Tutorial (3)–shadow wolves....

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  Shadow Wolves.

  Creatures of pure darkness.

  They stalk, strike, move and feast under the cover of darkness.

  Sunlight doesn't just hurt them—it burns.

  Skin boils. Flesh sizzles.

  A single beam can leave their hides smoking.

  But don’t think that makes them weak.

  They’re killers. Built to tear, not scare.

  They’ve got three main tricks:

  Shadow Dash – Their bodies melt into darkness and they shoot forward in a blink.

  Anything in their path?

  Split open. Skinned alive.

  Shadow Claws – Darkness wraps around their claws, warping them longer, thicker, sharper.

  Steel doesn’t stand a chance. Neither does bone.

  Shadow Fangs – The worst of the lot.

  Their jaws glow with pulsing black light before they strike.

  The bite doesn’t just wound—it rips.

  Armor cracks, flesh explodes, limbs come clean off.

  And outside those powers?

  They’re still wolves.

  They hunt in packs.

  They’re fast.

  They hear everything.

  They smell fear.

  And they never waste a chance to kill.

  Wait–!

  Sunlight was their weakness but not to that level.

  Did system put some debuff on them?

  Whatever, my best advice against them would be, never show you're scared and never ever show your back, no matter what.

  If you’re dumb enough to turn your back, then you deserve what’s coming.

  -----

  "Grrrhh…!!"

  The deep, guttural growl rumbled through the dark air like a warning shot.

  My black coat whipped behind me as I surged forward, eyes fixed on the three shadow wolves baring their fangs ahead.

  My grip tightened around the chipped iron sword, the circular wooden shield braced against my forearm.

  My shoulders and elbows stayed loose—tense muscles don’t block, they break.

  ‘Unequip spectacles.’

  The faint shimmer of glass blinked out of existence, vanishing from my face.

  'Can't have them broken during fight.'

  My vision blurred slightly, distance now fuzzy, but that was fine.

  Clarity isn’t always a blessing.

  Seeing too much can make you hesitate.

  "Grrffhh!!"

  One of the wolves roared, crimson eyes narrowing as it bolted forward, its muscles rippling beneath its dark fur.

  He leapt.

  I dropped low, skidding across the dirt, my coat ripping as roots and rocks scratched across my back.

  The wolf soared above me—a black blur.

  His exposed underbelly hovered for a second.

  I raised my blade to slice through his gut, but I couldn't.

  My eyes kept ahead, looking forward.

  The other two wolves were already closing in.

  I twisted my wrist, changing the angle at the last moment.

  The blade clipped his hind leg.

  A splash of blood hit the grass.

  A weak wound.

  "Hrrrrgg—!!"

  The two others snarled and pounced, the air splitting with the force of their lunge.

  I planted my shield arm down and used the impact to pivot, tumbling sideways and scrambling to my feet.

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  They hit the ground where I’d just been, claws gouging the earth.

  One of them turned away—caught the scent of weaker prey and dashed after a screaming woman nearby.

  "Aaaahhh!! No—!" Her shriek was cut off by a crunching noise.

  But the third wolf stayed on me.

  Persistent bastard.

  I ran, zigzagging, feet pounding through mud and grass.

  "Tch… Damn it!"

  I needed an opening.

  And then I saw him—

  A man, frozen in place, eyes wide, legs locked.

  A perfect distraction.

  "No! Get away! Don’t bring it here!"

  The man shouted.

  Too late.

  I reached him and grabbed his arm.

  Without any hesitation, I quickly shoved him forward.

  "Thanks." I muttered coldly.

  The wolf didn’t even hesitate.

  It lunged past me, straight at the poor bastard.

  "RrrAAAAARGH!!!"

  The fangs sank into the man’s throat, tearing it open like wet paper.

  Blood sprayed like a fountain, soaking the wolf’s snout and matting its fur.

  The man screamed—

  A wet, choking gargle.

  Then silence.

  The wolf’s jaws clenched.

  CRACK!

  The head separated from the shoulders, the neck reduced to pulp and shattered bone.

  The body dropped to the ground, twitching violently before going still.

  I took a breath.

  Just one, barely.

  My chest rose and fell, each inhale sharp, uneven—like dragging air through broken glass.

  Blood coated my arms, my clothes, the hilt of my sword.

  My entire body screamed in pain.

  But I couldn’t stop.

  Not even for a second.

  The first wolf—the one who had lunged at me first—was still alive.

  Still watching.

  Its red eyes locked onto mine like burning coals in the gloom.

  A low, guttural snarl rumbled from deep within its throat.

  Then—without warning—its form flickered, shadow cloaking its limbs.

  Shadow Dash.

  I turned my head just in time to see the blur of black racing toward me.

  It was too fast for my eyes to follow properly.

  But somehow, I managed to sidestep, barely escaping its direct path.

  CRACK!

  However, the wolf’s claws, wreathed in writhing shadow, came down like twin blades.

  I lifted my wooden shield on reflex.

  BOOM—!!

  The shield exploded in my grip.

  Wooden shards burst in every direction, some slicing into my arm and face.

  The sheer impact hurled me backward—I slammed into a nearby tree, bark splitting and branches cracking overhead as I collapsed to the forest floor, gasping.

  Pain flooded through my ribs.

  My muscles spasmed.

  My limbs felt heavy.

  Exhaustion was winning.

  I rolled to my side, coughing, dirt and blood mixing in my mouth.

  But there was no time to recover.

  The second wolf had already finished feeding on the man.

  Its jaws still worked slowly, as if savoring the meat it had just devoured.

  Blood and saliva dripped from its maw, trailing down its fangs like crimson strings.

  Bits of flesh still clung to its lips.

  It growled low and lunged again.

  I didn’t have the strength to dodge cleanly.

  So I threw my entire body sideways, letting gravity take over as I rolled through the blood-soaked dirt, twigs snapping beneath me, mud sticking to my limbs.

  The wolf’s claws raked through the ground where I’d just been, tearing deep gashes into the forest floor.

  Blood—both human and beast—soaked the soil, mixing into a dark, sticky mire.

  Leaves tore loose from nearby trees, drifting down like ash from a fire.

  The stench was overwhelming—copper, sweat, rot.

  I scrambled to my feet, my hand slipping on the blood-slick hilt of my sword.

  My legs shook.

  The air felt heavier now. Colder.

  "Grrrr...!!"

  Another growl came—this time from behind.

  I didn’t need to look back what it was.

  Another wolf. A third one joined the battle.

  ‘Damn it.’

  I clenched my teeth as the sound of padded feet thudded closer through the blood-soaked earth.

  I spun my eyes around, scanning desperately.

  Trees, broken shield shards, blood and bodies everywhere—

  Then I saw it.

  A dead man, his limbs torn apart by the wolves.

  His right arm missing and neck half eaten.

  But he wasn't important

  It was his axe, lying inches from his separated hand.

  The ground trembled slightly and sound of legs sprinting came—the wolf had leapt.

  I didn’t have time to hesitate.

  I quickly let go of my sword and dove my body forward, my hand slapping the mud as I skidded past the corpse.

  I snatched the axe with both hands, the handle sticky with dried blood.

  Whump!

  The air shifted—the wolf was right above me.

  With a grunt, I twisted my body and swung upward with every ounce of remaining strength, both hands gripping the axe like my life depended on it.

  THUNK!

  The blade crunched straight into the wolf’s open maw—splitting jaw, tongue, and bone in one brutal motion.

  Its momentum drove the head down further, embedding the axe deeper, until the beast’s body slammed into the ground beside me with a wet, fleshy thud.

  It twitched.

  Blood gushed from its mouth, mixing with the black saliva, soaking the ground beneath.

  I didn’t wait for a moment.

  I grabbed my fallen sword, staggered to my feet, and without hesitation, drove the blade down into the wolf’s skull—straight between the eyes.

  Crack!

  Its skull split, black and red fluid exploding out.

  The body stopped moving.

  [You've slain shadow wolf!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  [You’ve gained some exp!]

  [You've made first kill!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  "Haa..!"

  I let air flow out of my mouth, ignoring the messages.

  “GrrRRRAHH!!”

  “RGHHHH!!”

  Growls pierced my ears.

  My head snapped up.

  The two wolves stood before me now—snarling, furious, blood dripping from their teeth.

  Now, to them, it wasn't just hunting anymore.

  They were avenging their pack.

  My breath came in ragged gasps.

  My lungs burned.

  My muscles trembled with fatigue.

  I could barely hold the sword.

  But I chuckled.

  It's fun.

  Fighting with life on line, doing something crazy.

  It's always fun.

  ‘Haaah... Let’s do this.’

  Time to finish this.

  The quest’s time limit was almost up—I just needed to last.

  No need to panic.

  I forced the air out of my lungs, grounding myself.

  Focus.

  The forest around me blurred.

  Only the wolves remained—red eyes locked to mine.

  They charged at me.

  And so did I.

  Our footsteps thundered against the blood-soaked ground.

  I clenched my sword with a slippery, trembling grip.

  Aside from light, wolves had one more weakness.

  It was rather weakness of many four legged animals.

  Their speed and balance came from their spine which is parallel to the ground.

  But they struggle to turn sharply due to it.

  We were inches apart.

  And I could smell their breath—rot, blood, and meat.

  'Now!'

  Suddenly, I lunged left.

  My boots skidded, nearly toppling me over, but I barely stopped myself in time.

  The wolves surged past me, their eyes snapping to follow—but they couldn't pivot in time.

  Their claws dug trenches into the dirt as they tried to turn, but momentum betrayed them.

  'Let’s go!'

  I gritted my teeth, pushed through the aching in my legs, and dashed forward with everything I had left.

  CRASH!

  I slammed into one wolf's side, sending it rolling.

  It let out a snarl of surprise.

  Before it could rise, I drove my sword into its chest.

  Squelch!

  Blood exploded across my arms, hot and thick.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  "Ughh!"

  Squelch!

  I gritted my teeth and stabbed again.

  Squelch!

  then again—

  Squelch!

  And again—

  My sword carved through flesh, splitting ribs, each thrust spraying more gore.

  The wolf let out a gargled howl, blood bubbling from its mouth, before its body stilled and eyes glazed over.

  [You've slain shadow wolf!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  [You’ve gained some exp!]

  I was drenched. Shaking. Exhausted.

  But there was no time.

  I turned to run—only for pain to erupt in my leg.

  "AAAGHHHH!!!"

  I collapsed.

  I looked down—and saw the other wolf’s jaws clamped tight around my left leg.

  Blood gushed like a fountain, and then—

  CRACK!!

  He tore it off.

  Thud!

  My leg—flung into the air like a ragdoll—hit a nearby tree with a sickening slap and slid down, leaving a red trail.

  "Uggggh!"

  I hit the dirt, gritted my teeth to stop my screaming, every nerve in my body flaring with white-hot agony.

  The world blurred from pain and blood loss.

  I quickly turned around.

  "Haa... haa..."

  My breath came in short, ragged gasps.

  But it wasn’t over.

  The wolf pounced, slamming into me.

  Its claws ripped into my stomach, flesh tearing open like wet paper.

  I could feel my guts shift.

  I howled and swung my sword, hacking at its neck.

  The blade cut deep—but got stuck between bone and muscle.

  Then the wolf opened its mouth—dripping saliva, blood, and the stink of death—aiming for my head.

  I caught his jaws with my bare hands, holding them open as the beast tried to clamp down.

  My arms trembled.

  My muscles burned.

  I could feel the pressure grinding into my bones.

  "GRRRRAAHH!!"

  "AAAAAARRRGGHH!!!"

  Our roars and screams twisted into one horrible sound—pure, primal survival.

  I could feel his fangs pressing into my palms, cutting skin, blood dripping down my wrists.

  My stomach throbbed from the wounds—every heartbeat sent waves of pain through my body.

  Then—a dark mist began gathering around its mouth.

  Shadow Fangs.

  He was trying to end it.

  But then—

  [Time Limit Over!]

  [You’ve completed the quest!]

  [Rewards are being given...!]

  'Haa! Finally!'

  Light burst into the forest.

  The wolves recoiled instantly, their eyes wide with primal fear.

  The one on top of me tried to back off—but I grabbed it.

  'Not so fast!'

  I wrapped my arms around its neck, hugging it tight.

  My nails dug into its flesh. I refused to let it go.

  It thrashed.

  Its claws went deeper into my stomach.

  Its teeth dug into my shoulder, tearing skin and tendons.

  It was crazy and painful.

  But I didn’t care.

  I held on.

  Light poured down like divine fire.

  The wolf’s body began to smoke—then sizzle—then burn.

  "Grrr..!!"

  It howled, its body twitching violently in my grip as the light incinerated its cursed flesh.

  Its skin peeled, fur caught flame, and its bones cracked under the purifying light.

  And then—nothing.

  Only silence.

  [You've slain shadow wolf!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  [You’ve gained some exp!]

  [You’ve leveled up!]

  But I was no better.

  I lay there, soaked in blood, stomach torn open, one leg missing, vision fading to black.

  The smell of burning fur mixed with the coppery tang of my own blood.

  ‘Damn it… where the hell are they…?’

  I could barely think.

  Then—

  A soft shimmer of blue light appeared above me.

  A figure descended—a woman with glowing butterfly wings, her body glowing pink faintly in the air.

  “Oh my! You're in terrible condition. Let me fix that!”

  She smiled kindly as if I wasn’t split open and dying.

  She snapped her fingers—and glowing pink butterflies emerged from the air like sparks.

  They floated gently toward my torn body.

  One landed on my severed leg across the field—and lifted it.

  The leg flew toward me, threads of golden light stitching flesh, muscle, bone—even the tattered pants and shirt wove back together.

  My stomach wounds sealed, the pain vanished, blood reversed course and returned to my veins.

  Breath returned.

  Strength surged in.

  I blinked.

  The forest around me cleared.

  Other people nearby stared in shock.

  The winged woman floated higher and smiled brightly.

  “Hello, players! I’m your guide, Fiona!”