Chapter 24. Training Dungeon Floor 1.
Gavin heard the twig snag at the same time as Veronica's warning. He crouched down and jumped forward, barely avoiding a black mass that came at his back. He rolled and jumped back to his feet as he turned to face his challenger.
Gavin had to do a double take as he looked at the black form in front of him.
Quest received. Defeat the Shadow wolf pack. Rewards. Instant Level up. Bonus points to strength and stamina. The blue screen popped up in his vision. At the same time a counter appeared in the lower right, Zero/ten
Oh, come on, first floor has ten damn enemies? Gavin growled in frustration as he kept his ears open.
In front of him was a form made of black shadow with crimson eyes. It stood on two powerful legs and bared its fangs at him. A Shadow Were-Wolf. Be careful. Veronica's warning came as another beast came charging in from the side which caused Gavin to duck as a clawed hand narrowly missed his throat.
Gavin shook his head as he leaned forward. "Alright, let's skin a few wolves." Gavin snarled as he ran forward towards the first wolf. He ducked the first strike the shadow wolf made and threw a powerful uppercut that connected to the jaw. Gavin half expected his fist to go straight through instead of connecting to a physical body.
The blow caused the wolf to fly backwards and land in a crumpled heap in the bushes. The second wolf was now joined by a third as they both rushed in from either side of Gavin. He focused his mana, the deep red hues swirling around him as he summoned a ball of flame in his hand and threw it out towards the wolf on his right.
The beast dodged the fireball as Gavin turned to block a kick aimed at Gavin's ribs from the third wolf. "Attacking at once is bogus!" He snarled in the wolf's face as he opened his jaws and clamped them down around the shadow wolf's throat and felt a black ichor fill his mouth. A disgusting taste of rotted meat and liquid filled Gavin's senses. The ichor burned his mouth and tongue. The wolf dropped to the ground with a strange gurgle as Gavin spat the ichor out. The body quickly dissolved into a black mist of shadow.
Well, that's disturbing. Gavin considered what he just witnessed as another message pops off.
One of ten shadow wolves was defeated. The message rang through his mind as the counter ticked up one point.
I never imagined killing something would feel this easy. Gavin's thoughts were interrupted by a searing pain that ripped down his back. The second wolf had closed the distance and swiped his claws down, racking Gavin's fur.
Gavin roared in pain as he stumbled forward. He gripped a nearby trunk, his claws digging in as he snarled in pain and rage. He spun his body and swung his left hand, claws extended as he did so. His claws slashed through the second wolf's jaw and ripped its lower half away in the process. The body fell to the ground and dissolved in a black shadow mist before Gavin's eyes.
Two of ten shadow wolves were defeated. The counter ticked up another point as Gavin stood there. His body trembled from the pain in his back as his chest heaved.
Damn it! I got careless. He turned around and hurried over to where the first wolf landed, intending to finish it off and add another point. But, as Gavin approached, he noticed the wolf was nowhere to be seen.
Where did it go? Gavin turned around and tried to spot the shadow wolf through the thick foliage of the forest.
I need eight more. Where are they going to come from?
Then a loud haunting howl filled the forest around him. It was soon joined by many other voices; the sound seemed to be coming from every direction at once. Gavin could subtly discern a few pairs of crimson, red eyes scattered among the thick forest, bodies hidden by foliage. Twigs could be heard snapping and leaves rustled as the shadow wolves moved in unison around him, surrounding him.
Well, shit. Gavin kept pivoting, trying to scan the entire forest around him, his ears strained for any sound of the next attack. He focused on his mana; the energy grew thicker and bolder around him as his eyes burned with intensity. He ignited fireballs in both his palms, ready for the next strike. He picked a directed and started running at full speed.
The ground cracked under his foot as he took off. Not even Erza could keep pace with him when he went all out in a run. The last thing he wanted was to be a stationary target to be surrounded from all directions.
The tiniest rustle of a bush behind him was the only alert Gavin had as he pivoted and threw out both fireballs without hesitation. At least one of them landed on target as a yelp of pain was heard from a shadow wolf concealed by the thick forest.
Gavin ran forward then. Despite the pain in his back, he felt electrified all over. This was the first time he could really go all out in his wolf's form. His inner beast was demanding blood, demanding carnage. Gavin found it difficult to think clearly as his animal instincts began to push against his human reasoning.
His eyes searched through the forest until he saw his target, burning behind a large trunk. He ran on all fours and let loose a baleful howl. He could feel himself being energized by the growing threat. These weren't true wolves. He would show them the difference. He would show that damned god the difference between shadow wolves and himself.
He was a wolf on the hunt. He wanted death, blood and carnage. He poured his will and fury into the howl and felt a change inside him.
New skill unlocked: Hunter's Howl. Your cry paralyzes weaker foes with terror. Duration: thirty seconds. Uses per day: three.
Gavin grinned as the notification popped up. So, I have a new skill? This is getting good. Gavin snarled in joy as he searched for the next target.
He charged through the brush. His body burned and muscles ached, but Gavin did not care about any noise he made as he pounced on the burned wolf. He dug his claws through the beast's chest before the shadow wolf could react. His claws easily pierced through the black ichor blood and bone, and out the back of the wolf. Third shadow wolf was defeated.
Gavin turned, stretched his hand out, and caught the fourth wolf by the throat. The shadow wolf snarled and clawed at Gavin's chest, causing deep gashes along Gavin's body. He let out a savage grow and twisted his hand. The wolf's body slumped to the ground; neck distended at an unnatural angle. The fourth wolf is defeated. Six more shadow wolves remain.
Alert, stamina is draining, and mana is at thirty points. Veronica's warning filled his mind. Gavin stood there, his chest heaved from the pain in his body. Blood poured out from the wounds on his back and chest. His muscles burned and felt heavy. He was sustaining injuries too quickly.
Gavin flashed a tooth filled grin.
I've never felt so alive and powerful! The sensation was intoxicating to him as he turned around and searched for the next target. So, this is what a real battle is like? I could get used to this feeling.
Three more shadow wolves jumped out from the forest. One of the wolves jumped from above him and tackled Gavin to the ground. It snapped its jaws several times as it tried to tear out Gavin's throat. The other two wolves closed the distance while Gavin fought to keep the first wolf from killing him.
"I will not die before I finish the first floor!" He roared in fury and fear as his mana flared and exploded out of him like a chaotic storm. The other two wolves were blasted back by a powerful gust of wind magic as Gavin ignited his hands that held the first wolf back. The wolf yelped in pain as Gavin's ignited hands burned the black shadow skin.
He threw the wolf to the ground as he increased the flames until the wolf stopped moving and the black misted rose into the sky. His mana was still exploding around him, reacting to his emotional fury. Thick crimson red tendrils of energy sliced through the trees that surrounded Gavin. Trees groaned, creaked, and snapped as they began to collapse.
Fifth shadow wolf has been defeated. Five remain.
He threw his head back and decided to test out his new skill.
Hunters howl activated. Gavin threw his head back, opened his jaws and let loose a howl to the heavens. He was wounded in multiple places and nearly overwhelmed just now.
He was pissed. His howl reverberated throughout the forest. The sixth and seventh wolf that tried to jump him with the fifth stood there, frozen as the sound reached them.
He forced his heavy body to move and charged them both. He slapped his hands together and down onto the ground. He infused his mana as he sent his spell through the very earth of the forest. Large thick spikes erupted from the ground and headed straight for the two wolves frozen from Gavin's skill.
The spikes shot out of the ground at their feet and pierced both wolves in multiple locations across their bodies. Black ichor fell to the ground as their bodies dissolved into the black mist.
Sixth shadow wolf defeated. Four remain.
Seventh shadow wolf defeated. Three remain.
Alert! Dungeon Floor boss detected. Three shadow wolves and the floor boss remain. Vitals are approaching dangerous levels; Master Gavin please be careful! Veronica's warning came as the ground itself trembled. Creaking could be heard before a sharp snap sounded through the forest as a large tree trunk was flung at Gavin.
He jumped to the ground, flattening himself as the tree smashed through the bushes. The earth continued to tremble in a steady rhythm as something could be heard crashing through the forest towards him.
A hand reached down, grabbed Gavin by the scruff of his neck and lifted him up into the air. He was turned to face a mouth full of black razor sharp teeth.
That must be the floor boss. Greaaat. Gavin stared into a snout filled with angry teeth as he punched and clawed at the beast that held him in the air like a newborn puppy.
Alert, Mana is down to twenty points. Veronica warned him as he focused again on his mana. If this was the floor boss, it would be pointless for Gavin to hold back.
He covered his fist in hardened stone as he threw punch after punch at the arm that held him. He used his speed to quickly cause the wolf to loosen his grip before he could attack.
Gavin landed on his feet and quickly jumped back as the other three wolves jumped in, teeth snapping and claws extended as they snarled and howled.
Now this is a challenge! Gavin grinned as he ignored Veronica's warnings. In front of him was a monstrous wolf. He was easily twice the height and build of the other shadow wolves that he'd face so far.
"Come on, you ugly bastard!" Gavin snarled out as he charged forward, determined to sink his claws into that blackened hide.
As he ran forward on all fours the other three wolves appeared to cut his path off. Reacting to animal instinct Gavin swerved left and smashed his body into the one on the left. The two bodies collided in a snarling mass of black fur and shadow. Teeth snapping and claws ripping and tearing at each other while they rolled around in the bushes.
Gavin didn't want to waste anymore time as he clamped his jaws around the shadow wolf's throat and his hands on the wolf's shoulders. Black ichor filled Gavin's mouth from the wolf's throat as he thrashed against Gavin, determined to take him down. His tongue and mouth burned from the foul liquid as he gripped the wolf's shoulders with his hands and twisted his head in one direction and pulled with his hands in the other, tearing the shadow wolf's head clean from its' shoulders.
Eighth shadow wolf defeated. Two remain plus the boss.
Black ichor poured out from the headless corpse moments before the body dissolved into a black mist. He slowly got to his feet, body heavy as he glared at the boss wolf. His chest burned as he panted. He spat globs of the black ichor onto the ground, not taking his eyes off the wolves in front of him.
The floor boss glared back at Gavin. He growled low as he pointed at him with one clawed hand and both the escorts charged in.
Alert, Gavin your mana is dangerously low. A few more minutes and your shift will end! Veronica's voice shouted in his mind, filled with concern and worry.
Shut up Veronica and let me focus! Gavin snapped at his partner. He felt a wave of hurt emotions wash over him as she retreated from his mind like a hand removed from his shoulder.
He was a wolf. He didn't care about his vitals or mana. This was exhilarating and he wanted more. More fighting, more combat, more kills.
Gavin's body felt heavy all over. Blood poured from the numurous wounds across his shoulders and back as he licked his canines in anticipation. It was like they had a stand off right now.
The boss snarled, hackles lifted. If Gavin didn't know any better, he'd swear the boss was laughing at him. That set Gavin's own fury off as his vision tightened, darkened until he only focused on the path in front of him. Hyper fixated on the enemies Gavin forced his tired back forward. Slowly at first, but quickly gained momentum as he crashed through the brush.
The two escorts charged forward to meet him, shadow bodies almost a blur as they ran. They met in the middle in a clash of crashing bodies. Gavin ducked and swept his leg out and smashed it into the knee of one of the wolves.
Their bodies were a mess of snaping jaws and racking claws. Each of them trying to kill the other by any means. Gavin yelped as one of the wolves bit down on his shoulder, it's teeth tearing through Gavin's muscle and to his bone.
Gavin! Veronica's warning of concern filled his mind as he struggled to fight off both the wolves. The floor boss slowly made it's way towards Gavin as he continued his efforts to finish off the last two wolves. It stood just behind the two wolves and reached a clawed hand down towards Gavin and pinned him on the ground between the two escorts.
Gavin's remaining mana blasted out from his body. In a last-ditch effort Veronica used everything that Gavin had left. She focused his mana into crimson blood red blades of energy that left his body. The blood red blades slashed through both shadow wolves effortlessly; their bodies sliced into multiple pieces that fell with a sickening sound.
The waves of energy collided with the floor boss. It's eyes widened for a moment in surprise as the blades entered its body in the same fashion. They slowed down for a fraction of a second before they exited the floor boss and faded into a fine red mist on the other side.
Ninth shadow wolf was defeated.
Tenth shadow wolf was defeated.
Floor boss was defeated.
Multiple messages displayed in Gavin's mind as his body began to shrink, and the shift ended while he lay there on the ground.
The last thing that went through Gavin's mind was how much pain his body was in. He was unable to move a muscle as his mana reached zero and he shifted back into his human body.
The floor boss, sliced into several pieces, fell to the ground, his black ichor blood soaking the bushes under his body before dissolving into a shadow mist.
Floor one boss successfully defeated. Rewards will now be gained.
Ten out of ten shadow wolves were defeated. Quest completed. Rewards will now be successfully completed.
Instant level up received for defeating ten shadow wolves. Now level four. On top of normal bonus of five free stat points. Five additional points will be awarded to strength and stamina attributes.
Your inner beast has tasted its' first victory in battle and grows more bloodthirsty for future conflict. An additional five bonus points will be assigned to Intimidate attribute.
Reward for defeating the floor boss is as follows. Instant level up received. Now level five. An additional five points will be awarded to both Stamina and Strength attributes.
Total of ten unspent free attribute points. You have witnessed how a wolf pack fights together as one. This knowledge will help you once you add members to the pack.
Your use of mana manipulation has increased your skill; Elemental Manipulation to level two. Spells are now easier to use and require ten percent less mana than before.
New Bonus Skill unlocked. Were-Wolf Regeneration-You burn through stamina after a battle, but your wounds will heal rapidly as a result. Once injuries are healed, Stamina will begin to recover.
A flurry of messages appeared before Gavin's eyes as he fought to stay conscious on the hard earthen ground. Gavin was more exhausted than he'd ever felt in his life. His chest burned with every breath as he struggled to slow his rapid heart rate. His eyelids were heavy, and he fought to keep them open.
Rest for now Gavin. We will speak when you awaken. Veronica's voice was laced with concern and reproach.
Veronica… The name tried to form. Pride swallowed it. Darkness took him before the apology did.