The forest filled with glowing red eyes.
One.
Three.
Five.
Then more.
Ashfang wolves emerged from the shadows, their black fur shimmering with faint heat.
The Wolf King stood proudly at the center.
Its pack gathered behind it.
Lysander slowly exhaled.
"…This is bad."
Very bad.
Even one Ashfang wolf was dangerous for an F-rank candidate.
Now there were more than a dozen.
And their king.
The wolves began circling him.
Slowly.
Patiently.
Predators enjoying their prey.
Lysander's hand rested quietly on Kagekiri's sheath.
His breathing slowed.
If he panicked—
He would die.
The Wolf King growled.
Then it lunged.
At the same moment the pack attacked.
Claws.
Fangs.
Flames.
Every direction.
Lysander moved instantly.
Steel flashed.
The blade cut through one wolf's throat.
Click.
But another wolf slammed into him from the side.
He hit the ground hard.
Pain shot through his ribs.
Before he could stand—
A flaming claw ripped across his shoulder.
Blood splattered across the dirt.
Lysander gritted his teeth and rolled away just as another wolf landed where he had fallen.
His vision blurred slightly.
Too many.
Too fast.
He cut another wolf.
Click.
But the Wolf King struck again.
This time the claws tore across his side.
The heat was unbearable.
Lysander staggered back.
His breathing grew ragged.
Blood soaked his shirt.
I can't keep this up…
The wolves circled again.
Waiting.
The Wolf King stepped forward slowly.
Its red eyes burned with intelligence.
It knew.
Its prey was weakening.
Lysander tightened his grip on the sheath.
His vision darkened slightly.
This is it…
Then—
A voice echoed in his mind.
Cold.
Calm.
Familiar.
"…Pathetic."
Lysander froze.
Nythera.
Her voice sounded distant.
Like an echo inside a deep cave.
"You have the blade."
"You have the technique."
"Yet you fight like prey."
Lysander wiped blood from his mouth.
"Helpful advice."
Nythera ignored the sarcasm.
"Stop looking at the pack."
"Look at the king."
Lysander frowned slightly.
The Wolf King stepped closer.
The pack followed its movements.
Nythera continued.
"The king controls the hunt."
"Break the king…"
"…and the pack collapses."
Lysander's eyes sharpened.
Of course.
Pack hierarchy.
If the king fell—
The wolves would scatter.
But the king was the strongest.
Nythera's voice softened slightly.
"Void Draw is not about fighting many enemies."
"It is about ending the fight."
Lysander exhaled slowly.
His stance lowered.
His hand rested lightly on the sheath again.
Focus.
Breath.
The wolves began to close in again.
But Lysander ignored them.
His entire vision locked onto one target.
The Wolf King.
The monster lunged.
The pack followed.
Lysander stepped forward instead of retreating.
The world slowed.
Claws.
Fangs.
Fire.
Everything moving at once.
Then—
He drew.
The blade moved faster than before.
A perfect diagonal strike.
Void energy flickered along the edge.
The cut landed across the Wolf King's neck.
The sword returned to its sheath.
Click.
Silence filled the clearing.
For a moment nothing moved.
Then the Wolf King's body collapsed.
Its head rolled across the dirt.
The wolves froze.
Their leader was gone.
Panic spread through the pack.
Within seconds the remaining wolves scattered into the forest.
Running.
Fleeing.
Lysander stood alone in the clearing.
His breathing was heavy.
His body trembled from exhaustion.
Blood soaked his clothes.
But he was alive.
A blue system window appeared.
Boss Defeated
Ashfang Wolf King
Title Acquired
Wolf King Slayer
Effect:
Damage against beast-type monsters increased.
Another message appeared.
Rank Progression
F → E Rank Candidate
Lysander exhaled slowly.
"…Finally."
Then Nythera spoke again.
Her voice quieter this time.
"…Acceptable."
Lysander chuckled weakly.
"High praise."
The clearing was silent now.
The battle was over.
But somewhere deeper in the forest…
Other candidates had heard the Wolf King's final roar.
And they were already heading toward the battlefield.
Which meant Lysander had very little time.
He wiped blood from his blade.
Then looked around.
"…I should probably disappear."