Blood with the Wolf (5)
Blood with the Wolf (5)
My body tensed at the Dire Wolf's ferocious appearance.
For a moment, my knees trembled from its menacing aura.
Facing it head-on would be foolish.
Just as I tried to step back to retreat—
"Ghk...!"
Pain shot through my ankle, making my eyes widen.
A bloodied wolf had clamped its jaws around my leg.
One of those I'd slashed during our first clash.
I thought it had bled to death, but it was still alive.
It must have crawled over to sink its teeth into me.
The price for that mistake was steep.
The Dire Wolf, now within arm's reach, opened its maw wide.
A terrifying jaw unfolded, ready to devour me whole.
Too dangerous to block, too close to dodge.
No choice.
At this point, it's better to take the hit and gauge its strength.
I twisted my body just enough to let its savage bite land.
Razor-sharp teeth sank into my left shoulder and arm in an instant.
"Ghhh...!"
Flesh tore, bones shattered—my entire left side was ripped apart.
This was my first time experiencing a limb being completely severed.
I gritted my teeth against the searing agony.
What's taken must be repaid.
I drove my sword into the Dire Wolf's throat with all my might.
It pierced the outer hide slightly.
But not deep enough to reach anything vital.
"Khuhk!"
Its front paw slammed into my abdomen.
The pain of my organs twisting sent me flying backward into a tree.
My stomach was torn open enough to see bone.
A gruesome sight, but this much was nothing.
I regenerated my entire body.
New flesh sprouted over my mangled left arm and other wounds.
Within seconds, I was whole again.
The gap between us was even wider than with the Hobgoblin.
I wanted to conserve recovery and save points, but...
Today was shaping up to be a long battle.
"Grrr...!"
The Dire Wolf gave no quarter.
It charged at me with murderous intent, clearly enraged at losing its pack.
But I'd already gauged its fangs and claws.
No reason to fear now.
I rose and sprinted straight toward it.
Its gaping maw tried to swallow me whole.
At the last second, I dropped low and slid between its legs.
Its teeth snapped at empty air.
Sliding across the ground, I slashed its belly before rolling away.
A perfect maneuver.
Only a trickle of blood stained my blade.
Even targeting a weaker spot, I'd barely scratched it.
A tough opponent indeed.
But if I didn't make mistakes, victory was possible.
Dozens of clashes followed our first exchange.
Fangs and claws shredded my pale skin while my sword sheared its obsidian fur.
Though my body was brutally torn apart again and again, I endured.
Endless regeneration let me weather its onslaught.
Tenacious vitality was my greatest strength.
I could heal hundreds, thousands more times if needed.
The exchange rate was brutal, but in this war of attrition, I wouldn't lose.
The sky had turned crimson with sunset.
The Dire Wolf kept fighting tirelessly to kill me.
It wasn't unscathed either—blood streamed from numerous cuts.
Even the mightiest monster would tire from blood loss.
At this rate, I had the advantage.
My stamina wouldn't run dry even if we fought all night.
But one problem kept me from declaring victory.
A strange dizziness kept plaguing me.
My head felt stuffy, like it was stuffed with heavy rocks.
Recovery did nothing to help.
Something was interfering with my brain—a realm beyond my healing.
The culprit was obviously the Dire Wolf.
Some witchcraft I couldn't comprehend.
My thoughts grew sluggish, focus constantly slipping.
This was bad.
I tried to steel myself, but couldn't stop my vision blurring.
"Ghhh...!"
Searing pain forced my eyes open.
The Dire Wolf's horn had impaled my right arm.
Of all places, this was the worst to be injured.
My skewered arm was brutally torn apart by its monstrous strength.
My sword clattered to the ground.
Twisting desperately, I reached with my left hand.
Losing my weapon would be disastrous.
Just as my fingers brushed the hilt, sharp claws swiped me away.
"Agh!"
I tumbled across the ground before finally stopping.
No time to cough from the dust—I drew two daggers from my belt.
Too early to despair.
Now I really had to focus.
One more mistake would be my last.
New weapons meant changing tactics.
Extreme close combat it is.
I charged at the Dire Wolf as it lunged.
Sliding low again, I slipped beneath it.
Only its head and paws were dangerous if avoided.
I carved into its earlier wound before rolling away.
Speed was my advantage.
By avoiding frontal clashes and attacking its rear, I could gradually wear it down.
A brutal melee ensued—blood spraying, fur flying.
Sunset faded as night swallowed the forest.
Only the full moon illuminated our battlefield.
My already tattered clothes were long gone.
I was practically naked now.
We'd been fighting over ten hours since noon.
By now, even the Dire Wolf must regret picking this fight.
Not that I could read wolf expressions.
We separated briefly, entering a lull.
I'd deliberately created distance.
The headache persisting for hours was the reason.
I'd hoped it would fade, but the throbbing only worsened.
Barely tolerable now.
Turns out the Dire Wolf had the advantage in prolonged battles.
This stalemate needed ending.
I rushed straight at it, betting everything.
The Dire Wolf, bleeding profusely and exhausted, still attacked savagely.
I sensed it was staking everything on this clash too.
Like a bullfighter, it lowered its horns and charged.
I leapt without hesitation, plunging both daggers forward.
"Khuk! Ghh...!"
Its horn pierced through my chest, shattering ribs.
Miraculously missing my heart—thanks to ample chest cushioning.
My lifelong annoyance actually saved me.
"...Grrrl."
But I hadn't taken the hit passively.
Both daggers were buried deep in its eyes.
I twisted the blades before yanking them out.
Mangled eyeballs hung by bloody threads.
My most critical strike yet.
The gamble had paid off.
But victory wasn't assured—I was still impaled on its horn.
It lifted its head, tearing my regenerating flesh.
My feet left the ground as I was hoisted into the air.
Struggling futilely, I couldn't break free.
Its body kept me out of clawing range.
I didn't know its plan, but couldn't just take this.
I stabbed a dagger into its snout.
In pain, it jerked its head down violently.
The force finally dislodged me from its horn.
But this was part of its plan.
Its massive skull uppercutted my abdomen.
Agony wracked my body as organs twisted.
The impact launched me skyward.
High enough to see over the forest canopy.
As I struggled to right myself, I looked down.
The Dire Wolf leapt after me, maw gaping wide.
No way to dodge its teeth midair.
So this was its strategy.
Death approached step by step.
Gritting my teeth, I shook off fear.
Even in the tiger's den, keeping your wits means survival.
I racked my brain for countermeasures.
The blinded Dire Wolf relied on instinct—it would bite when it felt contact.
I needed to trick it into biting too early or late.
Anywhere but my neck or waist could be regenerated.
I weighed options in that split second.
Then inspiration struck.
The powerful launch left considerable distance between us.
I threw one dagger into its gaping maw.
It flinched as the blade stuck in its tongue.
Its teeth remained spread wide—this wouldn't make it close its mouth.
As expected.
I stabbed my remaining dagger into my left arm.
The dull edge made it difficult, but I managed to sever the limb.
My detached arm fell toward its mouth.
It couldn't resist biting this.
"Grrrl...!"
Exactly as predicted—the moment my arm hit its tongue, its jaws snapped shut.
My lifeless limb was chewed to bloody pulp.
No damage to my main body, now regenerating.
When it realized the trick and reopened its maw, it was too late.
All I had to do was land safely inside, avoiding its teeth.
My upper body plunged upside-down into its wet maw.
A foul stench assaulted me.
I endured the slimy saliva and crushing bite force.
Then its fangs sank into my thighs and buttocks.
Success.
I slashed wildly inside—gouging its palate, stabbing its tongue.
Even the toughest monster's insides are soft.
It thrashed, biting down harder on my lower body.
Enough to sever me completely under normal circumstances.
But I could endure—because it had bitten my buttocks.
The meatiest part of my body.
Gave me time to regenerate before teeth reached bone.
By the time my dagger was worn to a toothpick,
The Dire Wolf's massive body collapsed.
Even after it fell, I kept stabbing its tongue to ensure death.
Only when certain did I crawl from its mouth.
"...Haa."
A battle as fierce as with the Hobgoblin.
The persistent headache made it feel even harder.
Despite victory, my skull still throbbed.
I wanted to collapse but forced myself up.
The dizziness made standing difficult.
If more wolves came now, I'd be in trouble.
The city was too far—I needed shelter in a nearby village.
Tonight required walls and safety.
Wiping away blood and sweat with Recovery, I looked at my moonlit form.
Barely covered by tattered rags—practically nude.
Everything from chest to groin exposed.
At least my boots were still wearable.
Must I really enter a village looking this absurdly lewd?
Unpleasant, but necessary.
I retrieved my discarded sword and slung the Dire Wolf's corpse over my shoulder.
More like dragging it, but I couldn't leave it.
Monster parts meant money.
The Hobgoblin had nothing worth taking, but this was different.
Its tough hide and obsidian horns would fetch a good price.
After investing a full day's fight, I deserved compensation.
My steps were heavy, but the village wasn't far.
Trudging back the way I came, I eventually spotted distant lights.
A place I'd heard of but never visited—Robeni village.
"Huh? Wait, stop!"
"Halt!"
Already so close?
My stone-filled head couldn't think straight.
Looking up, I saw two men beyond the palisade.
Shabby padded armor and rusty spears—village militia.
With wolves worsening local security, night watches made sense.
"...Hello. Any place to stay the night?"
My voice came out strained.
Instead of answering, the men stared at my nakedness.
Their gazes weren't pleasant, but I was too exhausted to care.
"Why are you... unclothed?"
"Not by choice. This guy on my shoulder tore them off."
"I... see. Mind if we confer briefly?"
"Go ahead."
They stepped back, whispering.
I wanted to barge past the gate but resisted.
However tired, I couldn't inconvenience others.
"Why the debate? I'll host her at my place, you stay out."
"She's unidentified. Armed too."
"So leave this delicate lady naked outside? Nonsense!"
"I agree she should be let in. But why are you so excited?"
This was taking longer than expected.
They probably thought they were whispering.
The lecherous one and the serious one—I heard every word.
"Listen, we'll wine and dine her first, get her warm. Then, you know, slip-slide, pat-pat. I'm older, so I go first?"
"...What? Are you suggesting rape?"
For a moment, I thought I misheard.
But even through my haze, that word was unmistakable.
A world where farmers turn bandits by night.
My exhaustion had made me careless.
"Ugh, you naive brat. Why else would a woman come here naked? She's begging for it."
"She said wolves tore her clothes..."
"You believe that? No blood or wounds on her. We'd be rude not to oblige."
Did they think I couldn't hear?
Their blatant rape plotting worsened my headache.
A naked woman dragging a monster corpse to their village at night.
And this bizarre, suspicious sight only made them think of one thing.
Perhaps I should be grateful.
At least they weren't calling me an evil witch.
"Ahem! Sorry for the wait, miss. Please, come in. Let me assist you!"
The lecher approached eagerly.
The one who'd argued for letting me in.
Either fearless or so blood-deprived below he'd lost all reason.
He completely ignored the Dire Wolf's corpse.
Maybe he thought it was just a large wolf.
"...Follow me."
The serious one led while the lecher clung to me.
The weight on my shoulder remained crushing.
Rather than supporting, his hands groped subtly.
Too tired to shrug him off, I walked silently.
"Leave the wolf here."
An empty shed covered in straw.
Villagers wouldn't panic finding it here tomorrow.
Setting down the Dire Wolf finally lightened my burden.
"Hey, this is your family's shed."
"Shut up."
The serious one shoved the lecher.
An internal conflict?
My headache pulsed worse.
Just give me a bed already.
"What's your problem? We agreed earlier."
"Enough. You disgust me."
"You little—!"
Surprisingly, no fight ensued.
The lecher cowered under the serious one's glare.
Their size difference was too great.
"You can rest here."
Following the victor, I was led to a loft.
A bed stitched from straw and scrap fabric awaited.
Luxurious enough for a guest.
"...Thank you. I'll repay this."
Those final words spoken, I collapsed onto the bed.
This was truly my limit.
My head weighed a ton—I couldn't lift a finger.
The rape plot resurfaced in my mind.
The serious one seemed reliable, but...
Who knew what might happen tonight?
I lacked energy to care.
Fine. Do what you want.
Consider it payment for lodging.
Even maintaining thought became impossible.
I plunged into deep unconsciousness.