The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silvery glow over the dense forest. Alexander could feel his strength fading, his spells growing weaker with each cast. The wolves were wearing him down, their relentless assault pushing him closer and closer to exhaustion. He knew he couldn't keep this up much longer. He needed to end this, and fast.
Alexander took a deep breath and began to chant an incantation under his breath, calling upon the ancient fire magic he had mastered at the Academy. His words were a low, rhythmic murmur, growing louder with each passing second. He raised his hands, feeling the heat of the magic surge through his veins as he channeled half of his remaining energy into a powerful spell.
A towering wall of fire erupted around him, more than two meters high. The flames roared to life, casting a brilliant orange light that illuminated the dark woods. The heat was intense, waves of it radiating outwards and creating a shimmering barrier between Alexander and the advancing wolves. The pack hesitated, but immediately pounced on him.
With a surge of effort, Alexander pushed the wall of fire outward, causing it to explode in all directions. The flames spread rapidly, expanding into a fiery wave that swept through the forest, knocking down the wolves that had been charging towards him. The air was filled with the sound of yelps and snarls as the wolves were thrown back by the force of the blast, their fur singed and smoking.
Suddenly, Alexander's pupils shrank and his vision immediately switched to the side, where the werewolf was beside him. While he pushed the wall of fire, the werewolf lunged through the flames, leaped over the remnants of the wall of fire, closing the distance between him and Alexander in an instant, with a speed and agility that belied his size.
The werewolf lunged at him with a snarl, its jaws snapping shut inches from Alexander's face. Alexander barely had time to throw up a magical barrier, and the werewolf's claws slashed through the air, striking the barrier with a force that sent shockwaves through Alexander's body. The impact sent Alexander crashing to the floor, his head spinning and his vision blurred, causing him to cry out in pain as he felt the sharp sting of claws raking across his skin.
Blood dripped from the wound, staining the ground beneath him. The werewolf's eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger as he licked his claws, tasting the blood that now smeared them.
"Your blood is delicious!" the werewolf's face—a mixture of delight and madness, his voice a low, guttural growl, "I've changed my mind. I want to eat you alive!"
With a roar, the werewolf began to change agian. His already imposing form grew even larger, muscles bulging beneath his fur as his body expanded to an enormous size. He went from two meters to nearly two and a half meters tall, his shoulders broadening, and his claws extending to lethal lengths. His green eyes burned with an unholy light, and his jaws gaped open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth.
Alexander's heart pounded in his chest, and knew that in his current state, he couldn't withstand another direct assault from the werewolf. Drawing upon the last remnants of his magical power, he summoned a fire dragon, one of the most powerful spells he knew. The air around him crackled with energy as the dragon materialized, its body composed of roaring flames and searing heat.
With a mighty roar, the fire dragon lunged at the werewolf, its jaws snapping shut around the creature in an attempt to incinerate him. The werewolf snarled, swatting at the dragon with his massive claws, trying to fend off the attack. The two forces clashed, fire meeting power in a violent explosion of heat and fury.
But the werewolf's strength was immense, the moon giving him a terrifying power. He slashed at the dragon, his claws tearing through the flames as if they were nothing but smoke, then attacked again.
After the fire dragon dissipated into the air with a hiss, Alexander touched the magic ring on his finger. His body was battered, his energy nearly depleted. He had been reluctant to use it, fearing the consequences of tapping into such a dangerous force, but he had no other choice.
He focused on the ring, waking its dark power in his body, feeling the energy surge through him like a bolt of lightning. His eyes darkened, the whites of them disappearing as a shroud of blackness enveloped his vision. Black fire erupted around him, swirling like a storm, forming a whirlwind of dark flames that encircled him.
The werewolf skidded to a halt, momentarily taken aback by the sudden appearance of the black fire. Alexander's mind was a blur, consumed by the dark magic coursing through him. He felt a strange, cold calm settle over him, as if the dark power had numbed his fear and pain. He raised his hand, a ball of black fire forming in his palm, its heatless flames licking at his skin.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent the black fire hurtling towards the werewolf. The creature tried to dodge, but the fire was too fast, catching him on the left arm. The werewolf let out a howl of pain, the black flames clinging to his fur, refusing to be extinguished.
Desperate to free himself from the burning agony, the werewolf dropped to the ground, rolling and thrashing, trying to put out the flames. But the black fire was relentless, feeding on his flesh, consuming everything in its path.
In a final act of desperation, the werewolf bit down on his own arm, severing it at the shoulder to escape the flames. The blackened limb fell to the ground, still burning, as the werewolf staggered to his feet, blood pouring from the wound.
The werewolf glared at Alexander with a mixture of fury and fear, his eyes blazing with hatred. He let out a low, guttural growl, then turned and fled into the forest, disappearing into the shadows. The remaining wolves, seeing their leader retreat, followed suit, vanishing into the darkness without a sound.
As the adrenaline began to fade, Alexander felt the dark power recede, the black fire around him dissipating into thin air. His vision cleared, and he found himself standing alone in the middle of the forest, the silence around him deafening.
His body trembled with exhaustion, and he sank to his knees, gasping for breath. The pain from his wounds flared up, and he clutched his injured arm, feeling the blood seep between his fingers. He knew he needed to treat his injuries, but he didn't have the strength to move.
For a moment, he simply sat there, his mind reeling from the battle, his body numb with fatigue. He had survived, but only barely, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had come dangerously close to be killed by a pack of wolves and a werewolf, and even lose himself to the dark power.
With a shaky breath, Alexander forced himself to his feet, wincing as pain shot through his arm. He needed to find shelter, someplace where he could rest and recover. The city of Blackstone was still a ways off, but he had no choice—he had to keep moving.
Alexander took a step forward, then another, his legs shaky. Each movement sent a jolt of pain through his battered body, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep going. The darkness of the forest seemed to close in around him, the trees looming like silent sentinels as he pushed onward.
The fight with the werewolf and his pack had drained him nearly to the point of collapse. His head throbbed, and every breath felt like it took more effort than the last. He knew that if he didn't find a place to rest soon, he would collapse from exhaustion and blood loss.
The silence of the forest was unnerving, only occasionally broken by the distant rustling of leaves or the faint hoot of an owl. The adrenaline that had fueled him through the battle was gone, replaced by a bone-deep weariness. He could feel the power of the magic ring pulsing weakly on his finger, a constant reminder of the dark force he had tapped into.
After what felt like hours of walking, Alexander finally stumbled upon a small clearing in the woods. At its center stood the ruins of an old stone cabin, overgrown with ivy and moss. The roof had partially collapsed, but the walls still stood, offering some protection from the elements. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
Alexander pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The interior was dark and cold, but at least it was dry. He leaned against the wall, sliding down to the floor as his legs finally gave out beneath him. His breath came in ragged gasps, each one sending a sharp pain through his injured arm.
He needed to tend to his wounds, but the simple act of reaching into his satchel for supplies felt like a monumental task. His vision blurred, and he blinked rapidly, trying to stay conscious, and he knew he was dangerously close to passing out.