Finn's heart raced as the wolf's amber eyes locked onto him, its growl vibrating the air around them. The fear that had been creeping at the edges of his mind surged within him. What if I die here? What will happen? Will anyone find my body? His thoughts swirled in a frantic whirlpool, but he couldn't let the fear control him. The wolf was already moving, its muscles rippling as it closed in.
No, he couldn't run. I need to fight.
With shaking hands, Finn quickly channeled his fire skill, creating a small ball of fire that flickered to life in his palm. The warmth of it spread up his arm, steadying him. He hurled the fireball towards the wolf, watching it sail through the air.
The wolf didn't flinch or move, only staring at the orb as it collided with its side. Bang! The fireball exploded, burning patches of fur off the wolf's body. The animal yelped in surprise, shaking itself furiously, but the damage was minimal—just some singed fur and a few shallow burns.
It didn't do enough, Finn thought with a sinking feeling. The wolf's eyes now blazed with fury as it growled low in its throat, its fur standing on end. It was still coming.
Finn's pulse thundered in his ears as he scrambled for a solution. He glanced at the knife in his hand—the stone blade was crude, but it was all he had. With the wolf charging, Finn knew he had to act quickly. He couldn't rely on his fire anymore, not with it being such a weak attack.
Just as the wolf lunged toward him, its jaws wide, Finn's survival instinct kicked in. He quickly used his Leap skill, propelling himself out of the way with a burst of agility. His body flew through the air, narrowly avoiding the wolf's snapping jaws, and he landed behind it with a thud.
The wolf spun around, its eyes blazing with rage. Finn barely had time to catch his breath. He gripped the stone knife tightly, ready to face the wolf head-on. He couldn't afford to hesitate now.
The wolf charged again, faster this time. Finn steadied himself, eyes locked on the beast's movements. He sidestepped just in time, using the stone knife to slash at the wolf's exposed flank. The blade dug into the creature's skin, drawing blood, but the wolf barely seemed slowed. It whipped around, its claws slashing at Finn.
With a desperate growl, Finn evaded again, his agility keeping him one step ahead. He needed to finish this. The wolf was relentless, but so was he. His gaze shifted to a nearby rock, a large boulder just within reach.
In a flash of inspiration, Finn sprinted toward it, knowing he had only one chance. The wolf gave chase, but just as it lunged again, Finn used his Leap skill once more, propelling himself high into the air. From this height, he saw the wolf's position perfectly.
With a deep breath, Finn aimed the stone knife at the wolf's vulnerable throat as he descended, landing on its back. He brought the blade down with all his strength, plunging it deep into the creature's flesh.
The wolf let out a strangled howl before collapsing, its body twitching for a moment before going still. Finn's chest heaved, sweat pouring down his face. His hands were shaking, but he had done it. He had survived.
[You have killed a Wolf, +10 XP]
Finn staggered back, breathing heavily, his heart still racing. The fight had pushed him to his limits, but it had also proved something to him—he could do this. He wasn't the weak goblin he had once been. He was stronger, smarter, and now, he had a taste of what it meant to survive in this brutal world.
The wolf was dead, and Finn had proven he could hold his own.
The moment the wolf's body went still, Finn collapsed to his knees, the adrenaline of the fight finally wearing off. His chest heaved with deep, ragged breaths, and his muscles screamed in protest from the strain of the battle. Blood from the wolf and his own sweat mixed as he wiped his brow, struggling to stay upright.
His heart still hammered in his chest, the adrenaline that had kept him going now leaving him completely drained. His arms, still gripped around the stone knife, trembled uncontrollably. The world around him blurred as his body's exhaustion hit him like a wave.
"Too much…" Finn muttered weakly, struggling to stay conscious. His vision swam, and his limbs felt like they were made of lead. He had pushed himself too far, too fast. The fight had taken everything from him.
He stumbled forward, his legs giving out beneath him. The ground rushed up to meet him as he collapsed beside the dead wolf, the weight of the battle and his exhaustion crashing down all at once. His head hit the ground with a dull thud, his vision finally darkening around the edges.
I did it… he thought, just before everything went black.
---
When Finn woke, the world was still hazy, but the coolness of the forest floor against his skin reminded him of where he was. His body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of beasts, every muscle aching with the remnants of the fight. His head throbbed with a dull pain, and his mouth felt dry.
Struggling to lift his heavy limbs, Finn glanced around. The wolf's body lay still nearby, and the forest was eerily quiet. His knife was still clutched in his hand, but now it felt impossibly heavy.
As he attempted to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he had to lean back onto the ground to steady himself. "I should head back…" he muttered weakly, but the thought of standing felt like an insurmountable task.
The battle had taken far more out of him than he had realized, and now, Finn's body was paying the price. Yet, despite the exhaustion, there was a small part of him that felt proud—he had survived, and not just that, he had won.
With a groan, Finn finally managed to get onto his feet, his knees shaking beneath him. Every step felt like a monumental effort, but he kept moving, slowly making his way back to the cave, where he could rest and recover.
The fight may have taken everything out of him, but Finn knew one thing for certain: he wasn't the same goblin who had walked into that forest. He had grown stronger, in more ways than one. And that was just the beginning.