Re-Awakening: Cannon Fodder With Strongest Talent-Chapter 14: Next Target

Ethan then spent the next thirty minutes wandering around carefully before he found his next target.

Ethan crouched behind a fallen log, assessing his targets.

Four wolves.

One Peak-Iron rank leader with an E- Grade talent, flanked by three Mid-Iron subordinates. Perfect challenge for him, it was hard but not dangerous.

The pack moved together, their silver-gray coats blending with the moonlit forest. Their leader was much larger, he had a few scars on his body.

'Finally, a beast stronger than mid rank,' Ethan thought, activating his Enhanced Speed talent.

The world slowed around him.

His first move had to be perfect, eliminate one Mid-Iron immediately to even the odds. He selected his target and immediately dashed towards it.

The wolves sensed him a heartbeat too late.

Howl

Ethan's fist connected with the first wolf's skull, his Iron Enhancement talent hardening his knuckles to metallic density.

The wolf's skull cracked under his fist.

The wolf dropped instantly – no chance to yelp or struggle.

'One down. Three to go.'

The remaining wolves scattered, and started circling around Ethan.

The leader's eyes tracked Ethan's movements, intelligence gleaming behind those predatory orbs. It recognized the threat.

"Come on," Ethan muttered, "let's see what you've got."

The two Mid-Iron wolves attacked simultaneously from opposite sides.

'Predictable.'

Ethan activated Enhanced Speed again, stepping between them as they lunged at him. They collided mid-air, tangling briefly before recovering.

The leader used this distraction, blurring forward with its E- Grade speed talent.

'Fast.' Ethan thought, as his eyes followed the leader.

Its fangs snapped inches from Ethan's throat.

Ethan twisted, feeling the wind of the near miss. This one was dangerous – faster than anything he'd faced since arriving in this world.

The wolf's talent grade exceeded his own by two subgrades. Which made its overall speed even stronger than his.

'Need to be smarter, not just faster and stronger,' he thought, backing away strategically.

The wolves regrouped, spreading out to surround him.

They left him no escape route.

"It's not like I wanted to escape anyway. Now the real fight begins," Ethan whispered.

The first Mid-Iron wolf lunged, jaws open for a killing bite.

Ethan sidestepped, grabbed the creature mid-lunge by its scruff, and using its momentum, slammed it against a tree trunk.

The impact shattered ribs.

The wolf tried to rise but failed.

'Two down. Two to go.'

The remaining Mid-Iron circled cautiously now. The leader hung back, reassessing Ethan's threat level.

Ethan could almost see its tactical calculations. These weren't mindless beasts – they learned and adapted.

Ethan didn't wait for their next move. He charged the Mid-Iron wolf, deliberately leaving his right side exposed.

The bait worked.

The wolf attacked the apparent opening.

At the last possible second, Ethan activated his Protective Shield talent.

A translucent barrier materialized, catching the wolf's fangs. The creature's momentum carried it forward into the shield, making ripples across the shield appear momentarily.

All the opening Ethan needed.

His iron-enhanced fist drove through the wolf's chest, fingers closing around its core. One brutal pull ripped it free, the wolf's body collapsing mid-snarl.

'Three down.'

Just the leader remained.

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The Peak-Iron Shadowfang growled, backing away. Smart enough to recognize certain death. But Ethan couldn't let it escape – not with an E- Grade talent ripe for harvest.

'It's talent should bring my F Grade Enhanced Speed talent closer to F+ Grade.'

"Don't run now," Ethan said, matching the wolf's retreat step for step. "We're just getting started."

Without warning, the wolf changed tactics. Instead of retreating, it charged directly at Ethan, its speed manifesting fully. The beast became a silver streak, faster than human eyes could track.

But Ethan wasn't a normal human anymore.

He activated Enhanced Speed, but the wolf still moved faster – its superior grade showing. Ethan couldn't dodge completely. Fangs grazed his shoulder, drawing first blood.

"Hiss."

The pain was sharp, making Ethan take a deep breath.

"My turn," Ethan growled, spinning to face the wolf as it circled for another pass.

This time, he didn't try to match its speed. Instead, he predicted its path, placed his feet firmly, and activated Iron Enhancement. His skin hardened, taking on a subtle metallic sheen.

The wolf struck again, teeth clamping on Ethan's now-reinforced forearm. Fangs that could shear through normal flesh scraped against iron-like skin.

Although his talent protected his arm from serious injury, he still felt pain nonetheless. The attack was powerful and his mana was depleting rapidly at the rate he was using his talents.

'I need to end this fast.'

Surprise registered in the wolf's eyes, just before Ethan's free hand closed around its throat. With his high strength, he lifted the struggling beast off the ground.

"Thanks for the talent," Ethan said, tightening his grip.

The wolf thrashed wildly, claws tearing at Ethan's clothes and iron-enhanced skin. But without leverage, its strength couldn't match Ethan's Bronze-rank power.

Ethan slammed the creature down, pinning it with his knee on its chest. His iron-enhanced fist rose and fell, each impact cracking bone.

Crack

The wolf fought desperately, its speed allowing it to land several glancing blows.

Blood streaked down Ethan's face from a lucky claw swipe. The metallic taste filled his mouth.

For a moment, his predecessor's life faded, and memories of drowning Jack Thompson surfaced. That same deadly focus, the certainty of victory.

The wolf sensed its impending death.

In a final desperate move, it channeled everything into its talent. It's body blurred, nearly phasing through Ethan's grasp.

"Protective Shield!"

The barrier materialized around Ethan's hand, trapping the wolf in an unbreakable grip. Its struggles redoubled, then weakened.

"Goodnight," Ethan whispered, delivering the final blow.

The clearing fell silent.

Four dead wolves. Four new cores.

One E- Grade talent waiting to be devoured.