The forest of Zone 17 became completely silent.
The Spike Wolves slowly stepped out from the shadows of the trees. Their bodies were large—almost the size of small horses. Dark fur covered their muscular frames, and sharp bone spikes grew along their backs like natural armor.
Their glowing yellow eyes stared directly at the five students.
The air was filled with tension.
Kai tightened his grip on his spear.
"Three… no… five of them," he whispered.
Milan checked his scanner again.
"Six," he corrected quietly.
At that moment another wolf emerged from the bushes behind the others.
Ryu grinned slightly.
"Perfect."
Kai glanced at him.
"Perfect?!"
Ryu lifted his sword onto his shoulder.
"This is training."
"If we can't handle C-rank monsters, we shouldn't be here."
Luna stepped forward calmly.
Her silver hair moved slightly with the wind.
"Formation," she said.
Everyone reacted instantly.
Milan moved to the back.
Kai stood on the left side.
Ryu moved to the right.
Leo remained slightly behind them.
Luna stood in the center.
The wolves growled deeply.
Their claws dug into the ground as they slowly circled the group.
Kai swallowed.
"Why do they always look bigger up close…"
One wolf suddenly lunged forward.
Its body moved with incredible speed.
"Left!" Milan shouted.
Kai reacted instantly.
He thrust his spear forward.
The spearhead collided with the wolf's claws, stopping its attack for a moment.
But the monster was strong.
It pushed forward, forcing Kai backward.
"HEY!"
Ryu rushed in from the side.
His sword flashed through the air.
CLANG!
The blade struck the wolf's side, knocking it away.
The creature rolled across the ground but quickly stood again, growling even louder.
Luna raised her staff.
A glowing purple magic circle formed in the air.
"Stay focused," she said calmly.
The wolves attacked again.
Two of them rushed toward Ryu.
He swung his sword in a wide arc.
The blade cut across one wolf's shoulder.
The monster screamed in pain but continued fighting.
Another wolf jumped from behind.
"Behind you!" Kai shouted.
Before the wolf could bite, a burst of violet energy shot past Ryu.
BOOM.
Luna's magic blast struck the monster mid-air, throwing it into a tree.
The tree cracked from the impact.
Milan continued giving instructions from the back.
"They're coordinating their attacks!"
Kai blocked another claw strike with his spear.
"That's because they're wolves!"
Ryu laughed while fighting.
"Then let's hunt them first!"
Another wolf rushed forward.
Ryu stepped forward and slashed downward.
The blade cut deep into the monster's neck.
The wolf collapsed onto the forest floor.
"ONE DOWN!" Ryu shouted proudly.
But the remaining wolves became more aggressive.
They began moving faster.
Circling.
Searching for weak points.
One suddenly jumped toward Milan in the back.
Milan froze.
He wasn't a front-line fighter.
But before the wolf could reach him—
A shadow moved.
Leo appeared between them.
His short sword flashed once.
The movement was so quick it was almost invisible.
The wolf landed on the ground behind him.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then the monster collapsed.
A clean cut across its throat.
Kai blinked.
"Did you even move?"
Leo shrugged slightly.
"It was close."
Kai stared at the dead wolf.
"That didn't look close."
The battle continued.
Ryu and Kai fought the remaining wolves together while Luna supported them with magic.
Another wolf rushed toward Kai.
He blocked the attack with his spear but stumbled backward.
"Little help!"
Ryu dashed forward.
His sword struck the monster's side again.
Luna raised her staff one more time.
A bright magic circle formed in the air.
"Move!"
Kai and Ryu jumped back.
A powerful violet beam shot forward.
The blast hit the remaining wolves.
When the light faded…
The monsters were lying motionless on the forest ground.
The battle was over.
Kai dropped onto the ground breathing heavily.
"Okay…"
He wiped sweat from his forehead.
"That was terrifying."
Ryu laughed.
"That was fun."
Milan checked the scanner again.
"Area clear."
Luna lowered her staff.
"Good work."
She looked around the forest carefully.
But something felt wrong.
The wolves had been strong.
But they were only C-rank monsters.
Still…
Her instincts were warning her.
Leo stood quietly nearby.
He was looking deeper into the forest.
His expression had become slightly serious.
Because the divine blood inside him was reacting again.
Stronger than before.
That reaction was not because of the wolves.
It was something else.
Something deeper inside the forest.
Kai stood up again.
"Well, first battle complete!"
Ryu stretched his arms.
"Let's go find more."
But before anyone could move…
The ground suddenly trembled.
A deep rumbling sound echoed through the forest.
All five of them froze.
Milan looked at his scanner.
His face immediately turned pale.
"That… that's impossible."
Kai stepped closer.
"What?"
Milan showed him the screen.
The energy reading on the scanner was rising rapidly.
Not C-rank.
Not B-rank.
Something far stronger.
Luna's eyes sharpened.
"Everyone step back."
The rumbling sound grew louder.
Trees began shaking.
Birds suddenly flew out of the forest in panic.
Then…
A massive shape moved in the darkness between the trees.
Slow.
Heavy.
Powerful.
Two enormous glowing eyes appeared in the shadows.
Kai whispered nervously.
"That… doesn't look like a C-rank monster."
The creature stepped forward.
Its body was enormous.
Covered with thick stone-like armor.
Its head looked like a giant lizard, but its size was larger than an elephant.
Milan stared at the scanner.
His voice trembled.
"A… A-rank monster."
Luna's expression became serious.
"That shouldn't exist in this zone."
The giant monster slowly walked out from the forest shadows.
Its massive claws crushed the ground with every step.
And its glowing eyes were staring directly at the group.
Leo quietly watched the creature.
Inside his chest, the divine blood pulsed again.
Because this monster felt familiar.
Almost like it had followed something.
Or someone.
And now…
It had finally found its target.