The moment I gave the command, the infernal wolf vanished, leaving me holding empty air. The monsters stopped in surprise, surveying the forest with wary gazes. When they failed to find it, they refocused their black eyes on me and raised their claws. All of a sudden, the Aegis felt fragile, and I shivered, clutching my staff.
A terrifying scream tore through the air, and the monster closest to me flew through the air, thick arcs of black blood trailing after it. It slammed into a tree several dozen feet away, embedding itself deep into the splintered trunk. It screeched in pain and clawed at the gaping hole in its chest, but was helpless to stem the flow of blood. After a few seconds, its eyes dulled and its arms fell limply to the ground.
A golden blur streaked through the clearing, landing atop another monster. I caught a glimpse of the wolf raking and tearing through its hulking body before it dropped to its knee, head torn free from its body.
