'Hot… So hot… What is this? Did the devil decide to roast me now? Am I in purgatory for involving myself in a cult?'
My head is pounding and throbbing all over. Unconsciously, I try to move my hand to wipe the sweat on my forehead.
'Huh? Why did my hands feel like… It's tied?'
I open my eyes slowly as I try to focus the scene in front of my eyes.
'Holy shit! Has everyone been eaten by werewolves??'
A pack of what looks like a werewolf, with hair all over the body, sharp claws and fangs, and bloody red eyes was standing circling me all around.
'Is this the whole clan of werewolves? So many of them
One of the werewolves walks towards me, holding a long stick that looks like a cane in its right hand. I look down where I stand and realized I was tied on a pole in the middle of the campfire. There are four pillars surrounding the campfire, around five meters high. Each of them was lit with fire on the top of the pillar.
'Holy shit! Real-life experience of seeing a wolf standing on two feet and holding a torch on top of that.'
"Awooo!"
"Awooooooo!"
"Awooo!"
The werewolves around me start howling non-stop. The eerie atmosphere reminds me of the first night where I fall asleep in the forest and was brought here by Griff. It's that same spine-chilling feeling all over again. Terror and fears filled my mind and my heart starts racing fast.
'That's right. Where are Griff and Luisea?? Don't tell me, they've been eaten by werewolves?? The Lord, have mercy on them.'
"Hey you. Yes, you! You dumb wolf! What have you done? Where are all the villagers? Did you eat everyone??"
The werewolf takes a step further as if it never hear anything I said.
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Don't play dumb with me. Answer me! Where is everyone?"
I struggle as I try to loosen the ropes on my hand and feet.
'Shit, at this rate, I'm going to be roasted meat.'
The fire was getting closer to my feet. The smells of burnt woods fill the air. The chilled, foggy night has long turned into a hot, burning night. Smoke rises to my nose and down to my lungs, I started coughing non-stop.
For the second time since I arrived in this place, I faced a life and death situation. At least now, I'm wearing a nice dress and nice boots. Although it's not really my taste, but it's better than dying in my pink pajamas and fluffy slippers.
No, not dying! I mean running!
'Should I offer my soul to the devil again? I really need to learn that spell when I get back.'
"Hey, Wolfie. What about sparing me tonight? Don't eat me, please." I try to make my face look as pitiful as possible, I even dropped my ears as I plead for my life.
The werewolf walks closer and raise the cane in its hand.
"The Lord, we offer You our humble sacrifice. The blood of the blessed being, the flesh of the sacred virgin. May our sacrifice is enough to calm the wrath of The Lord."
I started to lose consciousness as the smoke-filled my lung. My eyelids are getting heavier, my vision started to get dark.
***
"Stupid Fox, so you're really willing to die without fighting back?"
"Who are you calling the stupid fox? Who are you??"
"I am you."
"Nonsense. Don't try to talk philosophically to me."
"Stupid Fox, you're about to be roasted to death, and you're still this rude?"
"You called me stupid first."
"…"
A few seconds later.
"Hey, stupid Fox."
"I said, don't call me stupid!"
'Fine.'
"I will lend you my power."
"What's the catch?"
"Catch what…? Speak properly, I don't speak urban slang."
"Huh… Ancient being. I mean, what do you want in return? You're not helping me just because you feel like doing it, right?"
"Hmmm… As for what I want in return, I haven't think about it yet. Come on, you're running out of time. You want my power or not?"
"Do I look like I have any choice?"
"I assume that you agree."
Suddenly, I feel a strong power filling my sea of consciousness. Moving from the spot between my brows and down to my stomach as it warms my whole being. So comfortable that I feel like falling into deep slumber instead.
'Please, I hope this is the Matrix kind of superpower where everything is already loaded and programmed inside my head.'
***
For the second time, I opened my eyes. Only this time, instead of feeling helpless, I was surging with strong unknown power and confidence from inside my body. The heat from the surging fire doesn't feel as scorching as before.
I struggle a bit as I break the ropes that tied my body to the pole. First, I break the ropes that tie my hands and then using my hand, I pulled and break the ropes on my feet.
The werewolf that was holding the cane stood frozen with a shocked expression on its face as it watched me break apart the ropes that bind me to the pole. Only after a few seconds later, it comes back to its sense and start growling at me.
"Change of menu! We're serving roasted werewolf for dinner now!"
'On the other hand, how does this power work? I can't think of any special move or spells in my head. Other than the surging power from within, I am still like a blank sheet without any skills. So the system doesn't work like the Matrix, huh?'
I jumped off from the campfire and land on the ground. The bottom of my skirt was slightly burned by the fire.
The whole member of the werewolves' eyes is now set on me, growling their fangs and ready to attack anytime. At this moment, I am well aware that I don't have any special moves or spells programmed on my head. The only move I know is the kick and punch style - Muay Thai kickboxing that I learn for a month before giving up and moved to Yoga.
'Well, I've come this far. Better give it a shot. If I die, I die with honor!'
"I ask you once again, where are the villagers? Where are Griff and Luisea??" I yelled at the werewolf in front of me.
"Hahaha! Poor fox! Did you think that we take care of you these past few days due to kindness? You're nothing but a sacrifice to the Lord!"
''This voice sounds familiar. And it keeps on talking about The Lord, The Lord… Why do I have a bad feeling towards this werewolf…'
"….You… What do you want from me? Why are you doing this to me?"
"To appease the wrath The Lord, you're nothing but a sacrificial piece."
"…Luisea…"
"Hahahaha! You finally get it, don't you? You filthy fox!"
'Why does everyone keep calling me fox? Am I not a human?'
"So you purposely bring me back and fatten me this past few days so prepare me as a sacrifice??"
"Huh! Noisy! Stop asking too much! Just die already!"
The werewolf finally loses its patience and strike forward, aiming for my neck with its piercing fangs. I positioned myself in a fighting stance, as I get nearer, I focus on my aim.
'Kick it hard in the stomach and pounce its head.'
One kick, two kick, three kick, and countless punch on its jaws. To my surprise, the power within me was strong enough to knock out the werewolf completely. Compared to the Muay Thai class I did before, I couldn't even swing the punch bag back then. Pumped up with confidence, I punched the werewolf on the ground for the last time and raised my head towards the remaining werewolves who were stunned by my brutality.
'Didn't they bring back a weak girl last time? Where did this monstrous strength come from?'
Without holding their self, the whole pack attacked me altogether.
'This is not fair! This should be one-on-one fighting!'
***
After almost an hour of fighting and kicking and punching, the smell of blood filled the air. The ground was dyed in red. My whole body was drenched in blood, both the werewolves and mine. I fall flat on the ground, my legs refused to stand up. I can barely support my body with my hands. I've used every bit of energy inside my body to fight against the pack of werewolves.
For the first time ever, I actually fight for my life.
"So this is what being alive feels like, huh?"
I lie flat on the ground, my eyes fixed at the full moon above me. A sense of satisfaction filled the emptiness I felt before as I celebrate the victory with a huge smile on my face.
Along with the dozens of corpses beside me, I finally passed out.
***
"Stupid Fox, you're still too weak after all."