The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the narrow streets as Jack, the wolf-man and captain of the city's soldiers, sprinted towards the western entrance. His heart pounded in sync with each step, a mixture of adrenaline and concern coursing through his veins. The message had been clear—a dark-tree was growing dangerously close to the city walls. This was the first time such a threat had appeared so near, and Jack couldn't shake the sense of urgency.
As he ran, memories of the past two years flashed through his mind. These dark-trees had started appearing out of nowhere, defying the natural order. Their sinister roots dug deep into the earth, and their twisted branches reached skyward like claws ready to tear into the heavens. Jack clenched his fists, recalling the first time he had encountered one. Fire had always been their greatest weapon against such threats, but the dark-trees had proved immune until they were cut apart. And if left unattended for seven days, they would begin to produce monsters—vile creatures born of the tree's malevolence, attacking anything in their path. This made the dark-trees a grave threat, one that demanded immediate attention.
"This close to the city…" Jack muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing as he pushed his legs to move faster. The trees had never grown this near before. What could have changed? What was driving them closer?
As the western gate came into view, Jack's sharp eyes spotted the source of his worry. A massive dark-tree stood ominously at the entrance, its gnarled, blackened bark pulsating with an unnatural energy. Vines as thick as a man's arm whipped through the air, lashing out at a figure trying desperately to cut the tree down.
"Leo," Jack recognized his vice-captain immediately. The tiger-headed man's usually pristine fur was matted with sweat, his claws slashing through the air in a futile attempt to breach the tree's defenses. But the dark-tree was relentless, its vines intercepting every attack, blocking Leo from getting close enough to deal a fatal blow.
Leo growled in frustration as he danced around the tree's assault, his movements a blur of agility. His aura was faint but visible—a golden sheen that covered his body, enhancing his strength and speed. Despite this, he was struggling. Each time his claws found their mark, they barely left a scratch on the tree's tough bark. The dark-tree seemed to anticipate his every move, its vines moving with a sinister intelligence, wrapping around his limbs, trying to pull him closer.
Leo twisted his body, tearing himself free from the vine's grip and retaliating with a powerful swipe aimed at the tree's trunk. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, but the dark-tree's bark absorbed the blow, barely splintering. The vines responded instantly, lashing out with even greater ferocity, forcing Leo to retreat.
"Damn it!" Leo cursed under his breath, his muscles straining as he dodged and parried. His low-level aura was doing its best to keep up, but it was clear he was outmatched. The dark-tree's defenses were too strong, its vines too fast. He needed to get closer, needed to strike at the core, but the tree wasn't giving him any openings.
A particularly vicious vine struck out, wrapping around Leo's leg with the speed of a striking serpent. Leo let out a grunt as he was yanked off his feet, the ground rushing up to meet him. He managed to roll with the fall, slashing at the vine with his claws, but it was like trying to cut through stone. The vine tightened its grip, lifting him off the ground, constricting around his leg like a vice.
Leo's mind raced as he struggled against the dark-tree's grip. He could feel his aura flickering, the strain of maintaining it taking its toll. He had to think fast, or he'd be crushed. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, Leo focused his aura into a single point in his claws. With a roar of defiance, he slashed at the vine, finally managing to sever it with a desperate, all-out strike.
The vine snapped with a loud crack, releasing Leo, who tumbled to the ground, panting heavily. But the dark-tree wasn't done. More vines lashed out, sensing its prey's vulnerability. Leo barely managed to get back on his feet, his vision swimming from the exertion. He knew he was in trouble—his aura was almost spent, and the dark-tree showed no signs of slowing down.
Just as another vine was about to strike, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Move aside!" Jack's voice rang out, commanding and urgent.
Without hesitation, Leo obeyed, using the last of his strength to leap out of the way. He collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, as he watched his captain charge towards the tree.
Jack didn't slow down as he approached. His aura flared to life, a brilliant blue light that surrounded his body, focusing on his claws. Unlike Leo, Jack's aura was strong, honed by years of experience. He was a mid-level aura user, and he knew exactly how to use it.
The dark-tree's vines shot towards him, but Jack was ready. With a swift motion, he dodged the first vine, slashing through it effortlessly. The severed vine fell to the ground, writhing before it withered away. Jack continued his advance, cutting through the dark-tree's defenses with precision and power. Each swing of his claws was decisive, his aura cutting through the bark like it was paper.
As he reached the base of the tree, Jack leaped into the air, bringing his claws down in a single, powerful strike. The impact was immense, the sound of tearing wood echoing like a thunderclap. The dark-tree shuddered, its vines flailing wildly for a moment before it split apart, collapsing into a lifeless heap of timber and twisted roots.
Breathing heavily, Jack turned to survey the scene. The dark-tree lay defeated, its menace neutralized. Leo struggled to his feet, wincing in pain, but his eyes were filled with relief.
"You're late again," Leo said, walking towards him with a smirk, though it was clear he was still recovering from the fight.
Jack, still catching his breath, shot him a sidelong glance. "But I made it in time this time," he replied, a small grin spreading across his muzzle.
The moment of levity was short-lived as Jack immediately began issuing orders. "Burn the remains. Make sure nothing is left behind." The soldiers, who had been standing at a cautious distance, rushed forward, setting the dark-tree ablaze with controlled bursts of fire. The tree's remains crackled and hissed as they were consumed by the flames, reduced to harmless ash.
Jack turned back to Leo, his expression serious once more. "What happened here? How did it get so close to the city?"
Leo sighed, his ears flicking back in frustration. "We found it just a few hours ago. It was already this big when we got here. We fired the smoke signal immediately, but…" He trailed off, his eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and helplessness.
"Any casualties?" Jack asked, his tone laced with concern.
"Not this time," Leo answered, shaking his head. "It was too close to the city for that. We managed to keep it contained until you arrived."
Jack nodded, relieved but still uneasy. "That's good, but what are the higher-ups doing? Why haven't they come up with a solution to this? We can't be everywhere at once, and the number of dark-trees has only increased in the past two years."
Leo's expression grew more serious. "Don't you remember? There was a prophecy made… that the one who wins the competition will save us. That's why the difficulty of the competition has been increasing. The higher-ups believe it's our best chance."
"The competition…" Jack muttered, his mind drifting back to the strange encounter he'd had earlier that day. "That reminds me, I met a boy today. He had no fur, no tail… I forgot to ask his name."
Leo sighed, rolling his eyes at his captain's forgetfulness. "You're hopeless sometimes, Captain."
Jack chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
The flames from the burning dark-tree flickered in the background as Jack and Leo stood there, pondering the future. The threat of the dark-trees was growing.