Blood with the Wolf (4)
Blood with the Wolf (4)
Jet-black fur with a glossy sheen.
Horns of matte obsidian looked harder than steel.
Its height was so great our eyes didn't even meet.
An overwhelming size difference compared to ordinary wolves.
Truly, a monster is still a monster.
I stared holes into the Dire Wolf.
It stared back at me just as intensely.
Those yellow pupils remained unwaveringly fixed on me alone.
Like the eyes of a predator sizing up its prey.
As we engaged in this silent battle of wills,
The wolf pack gradually tightened their encirclement.
Being outnumbered is always disadvantageous.
I needed to thin their numbers as much as possible while the Dire Wolf was still holding back.
First, break through one point to collapse their formation.
Kicking off the ground, I thrust my sword toward one wolf.
As the blade sank deep into its throat, I slashed sideways to pull it free.
Blood sprayed as the wolf collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
An instant death without even a final cry.
I was already skilled at dealing with these wild beasts.
Only then did the encircling wolves begin their assault.
Beasts charged from all directions, leaping with jaws agape.
Dodging them all was impossible. Time to trade flesh for bone.
Guarding only vital points, I beheaded two wolves with my blade.
"Ghk...!"
Sharp fangs sank into my calf and thigh.
They'd flanked me to attack my undefended back.
I continuously regenerated the skin being crushed and torn.
Unless it was my head, neck or heart, such wounds meant nothing to me.
Though my clothes getting ruined was certainly unpleasant, it was an acceptable price for victory.
Shaking off the leg-biters, I kicked one squarely in the belly.
For a wolf leaping high, I shoved my left arm straight into its maw.
My blouse sleeve tore as fangs embedded in my flesh.
Pain was familiar, so I moved to the next action without hesitation.
Grabbing its slimy tongue, I swung the beast around violently.
The massive body carved through air, creating fierce wind pressure.
Even for vicious wolves, this spectacle seemed slightly terrifying.
Cowed wolves backed away, putting distance between us.
Seizing the moment of slackened attacks, I slammed my living weapon groundward.
Though its eyes rolled back from the head-crushing impact, the clenched fangs wouldn't release my arm.
I finished it by stabbing through its belly to sever its breath completely.
As strength left its jaws, my left arm was finally freed.
Catching my breath briefly, I surveyed the surroundings warily.
Many wolves still remained.
Before I could count them all, they charged again.
Not giving me a single moment's rest.
The furious assault continued relentlessly.
Arms and legs were bitten, my swinging blade stole wolf lives.
They came at me persistently, fearlessly seeking openings.
This wasn't mindless instinct-driven charging.
They coordinated attacks like well-trained soldiers.
I'd never faced wolves like these before.
So this is how the Dire Wolf's elite guard differs.
Then I needed to change tactics too.
I resolved to abandon defense entirely.
Their bite strength was gauged.
Even a neck bite wouldn't kill me instantly.
From now on, pure offense to quickly eliminate the underlings.
I leapt forward, swinging my sword like a madwoman.
Though my blouse and pants tore with fangs embedding everywhere, I paid no mind.
Like a blood-soaked berserker, I sent them one by one to the afterlife.
Around the fifth slaughter, something unexpected occurred.
The Dire Wolf.
Finally, it began to move.
Keeping its gaze locked on me, it advanced step by regal step.
According to Daygan, at least Hobgoblin-tier strength.
Against Hobgoblins, fighting barehanded had been quite difficult.
But now was different.
With a solid blade in hand, this was a winnable fight.
I'd wanted to quickly exterminate the pack for a one-on-one deathmatch, but
It wouldn't just watch its subordinates get slaughtered.
As I withdrew slightly to prepare for our clash,
Four wolves attacked simultaneously.
One deliberately opened its maw toward my thrusting blade.
A reckless move, as if trying to swallow my sword.
I realized too late.
My sword pierced deep through the wolf's throat.
An instant kill, but that wasn't the problem.
The blade lodged inside wouldn't come free easily.
I gritted my teeth.
This cunning wolf had sacrificed itself to trap my weapon.
Disarming me temporarily.
A bold, deadly stratagem embracing death itself.
For mere beasts to display such loyal sacrifice...
The Dire Wolf's pack control exceeded expectations.
While desperately trying to free my blade from the corpse,
The remaining three wolves clamped onto my legs and left arm.
Their tenacious grip made shaking them off difficult.
"Eeek...!"
I managed to wrench my arm free, but both legs were immobilized.
Worst-case scenario. I urgently looked ahead.
The Dire Wolf now within reach was opening its massive maw toward me.
At this rate, my head would be crushed between its jaws.
With all my strength, I shoved the wolf corpse on my blade into its mouth.
The Dire Wolf reflexively bit down, its fangs locking onto the corpse.
Simultaneously, I gripped the hilt with both hands and twisted.
Using the wolf's own bite force to finally wrench my sword free.
Immediately slashing downward to stop the two leg-biters.
My limbs were mobile again.
Briefly enjoying my regained freedom,
I barely leaned back from the Dire Wolf's swinging claws.
A chilling gust brushed past my face.
Tattered shreds of my clothing fluttered through the air like paper.
"Hoo...!"
Leaping back to create distance.
Barely avoiding a fatal blow.
The Dire Wolf watched me intently without pursuing.
Keeping my sword raised, I glanced down briefly.
My chest was fully exposed, the corset's front torn away.
Those claws were terrifying.
If they could rend leather corsets this easily...
I couldn't afford to take a direct hit from those.
An arm or leg might get completely severed.
And its fangs would be even more powerful than those claws.
This Dire Wolf was no ordinary monster comparable to Hobgoblins.
Individual strength varies greatly - I'd apparently encountered an exceptionally powerful one.
This would be a dangerous fight.
Even one-on-one, victory wasn't guaranteed.
Especially with several wolf subordinates still remaining.
I needed to change plans.
With considerable distance between us and the Dire Wolf still holding back,
This seemed a good opportunity for tactical withdrawal.
Not that I planned to flee completely.
Direct confrontation offered too little chance of success.
I needed to create more favorable conditions.
Which meant creating variables.
The decision came quickly.
Gripping my sword, I lowered my stance as if about to charge.
The Dire Wolf and remaining wolves growled, shifting to defensive postures.
Now. I spun around and fled at full speed.
Trampling through brush, leaping over rocks, I sprinted desperately through the rugged forest.
With each bounding step, my exposed chest bounced wildly.
My nipples danced erratically, tracing pink trails through the air.
The corset that had supported my lower chest was completely torn away.
Clutching both breasts with my left arm, I continued fleeing through the woods.
The wolves' pursuit was audible behind me.
They clearly had no intention of letting me escape.
Having lured in prey, they'd chase it down relentlessly.
Though I was fast by human standards, I couldn't outrun wolves.
Forest-born beasts couldn't be outrun in their own domain.
At this rate, they'd catch me eventually.
Glancing back briefly,
The wolves had already closed considerable distance.
Fortunately, the Dire Wolf lagged farther behind, its bulk slowing it.
This might be manageable.
Digging my feet into the ground, I stopped abruptly.
The wild wolves, seeing my turned back, had chased blindly.
Forgetting completely about the human who'd slaughtered their pack.
I swung at the lead wolf's gaping maw.
Combined with its own momentum, the wolf's body was nearly split in half.
Even this gruesome sight didn't deter the others.
Punching one attacker aside, I stabbed another straight through the belly.
Without the Dire Wolf, these curs were no match for me.
Especially since they weren't at full stamina either.
The chasing wolves panted heavily, drooling excessively.
Sustained sprinting seemed taxing even for wild wolves.
My recovery ability meant I had no such limitations.
After slaughtering another wolf, I resumed fleeing.
The Dire Wolf had closed much of the distance.
A frontal assault was still too risky.
Our duel could wait until after eliminating the remaining wolves.
One hand gripping my sword, the other clutching my chest, I raced through the woods.
At this rate, complete escape might actually be possible.
But I felt no desire to retreat.
Withdrawing now would mean accepting tremendous losses.
My sword was my most valuable possession, followed by clothing.
With corset, blouse, pants and even underwear reduced to tattered rags, I couldn't let this go.
A monster this powerful would surely fetch a high price.
I had to hunt it down and recoup my losses.
I stopped running before the wolves exhausted themselves completely.
Needing to eliminate all potential variables first.
Turning, I finished off the remaining wolves decisively.
Now only the Dire Wolf remained to bare fangs at me.
If the distance grew too great, it might abandon pursuit.
Adjusting my pace carefully, I lured it onward.
Eventually, the trees and brush thinned out.
Not quite leaving the forest, but
Reaching an open area covered only in short grass.
The same clearing where the wolves had first lured me.
Circling back to the starting point.
Now only the Dire Wolf and I remained.
This would make the perfect arena for our duel to the death.
Lowering my sword, I stared into the forest's darkness.
Soon, the Dire Wolf burst through the undergrowth, charging at me ferociously.