บท 37: Chapter 37: Growing Resistance
The Moonlit Hollow seemed darker than usual, despite the faint golden glow of the artifact pulsing in the center. Aria sat perched on a jagged rock, her sharp blue eyes scanning the horizon. Her claws flexed against the cold stone as she listened to the stillness of the Wildlands.
It wasn't comforting.
"This silence is worse than the chaos," she muttered. "At least when something's attacking me, I know where I stand."
The Frost Mink curled up beside her, its soft blue fur blending with the snow. It squeaked softly, nudging her paw.
"What is it?" Aria asked, glancing down at the tiny creature. "You sense something, don't you?"
The mink squeaked again, its small body trembling slightly.
Aria sighed, her fur bristling as she returned her gaze to the horizon. "Yeah, I feel it too. The artifact isn't done attracting trouble."
---
By morning, the oppressive tension in the air had only grown stronger. The artifact's glow pulsed in irregular rhythms, its hum louder and more insistent than ever.
Aria stood near the hollow's edge, her sharp blue eyes fixed on the artifact. "System," she thought, her claws flexing. "Status report."
"Artifact resonance stable. Energy field expansion at 95%. Hostile attraction probability: 85%."
Her fur bristled. "Eighty-five percent? That's practically a guarantee."
"Correct. Recommend defensive preparations."
Aria growled softly, her tail swishing. "What do you think I've been doing?"
The Frost Mink scurried to her side, squeaking nervously.
"You'd better stick close," Aria muttered, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "I have a feeling today's going to get messy."
---
She spent the morning reinforcing her barriers, her sharp claws slicing through fallen branches and dragging heavy stones into place. Her muscles ached from the effort, but she pushed through, knowing the Wildlands wouldn't give her a second chance.
The Frost Mink and its companions tried to help, their tiny paws piling snow around the edges of the hollow.
Aria paused briefly to glare at the tiny creatures. "That's not going to stop anything."
The minks squeaked in unison, their wide eyes gleaming with determination.
Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. Do whatever you want. Just stay out of my way."
---
The first signs of trouble came just before midday. A faint rustling sound echoed through the hollow, carried by the cold wind.
Aria froze, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as her ears swiveled toward the noise.
The Frost Mink darted behind her, its tiny body trembling as it squeaked.
"System," Aria thought, her claws flexing. "What am I hearing?"
"Unknown entities detected. Threat level: High. Estimated arrival: Imminent."
Her fur bristled. "How many?"
"Four entities identified. Analysis suggests coordination."
Aria growled softly. "Of course. Another pack. Because one wasn't enough last time."
---
The hostiles appeared moments later, their sleek forms emerging from the shadows at the edge of her territory.
Three Abyssal Wolves prowled forward, their black fur glinting faintly in the pale light. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the artifact, their sharp claws scraping against the frozen ground.
Behind them, a single Frostshadow Lynx slinked into view, its icy blue fur shimmering as it moved with deadly precision.
"Hostiles confirmed: Abyssal Wolf Pack (3) and Frostshadow Lynx (1). Beast Awakening Stage: Advanced Phase. Threat level: Extreme."
Aria crouched low, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. "Wolves and a lynx. This day just keeps getting better."
The creatures spread out, their movements deliberate and predatory as they circled the hollow.
"They're after the artifact," Aria thought, her claws flexing. "And I'm not letting them have it."
---
She activated Lunar Veil, her shimmering form blending into the shadows as she moved to intercept the pack.
"Lunar Veil II: 60% Progress."
The Abyssal Wolves paused, their sharp noses sniffing the air as they tried to track her movements.
Aria struck first, lunging at the nearest wolf with her claws extended.
The creature snarled, its glowing eyes blazing as it twisted to face her.
The Frostshadow Lynx crouched low, its sharp claws glinting as it prepared to strike.
"Here we go," Aria growled, her sharp blue eyes blazing. "Let's see what you've got."
---
The fight was fast and chaotic.
The Abyssal Wolves lunged at her in coordinated strikes, their sharp claws and snapping jaws forcing her to stay on the defensive.
The Frostshadow Lynx moved with deadly precision, its icy blue eyes tracking her every movement as it darted between the shadows.
Aria used Spirit Step to phase through their attacks, reappearing behind them to land calculated blows.
"Spirit Step Mastery: Enhanced stamina efficiency detected. Minor Attribute Boost applied."
Her strikes were relentless, targeting the wolves' legs and the lynx's flanks to weaken them. But their coordination made them a formidable challenge.
One wolf lunged at her, its claws grazing her side. Aria snarled, twisting mid-air as she struck back with a powerful swipe.
The Frostshadow Lynx darted toward her, its sharp claws slicing through the air in a rapid flurry of strikes.
Aria dodged narrowly, her tail swishing as she circled around to land a devastating blow to its hind leg.
---
The battle dragged on, the predators growing more desperate as their strength waned.
Aria's sharp claws tore through their defenses, each strike chipping away at their coordination.
Finally, with a series of calculated attacks, she brought the Abyssal Wolves down one by one.
The Frostshadow Lynx let out a low growl, its icy blue fur bristling as it prepared for one last lunge.
Aria activated Lunar Veil again, her shimmering form disappearing as she sidestepped the attack.
She reappeared behind the lynx, her claws striking its exposed neck.
The creature let out a final, pained snarl before collapsing onto the snow.
"Quest Complete: Eliminate Hostiles. +170 EXP earned. Major Attribute Boost applied."
---
Aria collapsed onto the snow, her chest heaving as the adrenaline coursed through her.
The Frost Mink appeared moments later, scurrying toward her with a worried squeak.
"I'm fine," Aria muttered, glaring down at the tiny creature. "But this is getting ridiculous."
The mink squeaked softly, nuzzling against her leg.
Aria sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. You're welcome. Again."
---
Dragging the carcasses back to the hollow was exhausting, but Aria refused to leave them behind. The other minks gathered around as she dropped the bodies near the stream, their soft squeaks filling the air.
"Don't even think about it," Aria growled, glaring at them. "These are mine."
The Frost Mink squeaked, curling up beside her with a contented sigh.
Aria sighed, her sharp blue eyes softening. "For now, the hollow is safe. But this artifact? It's only going to bring more trouble."
As the snow began to fall again, the Moonlit Hollow settled into a fragile peace, the faint hum of the artifact a constant reminder of the storm still brewing.8
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