Chapter 56: Prey 4
"AGHHH!!!!"
Visceral screams echoed across the windy plains of the relatively peaceful glades. A man and a wolf faced off, staring at each other eye to eye, their gazes locked tight in eternal strife.
The wolf had its jaws clamped down tight upon the fleshy arm of the man, mangling and biting it, shattering the bones and ripping the flesh from within.
The man struggled to even get up, the excruciating pain radiating from his right arm incapacitating him.
Although he had managed to dodge the initial lunge of the wolf at the last second, he couldn't keep up with its relentless assault. Now, it played with his arm, a savage toy for the beast.
Mud and blood splattered all over his already black uniform, making him look even more dark and grotesque.
His breaths came in ragged gasps as he resisted as long as he could, while the wolf tossed him around.
Its powerful paws battered his body, rolling him across the hard ground with each vicious
movement.
Blood spurted from his mouth with every impact, and gasping screams escaped his lips every time the wolf's teeth found purchase on his limbs.
From his right arm to his left leg, the wolf played with the man, a predator toying with its prey.
It wouldn't be strange if he collapsed now, succumbing to the brutal onslaught.
Yet, despite the overwhelming agony and the bleakness of his situation, he did not falter. His eyes, burning with a fierce conviction and unwavering resistance, told a different story. He refused to give in, a warrior's spirit flickering like a dying ember, holding on against the odds.
The wolf, although not human, couldn't help but muse upon the strange prey it had encountered.
The man before him wasn't the strongest, nor was he the most intelligent, yet there was something about him that the wolf couldn't ignore-something that would eventually haunt him.
As a monster born within the very depths of this forest, the wolf had felt few emotions beyond the primal instincts of hunger and survival.
But now, an unusual curiosity stirred within him. A monster with intellect like his could recognize just how amusingly dangerous this man he was playing with truly was.
He was the best prey the wolf had encountered in a very long time, and that was why it was fun.
It was fun seeing him scream, it was fun watching him suffer, and it was fun witnessing his unyielding resistance.
The man's tenacity was a rare treat, an unexpected delight in the wolf's otherwise monotonous existence.
The wolf had inherited the fiery temperament of storms, a wild and untamable spirit that reveled in the chaos it created.ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels
Whatever he felt from the man, he was sure it would be amusing to prove wrong.
The man's eyes, filled with defiance, only added to the thrill.
It was a game, a deadly dance between predator and prey, and the wolf was determined to enjoy every moment of it.
He snarled, tightening his grip on the man's arm, relishing the taste of blood and the sensation of power coursing through him.
This man, with his burning eyes and indomitable will, was unlike any prey he had faced before.
The wolf knew that breaking him would be a triumph, a testament to his own strength and superiority.
Yet, as he continued to toy with the man, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. This prey was different, not just in his resistance but in the way he stirred something within the wolf, a flicker of something almost like respect.
The wolf shook off the thought, focusing instead on the immediate pleasure of the hunt. After all, he was a creature of the wild, and sentiment had no place in his world.
But deep down, he couldn't deny the gnawing feeling that this encounter was significant, that this man would leave a mark on him, a reminder of the day when prey fought back with the heart of a true warrior.
.....
'Ah... I messed up.'
"Ughock... cough! Cough!"
Blood splurted from my mouth as my body was mangled left and right.
BOOF!
With every strike, every hit, every bite, pain surged through me, magnified by the burning sensation of the golden lightning surging within the wolf's jaws.
Each shockwave of agony tore through my facade, exposing the raw, hidden pain beneath.
'Is this how I die?'
Thoughts of death loomed deep inside my heart. No matter how much I tried to find a way out, there was no escape from this situation, right?
Right now, I couldn't even see properly; the red blood dripping into my eyes blocked my already blurry vision.
[WARNING!]
[WARNING!]
I didn't even know the exact situation I was in.
The momentary sensations of relief were quickly mangled by the rough ground beneath me
and the relentless impacts from the wolf.
Even my knowledge of the game couldn't save me from this dire predicament.
My muscles had reached their limit, and the amount of damage I had taken was far beyond my threshold.
I was quite surprised I was still conscious.
I already knew that making a mistake could cost me my life, but it seems that knowing this wasn't enough to escape the consequences.
[WARNING!]
System messages kept flashing before me, but blinded by the red haze of blood, I couldn't
make out what they were saying. If I had to guess, it was probably warning me of something dire... or perhaps futile.
Haha, how ironic it would be if the system actually provided assistance right now, instead of
just warning me of impending doom, urging me to survive only to fulfill some predetermined
fate.
"How stupid..."
I muttered through gritted teeth. If I was bound to die in the first place, why did it matter how
or when? Why did it need me to die in that specific scenario?
[Note: Emergency measures applying!]
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
The thunderous sound of lightning rippled through the air, electrifying the wind and
atmosphere as it pricked upon my skin. I knew the wolf was intending to end it now.
Though my vision was blurry and tinged with blood, I could sense the surge of golden lightning around its body was more potent than ever before.
It was preparing to unleash its strongest skill, [Lightning Jaws].
A high-level physical attack imbued with the power of lightning; it was rumored to be in the
same category as high-ranking spells.
A one-hit skill, the Tempest Wolf could only use it once a day-its ultimate attack, capable of
turning me to dust with a single strike.
'Hooh....'
Calming my breath and the dwindling hope inside of me, I still held my sword firm, pointing
it towards the approaching beast. If I was going to die anyway, I might as well do it on my
own terms, right?
Flash!
BOOM!
With a blinding light that momentarily robbed me of sight, the wolf disappeared from its
position, accompanied by the deafening clap of thunder.
Facing the inevitable, I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact of the wolf's devastating
attack. But as seconds passed and no pain came, confusion gnawed at my mind.
'Did it miss?'
No... opening my eyes once more, I scanned the field through the blurry haze of red, my eyes
widening in surprise.
The wolf's jaws were mere inches away from my face, frozen in mid-air.....
Why was it not finishing the job? Was it mocking me?
Standing there, as if suspended in time, the vague shape of its jaws seemed to taunt me with
their proximity.
[Note: Conditions have been met!]
And why did the world suddenly become darker than ever?
It was as if I was thrust into a black-and-white monochromatic world, where only stark
contrasts of light and dark existed.
Everything fell silent, enveloped in this strange yet familiar sensation.
And in this moment It felt like I was the 'KING'
[Note:]
{[Skill: Monarch's Will (Unique)] [Unlocked!]}
[Effects Applying]
[Effects: Absolute Command] [Active]
[Effects: 90% Stat Reduction] [Active]
[Note: All enemies in the user's presence will now have their stats reduced!]
[Note: All enemies in the user's presence will now have their wills subjugated!]
[Note: Emergency measures applied!] [Note: May you survive and fulfill your fate, good luck!]