The morning sun rose over the Grey Dome. It cast long shadows across the stone plaza. Nagi stood before the quest board again. The wood was weathered and rough. New papers had been pinned overnight. He scanned the notices quickly. Most were routine requests for materials. Some were requests for escort duties. One paper was pinned at eye level. It was marked with a red border. This indicated high urgency. Nagi stepped closer to read it. The text was written in bold ink.
Notice said, "Warning: Granite Fang Encroachment."
He read the details below the header. The location was the East Road. It led to the first farming settlement. The monsters were moving closer to the city. Three licensed hunters had been assigned. All three had declined the job. The reason was written in small print. The pack size was larger than expected.
Nagi frowned slightly. Granite Fangs were low-level monsters. They were stone-skinned wolves. Usually, they hunted in packs of five. This notice implied a pack of twenty. That was unusual for this region. He looked around the plaza. Hunters were gathering in groups. They pointed at the notice and shook heads.
Hunter One said, "It is not worth the risk."
Hunter Two said, "The Guild pays too little."
Hunter One said, "Let the guards handle it."
Nagi listened to their conversation. The guards were overwhelmed already. They could not spare men for the roads. The farmers were vulnerable out there. Nagi turned away from the board. He walked toward the East Gate. The city was waking up slowly. Merchants were opening their stalls. Children were running to the schools. Life continued despite the danger.
Nagi reached the gate archway. Two guards stood on duty there. They wore the gray uniform of the city watch. They held spears loosely in their hands.
Guard said, "Where are you going?"
Nagi said, "To the settlement."
Guard said, "The road is closed."
Nagi said, "I know."
Guard said, "Then turn back."
Nagi said, "I am not a traveler."
Guard said, "What are you?"
Nagi said, "A worker."
He showed his calloused hands. The guard looked at them briefly. He saw the dirt under the nails. He saw the strength in the forearms.
Guard said, "Be careful out there."
Nagi said, "I will be."
The guard stepped aside. He did not stop him further.
Nagi walked through the gate. The road stretched out before him. It was made of packed dirt and gravel. Fields lay on either side of the path. They were empty this early in the season. Nagi walked for an hour. The city walls disappeared behind him. Silence fell over the landscape. Only the wind moved through the grass. He stopped to study the terrain. He closed his eyes and remembered.
In the game, this map was simple. There were three rocky outcrops. They provided cover for ambushes. There was a dry creek bed nearby. It allowed for silent movement. He opened his eyes. The reality matched the memory. The rocks were where they should be. The creek was dry as expected. But the signs were different. In the game, monster spawns were fixed. Here, the tracks were erratic. They crossed the road multiple times. They were testing the boundaries.
Nagi crouched down to examine a print. It was deep in the mud. The claw marks were sharp and clear. He measured the stride length. It was larger than a normal Fang.
Nagi said, "They are evolving."
This was not in the original code. The monsters were adapting. Or someone was directing them. He stood up and brushed off his hands. The sun was high in the sky. He needed to wait for night. Granite Fangs were nocturnal hunters. They slept during the day. Attacking them now was wasteful.
He found a spot near the rocks. It offered a clear view of the road. He sat down and leaned against the stone. He took out dried meat from his pocket. He ate slowly to conserve energy. He drank water from his canteen. He watched the shadows lengthen. Hours passed without movement. The sky turned from blue to orange. Then it faded to a deep purple. Stars began to appear above. The air grew cold quickly.
Nagi stood up and stretched. His muscles were stiff from sitting. He walked back to the road. He stood in the center of the path. He waited for the moon to rise. It appeared over the eastern hills. It was a pale sliver of light. Visibility was low but sufficient. Nagi began to walk again. He moved silently on the gravel. He avoided the dry leaves on the ground. He listened for the sound of breathing. Granite Fangs breathed heavily. Their stone skin grated when they moved.
He walked for two miles. He reached the midpoint of the road. This was where the attacks happened. He stopped and waited. The wind died down completely. The silence was absolute. Then he heard a sound. It was a click of stone on stone. It came from the left side. Nagi turned his head slowly. He did not move his body. He saw a pair of glowing eyes. They were low to the ground. They watched him from the shadows.
Nagi said, "I see you."
The eyes did not blink. Another pair appeared on the right. Then another behind him. They were surrounding him. He counted the pairs of eyes. There were six visible so far. The notice said twenty. Where were the others? He scanned the rocky outcrops. He saw movement on the heights. They were positioning themselves above. This was a coordinated hunt. Animals did not tactic like this. This was intelligent behavior.
Nagi reached for his knife. It was a basic iron blade. It was not enchanted or special. But it was sharp enough. He held it loosely in his hand. He did not assume a fighting stance. He stood relaxed and calm. The wolves began to circle. Their claws scraped on the rocks. The sound was like grinding metal.
Nagi said, "Who sent you?"
The wolves did not answer. They growled low in their throats. The sound vibrated in the ground. Nagi tightened his grip on the knife. He calculated the distance to each beast. He calculated the speed of their charge. He needed to end this quickly. If he drew it out, more would come. He needed to send a message.
The moon passed behind a cloud. Darkness fell over the road. The wolves moved in that instant. Nagi closed his eyes. He did not need sight to fight. He listened to the air shift. He felt the pressure change. He stepped forward into the dark. The first strike came from the left. He parried it with his forearm. The stone claw sparked against his bone. It did not break his skin. He slashed with the knife. The blade found the soft spot. It was under the jaw of the beast. The wolf fell silently.
The others hesitated. They smelled the blood. It was dark and thick. Nagi stood over the body. He waited for the next move. The clouds passed over the moon. Light returned to the road. The remaining wolves stepped back. They were not fleeing. They were regrouping.
Nagi said, "Go."
His voice was cold and hard.
The wolves looked at him. They looked at their dead kin. They turned and vanished into the rocks. Nagi did not pursue them. He wiped the blade on the grass. He sheathed the knife slowly. He looked at the track again. The footprints led deeper east. Toward the settlement. He needed to follow them. But not tonight. He had confirmed the threat. He had tested their strength. They were stronger than before.
He turned back toward the city. The walk would be long. He needed to report this. But not to the Guild. They would not listen. He needed to find Maret. She knew the rumors. She knew the people. He walked under the moonlight. The road was quiet again. But the danger was still there. It was waiting in the rocks. It was watching him leave. Nagi kept his pace steady. He did not look back. He knew they were following. From a distance.
He reached the city gates at dawn. The guards were changing shifts. They looked tired and weary.
Guard said, "You survived."
Nagi said, "For now."
He walked past them into the city. The streets were empty and cold. He headed for the Broken Cog. He needed sleep before the next step. The Granite Fangs were just the start. Something was driving them here. He would find the source. Even if he had to dig through stone.
A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 7. The monsters are evolving. What is driving them? Please add this to your library and leave a review. Your support keeps the story alive!