"Blossom!" Hazel yelled just before he threw his scythe in a wide circle towards the giant wolf. The creature moved with surprising speed, easily dodging the attack as if it meant nothing. This left Blossom with a clear path to attack.
Hazel got his scythe back, its weight a familiar comfort in his hand, and stood next to Blossom. "Let's take it down together."
The wolf's high level was a clear warning, showing its greater strength. But Hazel felt a rush of adrenaline, a desperate hope that their combined efforts could win.
"Blossom, go to its left side. I'll make it look at the right," Hazel instructed, his voice sharp with command.
Blossom moved at once, like a silent shadow. As the wolf leaped at Hazel, teeth bared, he raised his scythe to block. The hit shook his arms. At the same time, Blossom struck from the side, her blade a flash of pink energy, cutting through one of the wolf's thick legs.
The creature howled in pain but yet was still able to attack with its severed leg, but it movement speed was greatly reduced, Hazel quickly took advantage, his scythe flashing as he cut off another leg making it fall to the ground "Blossom, finish it now!"
But with a desperate burst of power, the injured wolf twisted its body, just barely avoiding Blossom's killing blow.
"How the hell did it do that?" Hazel exclaimed, his surprise turning to frustration.
The wolf's angry howl echoed through the ruins, answered by many other howls in the distance. More white wolves, their glowing eyes like evil stars, began to gather around them. "These things don't give up," Hazel growled. "Blossom, I'll cripple them. You focus on killing them. Be fast, and don't give them a chance to call for more help."
"Understood, my lord," Blossom replied, her gaze steady.
Two wolves lunged, a planned attack. Hazel and Blossom moved together, dodging their snapping jaws and fighting back. Hazel's scythe swept low, taking out the front legs of both wolves, while Blossom's sword moved in a blur, leaving clean head cuts behind it.
The remaining two wolves approached more carefully, circling them warily. Hazel pretended to go left, then darted right, his scythe cutting through the legs of one wolf, leaving it helpless. Blossom moved in for the kill.
As the last wolf leaped at Hazel, teeth aimed for his throat, Blossom reacted with lightning speed. "Spiral Blossom Slash!" Her blade spun in a pink energy whirlwind, cutting the wolf in half in mid-air, saving Hazel from a potentially deadly blow.
"Thanks, Blossom," Hazel said, a wave of relief washing over him.
"It is my duty, Master," Blossom replied, her face unchanged.
Hazel walked over to the whimpering, legless wolf and nodded to Blossom. "End it."
Blossom's blade flashed, and the creature fell still.
~Experience Gained~
[Your subordinate, Blossom Queen, has defeated five wolf monsters.]
[You have gained +75 EXP.]
[Your subordinate, Blossom Queen, has gained +50 EXP.]
Still a lot of the EXP coming to me, Hazel noted, a thoughtful frown on his face.
As they continued their walk through the ruined streets, Hazel focused on the defeated wolves. System, make them my subordinate.
~System notification~
Your level is too low to summon a Hade wolf
~End of System notification~
"Let's move, Blossom," Hazel said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
After what felt like hours of moving through the ruins, they found a small shop which seems to be a boutique, its windows broken but the inside seemed fine. "I guess it's finally time to get rid of these hospital pajamas," Hazel said, pointing towards the shop. "Blossom, keep watch while I change."
Inside, among the scattered mannequins and overturned clothes racks, Hazel found some practical, dark clothes that fit pretty well. He changed quickly, the silence broken only by the distant growls of unseen creatures.
Stepping out of the makeshift changing area, Hazel saw Blossom standing guard near the entrance. Her usually blank face had a subtle, almost unnoticeable blush. Her gaze moved over his new clothes – a dark jacket, strong pants, and worn boots – and for a brief moment, her lips seemed to slightly open.
Hazel stopped, surprised. It was the first real hint of emotion he had seen since she came back to life. "Blossom? Do you... do you remember something?" he asked, his voice filled with a sudden hope.
But the moment passed as quickly as it came. Blossom's expression returned to its usual blankness. "No, Master," she replied, her voice once again without feeling.
Could it be that her emotions are still hidden, waiting to be brought out? Hazel wondered, a new idea forming in his mind. Maybe by pushing her to feel again, her memories will come back.
"I'll figure it out," he whispered to himself. "Let's go, Blossom." They stepped back out into the ruined world, the question of Ivy's lost memories hanging heavy in the air as they continued their search for a safe place.