The trees ended at a jagged ravine. Beyond it, a moss-covered hill rose like a broken tooth, curved stone etched with weathered runes. I had reached it. The sealed cavern of Veldora lay just beyond that ridge.
I stepped toward the slope. The wind shifted.
Behind me, the forest fell silent.
Then it lunged.
The Greater Fen Wolf burst from the underbrush with no warning. It moved like lightning across the dirt, a streak of black and gray, fangs already bared. I raised my hand and caught the magic mid-pulse, forming a spear through instinct.
Claws clashed against magic. I was thrown back. The spear cracked, the magic dispersing before it could stabilize. The wolf landed on all fours, eyes burning yellow, fangs dripping steam.
"You smell delicious," it growled, voice thick and low. "I bet you taste even better."
I recovered my footing. It was larger than I expected, nearly twice my height. Its aura pressed against my skin like smoke. Higher B-rank. Stronger than me in every way.
I formed a second spear and lunged. The weapon struck its flank and shattered. I barely dodged its counterstrike. Wind tore through the soil where I stood seconds before.
The goblins behind me screamed and scattered.
I didn't turn.
The wolf stalked forward. "So this is the source of that scent. Not bad. You're not prey... not exactly. But you're not a threat either."
I formed a third spear, smaller and faster. I struck low, aiming for the joints. It dodged cleanly and bit toward my shoulder. I rolled, losing skin to the bite but avoiding the full crush of its jaws.
Magic surged through my body, but the pressure was wrong. My body wasn't fast enough to overwhelm it, and my weapon wasn't heavy enough to pierce its hide.
The wolf's mouth curled into something like a grin.
"You're fun."
It lunged again. This time I didn't dodge fast enough. A claw raked across my side, deep and hot. I staggered back, trying to pull magic again, but my stance was off. I hit the ground.
The wolf stepped forward.
I heard stones fall behind me, followed by heavy breathing.
I turned slightly.
The goblins had returned. Dirt-covered. Empty-handed. But not running.
One of them threw a rock. It missed. Another followed. It hit the wolf's flank and bounced off harmlessly. They were shaking. Their voices cracked.
"You... you helped us!" one shouted.
"We won't run!" another said, barely standing. "You're... you're a goblin! Like us!"
I didn't respond. I looked at them, then at the wolf.
Annoying, loyal fools.
But they weren't wrong.
The wolf growled at them but kept its eyes on me.
I stood again, blood running down my side. My hand burned with magic. The spear formed slower this time, but heavier. Denser.
"I'll make it hurt," the wolf said, crouching low.
I didn't answer.
It leapt.
I waited.
Its mouth opened, wide enough to crush my skull in one bite.
I stepped forward and rammed the spear in.
Overchannel triggered.
Every ounce of mana I had flowed into the weapon.
The glow turned white.
The explosion came from inside.
The wolf's head jerked back. Fire and force erupted from its jaw. Teeth split. Bone cracked. A burst of light cut through the canopy and shook the ground.
When the smoke cleared, the wolf was still.
Its body dropped with a dull thud, black smoke rising from its throat. The goblins stared in silence.
I collapsed to one knee.
The goblins didn't cheer. They didn't speak. But one of them walked forward and put his hand on my back, quiet and firm.
I didn't shrug him off.