Free Web NovelChapter 19: Shadow Wolves
[Surviving is victory. Everything else is failure. Whatever it takes, survive.]
[Good luck, Host. You will need it.]
[Time Remaining: 00:00:01]
The system’s cold and emotionless voice felt like whispers of hell. His expression turned aghast and pale, his face draining of color as the weight of those words settled over him.
[Time Remaining: 119:59:59]
The system interface materialized before him with the countdown, pale numbers ticking away, each second a reminder of the time slipping through his fingers.
"Status." Lucien called out, but there was no response. He called the system numerous times, but the silence that followed was absolute.
It was true. He was truly on his own now.
SNAP!
The sound of something snapping cut through the heavy silence, sending a jolt through Lucien’s body. He quickly surveyed his surroundings, his eyes darting between the shadowy trees.
And when he looked, he realized he was surrounded.
Even with the sun hanging in the sky, the forest was steeped in shadow, the thick canopy above swallowing most of the light. The air was cold and still, carrying the faint metallic scent of blood and decay.
Red, dark eyes filled his vision, multiple pairs gleaming from the darkness like embers in a dying fire. Lucien summoned the Abyss Carver, and thankfully, it appeared in his hand, its familiar weight grounding him.
It seemed that because he had equipped it, he was able to summon it.
His grip tightened around the hilt. The leather wrapping felt cool against his palm, worn and familiar.
He kept his breath steady, careful not to lose his guard while waiting for whatever creatures they were to step out.
And they stepped out, emerging from the shadows like smoke given form. Their bodies were lean and sinewy, covered in pitch-black fur that seemed to drink the dim crimson light. Their eyes burned a deep, blood-red, glowing like dying embers in the darkness.
They moved in near silence, their padded paws barely disturbing the dead leaves beneath them. Each step was deliberate, calculated, circling, closing in.
Their jaws hung slightly open, revealing rows of jagged, yellowed teeth. A low, guttural growl rumbled from one of the creatures’ throats, vibrating through the heavy air like a warning. The sound crawled across Lucien’s skin, raising goosebumps along his arms.
At their appearance, Lucien recognized them.
Shadow Wolves.
Volkoids known to be cold-blooded killers and assassins. Their race was almost extinct on Aethelgard; he hadn’t expected to meet a pack here.
But looking at them, he felt they had no reasoning. This left him confused.
The wolves charged, all attacking Lucien at once. Their cultivation was at the Origin Realm. The ground shook slightly under the weight of their charge, dead leaves crunching beneath their paws.
One of the shadow wolves was close. It moved like a shadow, its form blurring as it closed the distance in an instant. Its claw aimed for Lucien’s head, the jagged tips gleaming with a faint, dark sheen. He could feel the air shift as the attack came.
Instinctively, Lucien released his killing intent. The Sovereign of Slaughter Intent surged from him like a wave, cold and suffocating. He moved, his body flowing like water, fluidly dodging the shadow wolf’s claws.
The wolf’s strike sliced through empty air, missing by a hair’s breadth. Lucien felt the rush of wind against his cheek as the claws passed.
Lucien’s grip on the Abyss Carver tightened. In one smooth motion, he swung the blade, a single, clean arc.
A head flew into the sky.
Blood spurted from the severed neck, spraying across the dead leaves and dark soil. The warm, metallic scent filled his nostrils, thick and coppery.
The body crumpled to the ground, twitching once before falling still.
The remaining wolves paused, their red eyes fixed on the fallen pack member.
Then they snarled, and the hunt continued.
The blood of their fallen comrade seemed to rejuvenate them as they charged faster.
Eight Shadow Wolves attacked Lucien at the same time.
They blocked all possible escape routes, moving like assassins, silent, coordinated, and deadly. Their claws scraped against the bark of trees as they circled, closing the gap.
But with his trait, Keen Sense, augmented by the Sovereign of Slaughter Instinct, Lucien was able to track their movements. Their figures appeared small in his eyes, each shift of muscle, each flicker of intent, laid bare before him. He could see the tension in their haunches before they leaped.
Knowing that any error or mistake could lead to serious injury or death, Lucien used all of his agility.
Before they could fully close in, Lucien’s figure had vanished.
He appeared before one of the shadow wolves in an instant. The Abyss Carver pierced through its skull, the blade sinking deep with a wet, crunching sound. He felt the resistance of bone, then the give as the blade pushed through.
The blade let out a dark and eerie aura, as if it could drink the blood of its victims.
Lucien didn’t stop there.
He twisted the blade, pulling it free as the wolf’s body crumpled to the ground. His eyes swept across the remaining seven, his grip steady, his breath controlled.
His killing intent poured out. The hunt was far from over.
He moved again, appearing before the wolves who were still trying to comprehend what was happening.
Lucien’s aura was weak, but his strength didn’t correspond to it.
He claimed another shadow wolf, taking its head clean off with a single swing. The blade cut through flesh and bone like paper, leaving a clean, smooth edge.
Lucien glanced at the Abyss Carver. The sharpness of the blade made his eyes glow in delight.
He continued, taking another’s life.
Seeing their fallen comrades, the shadow wolves let out a brutal howl, a sound that echoed through the forest like a death knell, vibrating through the trees and into Lucien’s chest.
As he attacked another, Lucien stabbed it in the skull, but was surprised when he found no blood.
He looked at the shadow wolf he had attacked and saw it had disintegrated into shadows, dissolving like mist in the wind.
It was a clone, a shadow clone.
Lucien immediately felt danger behind him. It was fast, so fast that he couldn’t say he could move and dodge in time. The air behind him shifted, a cold presence pressing against his back.
Instinctively, he placed the Abyss Carver behind him where he felt the danger.
With this, he was able to stop the attack of the shadow wolf, giving him a moment as he moved, appearing two meters away from where he had been standing.
Flicker Step.
He had to use the skill.
Having escaped danger, Lucien looked to see the shadow wolf that had attacked him.
Its strength and aura were stronger than the rest; he could feel it from the clash. The impact had sent a tremor through his arm, a sharp sting radiating from his wrist.
When he saw the shadow wolf that had attacked him, his expression turned serious.
Smoke rose from its body as its fur began to smolder. Then its form shifted, muscles swelling beneath blackened hides. Its body grew larger, leaner, more predatory. Bones cracked and reformed, lengthening its limbs and claws.
Its eyes changed. Deep red blazed into molten gold, burning with an ancient, primal hunger.
Its claws elongated into jagged, bone-like blades that scraped against the earth. Jagged spines of dark bone pushed through the fur along its back, curving like blades.
Steam curled from its jaws with each breath, carrying the scent of hot iron and ash.
A deafening howl erupted from its throat.
