Levi turned toward the sound, his body instinctively locking into a defensive stance. From the shadows of the dense underbrush, a single pair of glowing emerald-green eyes appeared. Their light reflected in the dim forest, cold and calculating, the kind of gaze that promised nothing but danger. The creature didn't move immediately; it just stood there, watching. Levi's breath slowed, his grip tightening around the jagged branch in his hand.
Then more eyes emerged, piercing through the shadows like shards of green glass. Two, four, six—before long, dozens of glowing orbs surrounded him, scattered across the dark treeline. The wolves stepped into the filtered sunlight one by one, their hulking forms becoming clear.
These weren't ordinary predators. They were massive, their shoulders reaching the height of Levi's chest. Their fur was uneven, thick and coarse in some areas while patchy in others, revealing skin marred by scars. Their forms radiated raw, predatory strength, but it was their movement that truly set them apart. They weren't lumbering or clumsy; every step was precise, deliberate. Their sharp claws sank into the soft earth with ease, leaving deep, curved impressions as they prowled closer.
The pack spread out methodically, their coordination unnerving. These weren't creatures hunting out of desperation or hunger; they were hunters in their element, and Levi was their target.
The pack leader emerged last. It was larger than the others, its head alone the size of Levi's torso. Its eyes burned brighter, a deeper green that bordered on unnatural. The beast moved with a slow, deliberate grace, its scarred body rippling with muscle beneath its ragged coat. Dark, matted fur clung to its shoulders, streaked with dried blood that hinted at its violent past. Its jaws hung slightly open, revealing rows of jagged, yellowed teeth that dripped saliva onto the forest floor. A low growl rumbled from its throat, reverberating through the clearing like a distant landslide.
Levi remained frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. His mind raced, analyzing the situation. There were at least fifty wolves, their emerald eyes shining like distant stars, surrounding him in a loose formation. Ten to his right, ten to his left, ten behind, and twenty in front. The gaps between them were narrow—barely enough space to squeeze through, even if he ran. And the pack leader stood at the center of the front line, watching him with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
The low growl of the leader grew louder, and the rest of the pack responded in kind. The oppressive silence of the forest was broken by a symphony of snarls and guttural noises. Levi tightened his grip on the branch, his knuckles turning white. He wasn't ready for this—not with his body still weak and his chest aching from whatever had just happened to him.
His eyes darted to the ground around him. A few loose stones were scattered near his feet, along with some broken branches. Not much to work with, but better than nothing. He bent down, his movements slow and deliberate, grabbing a jagged rock. It was heavy and uneven, but it would have to do.
The wolves didn't react to his movements. They simply watched, their glowing eyes unblinking. They were waiting—waiting for the leader's signal.
Levi's mind raced. He couldn't take them all head-on. Even with weapons, fifty against one was a death sentence. But there had to be a weakness in their formation—an opening he could exploit. His eyes darted to the rear of the pack. The wolves there were more spread out, leaving gaps between them. It wasn't much, but it was something.
The leader tilted its massive head slightly, its green eyes narrowing. Levi knew he didn't have much time.
He straightened, inhaling deeply to steady his nerves. With a sudden burst of motion, he hurled the rock at one of the wolves to his right. The sharp edge of the stone connected with the creature's snout, and it yelped, recoiling in surprise.
Levi didn't wait to see the result. He pivoted sharply, sprinting toward the gap in the rear formation. His legs burned with effort, his heart pounding in his ears as he pushed himself forward. He grabbed another rock mid-stride, throwing it at the nearest wolf blocking his path. The rock struck its eye, and the beast snarled, staggering back.
The rest of the pack roared in unison, their snarls echoing through the forest as they surged forward. Levi bolted through the gap, weaving between the trees as the sound of pounding paws followed close behind. The wolves were fast—faster than he'd expected—but the chaos of his escape had thrown them off for a moment. He pushed harder, his muscles screaming in protest as branches whipped against his skin.
But something was wrong.
A heavy thud shook the ground behind him, followed by another. The vibrations traveled up his legs, each one heavier than the last. Levi didn't need to look back to know that the pack leader had joined the chase. Its sheer size made every step resonate like a drumbeat against the earth.
Levi's instincts screamed at him to keep moving, but his legs were slowing, exhaustion creeping in. He risked a glance over his shoulder, and his stomach dropped.
The leader wasn't running—it didn't need to. Its long strides carried it effortlessly through the forest, closing the distance with terrifying ease. Its massive frame moved with a predatory grace that defied its size, its glowing eyes locked onto Levi with unrelenting focus.
The pack followed closely behind, their snarls growing louder as they picked up speed. Levi clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep moving. The forest blurred around him as he sprinted, every ounce of his strength poured into putting as much distance as possible between himself and the predators.
But it wasn't enough.
The leader let out a deep, guttural roar that seemed to shake the very trees. Levi felt the sound reverberate through his chest, and for a moment, his legs faltered. The realization hit him like a hammer: he wasn't going to outrun this.