One of the Howlers darted forward.. lightning fast. But still, Jayden was faster.
He sidestepped, then drove his elbow into its ribs.
CRACK!
The beast yelped as its body bent unnaturally from the impact, tumbling sideways into a tree.
But before Jayden could capitalize, the second Howler lunged from behind.
SLASH!
Its claws ripped through his shirt, barely missing his skin. Jayden twisted midair, kicking off the tree trunk to create space.
These two weren't reckless like the first pair. They were coordinated.
[You might wanna stop playing around now, Beastlord,] Luna teased. [They're running a strategy on you.]
Jayden wiped his nose with the back of his hand, eyes gleaming. "Alright, let's get serious then."
The Howlers didn't wait for an invitation.
They attacked in unison.. one from the front, the other from the side.
Jayden vanished.
The Howlers' jaws snapped at air.
BAM!
In a blur of movement, Jayden reappeared behind one of them and drove his knee into its spine. The beast howled in agony as it was launched into the sky.
He didn't stop there.
Pivoting with inhuman precision, Jayden grabbed the second Howler mid-attack, by the throat.
The beast froze, kicking and thrashing in his grip.
Jayden's eyes glowed faintly. His grip tightened, and he bent the wolf's neck forcefully
Snap!
The Howler's body went limp.
He tossed it aside like garbage just as the first beast crashed back down. Before it could even think about recovering, Jayden was already moving.
He leaped, twisting midair, and brought his heel down on its skull.
BOOM!
The forest shook.
Dust settled. The two Howlers lay sprawled and lifeless.
[2 E-Rank beasts defeated]
[+40 Exp received]
Jayden stood amidst the carnage, breathing lightly. His heart pounded, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer thrill.
[Well...] Luna exhaled. [That was brutal.]
Jayden stretched, smirking. "It wasn't challenging at all. But I think I like fighting beasts."
[Yeah? Just wait till you fight one that fights back just as hard]
"Wait a minute," Jayden paused. "Why am I getting the same Exp amount for an E-Rank beast? It should be more,"
[I think that's because you defeated the beasts too easily] Luna stated. [There was clearly no difference between them and the F-Rank Howlers]
Jayden sighed. "Is this system kidding me? It reduced my Exp amount just because I defeated the beasts too easily? That's not fair at all,"
[Well, life isn't fair Jayden] Luna giggled. [Though it might have also been reduced because the E-Rank Howlers you fought just recently ranked up from F]
Jayden exhaled. "Oh, well. A win is still a win, I guess," he muttered
Jayden glanced down at the corpses, he pondered harvesting the beast crystals. He could sell it for an appropriate price for whoever was willing to buy. And as for the bodies, he could take them back home to be cooked.
But then, a sudden notification popped up in Jayden's face, one that stunned him a bit.
[Requirements has been met]
[Analysing compatibility...]
[Host is compatible with available beast energy]
[Would you like to absorb the E-Rank Howler's energy?]
[Yes] [No]
Jayden was surprised by the notification, he didn't think the beast energy acquisition would automatically activate after defeating beasts.
"Wait, so why didn't it ask me, after I killed the first F-Rank Howler?" he asked
[Because F-Rank beasts don't have beast crystals] Luna replied casually
Jayden furrowed his brows. "So beast crystals are a part of the requirements? Why didn't the system state this in the ability's info," he asked, already forgotting that he wasn't supposed to remain in that area for long.
Luna sighed. [Because it didn't think you'd want to acquire the energy of an F-Rank beast]
Jayden shrugged. "Well, that's a bit true. F-Rank beasts are weak," he muttered
"But for now, this E-Rank Howler's energy would have to do. I want to see how this ability works," he added, and decided to absorb his first beast energy.
But before Jayden could reply the system, he heard something... A deep, guttural growl that seemed to vibrate through the very earth beneath his feet.
Jayden's body tensed, the battle with the pack wasn't over yet. "Crap! I completely forgot, I was supposed to leave before..."
From the shadows, the lupine figures emerged... seven of them. Bigger. Meaner. Deadlier.
Their silver eyes gleamed in the light as they stepped forward, their powerful frames rippling with muscle. They were all E-Rank, and they seemed even stronger than the ones he had just defeated.
But strangely, they didn't attack. Instead, they circled him, moving in eerie unison, their sharp fangs bared, their deep growls harmonizing into one menacing rhythm.
Jayden's smirk twitched, he became wary. "What are they doing? Why aren't they attacking?" he muttered
[Oh, no] Luna's voice was calm, but serious. [I don't think they can, even if they wanted]
Jayden raised a brow. "Why not?" he asked
Luna sighed. [Their leader doesn't command it]
Luna's words had barely registered when the temperature around Jayden seemed to drop.
A presence... A massive presence. From the shadows of the trees, a hulking beast stepped forward.
Towering at nearly eight feet, its fur was white as snow, with streaks of eerie blue running down its sides like ancient war markings. Its fangs gleamed like daggers, and its eyes...
They weren't silver like the others. They were glowing red.
Jayden sighed deeply, he didn't need to be told to know that this was a D-Rank beast, and it seemed to be the leader.
The Alpha.
The entire pack bowed their heads slightly as it approached, the sheer weight of its presence making the air feel heavy.
Jayden felt his muscles tighten instinctively. His body recognized it, this thing was dangerous. "Of course, every pack has an Alpha," he gritted his teeth. The beasts aura was incredibly powerful
Even he wasn't sure if he could take it head-on.
The Alpha let out a deep snarl, its breath visible in the cold night air. It didn't lunge. It didn't grow reckless.
It just stared at Jayden. Sizing him up.
Jayden's heart pounded. Not from fear. But from anticipation.
A slow smirk spread across his lips.
"Well then... let's see if you're worth the title."
The Alpha's eyes narrowed.
And then, it roared.
Jayden's smirk didn't waver, but inside, he knew this was not a fight he could win.
The Alpha wasn't just bigger, it was smarter, stronger, and on a whole different level than the beasts he had fought before. And it wasn't even an Howler, it's specie was different. It was a Winter wolf.
Luna's voice rang sharply in his mind. [Jayden, listen to me. You can't beat it. Not now. You need to get out of here]
He clenched his fists. He hated running from a fight. But he wasn't stupid, charging in blindly would only get him torn to shreds.
Still... he had one trick he wanted to try.
"Let's see if this works," Jayden muttered.
He took a deep breath and then let his presence expand. "Activate Beastlord aura. Active effect,"
[-10 Ep]
[Beastlord Aura Activated]
[-5 Ep per minute]
A pulse of invisible energy erupted from his body. The effect was instantaneous. And all the creatures in the vicinity felt it.
The seven E-Rank wolves circling him froze. Their hackles rose, ears flattened against their skulls. Some of them even whimpered, taking a hesitant step back. Their eyes darted between each other in confusion, their primal instincts screaming at them to submit.
Jayden felt the shift. The air itself seemed heavier. The trees, the grass, the very forest around him seemed to hold its breath as his aura expanded further, exerting dominance.
He looked at the pack, and the moment his golden eyes locked onto theirs, they flinched.
They felt it. The pressure. The weight of something above them.
A few of the weaker ones instinctively lowered their bodies, their tails tucking between their legs.
A smirk crept onto Jayden's lips. "So it works on you guys, huh? Which means I'm stronger,"
But then.. A low, thunderous growl shook the air.
The Alpha.
Unlike its subordinates, it did not flinch.
Its glowing red eyes burned into Jayden's, and in that instant, Jayden felt something... a counter-pressure.
A response to his dominance.
The Alpha was resisting. Not just resisting, but challenging him.
[Damn it, Jayden] Luna's voice was sharp. [I told you this thing wasn't normal. Your aura works on weaker beasts, but this? This is an Alpha... a D-Rank Winter wolf. It's got enough mental fortitude to fight back]
Jayden clenched his jaw as the Alpha took a slow, deliberate step forward. Growling softly and gritting it's teeth. Then it took another step.
Jayden's aura was pressing down on it, but instead of faltering, the beast was pushing back. The tension between them crackled like a storm waiting to break.
This meant one thing... Jayden wasn't stronger than it and he definitely wasn't on the same level as it.
[Jayden, get out now!] Luna warned. [It thinks you're challenging it for the position of Alpha, and that makes it more deadly]
The other wolves remained frozen, caught between their instincts to submit and their loyalty to their leader.
Jayden exhaled. "Alright, big guy. You win this one," he groaned, and deactivated the Beastlord aura. Then in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Within a second, he had disappeared from the area. And with a burst of speed, he turned and sprinted into the forest.
The pack hesitated, unsure of whether to chase. The Alpha let out a low growl, but it did not give chase.
It simply stood there, watching.
Because even though Jayden was weaker... it had acknowledged him. It was fascinated that someone weaker had the courage to challenge it's authority.
And that, in itself, was a victory.
Jayden's feet pounded against the forest floor as he sprinted through the dense trees, weaving between thick trunks and leaping over tangled roots with inhuman agility. His breath was steady, but his mind was racing.
Behind him, the howls of the E-Rank wolves echoed into the morning air, but... They weren't chasing.
The Alpha had let him go.
That fact sent a strange shiver down Jayden's spine. He skidded on the ground, coming to a stop.
"Huh? They're not chasing?" he muttered
[Looks like it left you alone] Luna's voice rang in his mind, still sharp from the tension. [It could've torn you apart, but instead... it let you walk away. That's rare]
Jayden sighed. "Lucky me... I guess,"
[Yeah, but I doubt it'd let you go next time] Luna stated. [You challenged it's position as leader, which makes you it's rival. I think it let you go so you can come back someday to have a proper duel. One that would decide who rules the pack]
Jayden chuckled. "Yeah, I'm not getting involved in some canine power struggle. I'll find some other beasts to hunt, thanks," he muttered. But just immediately, a system notification popped up.
[New Random Quest Available]
[You are on a journey to become the lord over all beasts: Defeat the D-Rank Winter wolf and become the new Alpha]
*Rewards: One giftbox
[Note: This quest is compulsory and must be completed within a fortnight]