As the men closed in, weapons glinting and eyes gleaming with malice, Laura inhaled deeply, her heart pounding steadily.
This was the moment she had been waiting for—a chance to test the Summoner skills she had long prepared for but never had the opportunity to use.
With her team back at the base and no one around to rely on, this was her moment to unleash the full force of her powers.
Closing her eyes for a brief second, Laura reached deep within herself, feeling the surge of mana coursing through her veins. It was potent, yet she knew it was limited.
She would have to use it wisely. Her hand stretched forward, and she began the incantation, ancient and powerful words flowing from her lips.
"Ancient wolf of dread and might,
Bound in chains of endless night.
Breaker of bonds, I call thee here,
Fenrir, come forth, let fate appear.
By claw and fang, your power flows,
Rise from depths where darkness grows.
Stand with me as storms collide,
Great Wolf, heed my call and stride!"
The air around her thickened, vibrating with an energy that sent a chill down her spine.
Her mana reserves dwindled with each word, and by the time she reached the end of the chant, she felt a heavy weight settle on her chest.
A blinding, shimmering white portal crackled to life before her, bathing the area in radiant light. From within, a deep, bone-chilling roar erupted, silencing everything and everyone around her.
Ding!
[You have summoned the Wolf of Legends, Fenrir!]
[Due to mana shortage, only a small portion of Fenrir's strength can be used!]
The ground trembled beneath her feet as a series of thunderous footsteps echoed from within the portal.
The men surrounding her paused, confusion and fear replacing their cruel expressions. Then, with one final, resounding thud, a massive wolf emerged. Its fur was as white as fresh snow, its eyes burning with an otherworldly intensity.
Every muscle rippled with restrained power. This was Fenrir—a legendary beast, even in a weakened state, still fearsome enough to strike terror into the hearts of all who beheld it.
The wolf locked eyes with Laura, its gaze piercing and curious. For a split second, time seemed to stand still. Then it barked—a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through Laura's bones. She pointed at the men with a steady hand. "Hunt them down," she commanded.
With that, all chaos was unleashed.
Fenrir moved like lightning, its massive paws barely touching the ground as it tore into its prey. The men scattered, their bravado gone, replaced by screams of terror.
One tried to raise his weapon, but Fenrir was upon him in an instant, its jaws closing around his arm and ripping it away with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed, painting the ground red.
Another man, desperate, swung a club at the beast. Fenrir caught the blow with its teeth, snapping the weapon in two before lunging forward and severing the man's head with a swift bite.
Limbs were torn from bodies, heads rolled, and within moments, the ground was littered with the broken forms of those who had dared challenge the legendary wolf.
Amidst the carnage, a few of the men, realizing that their only chance was to kill the summoner, turned their focus on Laura. They charged, weapons raised, murder in their eyes.
Laura's breath quickened, but she was ready. The first man reached her, his blade slicing through the air. She sidestepped with practiced ease, using his momentum against him. In one fluid motion, she grabbed his arm, twisted, and drove her dagger deep into his chest.
As he fell, she snatched his weapon—a crude but sharp blade—and spun around to face the next attacker.
The second man hesitated for a fraction of a second—enough time for Laura to close the distance. She ducked beneath his swing and came up with a slash of her own, the blade biting into his neck.
Blood gushed as his head fell to the ground. Laura barely noticed the spray of crimson; her focus was unbreakable.
Meanwhile, Fenrir continued its rampage. One man tried to flee, but the wolf was faster. It leaped, claws outstretched, and tore into him, reducing him to a pile of torn flesh and shattered bone.
Another was slammed into the ground with such force that his body crumpled like paper.
As the last of the men fell, silence descended. Fenrir turned to Laura, blood dripping from its fangs, its eyes bright with a primal intelligence. It stepped closer, each movement graceful and predatory, until it was mere feet from her.
For a moment, they stared at each other—summoner and summoned. Laura felt a rush of conflicting emotions—pride, fear, awe.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still surging through her veins. Fenrir's massive head dipped slightly, almost as if acknowledging her words.
She knew that she had taken a great risk in summoning such a powerful creature. It had drained most of her mana, leaving her vulnerable if anything else attacked. But she also knew that she had just wielded a power unlike any she'd ever known.
Fenrir let out a low growl, its ears twitching. The portal behind it flickered, signaling that its time in this realm was limited. Before it could vanish, Laura stepped forward. "Fenrir," she said softly, meeting its gaze one last time. "I'll call on you again."
The wolf barked, a sound that was almost warm despite its ferocity. Then, with a flash of light, it was gone, leaving behind only silence and the blood-soaked remains of Laura's enemies.
Laura took a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion settle into her bones. Her mana reserves were nearly empty, but she had accomplished what she'd set out to do.
She had tested her Summoning skills, and she had survived. More than that, she had unleashed a force that few would ever forget.
With weary steps, Laura turned away from the carnage, determined to finish what she'd started. There were arrows to be found and battles yet to be fought. She would continue moving forward—stronger, wiser, and with the power of Fenrir ready to be called upon when needed.