The night air was cool and thick with the sounds of the forest. Rodensky and Emmanuel, weary from their return to the real world, had just begun settling into their makeshift camp when something unexpected occurred.
As Rodensky adjusted his gear, the ancient map tucked into his pouch began to glow faintly. Its surface shimmered with ethereal light, and strange runes appeared, shifting to form an image of their surroundings.
"The map," Rodensky muttered, pulling it out. Emmanuel leaned over, curious.
The map revealed an outline of the forest they were in, and at its edge stood a towering mountain. The runes shifted, marking the mountain with a glowing symbol.
"There's a ruin at the end of the forest, in that mountain," Rodensky said, tracing the symbol with his finger. The energy from the map pulsed faintly in response, almost as if acknowledging his words.
"It's late," Emmanuel said, glancing at the darkening sky. "We should head there tomorrow. No sense in charging blindly into who-knows-what at night."
Rodensky nodded, folding the map and securing it in his pouch. They quickly set up camp, laying down their bedrolls near a small clearing. The flickering campfire illuminated the surrounding forest, casting eerie shadows on the towering trees.
---
The Pack's Arrival
As they were preparing to sleep, Rokura, Rodensky's crystalline lion, suddenly rose, its shimmering wings spreading wide. A deep, guttural roar erupted from its throat, shaking the air around them.
Rodensky's hand shot to his sword, and Emmanuel instinctively placed a hand on Abaddon, his fire dragon, who was already growling lowly.
"What is it, Rokura?" Rodensky asked, scanning the tree line.
The answer came almost immediately. Glowing eyes emerged from the darkness, dozens of them, circling the camp. The faint rustle of leaves and soft growls filled the air.
"A pack of mutated wolves," Emmanuel muttered. His grip on his weapon tightened as he counted the shapes moving in the shadows. "D-rank beasts, but their numbers..."
The system suddenly chimed in their minds, displaying a new message:
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Quest: Encircled in the Shadows
Rank: C
Objective: Defeat the pack of mutated wolves and their alpha before they overrun the area.
Reward: 10,000 XP, random beast materials, and a chance to obtain a wolf pup as a companion.
---
"We can't even take a break," Rodensky sighed, drawing his sword and stepping closer to Rokura.
Emmanuel smirked, his fire dragon Abaddon snarling beside him. "What can we say? Free XP keeps finding us, even after the training hall."
---
The Battle Begins
The wolves didn't wait long. With a blood-chilling howl from their alpha, the pack surged forward. The beasts were larger than normal wolves, their bodies twisted with mutations—longer claws, sharper fangs, and eyes that glowed with unnatural light.
Rokura launched into action, leaping into the fray with claws flashing and wings flaring. Its roar disoriented the nearest wolves, giving Rodensky the chance to slice through them with his blade.
"Stick close to the fire!" Rodensky yelled, knowing the light might give them some advantage in the chaos.
Abaddon, still in its juvenile stage, opened its maw and unleashed a small torrent of flame, incinerating a group of wolves that had tried to flank them.
Emmanuel, brandishing his weapon, stepped into the fight with calculated strikes. His vampiric bloodline gave him an edge, allowing him to heal quickly from minor wounds as he fought.
The wolves were relentless, their numbers seemingly endless. But it was the alpha—a massive beast with jet-black fur and glowing red eyes—that truly posed the threat. It stayed back, observing its pack's movements, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"We need to take out the alpha!" Emmanuel shouted, his voice barely audible over the snarls and howls.
---
Facing the Alpha
The alpha finally made its move, charging toward the campfire with incredible speed. It leapt toward Emmanuel, its claws aimed to tear him apart.
"Abaddon, now!" Emmanuel commanded.
The fire dragon roared, meeting the alpha mid-air and crashing to the ground in a tangle of scales and fur. Abaddon's claws raked against the alpha's hide, but the beast was faster, managing to knock the dragon back with a powerful swipe.
Rokura, sensing the danger, joined the fight, lunging at the alpha and pinning it momentarily. Rodensky and Emmanuel seized the opportunity.
"Now or never!" Rodensky yelled, charging forward. His sword flashed in the firelight as he struck at the alpha, wounding it deeply.
Emmanuel followed up, using his Blood Siphon skill to drain some of the alpha's strength and leave it weakened. Together, they delivered a final blow, ending the fight as the alpha let out one last defiant howl before collapsing.
---
Aftermath
The remaining wolves scattered into the darkness, their morale shattered with the alpha's death. The forest grew quiet once more, the only sound being the crackle of the campfire.
The system chimed again:
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Quest Complete: Encircled in the Shadows
Reward Claimed: 10,000 XP, random beast materials, and a wolf pup egg.
---
A glowing egg appeared before Rodensky, pulsing faintly with energy.
"Looks like you're getting a new companion," Emmanuel said, exhaustion evident in his voice.
Rodensky nodded, picking up the egg carefully. "Let's hope it's worth the trouble."
As they settled back by the fire, both of them couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The map in Rodensky's pouch seemed to hum faintly, as if urging them onward.