I hear the rustling of leaves crushed beneath my footsteps.
My hood trembles in the wind. Through the few gaps between the trees, I feel rays of sunlight brushing against my skin.
I turn my head back repeatedly, no sign of them, but I can't trust that.
"Damn it!"
"Why won't they leave me alone?!"
With the forest more illuminated, I can avoid obstacles more easily.
Footsteps echo behind me. When I look back, I clearly see a dark-furred, quadrupedal figure.
A wolf!
It's smaller than those green tigers, but still bigger than me.
I notice the wolf's snout wrinkle. It howls, and immediately, other howls echo in response.
When I look back again, I see two more wolves emerging.
I run with greater desperation, but even as I increase my speed, the wolves begin closing the distance.
I glance from side to side, searching for anything that might help me, somewhere that could give me an advantage. Even if it cuts or pierces me, it doesn't matter.
Far ahead, there's an unusually deep darkness. Even though it's morning, the light doesn't reach that area. I can sense a deadly danger there.
It's not a good idea to go there.
A growl behind me numbs my hesitation.
The choice is between not dying, or dying in the wolves' stomachs.
I direct my run toward that dark area. The wolves' footsteps are getting closer.
Pain builds up in my legs, but my regeneration can handle it.
Sweat runs down my body.
Just a little more!
Just a little more!!
Just a little more!!!
My right foot steps into the dark forest, but the pain in my neck and left leg, where I was bitten, makes me scream.
The world spins, and the weight of two bodies presses me to the ground.
Pain explodes through my neck and leg. I try to move, but my body refuses. The two wolves are on top of me.
There's no escape. The wolves caught me. I close my eyes, accepting the end.
"..."
But I don't hear the sound of chewing, nor do I feel my body being devoured.
I slowly open my eyes. I realize the two wolves aren't eating me. I can still feel my blood flowing from my neck and leg, but nothing else happens.
I force my gaze to look to both sides above me, but I can only see parts of their dark fur. They don't move, and they don't attack me.
My body grows heavy, my senses becoming numb, as if I've been given a sedative, but I can feel my regeneration fighting against the effects.
I try to move my mouth, but I've already lost the strength even to speak.
What's happening?!
The blood and pain in my neck and leg begin to fade, but I can tell it's not because of my regeneration. I still can't move a single muscle. The two wolves on top of me also seem to be suffering from the same paralyzing effects.
A howl sounds beside me. Even paralyzed, I can still move my eyes. At the entrance of the forest, I spot the third wolf. It paces back and forth restlessly, but doesn't dare take a step forward.
My attention shifts to the area around me. I notice black orchids clinging to the tree trunks, releasing dark pollen into the air.
I quickly deduce that this released pollen is what's responsible for leaving both me and the wolves on top of me in this state.
That brings me some relief. The wolves won't be able to eat me, and that wolf over there won't be able to attack me. But in exchange, I can't move either.
I notice another orchid releasing a dense cloud of black pollen.
A paralytic? It has to be.
An extremely loud howl draws my attention, and the attention of the wolf pacing at the entrance.
The wolf turns back toward the sound. The same howl echoes again, and the wolf runs toward it, leaving me and the other two wolves behind.
The wolf disappears completely from my sight.
What could that be…
A tremor shakes the ground, and a strong wind knocks leaves from the trees.
What was that?!
A thunderous, intimidating roar blasts against my eardrums.
What the hell?!
I hear the monstrous roar again.
I try to see what it is, but my body remains paralyzed. At most, my eyes can only make out the entrance of this dark forest and a portion of the sky. Another tremor shakes the forest, a flash of light appears, and then I hear a massive explosion.
Even from a distance, the shockwave makes my black hair sway.
Soon after, I hear an extremely loud and equally intimidating howl. Immediately, other howls answer the call. What follows are multiple flashes of light and explosions that make the earth tremble continuously.
I'm stunned. I can already imagine the disaster unfolding over there.
The wolves are facing something extremely powerful.
Before I can even process it, a beam of light rushes toward me.
The sphere of light strikes the entrance of the dark forest, blowing everything around me apart. I'm dragged away along with the two wolves.
My eyes are gradually engulfed by the black pollen, preventing me from seeing any light.
***
While Nagaro disappears into the darkness of the black forest, a wolf runs across the woodland.
Those earlier howls had been a call.
The wolf weaves past trees and roots. Its run slows, and its yellow eyes take in the battlefield ahead.
Craters stretch across the ground as far as the eye can see. Among them, several dead wolves lie scattered, some charred, others torn apart.
A thunderous crash echoes not far from the area.
The wolf raises its head toward the sound.
Its companions are fighting a gigantic troll.
The troll, nearly seven meters tall, advances through the wolves. His dark blue skin contrasts with crude clothes made of leaves and thick vines. In one hand, he lifts a massive tree trunk.
The wolf charges toward the battle, ready to fight.
The troll slams his weapon down with force, making the earth tremble.
Some wolves manage to dodge, while others are struck and thrown aside, with no chance of survival.
The remaining wolves spread out, circling around the troll.
The troll spins his body, trying to track them all at once, but his vision blurs. Irritated, he roars and slams the ground with heavy attacks.
Bursts of light strike the giant's back, only making him more enraged.
The troll turns around, but is hit by thousands of light shots.
His steps stagger backward, his head swaying from side to side. He's disoriented and temporarily blinded.
The wolves charge forward and leap.
Many manage to sink their fangs into the troll's skin. Others climb his body, trying to reach more vulnerable spots.
But the troll's skin is tough, difficult to tear.
The giant regains his senses. With abrupt movements, he rips the wolves clinging to his body and strikes his own legs.
The shockwave of air alone sends several wolves flying.
The troll isn't just strong, he's agile as well. The wooden trunk swings back and forth, preventing the enemies from getting close.
One wolf sees the trunk descending. It runs fast enough to escape the troll's reach.
From afar, it sees several of its brethren gathering in one area. It understands what they're about to do.
The wolves group together, locking their fierce eyes onto the giant and opening their mouths. Light gathers within them, a coordinated attack.
The troll's eyes reflect the danger, and he quickly opens his mouth to charge his own attack.
The strikes fire and collide. The explosion engulfs everyone.
Everything falls silent for a moment. Amid the heavy smoke, the result is revealed. Some wolves are dead, others gravely wounded.
On the other side, the troll remains standing, completely unharmed. He prepares to advance and finish off the remaining enemies.
But an extremely powerful howl echoes, drawing everyone's attention.
When the troll turns his head, he is struck by an enormous cannon of light.
The flash cuts through the forest without causing an explosion. The beam continues onward, disappearing into the sky.
When the light finally dissipates, the surviving wolves can see the scene.
All of them remain frozen in place.
The enormous troll… remains standing, but without its head. Its gigantic body collapses violently onto the ground.
A loud howl echoes, drawing their attention.
All the wolves turn to look.
High atop a rise of earth, a giant wolf emerges from between the trees. Its fur is as black as night, and its yellow eyes express pure seriousness.
He is a pack chief of the king, the Wolf Leader.
The Leader observes his pack. Almost all of them have been killed, but he arrived in time and prevented the intruder from causing further devastation in his territory.
He raises his head and lets out a low growl toward the fallen troll, then, with an authoritative gaze, he barks at his pack.
Immediately, the wolves obey and advance to devour the giant's body.