The team was terrified at the sight of the enormous monster. The murderous gaze of the Blood Wolf was unmistakable.
"A Blood Wolf…" Dane muttered, sweating under the creature's predatory stare. "That's a Rank D monster. It shouldn't be here." He no longer seemed like the composed leader; he was trembling, his fear evident.
"It's rare but not impossible for a monster to evolve to a higher rank within a portal. This wolf must be the evolved form of those Shadow Wolves," Elios said, his tone serious, devoid of his usual cheerful demeanor.
The wolf growled at them, but it made no move to attack. It was as if it was savoring their terror, treating the group as mere prey. Suddenly, Lian stepped forward, gripping Oblivion tightly and staring down the wolf without a hint of hesitation.
"What the hell are you doing, you idiot? Do you want to get us all killed?" Toran shouted, frozen in place.
"This Blood Wolf… do you really think it'll let you live just because you're scared?" Lian replied, his tone mocking but his own sweat betraying his nerves. "It's just waiting for you to turn your backs and run so it can hunt you down like any other prey. But if I'm going to die anyway... then I'll die fighting!"
Lian shoved his fear aside and pointed his sword at the Blood Wolf, further enraging the beast.
He knew he couldn't defeat the wolf alone, but his teammates were paralyzed by fear. If they could fight alongside him, victory might be possible.
Lian glanced quickly at his group. "This wolf must have some kind of ability that paralyzes anyone weaker than it with fear. No matter what I say, they won't even be able to run for their lives," he thought. But then, his eyes fell on Elios. Unlike the others, Elios wasn't trembling; he was staring at the wolf with a determined expression.
A faint smile formed on Lian's lips. "Elios… will you stand with me in this fight?"
Elios returned the smile and walked up to Lian's side. "Alright. Let's just say I don't want to die without trying."
Both of them were scared, but they were the strongest in the group. They had a slim chance of winning.
"You… you're going to die," Saya said through tears, her voice trembling. Her legs were shaking so much she looked like she might collapse at any moment.
"Maybe we will," Elios replied calmly, "but we won't know unless we try."
With that, the two of them charged toward the wolf, swords in hand.
Their blades glowed with the aura of their powers. Oblivion pulsed in Lian's grip, shadows swirling around its blade as if alive. Elios' sword radiated intense light, illuminating the clearing and creating a stark contrast between the two warriors.
The Blood Wolf roared, its deep, bestial voice making the ground tremble. It charged at them like a blur, its speed almost impossible to follow.
Lian barely managed to dodge as the wolf's claws swiped at him, throwing him to the ground with a powerful gust of air. He rolled to the side just in time to avoid a follow-up attack, but the wolf's sheer speed left him no room to counter.
Elios, however, seized the opportunity and lunged at the creature. His blade glimmered as he slashed at the wolf's side, but the beast twisted with unnatural agility, using its fangs to block the strike. Sparks flew as metal met teeth.
"It's too fast!" Elios shouted, retreating slightly to create a glowing barrier of light around himself.
"I noticed!" Lian replied, struggling to his feet. Pain throbbed in his shoulder from the impact.
The wolf growled low, its fur beginning to shimmer with a crimson glow, as if drawing energy from the environment. Oblivion pulsed in Lian's hand, warning him of danger.
"Lian, watch out!" the voice of Oblivion echoed in his mind.
The wolf leapt again, its claws aiming for both of them at once. Lian reacted instinctively, summoning shadows from the ground. The dark tendrils coiled around the wolf's legs, binding it in place.
"Now, Elios!" Lian shouted, his voice strained as he held the creature in place.
Elios didn't waste a second. He leapt high, his sword glowing even brighter. He brought the blade down in a powerful vertical strike, cutting deep into the wolf's back.
The beast howled in pain, but it thrashed violently, shattering the shadow bindings and swinging its massive paw at Elios. The blow sent him flying into a tree, his light barrier shattering on impact.
"Elios!" Lian called, but there was no time to help. The wolf was already lunging at him, its jaws snapping inches from his face.
Lian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the bite, and countered with a slash from Oblivion. The blade grazed the wolf's flank, but the wound wasn't deep enough to slow it down.
"Damn it… this isn't enough," Lian muttered, tasting blood in his mouth.
Elios groaned as he got back up, blood dripping from a cut on his forehead. "Lian, keep it busy! I'll prepare a stronger attack!"
"Easy for you to say!" Lian grumbled but summoned more shadows to strike the wolf. Dark spears shot toward the creature, forcing it back momentarily.
The Blood Wolf roared, its crimson aura intensifying. It charged forward, ignoring the shadow spears that pierced its body, and slashed at Lian with its claws.
He managed to dodge most of the blow, but the claws tore into his left arm, drawing blood. Lian cried out but refused to let go of Oblivion.
"Just a little longer, Lian!" Elios shouted, his sword glowing like the sun as he channeled all his energy into it.
"I'm not dying here!" Lian yelled back, summoning every ounce of his strength. Shadows erupted from the ground, forming chains that wrapped tightly around the Blood Wolf.
"Oblivion, help me!" Lian called, ignoring the weapon's warnings about overexertion.
The shadows thickened, forming a cage around the creature. The Blood Wolf struggled, its movements growing slower as the shadows drained its strength.
"Elios, now!"
Elios dashed forward, his sword now a blazing beacon of light. He jumped high, aiming for the wolf's neck.
"Celestial Light!" he shouted, bringing his blade down with all his might.
The strike connected, the blade piercing deep into the wolf's neck. A blinding explosion of light filled the clearing as the wolf let out a final, deafening roar.
When the light faded, the Blood Wolf lay motionless on the ground, its crimson aura gone.
Elios collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His sword dimmed, its glow fading completely.
Lian released the shadows and fell beside him, clutching his wounded arm.
"We… did it…" Lian said between ragged breaths.
Elios gave a faint smile. "We did, but… barely."
They sat in silence for a moment, their breathing the only sound in the clearing. The rest of the team was still paralyzed with fear, but alive.
Lian glanced back at the Blood Wolf's body, unease creeping into his thoughts.
"Is it… really over?" Elios asked, noticing Lian's tense expression.
Oblivion pulsed in Lian's hand, and its voice echoed in his mind.
"Be careful… this isn't over yet."
Lian's eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on Oblivion. Something about the wolf's body didn't feel right.
"Elios, stay alert," Lian said quietly. "I think it's not done yet."