The deafening roar shook the trees, sending a chill through the air. A powerful beast was approaching.
Kai and the silver-haired assassin both halted their attacks, instincts kicking in. They leaped backward, distancing themselves from each other as their eyes darted toward the source of the sound.
The ground trembled. Leaves rustled violently. Something massive was coming.
Then, from the shadows of the dense forest, a towering figure emerged.
A Crimson Horned Direwolf.
Kai's breath hitched. A Tier 5 Beast.
Its massive frame, covered in dark red fur, pulsed with strength. Two glowing crimson horns protruded from its skull, radiating an eerie light. Its eyes, sharp and menacing, locked onto them—it had already marked them as prey.
The assassin clicked her tongue. "Tch. Just what we needed."
Kai didn't reply. He tightened his grip on his knife, evaluating the situation. A Tier 5 beast was no joke. Even a team of elite warriors would struggle against it.
And right now, both of them were injured.
The Direwolf snarled, lowering its body into an attacking stance. It was about to pounce.
Without hesitation, Kai and the assassin moved at the same time.
Boom!
The Direwolf lunged, claws tearing through the dirt as it charged toward them like a battering ram.
Kai sidestepped at the last moment, barely avoiding the massive beast's crushing weight. The assassin flipped over it, landing smoothly on a nearby branch.
But the beast wasn't done.
It turned its head sharply, its crimson horns crackling with energy.
Lightning surged along the tips of its horns—a charged attack.
Kai's eyes widened. "Move!"
The assassin didn't need the warning.
Boom!
A bolt of red lightning exploded from the Direwolf's horns, obliterating the spot where they had just been standing. Trees shattered, dirt blasted into the air.
Kai exhaled sharply. This beast wasn't just strong—it was intelligent.
The assassin glanced at him. "Truce?"
Kai smirked. "For now."
Both of them turned to face the beast, preparing for what was to come.
This battle had just begun.