Rade's animalistic instincts kicked in, his blood-red eyes zeroing in on Sophia, who was trembling in the corner of her cell. With a savage snarl, he slashed at the iron bars of the cell with his claws, tearing through them like they were nothing more than wet paper. The sharp clang of metal echoed through the dungeon as the bars bent and shattered under his monstrous strength.
Sophia, wide-eyed and terrified, had pushed herself as far back into the corner as possible. She put both hands over her mouth, desperately trying to stifle her sobs, making sure no sound could escape. But Rade, now fully transformed into a savage, wolf-like creature, could smell her. His heightened senses picked up her scent in an instant. It drove him mad. He growled low in his throat, baring his sharp teeth as he prepared to lunge at her, his body tense like a coiled spring.
High above them, MC hovered, watching the scene unfold with growing anxiety. His hands were pressed against his head, fingers pulling at his hair in frustration.
"Shit, this is going ugly," he muttered, grimacing. "You little rascal, You have to go in amnesia mode on us now of all time... damn it!" He hated the idea of having to freeze time again, knowing it would mess with everything.
Rade's claws scraped the stone floor as he crept closer to Sophia, his eyes filled with a primal hunger. He was ready to tear her apart.
But then, just as he was about to pounce, something strange happened.
A soft breeze, gentle and warm, swept through the dungeon. The wind swirled around Sophia, as if shielding her from harm. It wasn't a natural wind—it seemed to have a purpose. The air danced around Rade, and for a moment, his feral eyes flickered. The breeze touched his skin, soothing the madness in his mind.
Sophia's eyes, which had been wide with fear, began to glow faintly in the moonlight, as if some hidden power within her had awakened in that moment of crisis. The wind wrapped around Rade, calming him, and his breath slowed. The beast inside him, the raw savagery that had overtaken his body, began to fade.
Rade's shoulders relaxed. His sharp claws retracted slightly, his breathing steadied. His blood-red eyes softened, though they remained a deep crimson. Slowly, the madness receded, and Rade's mind came back to the surface. He was still in his werewolf form—his hair wild, his body large and muscular—but now, he was in control.
MC, watching from above, sighed in deep relief, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. "Thank God," he muttered.
Rade stood there for a moment, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, as he tried to process what had just happened. Slowly, he looked down at his hands—large, clawed, and covered in thick fur. His eyes widened in horror as he realized what he had become. His body, larger and stronger than before, was unrecognizable to him.
"W-What... what happened to me?" he stammered, his voice trembling. He moved his hands over his body, touching his chest, his arms, his face, as if trying to figure out if it was some kind of costume. "This... this isn't real... right?" he muttered, his voice shaking with fear. He tried to pull at his skin, as though he could rip it off and reveal his normal self underneath, but nothing changed.
His breathing grew more erratic as the horror of his transformation sank in. He was shaking now, scared not only of what he had become but also of the uncontrollable beast that had nearly taken over his mind.
On the other side of the cell, Sophia, who had watched the entire scene unfold, slowly rose from her corner. She had been terrified before, but now, as she saw Rade struggling with his new form, something changed. She wasn't scared anymore. She could see the fear in his eyes, the way he shuddered, trying to reject what he had become.
Mustering every bit of courage she had, Sophia stepped forward, inching closer to Rade. Even though he looked terrifying, even though he was much larger now, she knew he wouldn't hurt her. He was scared—just like she had been.
Rade saw her approaching and quickly backed into the corner, trying to make himself smaller, as if ashamed of his appearance. "D-Don't come near me," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm... I'm a monster. Stay away!" His large, trembling hands covered his face, hiding it from her like a dog cowering in front of its master.
Sophia let out a small giggle. "You big meanie," she said softly, her voice gentle. "I'm your big sis. Why would I be scared of you?"
She approached him carefully, her small, soft hands reaching out toward him. Her white hair glowed in the twilight, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight as if they held the power of the stars. She was no longer afraid. She smiled, as if comforting him in his horrible state.
Rade, still covering his face, pushed her hand away gently. "Who said you're my big sis?" he grumbled, his voice a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
Sophia chuckled again. "You said it yourself," she teased, as if they were back to their usual childish bickering.
Rade, towering over her with his new, much larger body, looked down at her, his annoyance clear. "I didn't—"
Before he could finish, Sophia cut him off, walking past him with a confident grin. "Okay, okay, Mr. Grumpy. Let's not argue," she said, her eyes fixed on the broken wall. "Look at that—our way out."
The wall had crumbled from the earlier strikes, but it was still high up, too high for Sophia to reach. However, with Rade's new size, it was an easy climb.
Rade glanced at the wall, still feeling unsure about everything. His body was different, his mind was still trying to catch up, and now they were about to make their escape.
Sophia looked back at him, smiling brightly. "Come on, Big Bro," she said playfully, "You're strong enough to get us out of here now, aren't you?"
Rade hesitated for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... let's get out of here."
And with that, they both made their way toward the broken wall, ready to escape the darkness of the dungeon and step into the unknown.
As Rade and Sophia approached the broken wall, the pale moonlight streaming through, ready to make their escape, Rade suddenly stopped. Sophia, with her boundless energy, glanced up at him, confused.
"What happened?" she asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
Rade's blood-red eyes softened as he turned back to face the cells. His voice was calm but resolute. "Let's get everyone out."
Sophia giggled, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Okay, big bro, whatever you say!" she chimed, clearly thrilled by his newfound sense of responsibility.
Rade's eye twitched in annoyance. "Stop calling me that," he grumbled, but it was half-hearted. He knew there wasn't much point in arguing with her now.
With a swift, sharp movement, Rade slashed through the cell doors like they were nothing, the sound of metal crashing to the floor echoing through the dungeon. He moved quickly, heading to the other prisoners—girls who had been trapped in their cells for what felt like an eternity, their bodies broken and lifeless. They barely reacted, but there was a faint glimmer of life in their eyes, thanks to the moonlight filtering through the cracks in the stone.
Rade approached them, slashing through their chains effortlessly, his sharp claws cutting through the iron like tofu. "Come on," he said, his voice firm. "Let's get out of here."
But the girls, despite the glimmer of hope in their eyes, recoiled in fear at the sight of him. It wasn't every day they saw a towering werewolf with blood-red eyes, fresh from horror stories. They trembled, their eyes wide with terror, convinced he was some kind of monster sent to devour them.
Rade's face twisted in frustration. He opened his mouth to reassure them, but before he could speak, MC, hovering above, caught wind of the situation.
"Ugh, this is getting annoying," MC muttered to himself. His eyes flicked to one of the girls—Arina, the one who had a bit more life in her eyes than the others. "Time to work my magic."
Using his Thought Sharing skill, MC whispered directly into her ear, his voice soft and coaxing, like a devil tempting her from the darkness. "Get up... Don't you want to see your little sister again? Don't you want to escape from this hell? You've been fighting for so long, Arina. You're still alive, and there's still time. Don't you want to give her that coming-of-age present? Wake up..."
The words swirled in Arina's mind, a seed of hope planted in the darkness. Her breath hitched. Her eyes shifted, slowly beginning to glow with life.
A faint whisper escaped her chapped lips. "Anna..." she mumbled, the name of her little sister. It was like a lifeline, pulling her back from the abyss.
"Anna," she repeated, a little louder this time. Her body, bruised and battered, trembled as she forced herself to sit up. The memories of her little sister, the promise she had made to her, gave her the strength she thought she had long lost.
"Anna," she whispered again, tears welling in her eyes. "Big sister... is coming," she cried softly, clutching her chest as her voice cracked. The glimmer in her eyes turned into a flame. She stood, her body weak and trembling, but her spirit burning with the desire to see her sister again.
She stumbled toward Rade, eyes filled with desperation and determination. Her body was a mess of bruises and scars, her clothes tattered and filthy, but none of that mattered now. There was life in her eyes—something she hadn't felt in what seemed like years.
Seeing Arina stand, MC smirked. "Gotcha," he whispered, before floating to the next girl. He moved through the cells like a ghost, whispering in their ears, planting seeds of hope in their minds. "Your family... your loved ones... they're waiting for you. Just one more step. Don't let them break you."
One by one, the girls began to stir, their battered bodies moving as if fueled by some hidden reservoir of strength. Slowly, they stood, following Arina's example, their eyes shining with the faint hope that they might live to see another day.
Rade watched as the girls emerged from their cells, moving toward the broken wall. Their eyes were still filled with fear, especially when they glanced at Rade's towering, monstrous form, but they knew he was their only way out.
Sophia, standing by the broken wall, waved at them, her silver hair glowing in the moonlight. "Took your time!" she called out with a grin. "Let's go, big brother!"
Rade sighed heavily, shaking his head in frustration. "Would you stop calling me that?"
This time, Sophia just smiled mischievously, her eyes sparkling. "Okay, okay, Mr. Grumpy. Let's get out of here!" She turned toward the wall, peering at the towering opening. It was high, but with Rade's new height, he could easily lift everyone out.
MC, floating above the scene, crossed his arms and smirked smugly. "Well, well, well. Would you look at that. All thanks to me," he muttered to himself, feeling a surge of pride at his handiwork. "They really owe me big time. Meh, but it's still not the glorious sight I wanted..."
Rade, despite his annoyance, made sure everyone was ready. He picked up the weaker girls one by one, lifting them through the broken wall and out into the night. With each girl that passed into the moonlight, the weight of their imprisonment seemed to lift slightly, their spirits rising as they breathed the fresh air of freedom for the first time in what felt like an eternity.
Finally, after making sure everyone was out, Rade hoisted himself through the opening, standing tall in the moonlight. His werewolf form was still daunting, but there was a calmness in his eyes now.
Sophia stood nearby, looking up at the full moon with wonder in her eyes. "Let's go, everyone!" she shouted, her voice filled with excitement. "We need to run! Run away from this place!"
And with that, the group of survivors ran toward the forest, their feet pounding against the earth as they escaped the horror of the dungeon. The moonlight bathed them as they dashed through the trees, the air cool and crisp, as if it were washing away the filth and pain they had endured for so long.
Rade ran at the front, leading the way, his hulking form moving swiftly beneath the moonlight. He could hear the rustling of leaves and the faint sounds of the girls' breaths as they sprinted through the woods.
Behind them, the dungeon faded into the distance, swallowed by the shadows of the night. The nightmare was behind them now, and ahead was the unknown, but for the first time, it felt like they had a chance. Underneath the glow of the full moon, they ran—away from the horrors of the past and into the freedom of the night.