VERSATILE MAGE: RISE OF A LEGEND

Mu Bai had been the first to make a move, his pride pushing him into action. As a talented Ice Element user, he felt a surge of confidence swell within him. With a swift gesture, his hands glowed with a pale blue light, casting a veil of frost over the ground before him.

"Ice Spread!" he shouted, his voice laced with determination.

The air around Mu Bai chilled instantly, frost forming rapidly across the earth in an attempt to slow the Spirit Wolf's advance. He had expected it to halt the beast in its tracks. But to his shock, the Spirit Wolf barely hesitated. Its powerful limbs plowed through the ice as if it were nothing more than a thin layer of dust.

"It's useless?" Mu Bai was dumbfounded. The cold grip of fear clamped down on his chest as he watched the Spirit Wolf close the distance between them with terrifying speed.

The Spirit Wolf's objective was clear—Mu Bai. With a guttural snarl, the massive creature reared up, its large foreleg raised high before slamming it down toward Mu Bai's position. He tried to move, but his body was frozen in place, paralyzed not by ice, but by terror.

A vicious shockwave erupted from the impact, sending dust and stones flying in all directions. Mu Bai was hurled backward like a ragdoll, his body careening through the air before landing roughly five meters away.

Mu Bai had no ability to defend himself at all. The force of the blow had already rendered him unconscious before he even hit the ground. His body lay motionless, his clothes torn and tattered, his skin punctured by the debris.

"Mu Bai!" Zhao Kunsan's voice cracked with panic as he rushed over to his fallen classmate. When he reached Mu Bai's side, he could see the deep gashes and punctures in his body, his once pristine school uniform now shredded and bloodied. "Mu Bai, hang in there!"

He Yu, who had finally regained her senses, stood frozen, watching the scene in horror. Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face. She was paralyzed by fear, unable to move as her sobs racked her body.

The Spirit Wolf's attention shifted to her. There was no mercy in its eyes, no hesitation in its step as it approached the fragile girl. Mu Bai had been sent flying with his body stained with blood—there was no telling what fate awaited He Yu.

From Light's point of view, Mu Bai's action had been reckless, maybe even suicidal. His power alone had been completely insufficient to stop the Spirit Wolf, a creature whose strength was several levels above the students'. Light's mind raced, calculating their options. It was fortunate the beast seemed more focused on targeting individuals rather than mindlessly slaughtering them all. Otherwise, Mu Bai might have been crushed into a lifeless pulp already.

The Spirit Wolf stepped closer to He Yu. Desperation filled the air. Just when it seemed all hope was lost, a sudden voice rang out through the chaos.

"Fire… Fire Burst!" Zhou Min's voice was strained, her lip bitten almost to the point of bleeding as she summoned her Fire Element spell.

The fireball flew from her hands toward the Spirit Wolf. But in her haste and panic, it struck just beside the beast's foot instead of its body. The ground ignited, and the blue Spirit Wolf's fur took on a faint reddish hue as the flames danced dangerously close to it.

The Spirit Wolf barely acknowledged the flames. Its focus remained on its next targets—He Yu.

"You brute, have a taste of my Lightning Strike!" Xu Zhaoting's voice cut through the commotion. Sparks crackled to life around him, arcs of purple lightning coiling around his body before snapping outward, striking the Spirit Wolf like whips.

Each lightning strike caused the Spirit Wolf's muscles to convulse, its body jerking violently with each arc that lashed across its fur. The beast let out a deep, pained roar, its limbs twitching uncontrollably as the lightning coursed through it.

The Spirit Wolf's eyes narrowed, filled with rage and agony as it fixed its gaze on Xu Zhaoting. Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of sharp, bloodstained teeth before letting out a deafening howl.

The howl carried with it an intense gust of wind, kicking up sand and debris into a swirling vortex. The mountain pass was already littered with loose stones and dust, and the force of the Spirit Wolf's roar sent them flying toward Xu Zhaoting like a deadly Dust Dragon.

"Sanpang!" Xu Zhaoting screamed, his voice desperate.

Wang Sanpang, who had been standing nearby, immediately reacted. With a deep bellow, he shouted, "Earth Wave, Divert!"

Wang Sanpang's plump body bent forward, and with his hands planted firmly on the ground, he sent a ripple of magic energy into the earth. The ground responded, trembling beneath his command. A wave of earth, like a ripple in a pond, spread outward, intercepting the Dust Dragon just before it reached Xu Zhaoting.

When Xu Zhaoting opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a different spot, unharmed. He glanced back at Wang Sanpang, flashing him a thumbs-up in gratitude.

"Everyone!" Wang Sanpang called out, his voice booming over the noise. "Quickly, connect your Star Paths! The Lightning Strike is paralyzing it! Now's our chance to counterattack!"

Just as Wang Sanpang had said, the Spirit Wolf's muscles were twitching uncontrollably, its movements slow and erratic. This was their moment—a narrow window of opportunity to strike back and possibly defeat the beast.

One by one, the remaining students snapped into action. Star Paths began to glow around them as they summoned their spells.

"Brilliant Light, Purify!"

"Ice Spread, Freeze!"

"Earth Ripple, Divert!"

"Fire Burst, Scorch!"

Jiang Li, a Fire Mage with sharp instincts, aimed her Fire Burst directly at the Spirit Wolf's eyes. The flames surged toward the creature, adding to the chaotic barrage.

The combined force of seven or eight students casting their spells at once created a brilliant, chaotic spectacle of elemental magic. Flames, ice, and light bombarded the Spirit Wolf from all directions. The Fire Element spells were the main damage-dealers, searing the beast's flesh, while the Light Element temporarily blinded it. The Ice Mages' spells completely encased the Spirit Wolf's legs in a thick layer of frost.

Zhou Min's Fire Burst hit its mark this time, the flames roaring to life on the Spirit Wolf's back. The beast howled in pain, its fur sizzling as the fire licked at its flesh.

For a brief moment, it seemed as though their combined efforts were working. The Spirit Wolf staggered, its body writhing in pain as it struggled against the onslaught of magic.

But the victory was short-lived.

With a deafening roar, the Spirit Wolf unleashed two massive shockwaves of sand and rock, one aimed at Xu Zhaoting and Wang Sanpang, the other at the remaining students who had cast their spells.

The sand and rocks tore through the students' defenses, ripping into their flesh and knocking them off their feet. Blood splattered across the battlefield as the brutal attack took its toll.

The students, who had moments ago believed they might have found a way to survive, were now in shambles.

Xu Zhaoting and Wang Sanpang lay crumpled in the dirt, their bodies battered and bloodied from the onslaught. Xu Zhaoting groaned as he tried to push himself up, his arms trembling from the effort. Wang Sanpang, his face streaked with blood, managed to pull himself to his knees, gasping for breath.

"Def… definitely not the same level," Wang Sanpang muttered, wiping blood from his brow as he surveyed the battlefield.

The Spirit Wolf, still paralyzed from the effects of the Lightning Strike, stood rooted in place, its howls of pain echoing through the pass. It was taking damage from every direction, but the students knew it wouldn't be enough to bring the beast down—not yet.

With their numbers dwindling and their strength waning, it was only a matter of time before the Spirit Wolf recovered, and when it did, they would have no hope of survival.

The dimly lit cavern was filled with dust and debris. A cold wind howled through the opening, creating an eerie atmosphere. Xu Zhaoting remained on the floor, his breathing ragged, his condition no different from Mu Bai's. Both were battered and barely conscious. Around them, other students lay scattered, their bodies half-buried beneath sand and stones, unable to move, completely at the mercy of the vicious Magical Beast that had cornered them.

On the other side, five other students had also collapsed, their forms pitiful as they struggled beneath the weight of exhaustion and fear. The Spirit Wolf had taken its toll on them, pushing them to their limits. Yet, despite the efforts of the students, the creature still stood strong, its eyes burning with primal fury. Blood trickled from its wounds, but the injuries were far from enough to significantly impair its combat prowess. The wolf's strength far surpassed their expectations. Even if all of them calmed down and coordinated their attacks, even if they had more students to assist, it was clear—they would still be powerless against this monster.

"If all forty of us joined together and cast our spells, maybe we'd stand a chance!" Wang Sanpang cursed aloud, his eyes darting around in desperation. "Damn it! I never thought I'd die in a place like this!"

Zhou Min, struggling to maintain her composure amidst the chaos, called out in a strained voice. "Jiang Li, your Fire Element is stronger than mine! Quick, make your move!" Her tone carried both urgency and fear, knowing full well that Fire Burst and Lightning Strike were their only chances at truly damaging the Spirit Wolf. Unfortunately, there were too few Fire Element students, and even fewer had the energy left to cast such powerful spells.

"It's no use…" Jiang Li muttered, her gaze locked onto the towering figure of the Spirit Wolf, its dark fur glistening under the faint light. She could see it—this beast wasn't like any ordinary Magical Beast. Its sheer power, its wild nature, was something they were simply not equipped to handle. Fear gnawed at her, and her voice faltered.

Suddenly, a commanding voice pierced the chaos. "TELEKINESIS: VOID CLAW!"

The words echoed through the cavern, sharp and resolute. An invisible force struck the Spirit Wolf with overwhelming power, sending it flying back over 20 meters. The wolf's body collided violently with a large boulder in middle of the pond, the impact shaking the ground beneath the students. The force was so immense that the Spirit Wolf's front canine tooth shattered on impact, blood pouring from its mouth.

On the stone platform, the summoner Bai Yang's brow furrowed in concern. Through the telepathic link with his summoned beast, he could feel the excessive pain coursing through the Spirit Wolf. His expression tightened as the connection between them wavered. Something wasn't right.

"Telekinesis… Space Element?!" Chief Instructor Zhankong's voice broke the tense silence. His astonished gaze swept the battlefield, searching for the source of the attack. "Who is this student?"

The praise in Zhankong's voice was unmistakable. Telekinesis of that caliber, especially one that could injure a beast like the Spirit Wolf, was a rare sight. He turned to Mrs. Tangyue, his expression filled with curiosity.

Mrs. Tangyue's lips curled into a slight smile. "His name is Light."

Zhankong's eyes lit up with satisfaction. "This student… we can give him an S!" he said firmly. Beside him, Instructor Luo Yunbo and Vice Instructor Pan Lijun nodded in agreement. Among the younger generation, barely anyone could give such a lethal wound to a Spirit Wolf. Light had proven himself beyond their expectations.

However, the victory was short-lived.

Bai Yang suddenly yelled out, "Crap!"

"What is it?" Chief Instructor Zhankong demanded, his voice sharp.

"The Spirit Wolf! After it was thrown into the pond, something happened! I can't control it anymore! It's like… it's ignoring my commands completely!" Bai Yang's face had turned deathly pale. He clutched his head in despair, the telepathic link he shared with the wolf severing as if the beast no longer recognized him as its summoner.

"Disgraceful!" Zhankong's voice boomed, his expression darkening. "Didn't I tell you to tame this creature's wild nature?"

Tangyue, Zhang Jianguo, and Chen Weiliang's faces paled as the realization hit them. Out of control?

The Spirit Wolf's combat prowess was already close to that of a One-Eyed Magic Wolf. If it had truly gone rogue, then no one knew how many students would fall under its rampage.

"Quick! Stop it!" Zhankong commanded, but his voice was drowned out by the howling wind that swept through the cavern.

"We're too far!" one of the instructors shouted back. "It's too late!"

Director Chen Weiliang's face twisted in terror. "If it's out of control, we're finished! People are going to die!"

The Spirit Wolf, now unleashed from the binds of its summoner, let out a blood-curdling howl. Its scarlet eyes glowed with an ominous light, and its massive body tensed as it focused on one target—Light. The wolf's killing intent radiated in waves, sending shivers down the spines of the students who could still stand.

With a deep growl, the Spirit Wolf lunged at Light, its claws tearing through the air with deadly force.

"Awooooh!"

The sound echoed through the cavern as dust and debris swirled in the wake of the wolf's charge. Its explosive power was terrifying, like a force of nature coming to claim its prey.

But Light remained calm.

"TELEKINESIS: AIR BOOMERANG CATAPULT!"

Light's voice was resolute as his Star Path appeared beneath him, shimmering with silver light. Air compressed around him, forming into a sharp, spinning boomerang of compressed wind. With a flick of his wrist, the invisible projectile shot forward, slamming into the Spirit Wolf with brutal precision.

The beast howled in agony as its fur and skin were pierced by the compressed air, leaving its body riddled with small, bloodied holes. But even in its pain, the Spirit Wolf's eyes remained locked on Light, filled with a maddening thirst for blood.

"Telekinesis: Void Sword." Light's stars linked once more, his pupils glowing with a silver radiance as the magic flowed through him.

The sword formed in the air—a weapon of pure telekinetic force. With a swift motion, the blade cut through the air, aimed directly at the Spirit Wolf's neck.

The creature had no time to react. In a single, clean strike, the Void Sword severed the Spirit Wolf's head from its body.

For a moment, the wolf's eyes flashed with something unfamiliar—fear. It stared at Light, its once-arrogant expression fading into one of disbelief. This tiny magician had brought down its life in a matter of seconds. The Spirit Wolf's head rolled to the ground, its body collapsing with a heavy thud.

A wind roared from the cavern entrance, and the students, barely clinging to consciousness, weakly raised their heads. A figure dropped down from the sky, landing with an impressive display of Wind Wings—massive, ethereal wings made entirely from wind energy.

"It's… It's the Chief Military Instructor!" Mu Bai croaked, his voice hoarse with disbelief.

"Heavens, what am I seeing? An angel!?" one of the students muttered in awe.

Chief Instructor Zhankong stood tall, his Wind Wings flaring behind him. His brown eyes surveyed the scene, initially relieved to see the students still alive. But when his gaze landed on the lifeless body of the Spirit Wolf, he froze.

This… how could this be possible!?

Bai Yang, the summoner, fell to his knees, his face pale and drained of all color. "My… my Spirit Wolf… It died!" he whispered, his voice hollow.

The entire cavern was silent, save for the sound of the wind howling through the cavern's entrance.