep within his memory.
"Don't give up, Fenrir…" his mother's voice whispered.
"A true wolf never retreats," his father's words thundered.
Fenrir roared, dragging the last of his will into his chest.
FWOOOSH!
His aura erupted once more—not a flicker, but an explosion. Molten-red, blazing like lava bursting from a volcano. The ground cracked beneath his feet, the air shimmered with heat.
Valgaard's eyes widened. "Impossible…"
His own aura surged in answer, stormy blue flaring outward, colliding with Fenrir's flame. The clash distorted the very air, forcing soldiers back, eyes wide in awe and terror.
---
Fenrir knew brute force would never defeat this man. Only cunning could.
He stepped into Valgaard's swing—taking the strike to his shoulder. Flesh tore, blood erupted.
But at that same instant, Fenrir drove his sword upward, burying it deep into Valgaard's already-torn ribs.
CRAAACK!
The Count bellowed in pain, spittle and blood spraying from his mouth. His aura flared wildly, unstable, faltering.
Fenrir nearly collapsed with him, body shaking violently, yet he twisted the blade deeper, ensuring the wound would cripple.
---
The duel's shockwaves rippled across the field.
Eisenwald's exhausted soldiers erupted into cheers, hope surging through broken lines. "Our Baron! He's pierced him!"
By contrast, Valgaard's men faltered, horror spreading in their ranks. Their invincible lord was bleeding, staggering.
The tide of morale shifted like a wave.
---
Fenrir swayed, drenched in blood, his sword still lodged in Valgaard's side.
The Count staggered, face twisted in rage and disbelief, aura shuddering like a failing storm.
"You… brat…" he rasped, voice cracking, "I'll drag you to hell with me…"
Fenrir, pale but smiling through bloodied lips, whispered, "Then I'll make sure my fangs are buried deep."
The battlefield held its breath. The duel was not yet finished. But for the first time—Count Valgaard looked vulnerable.
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Status Panel – Fenrir Eisenwald
Name: Fenrir Eisenwald
Title: Baron of Eisenwald, The Crimson Wolf
Age: 17
Level: 15
EXP: 4,200 / 26,000 (drained by severe blood loss and aura collapse)
Aura: 150 → 72 ( -78 )
Stamina: 148 → 80 ( -68 )
Strength: 112 → 82 ( -30 )
Cunning: 198 (unchanged)
Charisma: 125 (unchanged)
Mental Fortitude: 172 → 185 ( +13 , hardened by life-or-death resolve )
Condition:
[Heavy Bleeding] → -20 Stamina per hour if untreated
[Fractured Shoulder] → -30 Strength
[Aura Burnout] → -25 Aura after duel
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Status Panel – Count Valgaard von Eisenmark
Name: Count Valgaard von Eisenmark
Title: Lord of Eisenmark, Wolf-Hunter of the North
Age: 41
Level: 20
EXP: 24,800 / 52,000 (a drastic loss of ~18,000 EXP due to grievous wounds and prolonged aura clash)
Aura: 180 → 110 ( -70 )
Stamina: 200 → 120 ( -80 )
Strength: 165 → 120 ( -45 )
Cunning: 95 (unchanged)
Charisma: 90 (unchanged)
Mental Fortitude: 125 → 105 ( -20 , shaken by the shocking reversal )
Condition:
[Deep Rib Wound] → -40 Strength, -25 Stamina
[Knee Slash] → -15 Agility, crippling mobility
[Aura Instability] → Aura drains 10% per minute of combat
[Mental Shock] → Morale and concentration heavily reduced
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