The rustling of leaves sent a chill down Alex's spine. He could feel it—an ominous presence watching him from the darkness. Then, it emerged.
A Shadowfang Wolf. Its black fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight, almost blending into the night itself.
Crimson eyes glowed with hunger, and the beast's low growl reverberated through the air. Alex's mind raced, recalling everything he knew about these creatures from the game.
Shadowfang Wolves were nocturnal predators, known for their extreme agility and stealth.
Their innate ability, Shadow Step, allowed them to momentarily vanish and reappear behind their prey, making them incredibly difficult to predict.
Worse, their fangs were laced with a mild paralytic venom, designed to weaken and slow down their victims over time.
'Damn it… a high-speed ambusher,' Alex thought, gripping the worn hilt of his sword. 'I can't afford to take a single bite from it.'
The wolf lunged.
Alex barely had time to react as he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the deadly fangs.
With a swift counterattack, he slashed at the beast's exposed flank, but the wolf disappeared mid-motion—Shadow Step! A fraction of a second later, he sensed danger behind him and threw himself forward, feeling the rush of air as razor-sharp fangs snapped just inches from his neck.
'Its movement patterns are too unpredictable. I need a way to force it into a direct fight!'
Alex spotted a clearing between the trees—less cover meant fewer angles for the wolf to use its ability. He dashed toward it, forcing the creature to give chase.
Just as he reached the clearing, a deafening howl pierced the air.
More rustling. More glowing eyes in the darkness. Two more wolves emerged.
'Shit! Three at once?!'
Alex's grip on his sword tightened. He was already struggling against one, and now he had to deal with three? His heart pounded as adrenaline flooded his system, his instincts screaming at him to flee.
But he didn't.
He couldn't.
If he ran now, he'd only be hunted down. No, the only way out was through.
The three wolves circled him, their movements synchronized. Alex took deep breaths, analyzing their rhythm.
The first wolf was the leader—it was the fastest and most aggressive. The other two were slightly smaller, meaning they were likely the pack's scouts, specializing in coordinated attacks.
One of them lunged from his left, while the other went for his right ankle. Alex twisted his body at the last moment, dodging both as he delivered a swift kick to the one closest to him.
It yelped and tumbled back, but he wasn't fast enough to evade the third wolf entirely—sharp claws raked across his side, drawing blood.
Gritting his teeth, Alex forced himself to ignore the pain.
'I need to end this fast before the bleeding slows me down.'
Focusing his mana into his legs, he dashed forward, surprising the leader with his sudden burst of speed.
A well-timed feint baited the creature into using Shadow Step—but this time, Alex was ready. Spinning mid-motion, he slashed in the direction it was most likely to appear.
The blade connected.
A pained howl erupted as the leader stumbled, black fur now stained red.
But Alex had no time to celebrate—one of the remaining wolves lunged straight for his exposed back.
With no time to turn, he made a split-second decision.
Using his free hand, he grabbed a fistful of dirt and flung it into the wolf's eyes. The creature yelped, momentarily blinded.
Seizing the opportunity, Alex plunged his sword deep into its throat, ending its struggle instantly.
Two down.
The final wolf hesitated, seeing its packmates fall. Alex's body ached, his breathing ragged, but he couldn't stop now. He had to finish this.
Gathering his remaining strength, he feigned exhaustion, lowering his stance ever so slightly. The wolf took the bait, charging in for what it thought was an easy kill.
At the last moment, Alex sidestepped and brought his sword down with all his strength.
A sickening crunch echoed through the forest as the blade cleaved through flesh and bone. The wolf let out a final whimper before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Silence.
Alex stood there, panting heavily, blood dripping from his wounds. The stench of iron filled the air. He had won.
Barely.
Collapsing to his knees, he let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling from exhaustion and adrenaline. He had fought many battles in the game before, but this… this was different.
This was real.
He wasn't just some player anymore. He wasn't fighting for loot or experience points.
He was fighting to survive.
And for the first time, he truly understood what that meant.