Chapter 8 - The Demon's Wolf
Zoruto's eyes widened as the message flashed before him: "Level Upgraded - Wind Level 2: New Skill Unlocked." Relief and excitement surged through him, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
"I did it… I actually did it!" Zoruto thought, his heart racing. But before he could fully process the notification, a deep, guttural growl echoed from behind. Zoruto barely had time to react as the shadow wolf lunged, its fangs aimed right at his face.
"Whoa!" Zoruto gasped, his body reacting on instinct. He twisted just in time, his newly upgraded speed kicking in. He narrowly dodged the wolf's massive jaws, rolling to the side as the creature crashed into the ground where he had just stood.
"That was too close... way too close." He scrambled to his feet, heart pounding in his chest. The wolf was relentless, its glowing red eyes locking onto Zoruto with murderous intent. It lunged again, faster this time, but Zoruto leapt back, using his wind ability to push himself out of reach.
"Come on, come on! This has to be enough!" Zoruto muttered under his breath as he dashed behind a tree, barely avoiding the wolf's swiping claws. His mind raced, trying to come up with a plan.
"How the hell am I supposed to fight something like this? My wind attacks don't even scratch it!" Zoruto thought, his back pressed against the rough bark of a tree. He peeked out just in time to see the wolf smashing through the underbrush, hunting him down like prey. "This thing's crazy fast, and my powers… they're just not enough."
Zoruto darted between trees, using the wind to propel himself. He slid under branches, jumped over rocks, and even managed to dodge the wolf's attacks with split-second timing. "I'm fast now, but this wolf… it's like it's teleporting! There's no way I can keep this up forever!"
Panting heavily, Zoruto glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the wolf lunging at him again. He dove to the side, crashing into the dirt and rolling to his feet.
"Okay, okay… think! There's gotta be a way out of this!" Zoruto's eyes darted around the park, desperately looking for an escape. But before he could figure anything out, the wolf stopped in its tracks, its breathing heavy and ragged.
"Huh?" Zoruto blinked, realizing the shadow wolf was... tired? "Is it... slowing down?"
The creature's massive chest heaved, and its shadowy form flickered slightly. Zoruto stood there, catching his breath as the wolf growled softly, unable to keep up its relentless assault.
Zoruto leaned against a tree, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That's right... even monsters get tired, huh?" He chuckled weakly, trying to regain his composure. For a brief moment, he almost forgot he was supposed to keep running.
Then, just as Zoruto was about to make his escape, an overwhelming wave of pressure slammed into him. It felt like a powerful shockwave, shaking him to his very core. His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"What… what is this!?" Zoruto groaned, clutching his chest. His heart raced uncontrollably, and his muscles felt like they were turning to jelly. He struggled to push himself up, but the weight of the energy pressing down on him was unbearable.
"I've never felt anything like this before... it's like my whole body is being crushed!" Zoruto thought, his vision blurring as he fought to stay conscious. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his body refused to move.
Then, Zoruto's gaze shifted, and his heart nearly stopped. The wolf was changing.
"What the hell…?" Zoruto whispered, watching in horror as shadowy tendrils erupted from the creature's body, coiling around it like chains. The air around it grew darker, colder. The once sleek shadow wolf began to grow, its form becoming bulkier, more monstrous. Its eyes, now burning red, locked onto Zoruto with an intensity that sent chills down his spine.
Zoruto's breath hitched in his throat as he watched the transformation. "No way… no freaking way… it's getting stronger!?"
The wolf's jaw opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth dripping with darkness. Tendrils of shadow snaked from its back, writhing like extra limbs. The creature let out a deafening roar, the sound vibrating through the ground like a mini-earthquake.
"This thing is... a total monster!" Zoruto gasped, frozen in place. His mind raced, panic gripping him as the creature stalked toward him, each step shaking the ground beneath its massive paws.
In a split second, the wolf disappeared.
"Wha—?" Zoruto's eyes darted around, desperately trying to find it. "Where did it go!? It's too fast… I can't—"
Before he could finish the thought, the wolf reappeared, its gaping maw inches from Zoruto's face, ready to swallow him whole.
Zoruto's body froze. His mind screamed, "Move! Do something! Fight back!" but his limbs refused to listen. "Is this… is this how it ends?"
Suddenly, a piercing, high-pitched whistle cut through the air, sharp and unnatural, like the screech of metal against stone.
The wolf froze mid-attack, its jaws snapping shut just before they could close around Zoruto. It tilted its head, its glowing red eyes narrowing as it listened to the sound.
Zoruto blinked in confusion. "What... what's going on?"
A dark portal appeared in the distance, swirling with shadowy energy. Zoruto's eyes widened in horror as a massive figure stepped out of the portal. It was a demon-like creature, towering over the landscape. Its body was cloaked in shadows, its face sharp and angular, with eyes that burned like purple flames.
"What… is that thing?" Zoruto whispered, his voice barely audible as the demon's immense presence filled the air. Purple flames flickered from the creature's eyes and mouth as it scanned the area with a terrifying calmness.
The shadow wolf, no longer interested in Zoruto, sprinted toward the demon. Its massive form shrank back to its original size as it approached the figure, whimpering like a loyal pet.
The demon glanced at the wolf, then at Zoruto. Its glowing eyes seemed to smirk, amusement flickering in the flames. "You'll get your turn, but not tonight," it said, its deep, rumbling voice sending shivers down Zoruto's spine. It patted the wolf's head, and the once-ferocious beast lowered itself in submission.
Zoruto stared, mouth open in disbelief. "What... is happening!? That thing is treating the wolf like… like a pet!"
The demon grinned, its sharp teeth gleaming as it looked back at Zoruto. "You'll get your turn, but not tonight," it said, its voice filled with dark intent.
Before Zoruto could react, the demon and the wolf turned and stepped back into the swirling portal. With a loud crack, the portal collapsed in on itself, leaving nothing but eerie silence.
Zoruto remained on the ground, still catching his breath, his hands trembling. "What... what just happened?" he muttered, his voice shaking as he tried to make sense of what he had just seen.
The night was far from over, and Zoruto knew he had just come face to face with something far darker and more dangerous than he could have ever imagined.
To Be Continued...