The moment Veyrith raised its hand—
The forest reacted.
The ground pulsed.
Not visibly—
But beneath their feet, like something breathing under the soil.
The wolves howled.
Not separate voices—
But one.
Unified.
A low, resonating sound that vibrated through bone rather than air.
Takemi felt it in his chest.
"…They changed…"
Dark veins spread across the wolves' bodies.
Their already twisted forms expanded further—
Muscles tightening unnaturally, bones shifting beneath skin with faint cracking sounds.
Their eyes—
Burned brighter.
Not just corrupted—
Enhanced.
At the edge of the clearing—
Veyrith stood still.
Arms lowered.
Watching.
"…Show me," it murmured softly.
"…What you are worth."
Takemi exhaled slowly.
"…We don't get to run, do we?"
Lira shook her head.
"…Not with how they're positioned."
Rauk grinned faintly.
"…Good."
"…I hate running."
Elira stepped forward slightly.
"…Then don't die."
They didn't wait this time.
Three wolves lunged at once—
From different angles.
Fast.
Faster than before.
Rauk braced.
BOOM.
Two slammed into him simultaneously.
The force drove him back—
Feet digging into the soil, leaving deep grooves.
"…They're heavier—!"
The handle ignited.
He forced the blade—
It flickered.
Broke.
Reformed.
"…Come on—!"
A wolf closed in—
He swung.
CLASH.
The blade connected—
But the creature didn't fall.
It twisted—
Claws scraping across his side.
"…Tch—!"
Lira raised her hand—
"Bind!"
Chains shot forward—
This time—
They held.
But barely.
The wolves strained against them—
Dark energy eating at the magic itself.
"…I can't hold them long!" she shouted.
She didn't hesitate.
Staff down.
"Reinforce."
Light flowed—
Not flashy.
Not explosive.
But precise.
A soft glow wrapped around Rauk's arms—
Stabilizing.
Strengthening.
"…You're holding too much force," she said calmly.
"…Adjust your stance."
Rauk shifted instinctively.
The pressure lessened.
"…Oh—okay, that actually helps."
Takemi noticed it.
The difference.
Before—
They reacted.
Now—
They adjusted.
Together.
A wolf broke through.
Fast.
Too fast.
It lunged straight at Lira—
Takemi moved—
Not fast enough.
Elira stepped in again.
Barrier.
CRACK.
The shield fractured—
But held.
Her breath hitched slightly.
"…They're stronger…"
He stepped back.
Watching.
Analyzing.
The wolves—
They weren't attacking randomly.
They were probing.
Testing.
Like him.
"…That thing…"
He glanced at Veyrith.
"…It's studying us."
He looked at the handle.
"…Then I need something different…"
Not a blade.
Not close range.
Distance.
He lifted the handle—
Focused.
"…A bow…"
Nothing happened.
The weapon didn't respond.
It flickered—
But refused to form.
"…Why now—?!"
A wolf lunged.
He barely dodged.
Rolling across the ground—
Leaves scattering.
The forest floor felt rough—
Roots digging into his back.
"…Come on…"
He closed his eyes for a split second.
Not forcing.
Listening.
Remembering.
The hero.
The forms.
The intent.
"…Distance…"
"…Control…"
"…Precision…"
A faint thread of light extended—
Not forward—
But outward.
Curving.
Forming.
The handle elongated slightly—
A frame of light forming around it.
Thin.
Flexible.
A bow.
But incomplete.
The string—
Didn't exist.
"…What—?"
Takemi hesitated.
Then—
Pulled.
Nothing in his hand—
But he felt resistance.
A line of energy snapped into place.
The string.
As he pulled—
Light gathered.
Condensed.
Forming—
An arrow.
Pure.
Sharp.
Unstable.
"…No way…"
He let go.
THWIP.
The arrow shot forward—
Fast.
Faster than anything he'd thrown before.
It pierced a wolf clean through—
Pinning it to a tree.
Rauk blinked.
"…Okay—what the hell was that?"
Lira's eyes widened.
"…A ranged manifestation…"
Elira stared.
"…So that's another form…"
Takemi's arm trembled.
"…This… drains more…"
The bow flickered.
Unstable.
"…Then—what if…"
He pulled again—
This time—
Two points of light formed.
Then three.
But—
The strain hit immediately.
"…Tch—!"
His stance broke slightly.
THWIP.
The arrows scattered—
Two hit.
One missed.
But the impact—
Forced the wolves back.
"…Keep that up!" Lira shouted.
"…I'll try!"
Now reinforced—
Now stabilized—
He pushed forward.
"…Come on!"
His strike connected—
Driving one wolf into the ground.
Sweat formed at her brow.
"…You're overextending," she told Takemi.
"…I know!"
"…Then adjust!"
Her voice was sharper now.
Not distant.
Present.
Takemi's breath grew heavier.
The bow flickered violently.
"…Not stable yet…"
Because stopping—
Means dying.
They spread out.
Avoiding direct lines.
Closing distance again.
"…Switch!"
The bow collapsed—
Blade formed.
He moved.
Faster now.
Not cleaner—
But sharper.
Rauk was breathing heavier.
Lira's spells slowed.
Elira's hands trembled slightly.
But they held.
They didn't break.
Veyrith watched.
Silent.
Still.
"…Interesting…"
The last wolf fell—
But none of them felt victory.
Because Veyrith—
Hadn't moved.
Hadn't attacked.
Hadn't even tried.
And now—
It took a step forward.
"…Now…"
"…we begin."
The forest darkened further.
And the real fight—
Was just starting.