The wind in the testing forest was sharp and cold, a breath of something ancient and wild. Edwin had been here before, but each time, it felt as though the forest itself had changed—becoming more ominous, more alive. He adjusted his grip on the bow, the polished wood smooth beneath his fingers. The leaves underfoot crunched with each step, and the damp scent of the earth rose in the air, mingling with something darker, something foul.
Edwin's eyes narrowed.
He really needed to complete this quest,soon!.
It has killed him a lot of times, countless times. But Edwin cannot simply take that,he will die but he will rise back up again. If he wants to or not.
In the distance, through the dense trees, he saw it.
The Black Wolf.
It was crouched low to the ground, hunched over its latest victim, tearing at the corpse of a fallen adventurer. The man's armor had been ripped open, his chest exposed, and blood poured from his wounds, staining the earth beneath him. The wolf's sharp claws sank into the lifeless flesh, its fangs tearing into the muscle and sinew with brutal precision.
Edwin's stomach churned, his grip tightening on the bow. He had seen the aftermath of the wolf's hunts before, but it didn't make it any easier. The creature was a nightmare, a hulking beast with fur as black as midnight, eyes glowing a sickly yellow. He could feel its presence before he even saw it—like a shadow stretching across the very air itself.
But he was no stranger to death.
He had died to it a lot of times already.
'Bloody bastard..!!'. Edwin cursed in his mind.
Edwin steadied his breath, pulling an arrow from his quiver. The arrows were tipped with holy water, a gift from an old priest who had once told him that the wolf's ancient bloodline was vulnerable to it. There was no guarantee it would work, but it was the best chance he had.
The black wolf's ears twitched.
It was aware of him.
Edwin didn't hesitate.
He raised the bow, nocking the arrow, and pulled the string taut. He exhaled, his focus narrowing to the beating of his heart and the cold air that filled his lungs.
The wolf lifted its head, its eyes meeting Edwin's.
This is it.
'Steady...Now!'.
The arrow flew.
Thwip!
The wolf let out a deafening snarl as the arrow struck its shoulder. The force of the hit was enough to stagger the beast, but it didn't fall.
It barely even flinched.
"Damn it!"
Edwin didn't wait. He reached for another arrow, pulling it from the quiver and drawing it back in a smooth motion. The wolf was already moving, shifting its weight with terrifying speed. It roared in fury, its yellow eyes narrowing with malice.
Edwin fired again.
Thwip!
The arrow missed by inches, burying itself deep into the bark of a nearby tree. The wolf was too fast, too agile. It was right behind him.
He turned and ran.
The underbrush tore at his legs as he pushed forward, the heavy footfalls of the wolf gaining on him with every stride. He could hear its growl, its breath hot on his heels. He darted through the trees, his heart pounding in his chest as his legs burned with the effort.
Closer.
The wolf lunged.
Edwin's body screamed for him to stop, to turn and face it, but instinct drove him forward. Don't stop running.
It's right there.
Closer.
Then, suddenly—
[You Died]
Edwin woke up with a start, the ceiling of the inn above him too familiar. He rubbed his face, his hands trembling slightly. Another death. Another failure. But there was no time to rest.
His eyes slid to the window, the morning light creeping in. It had been days since he first stepped into the forest, and each attempt had ended the same way. The wolf was too fast, too powerful. But Edwin had learned.
He had learned its movements, its habits. He had learned to use the trees, to weave through the undergrowth with purpose. But something wasn't right. There was something he was missing.
"Focus Edwin,focus.Everything will he...fine". He tried to assure himself but the gravity of the situation was not helping.
"The arrows worked but I am not that good at it..."
He exhaled, standing up and pacing around the room.
It was time to train.
For the next few runs, Edwin did nothing but train. He spent hours outside the city's walls, firing arrows at targets until his arms shook, his fingers calloused. He worked on his footwork, learning how to move silently and quickly, how to weave between trees as if he were one with the forest. He spent hours learning the intricacies of the bow, how to feel its pull, how to let it guide him.
He then went to the training forest and fought The Black Wolf.
He died.
He did it again.
He died.
He tried again.
He died.
He died.
He died.
He died.
He died.
He died.
He died.
He died.
In total he died a total of 64 times.
And still, each run,he fought and trained again and again and again.
The morning of his final trial arrived. Edwin stood at the edge of the testing forest, his bow gripped tightly in his hands. He could feel the weight of the arrows in his quiver, each one a chance to survive.
There was no turning back.
He stepped into the woods, his feet light but purposeful.
He knew where the wolf would be.
It didn't take long to find it.
The creature was hunched low, its bloodstained fangs gleaming in the pale light as it fed on another poor soul. The stench of death was heavy in the air, and Edwin swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. This was it.
He wasn't going to die to this beast no longer!.
He hated being killed by it.
At least with that giant goblin in the previous quest it would smash his head with one hit but with this wolf that was not the fate he would always get.
Sometimes,he would be eaten alive from the inside out.
Seeing your own innards being eaten like stew is a really terrible sight.
Nevertheless he braced himself.
He was ready.
The wolf lifted its head, its eyes locking onto Edwin's with that same hateful gleam. It snarled, rising to its full height, towering over the still form of its prey. The creature was massive, its fur as dark as the night itself, its claws sharp enough to tear through steel.
Edwin's heart raced, but he kept his breath steady.
He had trained for this moment.
A moment he had experienced for more than 60 times.
The wolf took a step forward, its growl low and menacing. Edwin raised his bow, the motion fluid and practiced. He didn't hesitate.
Thwip!
The arrow flew true, striking the wolf in its chest, the holy water sizzling as it burrowed into its flesh. The beast howled in fury, a sound that shook the trees around them.
But Edwin didn't stop. He had to be quick. He notched another arrow, firing it before the first had even reached its target.
Thwip!
This one struck the wolf in the leg. The beast stumbled, its limbs faltering as the holy water burned through its body.
Edwin ran.
But this time, he wasn't running to escape.
"Come on doggy!...let's see your fetching skill!!".
He weaved through the trees, using the landscape to his advantage. The wolf limped after him, still deadly but slower now, its rage making it reckless. Edwin fired again, this time hitting the wolf in its shoulder. The beast screamed, the sound of its pain filling the air.
Thwip!
The wolf charged, its massive body moving with terrifying speed despite its injuries. Claws swiped at Edwin, but he ducked, twisting behind a tree to avoid its deadly strike.
He spun, aiming the bow once more.
[Rune of Enhancement is being used]
The final arrow flew, and this time—it hit its mark.
Straight to the heart.
The wolf collapsed, its body crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud. Its eyes dimmed, the life leaving its form in a slow, agonizing process.
For a long moment, Edwin didn't move. His bow was still raised, the tension still in his limbs. Slowly, he lowered it.
It was over.
[You Have Completed The Quest]
Edwin stood there for a moment, chest heaving as he looked at the fallen beast. The forest around him was eerily silent. His heart still pounded in his chest, the adrenaline of the hunt still flowing through him.
Then, he laughed—a deep, rich sound of relief.
"HAHAHA,Finally!!"
The system's voice chimed in again, almost as if it had been waiting for this moment.
[New Title Acquired: Bane of Wolves]
Edwin blinked, staring at the screen in confusion.
"…Wait, what?"
End of Chapter.