Chapter 11: I Almost Died There
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11: I Almost Died There
“Huuu...!”
There was no need to make the first move. However, staying still wasn't an option either.
Direwolves tend to circle their prey. Keeping a sharp eye on my rear, I quickly turned and began to run.
Two Direwolves were lunging from the left. If I kept running like this, I’d only be draining my own stamina. I had to strike first before they could get behind me.
As I charged toward the ones keeping their distance, the pair on the right began to close in on my back. I had to deal with these two before they latched onto my spine...!
“Come on!”
Since this was a forest similar to the 4th floor, the thick tree trunks provided a slightly better environment for me. The moment I disappeared behind a trunk, I rapidly closed the distance.
—Thump!
I kicked the one on the left squarely in the belly with my iron-shod boots. Immediately after, I raised my sword toward the face of the remaining one.
Slash—
Twisting my entire body toward the two closing in from the right, I slammed the edge of the shield strapped to my left arm into the nose of a lunging wolf.
Leaving behind the creature that tumbled away with a pathetic yelp, I was about to swing my sword at the last one when—
“Agh!!”
A Direwolf leaped from behind and sank its teeth into my shoulder. I ditched the shield in my left hand and quickly reached back to grab the beast's hind leg, but—
“Let go, you crazy bastard...!”
It wouldn't budge, its jaws locked firmly onto my shoulder. I had no choice.
“Huuu...!”
I sprinted like hell toward a clear area, then twisted my upper body to the left, scraping my back against a tree trunk at full speed.
—Skreeee!
The massive impact forced the wolf to release my shoulder. I immediately grabbed its tail, swung it around with everything I had, and slammed its head into the trunk.
Crunch—!
“You should’ve just let go nicely...!”
Thanks to the gambeson, I’d managed to keep its teeth from piercing my shoulder. The bite force was so strong that I could feel a bruise forming through the padding, but it didn't matter.
While I was spinning, one of the three Direwolves closing in aimed for my shin. However, my leather boots were sturdy enough that the wolf ended up losing a few teeth instead. Unfortunately, the tightly tied laces snapped, and I was in danger of losing my right boot.
While keeping them at bay with threatening kicks, I pulled the shield back out with my left hand and bashed the snout of a nearby wolf.
“Urgh...!?”
I’d spent too much time. The Direwolves had already surrounded me. Even the Alpha was growling at me. What was the safest way out?
No, I shouldn't be looking for the safest way.
‘How do I survive?’
They were living creatures too. I had to think. How could I create an opening? The best way, of course, was to take out the Alpha. Four wolves were already down. Ten remained, including the leader.
If I could just get rid of that bastard, I had a chance. If their leader died, they might lose their nerve.
Right. Nothing else mattered.
Clang.
I extended the sword in my right hand, pointing it at the Alpha.
“I’m only killing you. You hear me?”
The Alpha bared its teeth and let out a low, guttural growl. Did it understand?
‘It’s wounded.’
I could see several scars on its right hind leg. So that was why it hadn't joined the fray yet.
‘Then... this won't be as hard.’
I stopped myself from saying it would be "easy." Even wounded, it wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly.
“Sssss...”
I took a deep breath to oxygenate my blood and lunged toward the Alpha. I didn't need to worry about the other Direwolves pouncing from the sides.
They weren't sophisticated enough to accurately bite at my legs while I was running at full speed. I shook off the wolves clinging to my sides by swinging my arms and thrust my sword straight at the Alpha.
“Just die already...!”
The Alpha’s quick evasive maneuver meant my blade only grazed its snout. As it backed away, the other wolves began to swarm me again.
I swung my sword to slit a throat and kicked another in the head. I slammed my shield into the back of one's skull and grabbed the forepaw of another trying to latch on, hurling it away.
My right forearm was bitten in the process, but fortunately, the brand-new gambeson effectively blocked the teeth.
I took a bite to the thigh as well, but luckily it wasn't a major artery. Just as I was about to be completely overwhelmed, I let out a roar and swung my sword in a wide horizontal arc, forcing the surrounding wolves back.
“Come on, you sons of bitches!”
The number of uninjured wolves had dropped below four, but I was bleeding profusely from bites on my right thigh and left shin.
Only when my wounds grew deep did the Alpha finally unhinge its massive jaws and lunge at me.
Thud—!
Its massive frame knocked me over. I defended desperately, but another wolf at my side bit into the right arm I’d swung to deliver a killing blow.
Rip—
The stitching gave way, and the gambeson was torn apart. My arm was now defenseless, covered only by a thin linen shirt. As the sleeve was ripped away, I dropped my sword.
As I struggled, my right boot flew off, and another wolf sank its teeth into my right shin. I used my left hand to firmly grip the Alpha’s lower jaw.
But before long, the beast shook its head, breaking my grip, and its maw lunged for my face.
—Crunch!
“Agh...!”
My entire left arm ended up inside its mouth. I felt the agonizing sensation of its canines sinking into my upper arm.
I couldn't use my right hand because of the other wolf hanging onto my forearm. My lower body was thrashing wildly, preventing other wolves from approaching easily, but the existing wound on my thigh had reopened, and blood was gushing out.
Just as the Alpha clamped down on my left arm and prepared to thrash its head from side to side—
‘Now...!’
My left hand was shoved deep, near the back of its throat.
I channeled mana into the ring on my middle finger and summoned the shield.
—Gack! Ke-heck..!
The round, iron-shod shield slammed into the Alpha’s narrow throat. Its neck visibly bulged, and then, with the sound of tearing hide, blood erupted.
Splurt—
The Alpha, with a shield lodged in its gullet, collapsed to the side with a pathetic whimper. Its jaw slackened, allowing my left hand to escape. I scrambled to my feet and snatched up my fallen sword with my right hand.
Both my arms were mangled, and I could barely find the strength to grip anything. My right hand was in slightly better shape. To get the wolf off my back, I jumped into the air and landed flat on my spine.
—Squeak...
The creature crushed under my weight died instantly, its ribs shattered. Only three regular wolves remained.
My right boot was gone, and the new gambeson on my right forearm was in tatters. I couldn't feel my hand through the bite wounds, but I forced myself to raise the sword and plunge it into the back of the wolf gnawing on my left shin.
The remaining wolves fled. Yeah, why would they keep fighting when their boss was down?
“Aaaargh!! Fuck, that hurts!!”
Both my arms and legs were a mess. With this much blood loss, there was no way I could make it back to the portal.
“I’m eating...! You son of a bitch...!”
Since it was literally a dog, the insult felt quite literal. About half of the round shield stuck in its esophagus had pierced through its neck skin, greeting the open air.
I grabbed the iron-shod edge with my right hand and pulled, dragging out a piece of its throat.
“Yummy. You bastard.”
Because of its size and my mangled arms, I couldn't use my full strength. I braced myself with my left foot and kicked the beast's chest with my right, flipping it onto its back.
Crack—
I used the sword in my right hand to ruthlessly hack at its chest, exposing the thoracic cavity.
“Phew, I’m gonna die.”
I could barely stand. I climbed onto its belly, reached my right hand through the shattered ribs, found the heart, and ripped it out.
“I’ll put this to good use. You piece of shit.”
The heart, nearly the size of my head, was still pulsing. Was it because of Rubica? Even this seemed like a small amount.
Using my right hand—the only limb in decent condition—I hacked, chewed, and tore at the Direwolf Alpha’s body.
My dangling left arm was useless, so the work was slow, but eventually, I shoved both legs inside the ribcage and buried my face in the blood pooling within its belly.
“Kuaaa. Fuck yeah.”
The horrific, metallic scent stung my nose. I tore out its lungs, which were covered in bone dust from the shattered ribs, and stuffed them into my mouth. I ripped off a leg, peeled back the hide, and gnawed on the meat. Tough tendons got caught in my teeth, but I swallowed them whole without chewing.
It would have been much better if I could have started a fire. Still, drenching myself in the warm blood of the wolf made my body feel hot, despite the massive blood loss.
“Urgh. Tastes good, you bastard.”
My stomach felt like it was going to burst. If only I had a skill like Combustion Acceleration, I would have eaten the whole thing.
“Ah, I have to do that.”
As I sat there resting, a thought occurred to me.
The Alpha was dead with its eyes wide open, as if it couldn't accept its fate.
“I’ll be taking your eyes.”
I brutally shoved my fingers into the eye sockets and gently but firmly pulled them out.
Rip—
I tilted my head back, opened my mouth, and stuffed the long, trailing optic nerve down my throat.
The texture was like a tough ice pack filled with gel. The lukewarm temperature maximized the revulsion.
“Phew, I’m full.”
Using the mangled corpse of the Direwolf Alpha as a pillow, I lay back and closed my eyes.
I was exhausted. I needed to sleep.
* * *
“Ugh...”
When I woke up, I felt a cold liquid dripping from my chin and running down my neck.
“He—he’s awake!”
“Are you conscious?!”
“Ugh, what is this?”
I opened my eyes to see a darkened sky. Someone nearby was holding a lantern, and the reddish light illuminated the faces of the people standing before me.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Hold on...”
As I sat up, the corpse of the Direwolf Alpha I’d been leaning against was gone. Had I just been lying on the ground?
“Oh.”
No. It seemed someone had been letting me rest my head on their lap.
“How’s your body? Can you stand?”
“Wait a moment... I’ll try.”
My arms and legs were perfectly fine. It seemed to have worked as expected.
My vision in my left eye was normal. I didn't feel dizzy or anything. To be in this state after losing so much blood...
‘I guess the Direwolf’s blood replenished mine.’
“You’re... you’re really okay?”
“I think so.”
My bangs were matted with dried blood, and red flakes showered down every time I moved. After shaking myself off, I sat back down and inspected my body.
‘My left arm moves too. Seems like there are no problems.’
“I’m fine. You don't need to worry.”
“R-really...?”
The explorer in front of me looked at me with worried eyes.
“Yes. Do you happen to have any water?”
“Ah, here...”
My throat felt like it was coated in dried blood clots. It was unpleasant. I took a huge gulp of cool water, swished it around, and swallowed. Water was too precious to spit out.
It seemed they had found me unconscious and moved me to a safe spot, but in the distance, I could see corpses strewn about.
“I took down the Direwolf Alpha.”
“Ah, yeah... it looks that way.”
“What time is it?”
“It’s 8:00 PM.”
“Perfect timing for a boost.”
I felt stronger at night. I was a bit groggy from the sleep, but I’d regain my condition once I started moving.
“I’m heading to the portal. I need to get promoted.”
“Promoted...?”
“I need to reach Lead Grade.”
At those words, all five explorers nearby looked shocked.
“You were still Brass Grade?!”
“Yeah... well, I came to the 5th Floor alone. So now I’m Lead.”
“U-uh...”
I found my boots, which were shimmering under the lantern light thanks to the thick coating of tar, and slid them back onto my right foot.
The laces were broken, but they weren't loose enough to just fly off.
“W-wait! Where are you going?”
“I told you, I have to head back.”
“But it’s night...?”
“I’m stronger at night.”
I used my index finger to pull down my lower left eyelid, revealing the yellow iris embedded within.
“Is that... a Direwolf’s eye?”
“Yeah. That’s how it turned out. It’s a promotion condition, so I have to go alone. You know how it is.”
“Then what about that...?”
The female explorer pointed toward the corpse of the Direwolf Alpha.
“Ah. Right.”
I slowly walked toward the Alpha’s body.
“I should eat more. I’m starting to feel empty again.”
I almost died there. Might as well get my money's worth.