The leader, their alpha, always took the brunt of the risk, ensuring the pack's safety while leading their attacks. Their weaknesses were well-known: fire, light magic, loud noises, and of course, stronger opponents.
Ethan took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. A cold snort escaped him.
He wasn't worried.
With a subtle flick of his wrist, he flared his mana outward. His aura expanded, the very air around him shimmering with the pressure of his energy.
He was still a Rank One, yes, but the aura he carried was more than enough to make most creatures think twice. The leader of the pack, if it had any sense, would feel it.
The jackals weren't dumb — they were pack animals. The instincts of the leader should tell it to retreat to avoid losses. After all, it was the only Rank One in the group — its already small pack would probably get decimated by Ethan even if they attacked jointly...
