"Can you explain further?" Naran asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Ji Ung gave a slow nod, his expression serious. "We have to split up… and use our human scent to lure the wolves. It's the only way to distract them."
Hugo's voice cut in sharply. "Wait are you asking us to use ourselves as bait?"
Ji Ung looked down for a moment, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Yes… I am."
The group fell silent.
Ji Ung continued, "I know it's dangerous. But it's the only plan we have. If we try to fight them head on, they'll slaughter us. We're not strong enough to face them all together."
Naran's brow furrowed. Something about this sounded too familiar.
Then it clicked.
"This is the same plan I suggested last time we were here," Naran said, his tone edged with frustration. "Divide and distract."
Ji Ung nodded. "Exactly. Your idea might be our only hope now."
"Divide and conquer," he muttered bitterly.
"Precisely," Ji Ung said.
"But what if the wolves corner us all?" Hugo asked. He was thinking tactically. He knew the numbers. He also knew the wolves knew their den better than any of them. Escaping wouldn't be easy.
"That's where the numbers game comes in," Ji Ung explained. "We'll overload their senses. Their sense of smell is stronger than regular wolves. But if there are too many conflicting scents… it'll confuse them. And if that giant lycan shows up…" Ji Ung's voice hardened, "I'll handle it."
There was a heavy silence as they all accepted the bitter truth they were about to become bait.
"Oh and one more thing," Ji Ung added. "If I or Naran give the signal, everyone run to the cave entrance we used to get in. No questions."
With that, the unit split. Each member sprinted in a different direction, disappearing into the twisting darkness of the Wolves' Den.
The wolves stirred, Familiar human Prey.
They sniffed the air, confused. So many scents too many. Their tongues lolled, their mouths drooled. Then one bolted, breaking into a frantic run. The others followed, hunger driving them mad.
Ji Ung's voice buzzed through the radio: "They're coming."
The ground trembled. A low rumble rolled through the den. The unit felt fear clutch their throats but there was no room for hesitation. They moved.
Some ran. Some dodged. Some baited. The wolves split into packs, chasing after every scent they could track but just as they closed in on one human, another scent would rise and drag them away. It became chaos. Beautiful, tactical chaos.
Ji Ung struck silently from the shadows. Whenever a wolf found itself alone confused and snarling he would strike fast and disappear before it hit the ground.
The plan worked. Mostly But not everyone was lucky.
Some weren't fast enough, Some weren't skilled enough, And when the wolves caught them, they didn't show mercy. Screams were drowned by growls. Blood soaked into the dark soil of the den.
Hugo was panting heavily. He had been running nonstop, playing bait with Naran. Every time the wolves got too close, they'd switch roles. It was working but it was draining him.
His legs trembled. He stumbled into a narrow cave cold and damp Safe for a moment.
He dropped to the floor, gasping for air Then he saw them two small corrupted wolves Blood-red eyes Glowing Watching and looking straight at him Before he could move, one pounced.
Hugo rolled instinctively to the side The other lunged, sinking its fangs into his arm.
He gritted his teeth, stifling a scream, and jabbed a finger into the creature's eye. It howled and fell back.
Hugo bolted bleeding and wide-eyed racing out of the cave with the two corrupted wolves snarling behind him.
Not far away, Naran had just paused to catch his breath after running and dodging for a while.
He looked up and saw them.
Hugo. Running. Bleeding. The corrupted wolves closing in.
He didn't hesitate.
"No time to rest," Naran muttered and shot forward, ready to save his teammate whatever it took.
Naran sprinted toward Hugo, heart pounding. The two wolves were gaining fast, their snarls echoing through the tunnel-like den.
"Hugo, down!" Naran shouted.
Without hesitation and fully understanding who said his instinct to over, Hugo dropped to the ground just as Naran leapt over him, driving his blade downward. One of the wolves screamed as the strike connected, but the second lunged. Naran twisted, barely dodging the snapping jaws.
The corrupted wolf landed, spun, and attacked again with rabid fury.
Naran gritted his teeth. "These ones are smarter…"
He ducked low, dragging Hugo to his feet. "Run back to the main corridor!"
"I can't my arm" Hugo winced, blood soaking through his sleeve.
"Then stay close to me and move!" Naran barked.
As the wolf prepared to launch himself at Naran Naran also charge towards it but the wolves speed was greater it leaped towards Naran aiming to bite is head of but Naran ever the tactical one rose his arm up instead as the wolves bite down Naran used is blade stabbing the beast straight in the neck killing it instantly
But the sound the thud, the growl, the snap of bone was too loud.
The commotion drew eyes Dozens of them Glowing, unblinking and hungry.
Wolves.
Corrupted ones.
They had been watching, Hunting Waiting. Now there prey was exposed
Now they surged forward, claws tearing into the earth, snarls ripping through the choking silence.
"Run!" Naran shouted.
He didn't wait for a reply. He scooped Hugo into his arms and sprinted.
They ran.
Through the jagged cave floor, they staggered, Slipping, Gasping and Dodging shadows that moved like living nightmares.
Behind them, the wolves chased feral and blood-crazed, saliva stringing from their blackened jaws, eyes blazing with mindless hunger.
Snapping teeth closed inches from Naran's back He didn't look. He couldn't.
Then the ground shifted beneath themA tremor, deeper than before Not a wolf something else, something worse.
The corrupted wolves faltered mid-chase. Even they knew. Something had frightening had appeared
From the depths of the carven a loud thunderous stepped is heard, paws so huge it cracked the ground underneath
A growl not like the others. It echoed through the stone, vibrating through bone.
Naran skidded to a stop, heart slamming against his ribs.
Hugo feeling the over whelming pressure began to tremble his face shown with fear as tears began to fall from his eyes
Naran looking at the source of the pressure knew that the worst situation was right in front of them
"That's not good," he breathed, voice barely audible over the silence that followed.
And then…
A pair of massive eyes snapped open in the dark.
Blood red unblinking Staring straight at them.
The air changed. It grew heavy. Thicker than fog. Harder to breathe. The mana in the cave twisted violently, turning cold and sharp like broken glass.
A shape moved No emerged.
Lumbering and Colossal in size it wasn't a wolf, well Not anymore.
Flesh stretched over unnatural bone. Limbs too long, Claws like daggers, Fur mangled and soaked with something dark and steaming.
A monster born of rot and rage.
Far above, Ji Ung tensed. His eyes widened he felt it the flow of mana had shifted It was here The Mutated Lycan.