The command hung in the air for less than a heartbeat. Fang didn't roar; he exploded into motion. One second he was sitting alertly beside Lloyd, the next he was a blur of storm-grey fur streaking across the packed earth towards the massive ox spirit. The speed was breathtaking, far exceeding what any normal wolf, or even most Manifestation-level spirits, should be capable of.
As Fang closed the distance, Lloyd felt the familiar tingling surge through their bond. He watched, holding his breath, as Fang lowered his head slightly, pouring energy into his leading foreleg.
Now!
The air ripped apart with sound. Not thunder, not a roar, but a piercing, impossibly high-frequency shriek that drilled directly into Lloyd's ears – the sound of a thousand frantic birds trapped in a lightning storm. Simultaneously, Fang's right foreleg erupted in a blinding nimbus of crackling, blue-white energy. The fur seemed to recede, replaced by pure, solidified lightning, sparks dancing wildly, illuminating the wolf's focused, golden eyes.
Chid@ri! The name screamed in Lloyd's mind, an echo from another world, another lifetime of stories. Thousand Chirp Strike!
The sheer novelty, the intensity of the energy signature, the bizarre, ear-splitting sound – it finally, finally cracked Ken Park's legendary stoicism. Lloyd saw it clearly: Ken's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, his usually impassive face registering a flicker of pure, undiluted surprise. He hadn't expected this. Not this speed, not this energy concentration, not this sound.
"Redborn! Defend!" Ken's command was instantaneous, sharp, reacting purely on instinct honed over countless battles.
The massive ox spirit reacted with surprising speed for its bulk. It let out a bellowing snort, lowering its head, horns angling defensively. It stomped a massive hoof, perhaps preparing a fire shield or an earth barrier.
But Fang was too fast. The Thousand Chirp Strike connected before Redborn's defense could fully solidify.
There wasn't a massive explosion. Just a sharp crack-hiss as concentrated lightning met dense, magically resistant hide. Fang's energized claws raked across Redborn's thick shoulder, leaving behind three shallow but distinct gouges. Smoke curled from the wounds, carrying the sharp, acrid smell of ozone and burned hair. The edges of the scratches glowed faintly for a second before fading.
Fang recoiled instantly, landing lightly on his paws several yards back, the crackling energy around his leg dissipating, the piercing bird-song fading, leaving only the low hum of his own power. Redborn let out an enraged bellow, shaking its massive head, the ember-glow in its eyes intensifying. It glared at the smoking scratches on its shoulder, then fixed its furious gaze on the lightning wolf.
Lloyd released the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. It worked. It actually worked. It wasn't a devastating blow against a powerhouse like Redborn, but it landed. It drew blood, or at least, smoking furrows. It proved the skill's potency.
Ken Park's gaze flickered from the wound on Redborn back to Fang, then briefly to Lloyd. The surprise was gone, replaced by his usual professional assessment, though perhaps with a new layer of calculation behind his eyes.
"Impressive," Ken stated calmly, his voice betraying none of his earlier shock. He analyzed the damage, the energy signature. "The technique concentrates significant electrical energy into a focused point. Speed and penetration potential are noteworthy." He paused, considering. "Designation… initial-rank skill, perhaps? Yet the output, the sheer firepower for its rank, is considerable."
Initial-rank? Lloyd mentally scoffed. Maybe the base skill is, but the System likely allows upgrades. This felt stronger than any baseline Initial-rank attack I remember. Still, Ken acknowledging its 'considerable firepower' was high praise from the stoic bodyguard.
Redborn, now fully alert and enraged, pawed the ground, snorting plumes of smoke. Its horns began to glow with dull red heat.
"Again, Fang!" Lloyd commanded, wanting to see more. "Probe the defenses!"
Fang launched forward again, a grey-blue streak against the reddish-brown bulk of the ox. He feinted left, then darted right, lightning gathering around his claws again, the thousand-bird shriek tearing through the air.
But Redborn was ready this time. It sidestepped heavily, horns sweeping down in a fiery arc, forcing Fang to abort the strike and leap back, landing gracefully. A small ball of fire erupted from Redborn's mouth, hurtling towards Fang. The wolf dodged with contemptuous ease, the fireball exploding harmlessly against the packed earth behind him, leaving a blackened scorch mark.