The air is thick, choking with the scent of blood. It clings to my skin, my armor, and every breath I take pulls it deeper into my lungs. The corridor stretches out before me, bathed in a dull, flickering red light. It feels like stepping into a slaughterhouse—something about this floor is different. It's not just the traps or the blood-soaked walls. It's the silence.
The wolves are here.
I can feel their presence, lurking in the shadows, their glowing eyes watching, waiting. But they're not growling this time. They're moving in silence, their paws soft on the ground, their breath shallow. It's a new kind of hunt, more deliberate, more calculated. They've learned from the past battles. They've adapted.
I press forward, each step heavier than the last. My leg throbs where the last wolf sank its teeth into me, the wound barely holding together. I've wrapped it with strips of cloth I tore from a fallen guard's uniform, but it's a temporary fix. Blood still seeps through, soaking the fabric, leaving a trail behind me.
But I can't stop. The final boss is close. I can feel it—like a pulsing dread deep in my bones. I've fought through every trap, every monster this twisted place could throw at me, and I've survived. But survival comes with a price. My body is broken, barely hanging on. My strength is fading with every heartbeat, but something deeper—something primal—keeps me moving.
The wolves are getting closer.
The first attack comes from the left, out of nowhere. A blur of fur and metal slams into me, knocking me against the wall. My head snaps back, stars exploding in my vision as I stagger, barely catching myself before hitting the ground. The wolf snarls, its eyes glowing with cold malice as it circles, waiting for the right moment to pounce again.
I tighten my grip on the dagger, the blade slick with the blood of the creatures I've already killed. My breathing is ragged, my chest burning with the effort of staying upright. But I don't have time to think. Another wolf lunges from the shadows, and I spin, slashing wildly with the knife.
The blade cuts through fur and flesh, and the wolf lets out a guttural yelp as it skids across the floor, blood spraying from the wound. But it's not enough to stop it. They never stop. They always come back.
A third wolf lunges at me from behind, its claws digging into my shoulder. I grunt in pain, but I don't hesitate. I slam my elbow back into its ribs, forcing it to release me. It snarls, baring its teeth, and I kick out, sending it crashing into a nearby wall.
The pack comes at me in waves, coordinated and relentless. Their teeth and claws tear at my armor, the sound of metal scraping against metal filling the air. I slash with the dagger, smashing their heads against the floor and walls, using every ounce of strength I have left to keep them at bay.
Blood pours from my wounds, staining the ground beneath me, but I can't stop. I won't stop.
Another wolf charges from the right, its eyes gleaming with deadly intent. I duck just in time, shoving it directly into a pit of spikes that lines the floor. The creature howls as it's impaled, its body twitching violently before falling still.
I spin, but there's no time to rest. Another wolf leaps at me, jaws wide, aiming for my throat. I react without thinking, grabbing a broken blade from a nearby trap and raising it just in time. The wolf impales itself mid-air, the blade slicing through its chest as its momentum drives it forward.
Its weight slams into me, knocking me to the ground. I push the body off, gasping for breath as I crawl to my feet. My vision blurs for a moment, the world tilting dangerously. I wipe the blood from my face, steadying myself against the wall as I scan the room.
There are only a few left now. I can see them moving in the shadows, their eyes glowing, watching, waiting. But they're cautious now. They've seen what I'm capable of. They know they're losing.
The last of the pack moves in, slower this time, more deliberate. They're testing me, waiting for me to falter. I tighten my grip on the dagger, my hands trembling with exhaustion. My body screams for rest, every muscle burning, every joint aching. But I force myself to stand, to fight.
One of the wolves lunges at me from the side, and I twist, driving the dagger into its flank. The creature lets out a strangled cry as it collapses, blood pooling beneath it. I pull the dagger free, panting, my vision swimming as the last wolf approaches.
It's bigger than the others, its fur matted with blood, its eyes cold and calculating. This one's the leader. The alpha. It moves with a confidence the others lacked, its steps slow and deliberate as it circles me.
I'm barely holding on. My body is screaming in agony, my leg throbbing where the wolf bit me earlier. Blood pours from the wound, pooling at my feet, and my hands shake from the loss of strength.
But I can't stop. Not yet.
The wolf charges, and I dodge, barely avoiding its jaws. I stumble, crashing into the wall, but I recover quickly, spinning to face the creature. It growls, its teeth bared as it circles me again, waiting for the right moment to strike.
My breathing is ragged, each breath a struggle. My vision blurs again, and I blink rapidly, trying to stay focused. I can't afford to lose concentration now. Not when I'm this close.
The wolf lunges, and I react without thinking. I dive forward, driving the dagger into its chest, the blade sinking deep into its flesh. The creature lets out a final, guttural growl before collapsing, its body twitching before going still.
I pull the dagger free, gasping for breath as I stumble backward. Blood pours from my wounds, staining the ground beneath me. My body is broken, battered, and bruised, but I've survived.
For now.
The room falls silent, the only sound the faint dripping of blood from my wounds. The wolves are dead, their bodies littering the floor around me, but I know this isn't the end. Not yet.
I stagger forward, my vision blurring again as I limp toward the final door. Every step is agony, each one sending a wave of pain through my body. My leg feels like it's on fire, the wound from the wolf's bite throbbing with every heartbeat. My hands shake, barely able to hold the dagger, but I press on.
The door looms ahead, massive and foreboding, its surface slick with blood. The entire floor seems to tremble as I approach, the walls creaking under the weight of whatever lies beyond.
I reach the door, my breath coming in short, ragged gasps. My vision fades for a moment, darkness creeping in at the edges, but I force myself to stay conscious. I'm so close. The final boss is behind this door, waiting for me. I can feel it—the pulsing dread that's been building inside me since I first stepped onto this floor.
I place my hand on the door, the cold metal biting into my skin. My fingers are slick with blood, trembling with exhaustion, but I don't care. I push the door open, the heavy metal groaning in protest as it swings inward.
And then, the darkness swallows me whole.