Gideon rose from his crouched position, sinews and muscles flexing beneath his taut, blood-soaked skin. He brandished his gruesome, crimson-stained claws aloft, flicking them through the air with a flourish. Drops of blood sprayed out, sparkling eerily in the moonlight as they spiraled away from the lethal weapons he wielded.
Before Gideon could contemplate his next move, an earth-shattering, primal roar reverberated through the forest. It was a roar so potent that the ancient trees themselves seemed to quiver in response. The sound, a force of nature in itself, emanated from the direction of an approaching behemoth.
Gideon's acute senses honed in on the impending threat. He could smell it—a blend of fur, earth, and something wilder, darker, and distinctly malevolent. His ears, finely tuned to the sounds of the forest, detected the creature's relentless advance. Without a trace of concern in his voice, Gideon mused, "Looks like someone's fashionably late to the party."
From the towering canopy above, a colossal figure plummeted, descending with the majestic grace of an avenging deity. Its size was so staggering that even the mighty Unicorn Wolves, who once appeared colossal, seemed to shrink in its imposing presence. As the creature materialized from the darkness, its pure-white fur shimmered like moonlight refracted through diamond dust. It had eyes, deep and menacingly red, that instantly locked onto Gideon, who now appeared minuscule in comparison. The alpha of the pack had arrived.
*Greater Unicorn Wolf: Level 12*
The Greater Unicorn Wolf, with an awe-inspiring flourish, landed on the forest floor, its agile grace belying its enormous frame. A resonant howl, an elegant lament of dominance, reverberated throughout the clearing. Its crimson eyes shifted, scanning the lifeless bodies of its fallen comrades before fixating upon Gideon with an intensity that spoke of unbridled hatred.
Gideon couldn't help but smirk in response. "Finally, someone worth my time!" he exclaimed, his voice dripping with confidence. "But don't let the size fool you; also, a three-level difference won't be enough to change your fate. I doubt you'll last any longer than your hapless comrades did." He casually rested a clawed hand against his chin, as though pondering a trivial matter. "In fact, I'm starting to think I'm overpowered for creatures of this caliber. Ah, well," he shrugged nonchalantly.
In the blink of an eye, the Greater Unicorn Wolf lunged toward Gideon, its gaping maw armed with lethal fangs, aimed directly at the seemingly insignificant target. Yet Gideon, in stark contrast to the beast's raw power and speed, moved with an uncanny fluidity. He sidestepped with elegant ease, as though he were dancing through the chaos of battle. The wolf's formidable attack found only empty air as Gideon effortlessly dodged its ferocious assault.
But the relentless creature was undeterred. Without missing a beat, it sprang once more, a tidal wave of muscle and fury directed at the enigmatic intruder. And once again, Gideon's litheness prevailed, as he evaded the beast's onslaught as though it were a child's clumsy swipe.
The dance of death continued, each pass showcasing Gideon's preternatural agility as he deftly eluded the relentless jaws of the Greater Unicorn Wolf. To an onlooker, the scene appeared surreal—a minuscule figure dancing among shadows, while a colossal predator struggled to connect with its target.
As Gideon deftly evaded each attack, he maintained a facade of cool indifference. His taunts had become a mind game, an attempt to unnerve the beast further. "Is this the best you can do?" he chided, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "I expected a challenge!"
In the moonlit forest, a most unusual showdown unfolded. It was a scene where the roles of predator and prey had been dramatically reversed, a scenario that left even nature itself bewildered. Normally, a hedgehog would quiver at the mere presence of a wolf, but this night, the tables had turned, and the Greater Unicorn Wolf found itself trembling before the diminutive figure of Gideon.
The air was charged with tension as the massive wolf made desperate lunges at Gideon. Each time, its enormous jaws snapped shut just inches away from the hedgehog's quills. Gideon, in contrast, moved with an uncanny grace, evading the wolf's every attack effortlessly.
As the struggle continued, the Greater Unicorn Wolf's frustration grew evident. Its once-fierce snarls were reduced to pitiful whimpers, and all it could do now was gaze helplessly at the relentless hedgehog before it.
"Your rage is quite reasonable, I must admit," Gideon remarked coolly, his eyes locked onto the wolf. "But time is not on my side."
With a swift motion, Gideon raised his claws, preparing to strike a decisive blow. "Farewell," he said calmly, his voice betraying no emotion. In an instant, he activated his *Claw Attack* ability, vanishing from the wolf's sight only to reappear behind it, slashing at the vulnerable back of its neck.
Due to the stark contrast in size, a single strike was insufficient to sever the wolf's head. Gideon had to repeat the motion multiple times with such speed and precision that it appeared as a single fluid motion. In the blink of an eye, the once-mighty Greater Unicorn Wolf met a swift and relatively painless end, a kind gesture even Gideon recognized it deserved.
*You have leveled up.*
*The required Level has been acquired. You can now Evolve into a higher species.*
Such an achievement typically took months, or even years, depending on the species. For an ordinary hedgehog, it was an almost impossible feat, one that often ended in death. Yet, Gideon had accomplished it in a single night, without breaking a sweat.
Gideon's hands dropped to his sides, and he stood there, drained of energy, but triumphant. The battle was over, and the forest seemed to sigh in relief, as if it, too, had been holding its breath.
In the shadows of the cave, ten small silhouettes emerged. These were the surviving members of the Greater Unicorn Wolf's pack, pups who had watched their alpha meet its untimely demise. Their growls were feeble, their eyes wide with fear as they cautiously approached the hedgehog who had bested their mighty leader. The largest pup, slightly bigger than the rest, took hesitant steps forward, leading the way, while the smallest ones remained in the rear, trembling.
*Unicorn Wolf: Level 1.*
Gideon's vacant gaze shifted to the approaching pups, but he made no move to harm them. "I suggest you reconsider, little ones," he advised, his tone disinterested. "I have no interest in you. Killing you serves no purpose." With that, he activated his *Roll* ability and swiftly departed, leaving the pups behind to fend for themselves.
As Gideon vanished into the forest, the pup wolves faced an uncertain future. Would they survive without their alpha's protection? Only time would reveal their fate. One thing, however, was abundantly clear—it wasn't mercy that had spared them. To Gideon, the concept of mercy was utterly meaningless.