The Dire Wolves circled Alex and Marcus, their glowing red eyes locked on the two men. Their growls reverberated through the forest, sending a shiver down Alex's spine. These creatures were nothing like the wolves he had read about back on Earth. They were massive, their muscular forms rippling with power, and their sharp fangs glinted like daggers in the dappled sunlight.
"What's the plan?" Alex asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he tightened his grip on his sword.
"Don't die," Marcus replied, nocking an arrow and taking aim at the largest of the pack. "Stick close to me, and if things go south, run."
"Run where?" Alex asked, glancing nervously at the forest surrounding them.
Marcus didn't answer. He loosed his arrow, and it flew true, striking one of the wolves in the shoulder. The beast yelped but didn't falter. Instead, it bared its teeth and charged.
The pack followed, closing the distance in seconds.
Alex barely had time to react before a wolf lunged at him. He raised his sword instinctively, the blade catching the beast's weight mid-leap. The impact jarred his arms, but he managed to push the creature back.
"Focus, Alex!" Marcus shouted, releasing another arrow. It struck a wolf in the eye, and the beast crumpled to the ground.
Alex sidestepped another attack, his heart pounding in his chest. These creatures were relentless, their movements coordinated and precise. It was clear they were used to hunting as a pack.
One wolf snapped at his leg, its teeth grazing his boot. Alex kicked it away, his mind racing. He had to do something—something more than just swing his sword blindly.
Taking a deep breath, Alex tried to summon the same energy he had felt before. He focused, reaching deep within himself, and felt a familiar warmth build in his chest.
"Come on," he muttered, raising his free hand.
A burst of light erupted from his palm, striking the wolf in front of him. The creature yelped and staggered, its fur singed where the energy had hit.
Marcus glanced at Alex, a flicker of surprise on his face. "Nice trick. Do it again!"
"I'm trying!" Alex shouted, dodging another attack.
Despite their efforts, the pack wasn't letting up. For every wolf they injured or slowed down, another took its place. Marcus's arrows were running low, and Alex's arms ached from swinging his sword.
"We're not going to last much longer," Marcus said, panting.
"What do we do?" Alex asked, his voice tinged with panic.
Before Marcus could answer, a deafening howl echoed through the forest. The wolves stopped their attack, their ears perked up as they turned toward the sound.
Emerging from the shadows was a wolf larger than the rest, its fur black as night and its eyes glowing a menacing crimson.
"That's... not good," Marcus muttered, his face pale.
The Alpha wolf growled, its presence commanding the pack. The other wolves backed away, creating a wide circle around Alex and Marcus.
"What's it doing?" Alex asked, his voice shaky.
"It's testing us," Marcus replied grimly. "The Alpha wants to finish this itself."
The massive beast crouched, preparing to lunge. Alex's mind raced. He couldn't outrun it. He couldn't overpower it. But maybe—just maybe—he could outsmart it.
As the Alpha leapt toward him, Alex focused all his energy on his hand. He pictured the burst of light he had summoned before, but this time, he concentrated on making it stronger.
"Come on!" he shouted, thrusting his hand forward.
A beam of blinding light shot out, striking the Alpha mid-air. The creature howled in pain, its massive body crashing to the ground.
The other wolves hesitated, their growls faltering as they watched their leader writhe in the dirt.
Marcus didn't waste the opportunity. He loosed his final arrow, hitting the Alpha squarely in the neck. The beast let out one last gurgling growl before collapsing, lifeless.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, one by one, the remaining wolves retreated into the forest, their glowing eyes disappearing into the shadows.
Alex collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His hand still tingled from the magic he had unleashed, but he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
"Not bad," Marcus said, sitting down beside him. "You've got some serious potential, kid. But next time, let's avoid getting surrounded by wolves, yeah?"
Alex managed a weak laugh. "Agreed."
Marcus reached for his satchel, pulling out a water flask and handing it to Alex. "Drink up. You'll need your strength."
As Alex took a sip, Marcus's expression grew serious. "That light thing you did—it's not normal, is it?"
Alex shook his head. "I don't even know how I'm doing it. It just... happens."
"Well, you'd better figure it out fast," Marcus said, glancing at the forest around them. "Because if word gets out about what you can do, it's not just bandits and wolves we'll have to worry about."
As they gathered themselves and prepared to continue their journey, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"Do you feel that?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Marcus frowned, his hand drifting toward his bow. "Yeah. We're not alone."
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a cloaked man with a hood obscuring his face. His presence was unsettling, his movements unnaturally smooth.
"Impressive display," the man said, his voice low and cold. "The rumors about you are true."
Alex instinctively stepped back, his hand on his sword. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled, the sound sending chills down Alex's spine. "Someone very interested in your potential."
Before Alex could respond, the man raised a hand, and the air around them grew heavy. The forest seemed to darken, and an ominous energy crackled in the air.
Marcus grabbed Alex's arm. "Run," he whispered urgently.
"But—"
"Run!" Marcus shouted, shoving Alex toward the road.
As they sprinted away, Alex glanced back and saw the cloaked man watching them, his crimson eyes glowing in the shadows.