The battle was less of a clash and more of a relentless onslaught. The bloodied predator, enraged and wounded, only seemed to grow deadlier, as if the scent of its own blood had ignited a deeper savagery within it. Its claws—already lethal—now slashed with a precision and fury that made them seem almost sentient, an extension of its primal wrath. But I was no less consumed by bloodlust.
By now, the sun had almost fully set, casting its last feeble light against the rising dominion of the moon. My body surged with newfound strength, though my injuries kept me from reaching my full potential. Still, I had something the beast did not—a mind that could strategize, adapt, and anticipate.
It lunged first, its claws whistling through the air like thrown daggers. I barely evaded, rolling to the side as its talons sliced the space where my throat had been a fraction of a second earlier. My counterattack was immediate—I hurled myself behind the wreckage of a half-crushed car, but the beast was relentless. With a single swipe, the vehicle was sent flying, shattering against the remains of a ruined building.
Anticipating its brute force, I had already moved. As the dust cleared, my rusted blade flashed through the air, aimed at its snarling face. The wolf twisted at the last moment, my weapon only grazing its cheek. Not that it mattered. The real attack was already underway.
I surged forward and drove a broken claw—the severed talon of its fallen kin—deep into its left leg. A piercing wail tore through the battlefield, raw and primal. The satisfaction was almost intoxicating, a poetic justice for everything its kind had put me through. I almost allowed myself a victorious laugh—almost.
Then its head slammed into my chest like a battering ram.
The impact launched me through the air, and I crashed into another rusted car, denting the metal upon impact. Pain flared through my body, but I had no time to groan. Instinct screamed at me, and I rolled away just as the wolf slammed into the vehicle, rending it in half as if it were paper. The force of the impact sent a shockwave through the ground.
When the dust settled, it turned toward me, eyes burning with a rage that mirrored my own. It was furious—I had stabbed it with the claw of its own fallen kin. Good. That meant I was getting under its skin.
But then I realized something—it was still armed, and I wasn't.
A mistake. A costly one.
I took a slow breath, steadying myself. My gaze flicked westward. The sun had finally vanished. Then eastward, where the moon now reigned, silver light pouring down like a silent blessing. Strength surged within me, an intoxicating power that made the pain, the exhaustion, and even the fear feel insignificant.
I smiled.
The beast charged, and this time, I didn't flinch. Instead, I rushed forward, closing the distance in an instant. At the last possible moment, I dropped into a slide, barely ducking beneath its sweeping claws. My fingers found the discarded blade lodged in its leg, and with a brutal twist, I wrenched it free—along with a chunk of its flesh.
The wolf shrieked, staggering, but only for a heartbeat. Its pain vanished as quickly as it had come, and its jaws snapped toward me, aiming to tear out my throat. I twisted away just in time, feeling the hot gust of its breath against my skin.
I had to stay sharp. One mistake. One hit. That was all it would take for this fight to end in my death.
Gripping my blade, I lunged again, feinting left before darting right. My dagger flew, aimed for its throat.
The wolf reacted faster than I expected. It leaped sideways, avoiding the strike entirely, then launched itself at me with terrifying speed. I wasn't quick enough this time.
Its claws raked through my left arm, carving deep, burning lines into my flesh. The force of the blow sent me hurtling through the air. I smashed through a crumbling building, crashing through wooden beams and shattered glass before slamming onto the cold ground.
Pain. Sharp and searing.
I staggered to my feet, clutching my bleeding arm, my vision swimming. I couldn't afford to lose focus. But when I looked up—
The wolf was gone.
A chill ran down my spine.
"Fuck!" I hissed, realizing my mistake.
I spun, scanning the darkness, but before I could react—
A gaping maw lunged from the shadows.
Fangs, massive and gleaming with saliva, rushed toward me. I barely had time to process it, let alone escape. It had anticipated my movements, laying in wait, hunting with intelligence far beyond what I'd expected.
There was no time to dodge. No time to counter.
I threw my hands outward, bracing myself to catch its jaws, knowing full well it would be agony.
But the pain never came.
The beast let out a guttural wail, its body suddenly convulsing. It stumbled forward, collapsing, its massive form hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
I stared, wide-eyed, disoriented.
And then I saw it.
A black hand, slick with the beast's blood, emerged from its belly. Then another,
"Almost dying four times isn't enough for one day?" I asked rethorically, dread and awe warred within me as a figure pulled itself from the wolf's corpse.
It stepped forward, revealing itself in the moonlight.
It was me. Or something that looked like me.
Its form was identical to mine—same build, same stance. The only difference was that it was completely black, as if sculpted from the purest shadow. No facial features, no clothes. Just lean muscle, glowing white eyes, and jet-black hair.
It radiated no malice. No hostility. Instead, as I stared at it, I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time.
Safety.
Like looking in a mirror and seeing my truest self.
Understanding clicked into place.
I knew what this was.
Or at least, I thought I did.
My shadow.