The first rays of the sun gradually illuminate the forest, but the silence is deadly. The relentless chase through the forest continues.
I glance back repeatedly. No wolves, no howls, but I feel them closing in.
-(Damn it… don't they ever tire? Why won't they relent?)
The forest brightens, and I can navigate more easily. I glance back, and see a dark-furred quadruped: a giant wolf, smaller than the green tigers, yet still larger than me
Upon seeing it, the wolf howls immediately, and several other howls respond.
When I look back again, I notice two more wolves in the distance.
-!!!
I run desperately. No matter how fast I go, the wolves gain on me. I search for anything, any place that could give me an advantage, even if it tears me apart.
In the distance, I notice a part of the forest that is extremely dark. Even though it's morning, the light doesn't reach there. Clearly, there is some mortal danger lurking in that place.
I glance back.
-(Either I survive this, or die in the wolves' stomachs!")
I run toward that place. The wolves, noticing where their prey is heading, accelerate with even more ferocity.
They close in on me quickly. I realize this and force my body to run even faster.
Sweat drips down my body.
-(Just a little more!)
My foot enters the dark forest. A wolf sinks its teeth into my neck. Another bites my foot.
We tumble into the shadows. Pain explodes through me. I struggle, thrash… useless. The wolves have me.
I think about giving up. I close my eyes, accepting the end.
-...
But my death doesn't come. I find it strange, the wolves aren't moving. I open my eyes to check. I realize the two wolves aren't devouring me. The pain remains, but nothing else happens.
I strain my eyes toward the wolves, but my body refuses to obey. Only their dark fur comes into view.
-(Why can't I move? What's happening?)
My body stiffens, pain fading, not from healing. The wolves pinned to me are frozen too.
I hear a howl. I see the entrance of the forest and notice the third wolf standing there. It paces restlessly around the entrance but doesn't dare step forward.
My attention turns to that spot. I see black orchids clinging to the tree trunks, releasing dark pollen into the air.
I already deduce that this pollen is what's paralyzing everyone here.
That's a relief, the wolves won't be able to get close. But in exchange, I still can't move.
I watch one of the orchids release another cloud of pollen.
-(Is it a paralyzing agent? It must be.)
-(The only thing I can move are my eyes.)
Another howl pierces the air, drawing both my attention and that of the wolf circling the entrance. The wolf looks back toward the sound. The howl repeats, and the wolf runs toward it, leaving me and the other two wolves behind.
I watch the wolf move away.
-(What's going on?)
A tremor shakes the ground, and a strong wind rattles the trees.
-(What was that?!)
A tremendous, intimidating roar makes my eardrums ache.
-(What the hell?!)
I hear the roar again.
-(It sounds like a monster's roar!)
-(No, it seems far worse than that!)
I try to see what it is, but my body remains paralyzed. My eyes can barely see the entrance of this dark forest. Another tremor shakes the forest, a flash of light appears, and then I hear a massive explosion.
Even from this distance, I can feel the wind from the blast hitting my body.
Soon after, I hear an extremely loud and equally intimidating howl, and immediately other howls respond to the call. A sequence of flashes and explosions shakes the ground continuously.
I keep my eyes wide open. Even without seeing the fight itself, I can already imagine the disaster unfolding.
-(A battle is happening! The wolves are facing something incredibly powerful!)
Before I know it, I see a beam of light approaching.
-!!!
The explosion hits the entrance of the dark forest, blowing everything around it and throwing me and the two wolves pinned to me even deeper into the darkness.
We vanish into the black forest.
….
…
..
.
Far from where Nagaro is, craters dot the ground, and many dead wolves lie scattered across the earth.
The wolves are locked in a fierce battle against a troll nearly seven meters tall.
The troll roars furiously and swings its stone club. The ground cracks and shakes. Many wolves react instantly to the attack and manage to dodge.
Several wolves leap, trying to bite its legs and arms, but the troll's skin is too tough. They cannot cause significant damage.
Furthermore, the troll is agile, able to throw off wolves clinging to its body and keep others from approaching.
One wolf tries to climb up its leg, but the troll quickly delivers a kick. The wolf dies instantly.
The troll opens its mouth, and a bright light begins to form. At the same time, the wolves gather in the same area and open their mouths to unleash their attacks.
The strikes collide and explode, but the wolves suffer the most from the shockwave. Many are severely injured, and others die.
The troll, barely harmed, prepares to advance. A heavy sound echoes, an enormous wolf howl. When the troll realizes it, it sees only a beam of light coming toward it.
The beam of light is concentrated, without causing an explosion. The intense ray vanishes into the sky. When the light finally dissipates and the wolves can see the troll again, all remain frozen in place.
The massive troll, once unstoppable, stands no more, its head gone. Its body crashes to the ground.
A loud howl draws the attention of the wolves, and they turn to see it. This wolf is the one responsible for the attack.
The alpha of the pack, the Wolf Leader, a giant wolf with fur as black as night, and yellow eyes glowing yellow with deadly authority.
The Wolf Leader observes the fallen troll and howls to the wolves. Immediately obeying the command, the wolves run toward the troll and begin devouring the body.
….
…
..
.