Chapter 25: The Monster's Hunt
Fenrir's transformation into a massive direwolf was complete before Vikram and his team could fully process what they were up against. His enormous, pitch-black form towered over them, his eyes glowing with a predatory hunger. The moment he finished transforming, he lunged at the closest member of Vikram's team, a young archer named Priya.
In sheer panic, Priya dropped her bow and tried to flee, her terror overriding any sense of strategy. But she was too slow. Fenrir's jaws closed around her in a flash, and in a horrifying instant, he ripped her in half. Her scream echoed through the clearing, silenced abruptly as Fenrir devoured her alive.
Vikram's heart sank as he watched Priya's life snuffed out in front of him, her blood staining the ground. There was no time to mourn or feel shock. The beast was relentless, and they knew that even a moment's hesitation could cost them another life.
"Attack him! NOW!" Vikram roared, his voice carrying the weight of urgency and command.
Without missing a beat, the remaining members of his team surged forward, weapons drawn. They knew that if they hesitated for even a second, Fenrir would claim another victim. Rathore led the charge with his spear, striking at Fenrir's flank while Raj, his chest already bleeding from deep claw marks, attacked from the other side.
Arjun, wielding his own power, used his Code Manipulation ability to create temporary barriers to slow Fenrir's movements, while Maya focused on healing the most critically injured from a safe distance. The air was filled with the clash of steel, the crackling of energy, and the roars of the monstrous wolf.
For a brief moment, their combined assault seemed to gain the upper hand. The numbers advantage allowed them to keep Fenrir on the defensive, forcing him to fend off attacks from multiple directions. Vikram's sword danced through the air, slashing at Fenrir's thick fur, while Rathore's spear thrusts targeted the beast's vulnerable points.
But the advantage didn't last.
Fenrir let out a bone-chilling howl and suddenly spun around, seizing one of the weaker warriors in his massive jaws. The man screamed in agony as Fenrir bit down, crushing his bones and then consuming him in a gruesome display. As he devoured the flesh, and before their eyes, his wounds began to heal at an alarming rate. His stamina was fully restored, and his strength seemed to grow even greater.
"Fall back! All injured and weaker fighters, retreat now!" Vikram shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Maya, focus on healing the wounded. Keep them alive!"
Maya nodded, her face pale but resolute, as she began her work. She chanted her healing incantations, the soft glow of her magic covering the injured warriors, mending their wounds. But the sight of Maya tending to the wounded drew Fenrir's attention.
With a snarl, the massive direwolf turned toward Maya, his intent clear. He would kill the healer to cripple their chances of survival.
"Over here, you monster!" Rathore yelled, throwing his spear with all his might to divert Fenrir's focus.
Vikram, Raj, and the rest of the team launched another coordinated attack, forcing Fenrir away from Maya and deeper into the forest. The remaining beasts, which had encircled the group like a living wall, abandoned their posts and followed their leader, ignoring Maya and the retreating wounded.
As they drew Fenrir and the beasts further into the woods, Vikram made a subtle hand gesture, signaling his team to fall back in stages. Despite their intense desire to press the attack, they knew their mission was to survive and regroup.
Fenrir growled in frustration, clearly sensing their plan to draw him out. His sharp eyes followed their every movement, and he bared his teeth in a vicious grin. But before he could charge, Vikram threw something small and dark directly at Fenrir.
Fenrir instinctively caught the object with his jaws, ready to crush it, but then he stopped. He opened his mouth to see what he had caught—a small, ancient-looking figurine covered in runes. As he stared at it in confusion, he realized he'd been tricked. He looked up just in time to see Vikram disappear into the shadows of the forest.
"Think you can hide from me?" Fenrir growled, his voice dripping with disdain. He sniffed the air, and his lips curled into a snarl. His sense of smell was unmatched—he would find them, no matter where they went.
But just as he was about to set off in pursuit, he felt a sudden trembling in his hand. He looked down at the figurine, its runes glowing with a sinister light.
Not far away, Vikram and the rest of his team were hidden behind a thick veil of foliage. Raj, clutching his chest where Fenrir's claws had left deep, bloody gashes, looked at Vikram with desperation in his eyes.
"Do you think that figurine will work?" Raj asked, his voice weak but determined.
Vikram was about to answer when a deep, rumbling sound echoed through the jungle. It was like the growl of a massive engine, a mechanical roar that sent shivers down their spines. The ground beneath their feet seemed to vibrate with the intensity of the noise.
Everyone turned their heads toward the direction of the sound.