*Chomp* *Chomp*
'Mm...' Alex frowned with his eyes closed. Faintly he could hear someone chewing something violently and with big bites.
The last thing he remembered was the realisation of the fact that they had entered a labyrinth full of dead beasts. And in the next moment, a very burdensome and irresistible force descended upon them.
"Ah...!" Suddenly Alex recalled seeing a huge black beast advancing towards them—making him realise the cause of his sudden fall.
Turning his head slowly, he opened his eyes. The smell of dead creatures and blood was making the air thick with murkiness.
Alex squinted his eyes and tried to discern the thing his eyes were met with....only to find his eyes widening slightly in shock.
Sitting on a rock, a man could be seen currently munching on the lifeless form of Maria, with his sharp canines glistening the darkness and extruding a life-threatening chill.
The man had long black hair and a pair of white-grey eyes that gave out a very ominous sensation even though they weren't directed at him.
'It...is not a human...' Alex couldn't read someone's Soul Energy, yet without that, he could tell that this person was inhumane.
Looking towards the ground, Alex found that Vlad's upper body was missing and the lower half was thrown away, surrounded by a pool of crimson fluid.
Eve was next in the line and if Alex tilted his head a little, he could see the raven-haired protagonist also lying there beside her.
'Fuck...why a wolfkin came here all of a sudden?!' By that sturdy build, long ears, and excessively long hair, Alex was certain that this being was a wolf.
"I know you are awake." The heavy voice resonated as the wolf continued to eat his meal and nonchalantly spoke.
He had not even once looked at Alex, yet he knew his consciousness had returned. How is that possible?
'I didn't even flinch...' Alex gritted his teeth; the only chance of surprise attack he had was now ceased.
Alex knew that escaping without damaging the inhumane was impossible. Not nearly but simply impossible.
From what Alex received from the former owner's body, dire wolves are the fastest race and, physically, without the addition of magic, are the strongest beings as well.
So, escaping without a confrontation was out of the question.
Alex clenched his fist and was about to get up...when suddenly he paused and saw Edric getting up from the ground.
Alex realized; so the wolf sensed him, not Alex?
Edric remained kneeling on the ground, his head turned towards Vlad and then it went to Maria, whose arm was peeking out of the man's mouth.
Edric's eyes remained lifeless, almost like he didn't care about what happened to them. But someone who knows him closely can tell what fury is brewing within him.
"So you killed them..." Edric voiced; his voice low and hoarse.
Getting up, he patted his clothes and dusted them off.
The wolf took a long burp after throwing Maria's lower half away before he asked, "Do you like the smell of blood?"
Edric remained silent, and very steadily he wore his steel knuckles. It seemed almost like he was going to have a causal spar with the inhumane, however, only Alex knew what was going to happen now.
He has to move away for now.
Extending his hand, he grabbed Valarie and prepared.
The inhumane creature licked his hand, "The smell of blood is no longer a necessity for me. But it feels entertaining to slaughter maggots. Seeing them crawl and beg for their life...it just fills me with a surge of excitement."
The wolf shared his hobbies and fondness towards murdering people.
However, Edric remained silent. He didn't release the firm grip over his emotional stability or this would end unfavourably.
Although his friends were killed and more were in danger, he didn't panic. He knew his role and Edric was well set on fulfilling it.
He has to kill the thing.
Edric clenched his fists, his steel knuckles gleaming in the dim light. He launched forward, striking out with a heavy blow aimed at the wolfkin's chest. But the man, still seated, raised a thick arm and swatted the punch aside like it was nothing. The force of it rattled Edric, but he held his ground.
"Have you guys taken an oath to disappoint those superior to you?"
Edric was not astonished by the fact that his magic erasing skill didn't work, since the wolf was physically quite strong.
Edric narrowed his eyes and opened his left hand. Pressing his thumb on the back of his middle finger, he forcibly pressed it down, and with a crunch, he broke his finger—followed by a strange pattern appearing on his hand that seemed like vines.
'Hmm? Elven sorcery?' The wolf tilted his head in surprise.
Edric then hit both his chest plates with his unharmed hand, and soon his muscles bulged, making him seem almost double his previous size.
The wolf was now intrigued, 'The inheritance of those monkey clans?'
Edric heaved a long breath, and his vision settled on his enemy, who no longer remained seated but now was standing above the boulder before he launched forward.
Disappearing in a streak of light Edric appeared right behind the wolf, with his leg raised above his head.
The wolf grinned before he twirled around and took the hit right on his head.
**BOOOOOOOOM**
The labyrinth shook, the surface sunk in and the boulder on top of which the Wolf stood was destroyed into fragments
Alex took the opportunity to take Valarie and Eve away. Inwardly he couldn't deny the fact that he was beyond astonished by the strength and speed Edric just showed.
'Sentinel of Hope...the right title for this guy....'
The dust cleared, not naturally, but by an extreme dash out of the cloud as Edric jumped away just as the wolf was about to tear Edric's leg with his maw now extended menacingly.
Edric paused, twirled on his feet and looked at his enemy, who had gained his beast form.
The wolf's gleaming eyes pierced the haze, catching the faintest glimpse of Edric's movement before lunging at him. Fangs bared, it closed the distance in an instant, but Edric, now in a trance-like state, sidestepped with brutal precision, using his soul-charged hand to land a punishing blow to the beast's ribs.
CRACK!
The wolf was flung into the labyrinth's stone wall, cracking its surface upon impact. But the beast wasn't fazed. In one fluid motion, it leapt off the wall and countered, its claws outstretched, aiming for Edric's chest.
Edric deflected the blow with his forearm, but the force pushed him back. He skidded to a stop, leaving deep grooves in the ground. His muscles bulged even further, his berserk state amplifying each movement, but his breathing grew erratic. He didn't have much time.
With a guttural roar, he dashed toward the wolf again, this time faster—faster than ever before. His fist collided with the wolf's skull, and for a brief second, the creature's snarl was replaced by a shocked grunt. The entire labyrinth trembled from the force, loose stone falling from the ceiling as dust choked the air once more.
Every time Edric's hand touched the wolf, a decent amount of Soul Energy was pulled out. However, none of it was affecting the creature's attacking power.
The creature darted behind Edric, jaws wide, fangs bared, but Edric spun on his heel just in time, the vine-like pattern on his hand glowing ominously. He thrust his hand into the wolf's side, and the pattern flared, drawing out some of the beast's soul energy.
The flesh of the wolf seethed as Soul Energy seeped through his flesh and was absorbed by Edric however, in the name of reaction, all the wolf gave was a smirk.
*Grab*
Edric's eyes widened as suddenly the wolf grabbed his hand.
'Shit!'
With savage speed, the beast lashed out, biting down on Edric's arm. Blood sprayed across the shattered boulders. Edric growled but didn't stop, using his other fist to hammer the wolf's snout repeatedly.
The ground beneath them cracked again, the shockwaves from their battle shaking the entire structure, but Edric knew he had to end it fast. His berserk power was fading, and the wolf showed no signs of slowing.
With one final surge of strength, Edric slammed his foot into the wolf's jaw, knocking it off him.
The wolf flew across the labyrinth and crashed against the wall.
With his chest going up and down violently, Edric returned to his original size.
Clouds of dust erupted; however, not even once did Edric think that the battle was over.
And as he thought,
"Haa~had me lose my cool just now..."
Cracking his neck, the wolf returned to his human state as he walked nonchalantly towards Edric, ready to finish what he started.
**SQUELCH**
However, under Edric and the Wolf's astonished gaze, something pierced through the beast's chest as he came to a pause.
The sword was familiar to Edric as he yelled,
"ALEX?!"
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A/N:- Thanks for reading.
When the confrontation between the two sides was ongoing, Alex brought Valarie and Eve to safety; behind a boulder.
He could tell that the beast Edric was facing was probably around A-rank; otherwise, the Protagonist wouldn't have struggled to face the creature so long. There was no point in dwelling on how the beast arrived here since if Alex didn't do anything, Edric might get clawed to death.
He could see it. Edric was running low on gas given he had to use all three aces of his at once. He cannot sustain that form for long and once Edric returns to his original form, game over. Not only for the people within the labyrinth but possibly this world.
Alex was far from ready to die...at least without a fight.
"W-Wait...what are you trying to do?" Eve suddenly held his shirt just as Alex was about to get up.
Alex removed her hand from him and said, "Going to hit the iron when it's hot." Alex knew that the wolf wasn't completely unaffected, and sooner than later, he would also revert to his human self.
And that precise moment, when he would show vulnerability, Alex needs to strike.
However, the problem was how Alex could reach Wolf's blind spot when the duo were moving at such a ridiculous speed.
The answer was soon delivered to him, "I will use my skill to bring you there. Just don't move around much." Eve warned as she slowly pushed herself to kneel before Alex.
Yes, how can he forget that as an assassin, she surely must have a skill related to stealth?
"It's time!" Alex urged as he saw the wolf grabbing Edric by his wrist.
Eve rose to her feet, grabbed Alex's hand, and said, "Match my rhythm."
Her face dissolved into darkness and so did Alex's as both of them matched the shade of their surroundings. Rather than turning invisible, they camouflaged.
Just as Edric kicked the wolf in sheer desperation to throw him away, Eve and Alex reached behind a boulder which was nearest to the Wolf's landing zone.
Alex removed his hand from Eve's and before the woman could have even thought of saying something, the silver head unsheathed his sword and lunged at the creature with decisive precision.
*SQUELCH*
Edric and the creature both stood in complete shock upon seeing the blade pierced through the beast's chest and impaled him in a smooth, fluid motion.
"Alex?!" More than shock, Edric yelled his name in alarm since being near to that being who has hyper regeneration could mean only one thing.
"Cheeky brat!" The creature howled before slamming his palm onto the blade and effortlessly breaking it in half.
Alex pulled the other half out of the Wolf's chest and faced the creature.
The inhumane turned to look at the pipsqueak before asking, "I knew you were awake this whole time...but even a chicken like you can attack me is rather intriguing."
The wolf looked amused but none of them affected Alex's stance as he took a strong breath and advanced towards the beast,
"Second Step:" The wolf took a defensive stance, expecting the boy to attack him on his chest again.
However, much to everyone's astonishment, Alex's figure became a streak of light and before the beast could have raised his arms, Alex was standing behind the beast.
*Spurt*
"Quick Silver."
The creature looked at his arm with wide eyes as a deep cut was inflicted in the blink of an eye.
However, that shock turned into a grin as he regained his beast form once again and jumped from his spot.
"Alex!" Edric warned as the wolf crashed his feet against the labyrinth ceiling and lunged at the silver head at a threatening pace.
Alex nearly dodged that attack. The wolf's claws barely grazed Alex's shoulder as he twisted to the side, landing in a crouch. The air crackled with tension, but Alex's eyes remained sharp, focused.
The beast snarled, its massive form lunging again with frightening speed. This time, Alex was ready.
Clang!
Alex's blade clashed with the wolf's claws mid-air, the impact sending a shock through his arms. His footing wavered, but he gritted his teeth and forced the wolf back with a quick pivot.
"First Step: Linear Slash!" Alex brought the sword to be held by both his hands before a single slash was dealt in the air, with enough strength to tear his muscles as the shockwave travelled at a blinding pace and grazed the side of the wolf, making him bleed.
"Interesting!" The wolf howled, both in pain and excitement.
The wolf's howl echoed through the labyrinth, a bone-chilling sound that made the air itself seem to tremble. Blood dripped from its side, but instead of weakening, the beast's eyes gleamed with a savage fury, its excitement only fueling its strength.
"You're getting serious now, boy," the wolf growled, its voice deeper, rougher. Its body tensed, muscles rippling under thick fur as it dug its claws into the ground. "Good. Let me show you real power!"
Without warning, the wolf lunged forward with terrifying speed. This time, there was no pretence of defence—just pure, brutal aggression.
Thud!
Alex barely had time to react as the wolf's claws smashed into his blade, the sheer force of the blow sending vibrations up his arms. His feet slid back, digging into the ground as he fought to stay upright.
"Not enough!" the wolf roared, swiping again. The second hit was even fiercer, and Alex's arms buckled under the weight. He gritted his teeth, forcing his blade to stay up, but the wolf was relentless.
Jumping in the air, the wolf slammed its elongated fit right in the middle of his chest, making Alex widen his eyes before he was shot across the labyrinth like a bullet.
**CRASH**
Crashing against the wall, Alex groaned as he felt something broken within him and his heart rate was soaring higher than what could be regarded as normal during a battle.
'Not over...' Alex clenched the broken sword which was now in tatters before he forced himself out of the crater.
**BOOOOOOM**
Just the next moment something crashed at the spot.
The wolf snickered, "Already done, boy?"
The wolf was injured, yet the vigor from his eyes never subdued.
Alex barely held the sword with his still intact hand. Blood osbtructed his vision as he stared at the Wolf's back in frustration.
How ridiculously strong this being actually is?!
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A/N:- Will conclude this battle in the next chapter. Thanks for reading.
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