The forest blurred around William as he sprinted toward the stream. The wolves sensed his movement and surged forward, a wave of snarling fangs and snapping jaws. He vaulted over the tree trunk and landed in the shallows with a splash, the cold water soaking his boots. His foot slipped on the slick stones, but he steadied himself and turned to face the approaching pack.
He raised his dagger, the blade gleaming with a faint, otherworldly light. He focused on the enchantment embedded within it, willing the magic to ignite. A soft hum vibrated through his hand as the dagger's edge flared with ethereal fire.
"Come on, you beasts," he taunted, waving the dagger to draw their attention. The wolves hesitated for just a moment, as if sensing the danger. That hesitation was all he needed.
Elara unleashed another burst of ice magic, forming a slick patch along the forest floor, right where the wolves would pass. As the creatures charged, their paws slipped on the frozen surface. The first wolf skidded sideways, slamming into a tree with a yelp. The others stumbled and fell, their snarls turning into panicked whines.
Seizing the opportunity, William leaped forward, the dagger blazing a fiery arc as he slashed across the nearest wolf's flank. The enchanted flames seared the creature's flesh, leaving a glowing wound that smoked in the chilly air. With swift precision, he twisted the blade and plunged it into the wolf's heart, its body convulsing before it lay still.
Garret and Elara joined the attack, the knight's sword flashing as he hacked down another wolf, while Elara cast a protective barrier to keep the remaining pack at bay. Despite the wolves' frenzied aggression, they could not overcome the group's coordinated assault. One by one, the creatures fell, until the last of them limped away into the forest, its green eyes fading into the darkness.
William's chest heaved as he caught his breath, his muscles quivering with exhaustion. The forest was silent once more, save for the trickling of the stream and the distant call of a night bird. He glanced at the bodies of the fallen wolves, their forms already beginning to dissolve into shadows.
"Not normal at all," Garret muttered, kicking a dissipating wolf. "It's as if they were... summoned."
Elara stepped forward, wiping her brow. "Or corrupted by something powerful," she suggested, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the treeline. "Whatever's happening to the Grid, it's reaching deeper into the core of Elarion than we realized."
William nodded, his gaze lingering on the enchanted dagger in his hand. The weapon seemed to pulse, almost like a heartbeat, as if resonating with the energy of the battle. "If the Grid is being tampered with," he said quietly, "then we're only scratching the surface of a much bigger problem."
As they continued their journey toward Halward, a sense of unease followed them like a shadow. Each step brought them closer to the heart of the disturbance, where answers—and perhaps even greater dangers—awaited.
System Stats Update:
Name: William
Level: 5
Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 9
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 8
Bloodline: Unknown
Last Name: Unknown
Skills:
Basic Combat
Dagger Mastery II
Items:
Enchanted Iron Dagger