Part 2 – Into the Dark Wilderness
The growls grew louder.
Raimer’s heartbeat echoed in his ears as pairs of golden eyes emerged from the darkness.
One.
Three.
Five.
Then nearly a dozen.
The creatures stepped into the dim moonlit clearing.
They resembled wolves, but their bodies were far larger, their black fur covered in thorn-like spikes.
Crimson saliva dripped from their elongated fangs, hissing wherever it touched the ground.
Raimer tightened his grip on his sword.
“So these are the monsters of the Dark Wilderness…”
The lead beast lowered its body and let out a deafening howl.
The pack charged.
“Light Art—”
A claw slashed toward his neck.
Raimer ducked just in time.
The creature flew past him, its claws carving deep trenches into a nearby tree.
“So fast!”
Another lunged from behind.
He spun, his sword barely blocking its jaws.
Clang!
The impact sent him skidding backward.
His arms went numb.
“They’re stronger than ordinary beasts…”
Two more attacked from opposite sides.
Raimer thrust his free hand forward.
“Light Bullet!”
A small sphere of light shot from his palm, striking one wolf in the shoulder.
It staggered.
But it didn’t fall.
“What?”
The wolf shook its head before growling even louder.
His spell had barely wounded it.
Three wolves leaped together.
Raimer rolled beneath them, slicing across one beast’s hind leg.
Dark blood splattered onto the leaves.
The wounded wolf collapsed.
His crystal badge flashed.
+8 Points
“So they really record kills…”
He had no time to think.
The remaining wolves surrounded him.
They weren’t attacking recklessly anymore.
They were waiting.
Watching.
Hunting.
“They’re intelligent…”
Sweat trickled down his forehead.
If he made one mistake—
He would die.
The alpha suddenly barked.
The pack moved as one.
One wolf attacked from the front.
Another from behind.
A third leaped from above.
Raimer couldn’t block all three.
He slashed at the first.
Kicked away the second.
But—
Slash!
Pain exploded across his back.
A claw tore through his cloak and flesh.
He stumbled forward, blood soaking his clothes.
“Gh…”
Another bite caught his forearm.
Raimer cried out as sharp teeth sank into his skin.
He drove his sword through the creature’s chest.
The wolf collapsed.
+8 Points
He ripped his arm free.
Blood poured onto the forest floor.
His breathing became ragged.
“I can’t keep this up…”
The alpha slowly approached.
Unlike the others…
It hadn’t attacked once.
It simply watched.
As though judging him.
Then—
It smiled.
A chill ran down Raimer’s spine.
“Monsters…
smiling?”
The alpha howled.
The remaining wolves retreated into the darkness.
Raimer frowned.
“Why are they…”
The answer came immediately.
The ground shook.
…
Thump.
…
Thump.
…
Thump.
Every tree trembled.
Birds burst from the canopy.
The wolves lowered their heads before disappearing into the shadows.
Even they were afraid.
A massive silhouette emerged between the trees.
It stood nearly four meters tall.
Its body resembled a bear, yet its skin looked like black stone cracked with glowing crimson veins.
Two curved horns extended from its skull.
Its eyes burned like molten lava.
The creature inhaled deeply.
Then roared.
The sound blasted through the forest like thunder.
Raimer instinctively stepped backward.
Every instinct screamed the same thing.
Run.
His legs refused to move.
The monster’s overwhelming aura crushed him.
“…What is this thing?”
His badge suddenly flashed.
A warning appeared across its glowing surface.
Threat Detected
Infernal Stone Bear
Recommended Rank: B
Recommendation for Examinees: Escape Immediately
Raimer stared at the message.
“B-Rank…?”
He had never even heard of ranking systems before today.
But if the badge itself was telling him to flee…
This monster was impossible.
The Stone Bear charged.
The earth cracked beneath each step.
Raimer forced his body to move.
He leaped aside just as a gigantic claw smashed into the ground.
BOOM!
Rocks exploded in every direction.
The shockwave threw him into a tree.
His vision blurred.
His ribs screamed in pain.
He spat blood.
“…I can’t win.”
Still…
He raised his sword.
“If I stop now…”
“I’ll never find the truth.”
The bear roared again.
Raimer gathered every remaining drop of mana.
“Light Art…”
His blade began glowing brilliantly.
“…Radiant Slash!”
He dashed forward.
The shining blade carved across the bear’s chest.
CLANG!
The sword bounced away.
Not even a scratch.
“…Impossible…”
The Stone Bear looked down at him.
Almost…
Disappointed.
Its massive arm swung.
Raimer tried to dodge.
Too slow.
The blow struck his side.
His body flew through the air, crashing through several trees before skidding across the dirt.
His sword landed several meters away.
He coughed violently.
Blood stained the leaves beneath him.
His left arm refused to move.
His vision darkened.
The Stone Bear slowly approached.
Each step echoed like a funeral bell.
Raimer crawled toward his sword.
Just…
A little farther.
The monster raised its enormous claw.
Raimer reached out—
His fingers stopped inches from the hilt.
“…Not like this…”
The claw descended.
And in that frozen instant—
A cold, ancient voice echoed within the depths of his mind.
“…Pathetic.”
Raimer’s eyes widened.
The world around him seemed to stand still.
“…Who…?”
A dry chuckle answered him.
“So this is what remains…
of the bloodline of Fronin.”
The voice was old.
Proud.
And filled with disappointment.
“You call yourself my grandson?”
Raimer froze.
“My…
grandfather?”
The unseen figure laughed.
“You cannot even defeat a beast that has yet to mature.”
Outside his mind, the monstrous claw continued falling toward him.
The voice spoke one final sentence.
“If you wish to live…”
“…then grasp the darkness your ancestors feared.”
A tiny crack of black light flickered beneath Raimer’s fingertips.
And the world seemed to hold its breath.
To Be Continued…