Adrian's heart pounded in his chest as he faced the pack of Gloom Wolves, his eyes locked onto the alpha wolf that led them. The initial shock of the gruesome scene they'd stumbled upon had shaken him, but now, that horror was fuel for the fire burning within him. The fear was still there, gnawing at the edges of his resolve, but it was overpowered by a newfound determination. He knew he couldn't afford to falter, not here, not now.
Sophia's voice cut through the tension, calm yet commanding. "Remember your training, Adrian. Don't let them surround you. Stay focused, and strike with precision."
Adrian nodded, tightening his grip on the hilt of his enchanted dagger. The cool metal felt reassuring in his hand, and he knew that every cut, every strike had to be deliberate and precise. He could feel the weight of his responsibility as the future head of the Everhart family pressing down on him, but instead of buckling under it, he drew strength from it.
The pack of Gloom Wolves circled him, their eyes glowing with a predatory gaze. The alpha stood at the back, watching him with a cunning intelligence, while the others snapped their jaws and growled lowly, their breath releasing a faint, poisonous mist that lingered in the air.
One of the Gloom Wolves, smaller but no less deadly, broke formation and lunged at Adrian with lightning speed. Its claws were coated in a sickly green glow, a manifestation of the gloom poison that could paralyze and kill if it made contact. Adrian's reflexes kicked in, and he sidestepped the attack, his dagger already in motion.
The blade sliced through the air with a hiss, catching the wolf's flank. A spurt of dark, almost tar-like blood followed the strike, and the wolf yelped in pain, retreating back to the pack with a limp. Adrian could see the toxic blood eating away at the grass where it fell, confirming the dangerous nature of these creatures.
But there was no time to rest. Another wolf immediately took its place, charging at him with a ferocity that belied its size. Adrian met the attack head-on, raising his dagger just in time to block the wolf's powerful bite. The force of the impact reverberated through his arm, but he held his ground, pushing the wolf back with a grunt of effort. He was careful to avoid the green-tinged saliva that dripped from the wolf's fangs, knowing it could be deadly.
Using the momentum, Adrian twisted his body and delivered a powerful counterattack. His dagger found its mark, plunging deep into the wolf's neck in a single, fluid motion. The beast crumpled to the ground, its life extinguished, its body quickly emitting the same poisonous mist as its comrades.
Sophia watched from a short distance, her eyes sharp as she assessed Adrian's performance. She was ready to step in if necessary, but she could see that Adrian was handling himself well. His movements were precise, his strikes calculated. He was fighting not just to survive, but to win.
Three wolves remained, and they advanced on Adrian with newfound caution, wary after witnessing the fate of their comrades. They moved as one, their coordination evident in the way they flanked him, trying to trap him between their snapping jaws and the toxic fog that their movements stirred up.
Adrian knew he couldn't afford to be surrounded. He controlled the mana flowing through his body, instinctively strengthening his muscles and sharpening his senses. His awareness expanded, every detail of the battlefield becoming crystal clear.
The wolves attacked in unison, two from the sides and one from the front. Adrian ducked under the frontal attack, feeling the wolf's breath hot on his neck as it sailed over him. He spun on his heel, using the momentum to bring his dagger up in a powerful arc. The blade caught the first wolf in the side, cutting deep and sending it crashing to the ground with a pained howl, its blood seeping into the ground, killing the nearby vegetation.
The second wolf lunged at him from the right, its jaws snapping dangerously close to his face. Adrian reacted instinctively, bringing his dagger down in a diagonal slash that cleaved through the wolf's shoulder and chest. The beast let out a final, pitiful whimper before collapsing at his feet, its body releasing one last puff of poisonous mist.
The third wolf hesitated, its blood-red eyes flickering with uncertainty. It was clearly aware that the human before it was no easy prey. It circled Adrian, its body low to the ground, trying to find an opening while keeping a distance from the toxic fumes that surrounded its fallen packmates.
Adrian could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart pounding like a war drum. He locked eyes with the wolf, both of them waiting for the other to make the first move. The tension was palpable, a quiet storm ready to break.
The Gloom Wolf made its move, darting forward with surprising speed. But Adrian was faster. He sidestepped the attack and, with a swift and precise motion, drove his dagger into the wolf's side. The blade sank deep, and with a final twist, he ended the beast's life, pulling his dagger free as it fell to the ground.
Adrian could feel the toll the battle had taken on him, but he knew he couldn't afford to relax. The alpha Gloom Wolf was still there, watching him with cold, calculating eyes.
The Alpha Gloom Wolf stood at the edge of the clearing, its eyes locked onto Adrian with an eerie intelligence that sent a shiver down his spine. The creature's fur, a mix of black and dirty green, seemed to pulse with a poisonous energy, a visual manifestation of the danger it posed. This was no ordinary wolf, it was a predator honed by the harsh realities of the wild, and it exuded an aura of lethal intent.
Adrian tightened his grip on his dagger, his heart pounding in his chest. The previous encounters with the pack had drained him, but this was the real test. He could sense that the alpha was different from the others, not just in strength but in cunning as well. This was a battle of wits as much as it was of strength, and he knew he couldn't afford to underestimate his opponent.