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I tightened my grip on my sword as the wolf demons snarled, their glowing red eyes locked onto me. There had to be over a hundred of them, and unlike the goblins, these creatures were bigger, faster, and much more coordinated. Their fur bristled with anticipation, their fangs bared as they slowly circled me, ready to strike.
I took a deep breath. This is bad. I can't take them all head-on…
One of them lunged at me from the left. I barely had time to react before another came from behind. My instincts took over, and I Quick-Dashed between them, causing them to collide midair. But before I could counter, three more charged straight at me.
They fight like a pack. If I don't break their formation, I'm dead.
I slashed at the closest one, my blade cutting deep into its side. It yelped and staggered back, but another wolf immediately took its place. I dodged, barely avoiding its claws as I spun around, striking at another. The impact sent it skidding backward, but more were already advancing.
Their movements were in sync, perfectly calculated—whenever I attacked, another wolf would exploit my opening. They weren't just mindless beasts; they were strategists.
Damn it! I gritted my teeth. If I keep this up, they'll wear me down.
One of them lunged again, and this time, I wasn't fast enough. Its claws slashed across my shoulder, sending a sharp pain through my body. I stumbled, my grip on my sword faltering. Another wolf took the opportunity to pounce—its fangs aimed straight for my throat.
MOVE!
I forced my body to react, ducking at the last second and driving my sword upward. The blade pierced its underbelly, and with a strangled howl, the wolf collapsed.
I barely had time to recover before another came charging in. I Quick-Dashed away, but my movements were slowing. My energy was draining fast, and my breathing had grown heavier.
I need to end this. Now.
Then, I saw it.
Among the wolves, one stood taller than the rest. Its fur was darker, its eyes sharper. Unlike the others, it hadn't attacked yet. It just watched—its gaze calculating, as if analyzing my every move.
That's the leader.
If I could take it down, maybe the others would scatter. But getting to it was the problem. The wolves formed a protective circle around their leader, ensuring I couldn't get close.
I clenched my jaw. Then I'll make an opening myself.
Summoning every last ounce of my strength, I charged forward. I zigzagged between the wolves, dodging and countering whenever they struck. Each time I cut one down, another took its place, but I kept pushing forward.
Just a little more…
Finally, I broke through the circle and locked eyes with the leader.
It growled lowly, stepping forward at last. Unlike the others, it didn't rush in blindly. It took its time, studying me, as if deciding how to best take me down.
Then—it moved.
Faster than any of the other wolves, it lunged straight at me. I barely had time to block as its claws clashed against my sword, sending vibrations up my arms.
I tried to counter, but it was already gone, moving to my side and striking again. I Quick-Dashed backward, but it was relentless, closing the distance instantly.
It was faster. Stronger. Smarter.
But I'm not losing.
I forced myself to stay calm, watching its movements closely. The way it shifted its weight, the subtle twitches before an attack—it had a rhythm.
I waited.
It lunged again.
I ducked—just in time—and drove my sword straight into its chest.
A pained howl echoed through the dungeon as the leader staggered backward, blood dripping from its wound.
The other wolves hesitated. Their leader was injured. Their formation was breaking.
I didn't give them time to regroup.
Summoning every last bit of energy I had, I Quick-Dashed forward, slashing through the remaining wolves one by one. With their leader weakened, their coordination crumbled.
And then—
It was over.
I stood amidst the bodies, panting heavily. My arms ached, my legs felt like lead, and blood dripped from my wounds.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead, looking around. That was… harder than I thought.
But I did it.
I had won.
Now, I just needed to get out of here.
I turned toward the entrance, only to realize—
Wait…
Where was the entrance?
My heart sank. The path I had taken to get here was nowhere in sight. The dungeon's walls all looked the same, and the dim lighting made it impossible to tell which way was which.
No… don't tell me…
I was lost.
I tried retracing my steps, but every turn looked identical. It was like the dungeon itself was shifting, leading me deeper inside rather than out.
After what felt like an eternity of walking, I stumbled upon something I hadn't seen before.
A massive stone gate.
Ancient symbols covered its surface, glowing faintly. It looked different from the rest of the dungeon—almost like an entrance to another place entirely.
A heavy feeling settled in my chest. Something wasn't right.
And then—
Rumble.
The gate creaked open.
A gust of wind rushed past me, carrying the scent of blood and decay.
And then, from the darkness beyond the gate—
Two glowing red eyes stared back at me.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air, shaking the very ground beneath my feet.
And then it stepped forward.
A wolf—no, a beast.
It was massive, at least three times the size of the others I had fought. Its fur was jet black, its fangs long and sharp. A single glance was enough to tell me—
This was no ordinary monster.
This was the boss.
And I had just walked straight into its lair.
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