The forest was a battlefield of chaos, a storm of violence where wolves and goblins clashed in a bloody struggle for survival. Screams filled the air, blending with the snarls of the wolves and the sharp, wet sounds of flesh tearing. Blood coated the dense undergrowth, the stench of iron thick in the humid night air. Every corner of the Black Dawn Forest seemed to pulse with the madness of the fight.
At the center of it all stood the Alpha Wolf, its massive form looming like a dark god of death. Its fur absorbed the faint light, making it seem as though it was crafted from the very shadows it controlled. Its oppressive presence was palpable, bending the world around it, distorting the space where light dared to touch. Alypos and Marina could feel it pressing down on them—a suffocating weight that made their limbs feel sluggish, their senses dulled.
Alypos narrowed his eyes as he watched the Alpha from the edge of the battlefield. Its power was immense, a threat far beyond anything they had faced before. Even combined, they were weaker than it. The rest of the pack—three adolescent wolves and the mother wolf—moved like phantoms through the throng of goblins, their shadow tendrils slicing through the creatures with merciless efficiency. It was only a matter of time before the wolves turned their full attention to Alypos and Marina.
"We'll start with the youngest wolf," Alypos murmured, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
Marina nodded, her face set in grim determination. She summoned a Water Wall behind them, protecting their flank from any goblins or wolves that might attempt to flank them. Her movements were fluid, her magic precise. Despite the chaos around them, they remained calm, calculating, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The youngest of the wolf pack, one of the adolescent wolves, had just torn through a goblin, its snout drenched in blood as it stood over its prey. Its attention was entirely focused on the goblin horde, unaware of the threat Alypos and Marina posed.
"Now," Alypos said softly.
With a burst of speed, Alypos activated his Water Glide, his body becoming one with the element as he flowed across the forest floor with effortless grace. In an instant, he closed the distance between himself and the young wolf, his spear thrusting forward with deadly precision. The Water Spear he had conjured pierced through the wolf's side, and the beast let out a howl of pain, staggering as blood gushed from the wound.
Marina followed up with a Water Ball, the concentrated sphere of water smashing into the wolf's skull, dazing it long enough for Alypos to finish the job. One swift strike to the throat, and the creature collapsed, twitching in its death throes.
But their victory was short-lived.
The oppressive weight of the Alpha's presence slammed into them like a tidal wave. Alypos barely had time to react before the massive beast melted into the shadows, using its Stealth ability to close the distance in a heartbeat. The air shimmered as the Alpha materialized behind them, its deadly claws already arcing through the air.
Alypos twisted, trying to avoid the attack, but the Alpha was too fast. Its claws raked across his chest, the force of the blow sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded through his body as blood poured from the deep gashes, his vision swimming from the impact.
Marina tried to raise a Water Wall to defend herself, but the Alpha's Shadow Tendril coiled around her midsection and slammed her into the ground. Her body hit the dirt with a sickening thud, her vision blurring as the wind was knocked from her lungs. Blood trickled from her mouth as she gasped for breath.
For a moment, Alypos's world was nothing but pain and blood. His chest burned, each breath a struggle. But he forced himself to move, to think. The Alpha's oppressive presence had dulled his mind, but his instincts were sharper than ever.
With a shaky breath, he invoked his ultimate move—Water Tendril. Sinister tendrils of water coiled around the Alpha's legs and torso, tightening with the force of a vice, trying to halt its movements. The Alpha snarled, struggling against the water's grip as the tendrils squeezed tighter, but it was still too strong. It wouldn't hold for long.
"Now!" Alypos shouted to Marina, his voice a harsh rasp.
But before Marina could act, something unexpected happened.
The Homogoblin chief watching the Alpha with its malevolent eyes, saw its chance. The goblin had been biding its time, directing its minions to die for it, but now it sensed weakness. The Alpha, distracted by Alypos's tendrils, was vulnerable. With a roar, the Goblin Chief surged forward, its massive iron club raised high.
The club came crashing down onto the Alpha's back with the force of a landslide. The Alpha let out a thunderous growl, its massive form staggering under the blow. For a moment, it was caught between two fronts—the Goblin Chief's brutish assault and the suffocating grip of Alypos's water tendrils.
Alypos's eyes narrowed. This was their chance.
"We need to move!" he growled at Marina, his voice cutting through the noise of battle.
Without hesitation, Marina scrambled to her feet, blood smeared across her face as she stumbled towards Alypos. Her magic flared to life as she summoned one last Water Wall between them and the Alpha, buying them precious seconds as the beast struggled against the combined assault.
Together, they turned and ran, using the chaos to cover their retreat. Alypos's chest screamed in pain with each step, blood seeping from his wounds, but he pushed forward, his mind focused on one thing—survival. Marina's breathing was ragged beside him, her own injuries slowing her down, but they didn't stop. They couldn't.
Behind them, the sounds of battle faded as the Goblin Chief and the Alpha Wolf clashed in a titanic struggle for dominance. Alypos didn't look back. He didn't care who won that fight—not right now. All that mattered was that they were still alive.
They plunged deeper into the forest, their movements silent as they slipped through the trees like shadows. When they finally stopped, it was in a secluded hollow, hidden by a thick canopy of trees. Alypos collapsed against a tree, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His chest was soaked with blood, the deep gashes still seeping.
Marina fell beside him, her body trembling from the strain. Her magic was nearly depleted, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. But they were alive. For now.
"We barely made it," Marina whispered, her voice shaking.
Alypos didn't respond. He was already reaching for the dirt beneath them, mixing it with the goblin blood still fresh on his hands. He smeared the foul mixture across his wounds, the stench overwhelming, but it would hide their scent. It was a crude solution, but it would have to do. Marina followed his lead, her hands shaking as she rubbed the blood and dirt across her skin.
They sat in silence for a moment, the only sound their ragged breathing.
"We'll heal for now," Alypos said, his voice cold and emotionless. His mind was already moving to the next step, calculating, planning. "But we won't stay long. The Alpha will come for us."
Marina nodded, her face pale but determined. She knew the truth of his words. The Alpha was relentless. It wouldn't stop until they were dead.
For now, they would heal. But tomorrow, the hunt would continue. Then he started using his healing skill.