It stood there, towering amidst the silent darkness, its massive frame nearly twice the size of a grown man.
A silver-gray coat shimmered under the night, every movement igniting eerie red streaks of light, like embers swirling in the air.
Two glowing red eyes burned deep in the darkness, smoldering like twin coals, watching the intruders with deadly patience.
Silence.
Then, in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh!
A shadow tore through the air like a lightning bolt.
"Block it!" Dynamm roared, yanking his steel shield forward. The curved sword in his grip glinted, ready to meet the first strike.
But the beast was faster.
With just a few steps, it weaved through their defenses like a deadly gust of wind.
Beneath its thick silver fur, taut muscles coiled, then released. Massive claws swung out, sharp as blades.
KLANGG!
A deafening clang rang through the night.
Dale had reacted in time!
His massive greatsword caught the beast's pounce from the side, stopping it just before those monstrous claws could tear Dynamm apart.
But the force behind the impact was terrifying.
Dale felt his entire arm nearly shatter from the tremor as his sword vibrated violently.
His feet slid backward, heels grinding against the dirt, carving deep trails into the thin layer of dust.
Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the hilt. No retreat.
In that split second, as the beast was momentarily stalled, a silver flash cut through the air.
"Issin, now!"
No one needed to tell him twice.
Issin's figure blurred into motion, swift and sharp as a razor.
His blade gleamed under the moonlight, slashing down with terrifying speed.
Slash! Slash!
Streaks of light tore through the air, carving deep crimson wounds across the beast's body.
But…
A chill crawled up Issin's spine.
The monster's HP bar…
Barely budged.
Its muscles tensed. Its fur bristled. The wounds only seemed to enrage it further.
Those burning red eyes scanned the fighters before it, brimming with ruthless killing intent.
This wasn't an ordinary beast.
Nor was it a mindless monster.
It was a true predator, calm, calculating, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
A cold wind cut through the night.
No one had time to react when the beast moved.
BOOM!
A devastating lunge exploded in front of Issin, sending him hurtling backward like a severed puppet.
The air split apart. His body slammed into the ground, skidding across the cold stone.
"Issin!" Dynamm shouted, but he couldn't take his eyes off the beast.
It didn't stop.
The moment it sent Issin flying, it twisted mid-air, its next strike aimed straight at Dale.
CLANG!
Dale barely raised his sword in time. But the force was like a boulder crashing down on him. His arms trembled violently as his feet were pushed back.
Before he could recover, the beast spun and lashed out with its tail.
BAM!
Dale was sent crashing into a boulder, fragments of rock shattering around him.
Before the dust could settle, the wolf had already leapt again, charging straight for Dynamm.
"Damn it!" Dynamm gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on his shield.
BOOM!
The collision erupted like thunder in the night.
It felt like an entire tower had collapsed onto him. His feet dug into the ground, but he was still forced back.
His boots scraped against the familiar dirt road, sinking into the damp earth under the cold night mist.
His arms went numb.
His wrist felt like it was about to snap.
And the beast… still wasn't backing down.
It snarled, pressing its overwhelming strength against his shield.
A chilling sense of doom washed over them.
They were....
Being completely overpowered.
"Haa… haah…" Dynamm gasped for breath, each inhale feeling strangled. "Everyone… fall back…."
GRRAAOOOO!!
A ferocious roar exploded through the night, just as massive claws swung down, aiming straight for his throat.
But...
KLANGG.
The sharp ring of metal cut through the tense air.
Klein's sword flashed like lightning, slashing across the beast's front leg.
The impact disrupted its trajectory, its claws missing Dynamm's neck by mere inches.
Behind him, the tall reeds were sliced cleanly, drifting through the air like delicate threads of fate that had nearly been severed.
"Dynamm! Fall back!" Klein shouted, eyes sharp and unwavering on the monster.
The wolf hesitated for a split second, its crimson gaze shifting to Klein.
His HP was low.
The others had only managed to stall it for a brief moment.
Even after downing a health potion, his recovery would take time.
Yet, despite the looming danger, Klein didn't falter.
Instead, he stepped forward to fight alongside his comrades.
His blade gleamed under the night sky, striking again and again at the thick silver fur.
But the wounds.
Were too shallow to slow it down.
His curved sword lacked the sheer cutting power to break through the thick hide of the Giant Elite Dire Wolf.
And then....
GRRAOOOOO!!
A roar erupted from its massive chest, sending a violent shockwave blasting through the area.
The reeds flattened.
Dust surged into the air.
Klein's ribcage rattled from the sheer force of the sound. But he didn't waver.
Because he knew.
If he stepped back now… it would all be over.
The beast crouched low, its four legs coiling like springs about to snap.
It no longer saw him as an annoyance.
But as prey.
"Haa…" Klein took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his sword, feet planted firmly.
No matter what happened next, he couldn't afford to retreat.
Whoosh!
A lethal pounce tore through the night.
The massive wolf lunged, its entire body hurtling forward like a blazing cannonball.
Klein gritted his teeth, shifting to the side.
BOOM!
The beast's claws struck the ground, splitting the earth into a jagged crater. Grass and dirt exploded into the air.
But Klein had rolled just in time, barely dodging the fatal blow.
"Shit…!" He exhaled sharply, heart pounding in his chest.
But before he could counter.
A flash of red seared through his vision.
It had already turned.
Silver fur gleamed with a fiery glow, claws slicing through the air in a deadly arc.
"KLEIN!!"
A dark figure rushed forward, steel shield raised.
KLANGGG!!
A thunderous impact erupted.
Dynamm clenched his jaw as he was thrown backward.
The force of the attack was overwhelming.
He staggered a few steps, his heels digging into the ground, but in the end, he still had to drop to one knee, his shield arm trembling violently.
The whole team realized it at once.
They were being pushed back.
No, not just pushed back.
They were being crushed.
"Shit...! Why is it so damn strong?!" Dale hissed, his greatsword still vibrating slightly from the earlier clash.
Issin tightened his grip on his sword, a flicker of worry in his eyes. "We can't hold on much longer..."
No one argued.
Because they all knew, if this continued...
They would be wiped out.
A low growl rumbled through the air.
The wolf crouched low, its four legs spread wide, claws digging deep into the ground.
It was preparing to strike the final blow.
And this time...
No one could stop it.
Snap!
A chilling gust of wind sliced past.
Without a second thought, Ren lunged forward.
His body moved on instinct, steady, fluid, faster than thought.
The steel blade in his hand slashed upward, aiming straight for the wolf's neck.
Swish!
A sharp cut appeared on its thick fur, leaving a thin crimson line.
Not much.
Not enough to deal serious damage.
But just enough...
To break its focus.
The Giant Elite Dire Wolf froze for a fleeting moment.
And in a life-or-death battle, even a single moment could turn the tide.
But instead of retreating, the beast snapped its head toward Ren.
Its crimson eyes burned with killing intent.
And then.
Whoosh!
A massive, bristling tail swept through the air.
But it wasn't soft like it appeared.
It was rough, rigid, like thorned vines, striking with the force to shatter bones.
Ren's breath hitched.
His legs trembled instinctively in the face of the beast's fury.
But he couldn't stop.
He couldn't back down.
Just a second before the tail struck, he gritted his teeth, tensed his legs, and pushed off.
Flipping through the air.
BOOM!
The tail smashed into the ground right beneath him, leaving a deep, jagged crack.
Close.
A second slower, and he would've been swatted away like a ragdoll.
His heart pounded wildly.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
He was... terrified.
Of course, he was terrified.
So much that his body trembled.
But amidst the fear, something was even scarier.
The image of his teammates.
The ones fighting with everything they had.
The ones who had taken blows for him, who had held the monster back to protect him.
And he...
He couldn't just stand there and watch them fall.
He couldn't hide behind them forever.
Gritting his teeth, Ren tightened his grip on his sword and downed a health potion in one gulp.
Something he never dared to use before, just to save money.
But right now, nothing else mattered.
Nothing was more regrettable...
Than letting his teammates fight alone.
"Ren! Keep its attention! We'll flank it from both sides!"
Klein's voice rang out from behind, both a command and an encouragement.
Ren clenched the hilt of his sword.
His heart still pounded, cold sweat still ran down his spine, but....
Someone was counting on him.
He wasn't just a useless extra in this fight.
He had a role.
He could help them.
Ren gave a small nod, taking a deep breath.
The fear in his blue eyes faded, leaving only determination.
He didn't need to win.
He just needed to keep the monster focused on him long enough.
Just a moment....
A chance for Klein and the others to strike the finishing blow.
Adjusting his stance, he lowered his center of gravity, gripped his sword tighter...
And charged!
His blade carved a shining arc through the air, slashing into the wolf's side.
Swish!
A shallow cut, but enough to make it roar in fury.
Ren didn't stop.
He twisted his body, flipping backward to dodge the next tail swipe.
Just a little longer!
"Now!" Klein shouted.
From both sides, his teammates surged forward!