Jordan took the ring out of his pocket, holding it between his fingers as he inspected it closely. The intricate patterns carved into the black metal seemed to shift slightly in the firelight, giving it an almost alive quality. The dark aura it emitted hadn't lessened since he first took it from the goblin's body. If anything, it seemed stronger now, a faint coldness seeping into his fingers as he held it.
"What are you?" he muttered under his breath, turning the ring over to examine the inside. There were no inscriptions or markings on the inner band—just smooth metal. Yet, the unsettling feeling remained, as if the ring was watching him, waiting for something.
A small part of him wanted to throw it into the fire and be done with it. But another part, the curious part, couldn't let go of the nagging question: Why was this in a goblin camp? And what was its purpose?
Jordan sighed and placed the ring back in his pocket. He couldn't shake the feeling that the answers would come, but they wouldn't be simple—or safe.
He placed the coins into one of the other pouches, their metallic clink oddly satisfying. Although he didn't know their exact value, he could at least surmise that they were a form of currency.
"Silver's bound to be worth something," Jordan thought, inspecting one of the coins under the flickering light of the fire. They were surprisingly well-minted for something found in a goblin camp, each bearing an unfamiliar crest that looked almost regal.
"Maybe I can use these if I ever make it to Emberfall," he mused, tucking the pouch safely away. For now, though, they were just another mystery to add to the growing list.
....
With some time to spare and his curiosity getting the better of him, Jordan decided to venture toward the territory of the dire wolves. The idea of stronger monsters intrigued him, and if they dropped cores, perhaps he could use them to further upgrade his knife—or dagger, as the soldiers had called it.
"That is, if their cores can even fit," he muttered, gripping the dagger at his side. He couldn't help but feel a little excitement. Facing a more dangerous foe meant a higher reward, and Jordan was keen on growing stronger.
As he headed deeper into the forest, he kept his steps light and senses sharp. The map had marked this area as swarming with dire wolves, so he'd need to remain cautious. The faint howl of wolves echoed in the distance, sending a chill down his spine, but Jordan steeled himself. This was just another step forward.
He slid the map into his bag and tightened his grip on the knife as he pushed through a dense bush. What awaited him on the other side sent a chill down his spine.
Two dire wolves stood before him, their glowing yellow eyes locked onto his. It was almost as if they had been waiting for him. Not surprising, considering wolves were known for their keen sense of smell.
The knife in his hand pulsed faintly, almost as though reacting to the danger ahead.
Before Jordan could fully assess the situation, the wolves sprang into action with frightening coordination. One charged straight at him, teeth bared, while the other flanked to his left, moving with silent precision.
Jordan braced himself, his grip tightening on the knife as it continued to pulse softly in his hand. The dire wolves were massive compared to the fanged bunnies and goblins he'd fought before, their dark fur blending into the shadows of the forest. Their glowing yellow eyes locked onto him with deadly intent.
The wolf charging head-on closed the gap in seconds, teeth bared, saliva dripping from its fangs. Jordan sidestepped at the last moment, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws, and swung his knife in a wide arc. The blade bit into the wolf's side, drawing a line of blood but not enough to stop it.
The second wolf lunged from his blind spot, its claws aiming for his legs. Jordan barely managed to leap back, its claws grazing his shin.
"Damn it," he muttered, realizing just how coordinated these beasts were. He couldn't afford to get hit again.
The first wolf snarled, circling him, and the second mirrored its movements. Jordan's eyes darted between them, trying to predict their next move. The dagger in his hand pulsed harder, as if responding to the tension.
"Alright, you want to dance?" he growled, adjusting his stance. This wasn't like fighting goblins or slimes—these creatures were faster, stronger, and smarter.
The first wolf lunged again, this time feinting high, while the second darted low. Jordan cursed and dropped to the ground, rolling beneath the first wolf's leap and narrowly avoiding the second's snapping jaws. Coming out of the roll, he slashed upwards, catching the flanking wolf across its shoulder. It yelped but didn't stop, its ferocity undiminished.
Jordan scrambled to his feet, blood pounding in his ears. He was outnumbered, but his upgraded knife gave him a fighting chance.
The first wolf lunged at him in a mad dash, its teeth gleaming. Jordan swung his dagger in a wide arc, but the wolf darted to the left with uncanny speed.
On pure instinct, Jordan followed through with his left hand, delivering a solid hook to the wolf's face. The force of the punch sent the beast sliding a few feet across the ground. It shook its head vigorously, as if trying to shake off the dizziness, before growling low and baring its fangs again.
Jordan tightened his grip on the dagger, his eyes darting to the lsecond wolf, which was already circling to strike.
The second wolf charged at him, its powerful legs pounding the ground, but it abruptly skidded to a stop a few feet away. Jordan froze, his focus locked on the wolf as it opened its jaws wide.
A semi-transparent orb began forming in its mouth, swirling with condensed energy as it seemed to draw in the air around it. Jordan's eyes widened in realization—this wasn't just brute force; it was something far more dangerous.
With a faint whooshing sound, the orb shot toward him, cutting through the air like a bullet.
Jordan instinctively stepped back, narrowly dodging to the left as the first orb of energy sailed past him, grazing the air. But in his focus on the second wolf, he failed to notice the first wolf had already charged up its own attack.
Before he could react, the semi-transparent orb struck him square in the chest.
The impact knocked the wind out of him, and he stumbled backward, clutching his ribs as a sharp pain spread across his torso. His mind raced—these wolves weren't just beasts; they were far more coordinated and dangerous than anything he had faced before.
Jordan had no time to recover. The second wolf, seizing the opportunity, lunged at him with terrifying speed. With barely a moment to think, he dodged to the right, narrowly avoiding its jaws.
In a desperate move, he gripped the crude goblin knife he'd grabbed after recovering from the hit and drove it into the wolf's eye.
The wolf let out a blood-curdling howl, thrashing wildly as it clawed at its face, trying to dislodge the blade. The violent movements caused the fragile knife to snap, leaving the broken blade embedded in its eye.
Jordan turned to face the first wolf, but it was already charging at him, enraged by its companion's agony. This time, however, he was ready. With a burst of adrenaline, he sprinted forward, slamming his body into the wolf with all his strength.
The impact sent both of them sprawling backward, crashing to the ground in a chaotic tangle of limbs and snarls.
Jordan relentlessly drove his dagger into the wolf the moment they hit the ground. It thrashed beneath him, letting out guttural growls as it swung a powerful paw, striking Jordan and knocking him off.
The wolf staggered to its feet, blood pouring from the deep wounds in its neck. It took a few unsteady steps toward Jordan, but its strength gave out. With a soft thud, it collapsed, its breathing ceasing as the pool of blood beneath it grew.
Before Jordan could catch his breath, the second wolf, undeterred by its companion's death, let out a furious snarl and charged straight at him.
Jordan scrambled to his feet, his breathing heavy as he turned to face the second wolf. The first wolf lay lifeless behind him, blood pooling beneath its body.
The second wolf, despite the broken knife still lodged in its eye, was relentless. It lowered its head and charged, snarling with blind rage. Jordan could see blood pouring from its ruined eye, but it showed no signs of slowing down.
With no time to think, Jordan steadied himself, gripping his dagger tightly. As the wolf lunged at him, he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its jaws. He swung the dagger upward, aiming for its exposed throat.
The blade connected, slicing into the wolf's flesh. It let out a pained yelp, staggering from the force of the strike. But it wasn't done yet. It twisted its body and swiped at him with its claws, catching him across the arm.
Jordan winced but pushed through the pain. "Stay down already!" he growled, driving the dagger into the side of the wolf's neck before twisting it.
The wolf let out a final whimper before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching as life left it.
Jordan staggered back, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His arm throbbed from the claw marks, but he didn't have time to dwell on the pain. Both wolves lay dead at his feet, their blood soaking into the forest floor.