Phoenix Vanguard: Legends of Astravera

The Race to level 20

As Haruki and Andres left the Eternal Ember Sanctuary, the vibrancy of the place lingered in their minds, igniting their spirits. They stood at the threshold, the radiant light of the sanctuary contrasting sharply with the dense forest that surrounded Valoria.

“Alright, we’re level 17 now,” Andres declared, determination written across his face. “If we want to reach level 20 and unlock new skills, we need to find tougher monsters.”

Haruki nodded in agreement, a fierce glint in his eyes. “Let’s head north of Valoria. I’ve heard stories about the dire wolf packs that roam there. They’re dangerous but should give us the experience we need.”

The duo set off, traversing the path leading away from the town and deeper into the wilds. As they walked, the sunlight filtered through the trees, casting playful shadows on the ground.

“Do you think we’re ready for this?” Haruki asked, glancing at Andres as they stepped over a fallen log. “Dire wolves are no joke.”

“We’ve trained hard, and with the new intelligence boost, we should have the upper hand,” Andres replied confidently. “Plus, we’ve faced tougher challenges together.”

“True! We just need to stay smart and work as a team,” Haruki said, a sense of camaraderie building between them.

As they entered the wolves' territory, the atmosphere shifted. The air grew cooler, and an eerie silence enveloped them. The forest felt alive, with the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.

“Stay alert,” Andres whispered, his senses heightened. “Dire wolves are pack hunters. If we see one, there are bound to be more nearby.”

“Right,” Haruki replied, drawing his katana and inspecting its blade. “Let’s keep our distance until we have a clear shot. We need to outmaneuver them.”

Moments later, they spotted a pack of Dire Wolves in a small clearing ahead. The wolves were larger than average, with matted gray fur, sharp fangs, and glowing yellow eyes that seemed to pierce through the shadows.

“There they are,” Andres whispered, crouching low. “We’ll take them one by one. Let’s lure them away from the pack.”

Andres threw a small rock towards the nearest wolf, the sound drawing its attention. The wolf’s ears perked up, and it bounded toward them, growling.

“Now!” Andres shouted, springing into action.

Haruki lunged forward, the katana glinting in the dappled sunlight. He dodged the wolf’s snapping jaws and slashed at its side. The wolf howled in pain, staggering back, but quickly regained its footing.

“Nice hit!” Andres called, moving in to flank the creature. “I’ll distract it!”

He charged at the wolf, swinging his Bolo Flameblade in a wide arc. The flames flickered around the blade, leaving a trail of heat in the air. The wolf turned its attention to Andres, snapping at him.

“Here, wolfie!” Andres taunted, evading its fangs with a nimble roll to the side.

As the wolf lunged, Haruki took advantage of its distraction. “Now, Andres!” He executed a swift upward strike, catching the wolf off guard and delivering a decisive blow to its shoulder.

With a final growl, the dire wolf fell to the ground, its body fading into a shower of golden light.

“First one down!” Haruki exclaimed, catching his breath.

They pressed onward, hunting for more dire wolves. Soon, they encountered another pair, this time larger and more aggressive.

“Looks like we’ve got company!” Andres warned, raising his blade.