From the ground and trees emerged a monstrous figure—a wolf-like creature, its body an amalgamation of tangled roots, dripping mud, and moss that pulsed as though alive. Its glowing green eyes radiated malice, and its growl resonated like thunder through the forest.
"That's not natural," Alice murmured, her hands already glowing with faint blue light as she began to summon a spell.
"I don't like this," Ace muttered, his crimson eyes scanning the darkened woods. His tail flicked sharply, betraying his unease. "There's something here—old, foul, and far from natural. This forest is... wrong."
The creature lunged with startling speed, its massive wooden claws tearing through the air. The group scattered, narrowly avoiding the attack. The impact of its swipe sent chunks of earth flying, and the sheer force of the movement uprooted nearby plants.
Lawrence and Anthony moved in unison, stepping in front of the group with swords drawn.
"Left side!" Lawrence barked, his blade flashing toward the creature's flank.
"On it!" Anthony growled, his sword raised, every muscle coiled to strike.
Clang, clash—
The two swordsmen met the monster head-on, their blades flashing as they deflected its massive wooden claws. Sparks flew as Lawrence's sword clashed with the creature's hardened bark, and Anthony followed up with a swift strike that forced the beast to recoil.
Crackle—
Alice, standing behind them, extended her hands, her voice steady as she chanted an incantation. The air around her crackled with energy, and moments later, a burst of fire shot forth, striking the creature's side.
The flames licked at its moss-covered body, and it let out an enraged roar, flailing wildly as it tried to extinguish the flames.
Arlon sighed in relief, seeing that everything had gone according to plan. No one had been hurt during the unexpected obstacle, and for a brief moment, it felt as though they'd gained an upper hand.
Before the group could celebrate their brief advantage, the ground rumbled again. A deep, ominous vibration rippled through the earth beneath them, and at the same time, the golden screen flickered in front of Arlon.
["—But now, the sleeping doom of the cursed one had awakened by a familiar presence that was once a part of them—"]
Arlon froze, taken aback by the cryptic words. His mind raced, trying to process what it could mean, but before he could even react, another wolf-like creature emerged from the trees.
This one was smaller but faster, its glowing eyes locked onto Arlon with an intensity that made his skin crawl.
Roar—
"Arlon, watch out!" Ace shouted, his voice urgent as the creature charged with terrifying speed.
Arlon's breath hitched as he looked at the creature, his gaze snapping to the screen at the same time. The last words etched into his mind, making his heart race.
["—so, you're here.."]
"..!"
Arlon's instincts kicked in, and he scrambled to dodge, barely avoiding the creature's snapping jaws. Just as the monster lunged again, the wind surged around them with unnatural force.
Rustle— Rustle—
A powerful gust slammed into the creature, sending it flying into a nearby tree with a deafening crash.
Crash!— Thud—
The creature hit the tree, the impact splintering bark and sending a shower of leaves cascading to the forest floor.
"What was that?" Arlon gasped, his heart racing as he glanced at Ace.
Thud— Thud—
The creature struggled to rise, its guttural growls filling the air.
"Don't look at me," Ace muttered, his tail flicking in irritation. "Whatever just happened wasn't my doing either."
Before anyone could react, a gray blur shot through the forest. A sleek, imposing gray wolf leapt at the monster, its fangs sinking into the creature's wooden throat.
Snarl!—
The gray wolf ripped into the monster with savage precision, its jaws locking around the mossy throat until the creature collapsed in a heap of splintered roots and mud.
Slash!—
Turning, the wolf's glowing eyes fixed on the group, unreadable yet piercing.
Eric's breath hitched, his wide eyes fixed on the gray wolf. "It's one of ours," he said, his voice trembling with relief and awe.
The gray wolf huffed, its glowing eyes scanning the group before letting out a low, commanding howl.
Awoooo!—
The sound reverberated through the forest, and as it faded, the oppressive energy in the air seemed to dissipate, leaving behind an eerie calm.
The gray wolf moved with terrifying precision, its claws slicing through the monster's mossy hide with ease. Each motion was fluid and calculated, its strength undeniable as it forced the beast to the ground.
The second monster tried to rise, but a well-timed slash from Lawrence's blade severed one of its limbs.
Anthony followed up with a decisive strike to its torso, the force of his attack splintering the creature's form.
Alice raised her hands again, summoning a burst of ice that froze the remnants of the second monster in place. It let out one final groan before collapsing into lifeless fragments.
The gray wolf finished the first monster with a brutal bite, its glowing eyes burning with intensity as it turned to face the group. For a moment, no one moved.
The gray wolf huffed, its gaze scanning the group before letting out a low, commanding howl that echoed through the forest. The oppressive energy in the air seemed to dissipate, leaving behind an eerie calm.
Lawrence lowered his sword but kept his stance defensive. "Are they really on our side?"
"It just saved us," Anthony pointed out, sheathing his blade. "I'd say that counts for something."
Arlon's sharp gaze swept over the group, his voice steady despite the tension. "Don't let your guard down. If this forest can summon monsters like that, it's not done with us yet."
Before anyone could respond, the gray wolf that had been helping them approached, its eyes softening as it turned to Eric.
The wolf nuzzled Eric affectionately, its tail wagging as it added, "The Elder and your brother have been beside themselves with worry."
"What happened? How did you get back?"
Eric smiled faintly, his ears twitching as he leaned into the wolf's touch. "It's a long story, but I'm here now," he said softly. "It's good to see you too."
The gray wolf's gaze shifted to Arlon and his companions, its expression growing cautious. "And these people?" it asked, eyeing the group with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. "Who are they?"
Eric stepped forward, his voice steady and reassuring. "They're the ones who saved me," he explained. "They're good humans, so please don't scare them."
The gray wolf hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Alright," it said. "We trust you, Eric. If you say they helped you, then we believe you. You look unharmed, and if they helped you find your way home, that's all that matters."
The wolf's gaze softened further as it continued, "But we need to go back to the village. It's dangerous to stay here for too long. The Elder Elandar will be very happy to see you."
Eric's eyes brightened at the mention of his grandfather. "Okay," he said eagerly, turning to Arlon. "We need to go to the village . We're close"
Arlon gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable."Alright, lead the way."
With that, the group began moving again, the gray wolves flanking them protectively as they made their way deeper into the forest. The tension eased slightly, but the sense of unease lingered as the dense canopy loomed above, hiding whatever secrets lay ahead.
As they ventured deeper, the shadows pressed closer, the air growing heavier with each step. The forest watched in silence, its secrets still shrouded—and its dangers far from over.
As Arlon followed them, his mind drifted back to the earlier moment when the narrator screen had flashed, showing him a cryptic glimpse of the forest's strange power.
The words had hinted at something deeply tied to him, or perhaps to the sky dragon soul within him.
He couldn't shake the feeling that the forest was more than just a backdrop to their journey—it was watching him, perhaps even responding to his presence in ways he didn't fully understand.
As the group followed the gray wolf deeper into the forest, the dense canopy above seemed to draw closer, casting long shadows across the path. The trees whispered softly in the cool breeze, their branches intertwining to form an almost impenetrable ceiling.
The oppressive tension that had weighed heavily on them since entering the forest began to lift, though the reason for the shift remained unclear.
Crunch— Crunch—
Their footsteps echoed softly in the quiet, broken only by the rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures. The air was cooler here, filled with a palpable energy that hummed just beneath the surface.
"It's like the forest is watching us," Alice whispered, her eyes darting around nervously.
"It is," Arlon responded quietly. His gaze swept the surrounding trees. "But not all of it seems hostile."
The gray wolf, leading them with unwavering confidence, glanced back at Arlon. There was a flicker of curiosity in its glowing eyes, as if it sensed something unusual about him but couldn't quite place it.
The narrow path suddenly opened into a wide clearing. In the center stood the remnants of a crumbling stone temple, overgrown with vines and moss. Despite its dilapidated state, the temple exuded a powerful aura that made the air thrum faintly, as if the land itself was alive.
Thrum—
"This is it," Eric said softly, his eyes wide with recognition. "Our village."
The group stepped forward, their eyes scanning the ancient structure. The ruins bore the marks of time, but there was something about the place that felt timeless, a sense of forgotten knowledge hidden within its stone walls.
From the shadows of the temple, several gray wolves emerged, their forms moving silently through the dense foliage. Their postures were respectful yet alert, their eyes watchful as they approached the group.
As they neared, their forms began to shift, rippling and changing until they stood before the group as humans. The largest among them, with silver hair and a sharp gaze, stepped forward.
The largest among them stepped forward, his voice low but reverent. "Elder Leader Elandar, we've returned," he said, bowing his head slightly. "The forest guided us safely back."
Their human forms still carried the strength and poise of their wolf counterparts, a subtle reminder of their wild origins.
Elandar inclined his head in acknowledgment, his eyes warm but sharp. "You've done well, Fenrik," he replied. "And the journey?"
Fenrik's gaze flicked toward Arlon's group before returning to Elandar. "It was not without its challenges," he admitted. "We encountered a group that was surrounded by beasts corrupted by the forest's unrest."
"A group?" The elder leader paused, his brow furrowing as his thoughts drifted to the past.
He remembered the group who had come before, the ones who attacked half the pack and took some of the young wolves, including his grandson. A wave of unease settled over him.