The giant beast coiled low before launching itself ten metres into the air, its razor-sharp claws poised for the kill.
With sharp reflexes, Canis shoved Steve aside. The knight tumbled to the ground with a soft thud.
"Kitty!~" The thin mage's voice was melodic as he lifted his hammer, parrying the sabretooth's claws with the handle.
A deep growl rumbled from the beast's throat as it pressed its monstrous weight down on Canis's frail frame. Yet, despite the overwhelming difference in strength, he held his ground, wrestling against the beast's raw power.
GRRRRRRRERERER!
The sabretooth roared, snapping its enormous fangs at him. Its musky breath stank of death, reeking of its past kills. It must have devoured hundreds of humans in its life.
"Woah!" Canis gasped as he ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the jagged teeth. His trembling legs finally buckled, and he dropped to one knee.
But his pale blue eyes gleamed with exhilaration. Shifting his weight, he abruptly twisted his hammer, throwing the beast off balance and sending it crashing onto the ground.
THUD!
The sabretooth whimpered before scrambling back to its feet. Its piercing eyes darted to the trembling Bronze knight cowering in the grass.
"AHHHHH!" Steve screamed as the beast shifted its attention toward him, fixating on the easier prey.
RRRRGH!
It snarled and charged with terrifying speed, claws tearing through the dirt.
"Mama!" Steve shrieked, lifting his armoured arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself from certain death.
"Domoklasis!" Canis's voice thundered like stone cracking apart.
He slammed the pommel of his hammer against the earth.
A glowing glyph, bronze in colour, streaked across the ground like lightning, shooting toward the beast and Steve.
In the blink of an eye, the glowing lines etched themselves into the air, forming intricate geometric patterns. Suddenly, an elegant Roman-style wall materialised, built from precisely cut rectangular stone blocks. But instead of white marble, the surface gleamed like polished bronze.
GRRHHH!
The sabretooth hissed in frustration, leaping off the newly formed wall and flaring its nostrils. It paced along the barrier, irritated by the sudden obstruction.
Steve, still trembling, squeezed his eyes shut.
"Huh? I'm… alive?"
Realising that death hadn't come, he scrambled backward, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the fight.
"Canis! This isn't a treehouse!" he blurted in astonishment.
Circling the beast, Canis grinned. "I'm not done with you, kitty!"
Raising his hammer high, he slammed it against the ground multiple times. His pale blue eyes crackled with mana as amber light shot from the pommel.
THOOOOM!
Massive Doric columns — ancient Greek in design, each a metre in diameter — erupted from the earth with tremendous force. The ground trembled beneath the sheer weight of Canis's power.
But the beast was swift. It leapt and twisted mid-air, dodging the sudden attack with unnatural agility. Then, its powerful paws struck the ground, propelling it toward Canis with blinding speed.
Its bloodshot eyes gleamed with primal hunger.
"Not so FAST!" Canis roared.
But mid-sentence, his voice deepened, turning more guttural — almost inhuman.
His body twisted unnaturally, muscles expanding and contorting in ways that should have been impossible.
"C~Canis! Brother! What's happening?!" Steve yelled in disbelief.
Panicked, he lifted his plasma blaster and fired blindly at the charging beast.
The plasma rounds streaked through the air, missing their mark.
"Bloody hell!" Steve grumbled, activating his thrusters and launching himself forward.
Meanwhile, Canis's body continued to transform. His height stretched past two metres, his frame now adorned with thick, hardened muscle. His jaw extended outward, taking the shape of a mighty wolf's muzzle. Dark blue hair grew wildly over his body, covering every inch of his skin.
His once-loose tunic now clung tightly, straining against his rapidly growing form.
The sabretooth hesitated.
Confusion flickered across its bloodshot eyes.
But it was too late.
Canis — the giant wolf — swung his hammer in a full, devastating rotation.
CRUNCH!
The hammer connected with the beast's jaw, shattering its legendary fangs. The force sent it flying, slamming into a nearby tree. Branches and leaves rained down over its motionless form.
Steve stared, mouth agape.
"Canis! You're an Animori!?" he exclaimed, eyes gleaming with newfound hope.
Canis winked. "You're correct! Now get behind me, knight!"
Turning toward the fallen beast, his massive frame cast a long shadow over the battlefield.
The sabretooth twitched, shaking off the daze. Then, with renewed fury, it gathered itself up once more.
GRRRRRRER!
Snarling, it lunged forward at full speed, claws extended for the kill.
Canis sidestepped, dodging the swipe.
"YAAAAH!" He swung his hammer in a wide arc, the air whistling with its force. The head of the weapon smashed into the beast's skull. It howled in agony.
Without hesitation, Canis gripped his weapon tighter, feeling mana surge through his veins.
"Domoklasis!"
Metallic spikes erupted from the earth, impaling the sabretooth mid-leap.
Its body jerked violently. Blood trickled down the metallic shafts before it finally went limp, its lifeless form suspended in the air.
"H~holy moly! Canis! You did it!" Steve peeked out from behind Canis's massive frame, gawking at the slain beast.
Panting, Canis leaned against his hammer. His towering figure loomed over Steve.
"I… should not be fighting right after teleporting," he admitted, his voice strained between shallow breaths.
Steve's awe turned to curiosity. "You're an Animori… and an Arcanist of Osten. Wait — why did you save me?"
Canis straightened his back, resting both arms atop the pommel of his hammer. His gaze turned distant, thoughtful.
"Because I stand against ruin, not for it." His voice was calm, unwavering.
Then the giant wolf turned, placing a reassuring hand on Steve's armoured shoulder.
"Come with me, Steve. We'll seek refuge at the dam."
He strode forward.
Steve remained frozen in place, his eyes glistening, his throat tightening as he fought back emotions.
"But… I'm an enemy." His voice was barely a whisper.
Canis glanced over his shoulder, fangs flashing in a grin.
"Then let's start by not being one."
His words lingered in Steve's mind.
Then, after a moment of hesitation, his legs moved on their own, falling into step behind Canis.
***
Steve remained silent as he followed Canis through the pine trees, his mind turning over the words he had just heard.
Then let's start by not being one.
It was such a simple thing to say, yet it hit him harder than any blade or bullet ever had.
For so long, he had wandered aimlessly, lost in the ruins of his own failures, believing there was no place left for him in this world. He had thought of himself as nothing more than a deserter, a stray dog scavenging whatever scraps of survival he could find. But now, for the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't walking with a band of murderers.
Steve glanced up at Canis's towering form, watching the great wolf stride forward with effortless confidence.
"He's not just strong… he's unshaken."
That strength wasn't just in his muscles or his magic — it was in his resolve.
"Maybe, maybe I can be like that too."
A flicker of something stirred in Steve's chest. Not quite courage, not yet. But the smallest ember of something new, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.