Chapter 77 77 Deterrence

Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Deterrence

'Just how attached can a person be to their family's dignity, that they'd go out of their own way to die like a bloody chicken?!'

It was a valid question. His feet burned into the grass below as he thronged forward in a fog of own anger.

In that moment, as he crept through the open grassland towards the human-animal situation ahead of him, some part of Nexus wondered why he was so worked up. He already knew this was how Monica operated. This wasn't entirely inconcievable. So, why, the, fuck, was, he MAD?!

In a flash, it dawned on him- like lightning slicing through the warm heart of a recently deceased corpse.

Two things; either Nexus was absolutely getting infatuated with this haughty redhead. OR, it was his own ego- reacting dramatically.

Yes. It was the latter. Maybe the two- but definitely the latter! Nexus was annoyed.

It wasn't just that she hadn't called him up. it was the fact that she hadn't even thought of him like that in the FIRST PLACE. She had totally underestimated him! After all, he was a newbie- a measly D-rank hunter whose only value was to be a travel company.

Twenty five feet away from the massive wolf, with the darkening sky over his head, and the entire wildlife preparing for night time, Nexus bellowed like a wild bull, flaring his nostrils, clouding himself in a thick fog of his own anger. All these facts pounded away in his chest violently, spilled together as one into the cauldron that was his heart.

Without a sound, Nexus' invasive form entered the scene, and time seemed to slow down dramatically.

His anger- his very presence, caused the air around him to shift. His feet left the the lush carpet grass, and entered the rocky/hilly area of the wolves' den. The white washed rocks stood out against the comforting green of the landscape.

About a dozen rocks, ranging between three to ten feet tall, curved in a crescent shaped slash- very nearly completing a full circle. In between those rocks were mini caves, probably a haven for the little wolfings from the rain.

Nexus himself had stepped into the opening that should have completed the circle. It was like stepping into a colosseum. Really, the den was the perfect haven for the wolves. But unfortunately for them, their fate had pretty much been sealed.

Dusk had set in in full motion now.

Daylight was slowly ebbing, and darkness was steadily encroaching. But within that brief window of light, Nexus entered the scene without a sound.

As soon as Nexus' angry feet stepped into the den, his wrathful eyes swept through the battleground in a powerful sweep. At the far corner to his right, just a few feet away, was a handful of the remaining wolves. The black furry creatures were huddled together in a group- watching their alpha wolf.

Their pearly black eyes registered Nexus' presence, and instinctively, their predator-like instincts kicked in. As one, Their triangular shaped nuzzles dropped low to the ground, their jaws separated- showcasing their vicious sets of killer teeth. And they all plunged into a cacophony of death snarls- growling, sneering, watching him furtively.

They filled the air with the morbid sound of their deep, snarly, growls.

But Nexus was only mildly irritated.

He hadn't come for them.

So, very slowly, with the rest of his body still facing Monica and the alpha wolf, Nexus' neck wrenched in their direction. With fire in his eyes, and with an overwhelming burning gaze, Nexus' face echoed the power of his true rank.

Like puppies who had seen a dragon, like chickens before a roaring flame, the wind wolves backed off with immediately alarcrity. With reverence, and terror in their eyes, their wolf howls suddenly dropped squeaky whimpering notes. Their heads, which had been lowered for an attack, began to bob up and down frantically, as if trying to apologize, begging not to be wasted.

Spiritual pressure waves flowed out of his being in invisible tides- reverberating through the entire terrain. As one, the D-rank wolves all tucked their bushy furry tails between their legs, and slowly backed away from the forceful creature that had suddenly appeared before them.

Their black forms receded into the background, blending in with the incoming darkness.

Nexus wrenched his face away from the vassals, and turned towards the main snack of the hour- the alpha wolf.

Overhead, in the distant evening sky, a couple of ambitious birds screeched in high shrill monotones. The air was thick, and heavy with palpable tension. Every single creature present, held their breaths- as Nexus and Alpha wolf's eyes met.

As soon as Nexus tore his gaze away from the pack, the deathly-steely eyes of the big wolf greeted him. The creature had sense him- way before Nexus set his sight on it. The rest of its body was facing Monica, but its large looming head was turned to Nexus.

With its flaming red eyes that glowed even more sinisterly in the dark, its shaggy furry body began to shift. Slowly, on its tall powerful legs, its beefy frame began to turn away from Monica. Teeth barring, jaws sneering, the wolf stood to its fully height, brought its head to a lower inclination, and snarled.

The powerful sound rode the emptiness between them, and spewed into the air above- as a declaration of its stand.

Even in the waning light, each saw the other clearly. Both were alphas. Both were extremely powerful. And both were extremely dangerous. Nexus did not move. He didn't say a thing either. He simply stood there, arms by his side, mind calculating;

'What's the fastest way to shut this big dog up?'

That was all it was to him- a fucking dog.

'Flying sword?' the thought came into his mind; 'No, I have only a limited number left. . . Heavenly Flame?'

Nexus grinned. The picture of this creature burning and screaming, certainly looked alluring. Besides, it would also boost his image in Monica's sight. Maybe, just maybe, she would start to. . .

WOOOFFFF!! WHOOOFFFFF!!!

Nexus had never heard a wold bark.

Much less an upgraded alpha wolf.

Its powerful voice box screamed out of its throat, and exploded in the air with a furiousness. Its black shaggy fur, and the heavy flesh shook violently with each bark. The creature's massive head, as well as the rest of its entire body, vibrated accordingly. It was like watching a grizzly bear- but with the thundering roar of a mountain lion.

WOOOFFFF!! WHOOOFFFFF!!!

Taking advantage of its sheer size, its loudness, and booming voice, it continued to bark furiously. Each explosive sharp thundering woof, rang out into the open air- aggressively. Commanding notes rang through each bark. On the other side of the wolf's den, the remaining wolves cowered in fright- hearing the compelling call of their alpha.

However, for all its fierceness, and intimidating stunts, the alpha wolf hadn't taken a single step towards Nexus yet. Monica saw it. Nexus also noticed it.

He scoffed; 'No matter how big it gets, a dog will still be a fucking dog. . .'

Suddenly, the intensity of the barking began to reduce- like the gradually dying out of a candle.