The morning sun cast a golden glow over Drakos Fang as Mike and his team stood at the village gates, ready to set off.
Brutus, towering and intimidating, adjusted his massive axe across his back. Kiera checked her daggers, while Loran stretched lazily, yawning. Behind them, five Drakos Fang warriors stood in formation, equipped with spears and light armor.
Mike took a deep breath. "Alright, everyone ready?"
Brutus nodded. "Always."
Kiera smirked. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Loran waved dismissively. "Let's just get this over with before I start missing my bed."
Mike rolled his eyes and turned toward the path leading into the forest. Ironwood Hollow was at least half a day's journey away, but the real concern wasn't the distance—it was what lurked in the wild.
"Let's move out," he ordered.
And with that, Drakos Fang's first expedition began.
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The Forest of Beasts
The deeper they went, the thicker the trees became. Sunlight barely pierced through the dense canopy, casting eerie shadows on the path. The air was filled with the rustling of leaves, distant growls, and the occasional screech of unseen creatures.
Mike's instincts screamed danger.
Brutus walked ahead, scanning the area. "This place… reeks of monsters."
Kiera tightened her grip on her daggers. "No kidding. I feel like we're being watched."
Loran sighed. "Of course, we are. This is a monster-infested zone, remember?"
Suddenly, the bushes ahead rustled violently. The warriors raised their spears.
Then—
A pack of Horned Wolves burst from the foliage!
Five wolves, each the size of a full-grown man, snarled with glowing red eyes. Their thick, dark fur bristled, and their curved horns glowed faintly with energy.
Mike grinned. "Finally, some action!"
BATTLE START!
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The Fight Begins
Brutus roared and charged, swinging his axe. CRASH! He cleaved through a wolf's horn, sending it skidding back with a yelp.
Kiera darted forward, vanishing in a blur, appearing behind another wolf and slashing its throat in one swift motion.
Loran raised a hand, conjuring a small blast of energy. BOOM! The explosion sent a wolf flying into a tree, whimpering.
Mike cracked his knuckles. "My turn!"
One of the wolves lunged at him—
He sidestepped, grabbed its horn, and SLAMMED it into the ground!
THUD!
The wolf twitched, then stopped moving.
The last two wolves hesitated, glancing at each other. Then, with a final growl, they turned and fled into the shadows.
Mike exhaled, brushing off his hands. "Well, that was fun."
Brutus grunted. "Too easy."
Kiera smirked, cleaning her daggers. "At least it was a good warm-up."
Loran crossed his arms. "Let's just hope this isn't a sign of worse things ahead."
Mike stretched, then checked his status.
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Evolution Points Gained!
✔ Defeated Horned Wolves x3 – +90 Evolution Points
✔ Successful Ambush Avoided – +30 Evolution Points
Total: 152.34 Evolution Points
Mike smirked. "Nice. This trip might be more rewarding than I thought."
With the wolves dealt with, the group pressed on. The journey to Ironwood Hollow had only just begun, and if this was just a taste of what lay ahead…
They were in for one hell of an adventure.
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TO BE CONTINUED…