Adlet knew that time would not be on his side. The night had fallen only recently, and daylight wouldn't offer him any more options. If he waited too long, the wolves would grow confident enough to attack as a pack.
He couldn't afford to hesitate—taking the first strike meant exposing himself to the others.
Adlet considered his options, his mind working quickly. If he could lure them into a false sense of security, he might be able to isolate one and finish it off. He advanced toward the wolf in front of him, keeping a close eye on the one to his right. His gaze flickered, just enough to signal to it that he had noticed its presence. The wolf tensed, hesitating as it calculated the risk of attacking.
Adlet moved swiftly, just enough to lure the third wolf into striking from behind. He had done it before, avoiding an attack without even thinking, so he was confident he could replicate the same instinctive dodge now that he was prepared.
But he knew this moment was crucial. If he missed his opportunity, the wolves would adjust, and his plan would fall apart. As expected, the wolf behind him lunged with blinding speed, aiming for his throat.
Instinct kicked in. Without thinking, Adlet twisted just in time, feeling the cold brush of air as the wolf's fangs barely grazed his skin. He was too slow—his side stung sharply as the claws scraped across him, leaving a thin trail of blood.
He reacted almost immediately, pushing through the pain and swinging his Aura-imbued fist at the wolf's skull. The creature crumpled with a sickening thud, lifeless before it hit the ground.
But the remaining wolves didn't back down. If anything, they were more determined now, circling him with lethal intent.
Adlet's heart pounded. His body was already aching from the near miss, and the struggle against the first wolf had drained his energy more than he cared to admit. He had one chance to finish this—and it had to work.
Gripping the paw of the dead wolf, he carefully dragged it behind him, his hand hidden from view. Then, in one fluid motion, he slid his feet forward, closing the distance. Using the lifeless wolf as an unexpected weapon, he swung it with brutal force at the first wolf.
The blow hit its mark. The wolf recoiled, staggering back, momentarily dazed. The second wolf didn't hesitate—it lunged at him, and Adlet was ready.
He leapt forward, adrenaline surging through him. His fist, powered by Aura, found the back of the second wolf's neck. The creature collapsed, its body limp.
Adlet stood over the two fallen wolves, breathing heavily, his body aching from the close calls. The world around him seemed still for a moment—until he heard the rustling of leaves in the distance.
He didn't hesitate; moving quickly, he made sure to keep his senses sharp for any new threats. But as the wolves' stamina bled out into him, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the struggle on his shoulders.
It was then that a sharp movement caught his eye—the first wolf, the one he had knocked back with the lifeless body, staggered to its feet. It shook its head violently, trying to clear the disorientation from its senses. Its eyes, wide with pain and fear, locked onto Adlet, its chest rising and falling in quick, shallow breaths.
For a long, tense moment, the two of them simply stared at each other. The wolf's gaze was full of wild defiance, its muscles tensing, ready to spring once more. Adlet's pulse thrummed in his ears, his body coiled, waiting for any sign of movement. He could feel the weight of his aura gathering, an electric charge in the air, ready to strike if the wolf made the first move.
But then, something shifted in the wolf's eyes. Its fierce gaze faltered for a split second, and Adlet saw it—fear, raw and primal, flickering behind the wolf's defiance. It wasn't hesitation, but something deeper, something instinctual. The wolf knew it had been beaten. It had seen its packmates fall, and now, staring at the human before it, something in its wild heart knew there would be no victory here.
A low growl rumbled in its throat, not out of aggression, but a final warning, a last attempt to intimidate. And then, without another sound, the wolf backed away, its body moving with quick, fluid motions, its eyes never leaving Adlet's.
As the distance between them grew, the wolf's gaze softened, the tension in its muscles easing. It hesitated for a moment, as if deciding whether it could afford the humiliation of retreat. Then, with a flick of its tail, it turned and fled, its retreating form dissolving into the trees like a shadow slipping through the underbrush.
Adlet watched it go, the last traces of adrenaline still buzzing in his veins. His chest heaved with the effort, the fight lingering in his senses, but the moment the wolf fled, a strange calm settled over him. He exhaled deeply, wiping the sweat from his brow.
That had been close.
He looked down at the fallen wolves, then back at the direction where the last one had disappeared. His instincts told him it was better this way—no more deaths. He'd been lucky to survive this fight, and perhaps, that lone wolf had made the wiser choice by fleeing.
The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the weight of survival. Adlet took a step back, his muscles still aching, but for the moment, the battle was over.
The next morning, Adlet woke with the light's first rays. The soreness from the previous day's battles weighed on him, but he was determined to keep going. His sense of direction, sharpened by years of navigating the wilderness, guided him deeper into the Dark Woods.
Hours passed as he moved through the dense trees, his senses alert for any sign of movement. Eventually, he reached a more open area with a shimmering river flowing lazily through the trees.
"Apexes need to drink, too," Adlet thought, realizing that following the river might lead him to his next challenge.
It wasn't long before he found his first opponent—a bear, standing just under two meters tall, catching fish in the middle of the river. At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary creature. But as Adlet drew closer, he noticed the distinct horns curving forward from its head, marking it as an Apex.
He couldn't afford to underestimate it. Adlet stomped his foot, deliberately making his presence known. The bear turned slowly, rising onto its hind legs, its eyes locking onto him. With a deep, rumbling growl, it swiped its claws at him.
Adlet reacted fast, meeting the strike with a firm grip on the bear's paw. His Aura surged, and the sound of cracking bones echoed in the air as he tore the beast away from the water. It roared in pain, but Adlet wasn't finished. The bear lunged, jaws snapping open, but Adlet slammed his fist into its muzzle with the force of a hammer, causing the beast to stumble back.
One swift blow to the skull finished the job. The bear crumpled into the water, its energy and vitality draining out into the boy. As it hit the water with a resounding splash, it let out a death rattle—a low, guttural sound that echoed in Adlet's mind. He watched as the last vestiges of life faded from the creature's body, and his Aura surged once again, absorbing the vital energy in the form of glowing particles that swirled around his hands before dissipating into him.
"Looks like that was the last one," Adlet muttered to himself, but as he turned to leave, the peace of the river was shattered by a new sound—the rustling of leaves, followed by the roar of another bear.
This one was massive—far larger than the first. The forest seemed to shake as it emerged from the trees. Adlet's breath caught in his throat. This was something else entirely. He froze, instinct screaming that this fight was not one he could win.
A sinister howl split the air, echoing through the woods. The birds in the trees scattered in a flurry of wings, their panic spreading like wildfire.
Adlet's heart began to race. He instinctively ducked behind a nearby bush, his senses on high alert. From his hiding spot, he peered through the leaves, eyes widening as he saw the behemoth of a bear sniff the air. Its nostrils flared, and its eyes locked on him as it searched for the source of the scent.
The creature was over five meters tall, its body rippling with muscle, its fur thick and dark. The horns, twisted like spirals of bone, crowned its head, their jagged tips gleaming with a menacing sharpness. A thick, white mark stretched across its chest, like a streak of lightning scorched into its fur, marking it as a creature of pure, untamed power.
Adlet's stomach churned. He realized the truth in an instant. The blood of the first bear, still staining his hands and clothes, was like a beacon. He had left a trail.
Adlet's heart hammered in his chest as the bear's massive form loomed closer, the weight of its gaze crushing him from the shadows. He knew one thing for certain now: the hunt had begun, and there was no turning back.