#20. Fatal Judgment
The Tower of Trials has its own theme or concept on each floor. If Floor 1's theme was goblins, then Floor 2's main theme was wolves. True to that setup, the master of the Floor 2 boss room was a werewolf that walked upright on two legs.
Honestly, if it had just been a wolf walking on two legs, it would've looked pretty ridiculous. But the werewolf's long, stretched-out limbs and the dense-packed muscles bulging in all four of them weren't funny at all. Even covered head to toe in brown fur, those lumpy muscles asserted their presence loud and clear. It looked over two meters tall, and the claws jutting from its hands were razor-sharp even from a distance.
Nothing like the capture images posted on the open community's strategy tab.
Fuck, how the hell is that a wolf walking on two legs? It was less werewolf and more like splicing a grizzly bear and Dwayne Johnson, then slapping a wolf head on top.
I'd heard this Floor 2 boss werewolf showed up later as a trash mob on higher floors. The thought of a insane monster like that popping up as fodder made my head reel.
"Huu."
I took a small deep breath and readjusted my grip on the shield and sword. Its ferocious looks had me a bit tense, but there was no need to cower. Size-wise, the Floor 1 Goblin Lord had been bigger, and this werewolf wasn't even armed. Factoring in my sword's length, our reaches would be about even. Perfect for closing in, trading blows, and pulling back.
Unlike the Goblin Lord, it had fewer trash mob summons too, so I could fight without worry.
-Tadak!
I sprinted full tilt toward the center of the boss room where the werewolf stood. Boosted by my higher agility stat, my speed was way beyond human limits. The gap closed in seconds, and once it clocked me, the werewolf reared back its arm for a swing—predicting I'd enter range and pulling a beat early.
Strategy guides said werewolves favored max-range attacks off their quick reactions. I'd planned around that signature pattern ahead of time.
-Hwoong!
Right before stepping into its attack zone, I slammed to a halt and hurled the shield strapped to my arm. The thing flew like a missile, smacking the prepping werewolf square in the face.
-Ppak!
Shielded to the mug, it aborted and clutched its snout. Seizing the opening, I lunged deeper and unleashed the attack skill Brandish, carving into its leg. Chwaak—foul blood sprayed as it staggered. The slash bit deeper than I'd figured.
I yanked the sword back, then fired off Sword Charge at its shoulder.
-Kwaak!
The blade sank deep on the charge hit. Great feedback, but no crit. Either its defense was weaker than expected, or my attack power was just nuts. Either way, a happy accident. Eating two heavy hits right out the gate?
-Krurruk!
The werewolf's eyes flashed with fury as it glared daggers at me.
"What the fuck you staring at, you dog bastard."
I barked back and went to rip the sword from its shoulder for round three.
"Uh."
It wouldn't budge. The werewolf's shoulder muscles clenched and trapped the blade. This crazy shit—the sword was jammed in there. Un-fucking-believable.
-Hwoong!
Shoulder skewered and not even fazed, it slashed claws at my stunned ass. Surprise threw my timing—too late to dodge. I threw up the shield to block... ah fuck, I'd chucked it earlier.
-Kwang!
Brain-rattling impact launched me airborne for a sec.
Second time since Robo and Blanca. Forgot about the tossed shield, tried to block anyway, and ate shit.
-Udangtang!
Its powerful claw sent me tumbling through the air before I cratered. Realizing no shield, I'd shifted my arm just in time to avoid getting shredded. Still took the hit clean—vision swimming. And my arm... please not broken.
"Ugh, arm... fuck... my arm."
The curse tumbling out sounded like some lame-ass pun. Tongue was fine, at least. Arm moved okay too. Probably the Earth Spirit's Blessing and defense buffs saving my bacon.
-Krurrung!
No breather for potions—the werewolf barreled at me at ludicrous speed. Bipedal a second ago, now dropping to all fours. Pure animal instinct, I guess. Right on script from the guides, of course.
I yanked a fresh sword from inventory and charged to meet it.
-Taak!
Just shy of its claw thrust, I leaped straight up. Gripping the sword reverse in both hands, I drove it hard into its back. Full body weight plus drop acceleration buried it deep.
-Graaaaa!
It thrashed and screamed. But like before, the blade was stuck fast. Starting to get it now—these weren't just bulky muscles; the density was insane. Less "stuck between fibers" and more "vice-gripped by a hydraulic press."
Guides had warned the body was tough—favor slashes and blunts over stabs. If I hadn't blown it off thinking my specs could handle it, I wouldn't have eaten that dumb hit.
"Eotcha."
I bailed without forcing the pull, leaping clear to widen the gap. Two weapons abandoned in it, but I'd brought spares galore. Felt a lot like the Floor 1 boss fight unfolding, but whatever. Same flow meant my win in the end.
Werewolf claws couldn't punch through my defense easy, but my sword carved it up no problem. Plus, I knew most of its patterns cold. This was shaping up smooth victory.
One wildcard.
-Awooooooo!!
Two swords embedded, it let out a deafening howl. Dark corners of the boss room stirred—two kobolds mounted on wolves emerged.
Kobold Riders, its elite summons. Main trash mobs of this fight. But kobold rider? On a wolf? Shouldn't that be Wolf Rider? By that logic, human on dragon's Human Rider. Whatever—not the point.
Unlike goblins' random gear, these were all kitted with halberds. Spear-meets-axe polearms for thrusting or slashing, long reach. Wolf speed for acceleration? Nasty power... against someone else, maybe.
-Tadadak!
The summoned riders charged at blistering pace. Shield up.
-Hwoong!
Ducked a halberd overhead swing, bashed the follow-up thrust aside.
-Teong.
Lighter than expected. Could straight ignore these.
I blew past the pair, charging the claw-poised, snarling werewolf. Guides said riders had strong charges but long recovery after a whiff. Ditch 'em with my speed, focus the boss. Done.
It met my rush with a massive claw sweep, like shaking me off.
-Kagak!
Prepped proper, shield took scratches but held easy. Sword Charge thrust into its thigh this time. Ditched the pull-resistant blade, swapped gear. Stepped on the embedded sword for a jump boost. Grabbed the shoulder blade's hilt, spun, and remounted the back.
Out came the trusty [Hawk's Dagger] from Floor 1 boss loot—pukpukpukpukpukpuk! Stabbed its back to shreds.
Short blade meant easy in-and-out, no muscle grip. Lock in position, spam away. Back-mount dagger spam turning into my go-to—might grab dagger mastery down the line.
-Gyaak!
Unwolf-like screech from the werewolf. Riders incoming from afar, like they heard it.
"Ah, pretty quick."
Kicked off the back to land, leaped at the halberd-thrusting kobold rider. Height tweak dodged the stab, counter knee to the face.
-Kwajik!
Watermelon-crunch sound, red crit effects exploding—kobold mug pulped.
But hindsight? Knee counter was a blunder. Jumping for it left me open to the trailing rider.
-Chwaak!
Grazed my thigh. High defense kept it shallow, but needless damage.
"Ugh, shii..."
Midair slice botched my landing—stumbly. That's when the back-stabbed werewolf lunged again.
Timing off a hair, but patterns locked in. Predicted claw, shield up.
Except... the werewolf looked wrong. Eyes glowing vicious red, muscles ballooned bigger.
"Oh, fu—"
Not claws incoming. A wolf maw gaping impossibly wide.
-Kwajijik!
Berserk werewolf chomped deep into my shoulder and chest.